Devotional 808

Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”  “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”  Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”  

(16) Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”  He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”  Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 

 (17) The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”  Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”  ~John 21:15-17

Do we love the Lord?  

Yes, Lord...you know that we love you.  We do.  

And we are seeking to feed your lambs and to take care of your sheep.  Please keep showing us the opportunities that we have to make Your Name known in any circle of influence that we enter today.

But on the flip side of that question...do we know that the Lord loves us?  That He provides for us?  That he delights to spoil us sometimes, just to remind us that He's present in our day-to-day and that He is our Heavenly Dad.  (For the Lord your God is living among you.  He is a mighty savior.  He will take delight in you with gladness.  ~Zephaniah 3:17).

We want to worry about the big stuff, the life choices, the monies coming due, the schooling options, the health declines and the moral relapse.  But Jesus tells us to keep our eyes on Him, and to stop worrying about the rest.  

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (7) And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  ~Philippians 4:6-7

Not only are we commanded (see above verse) not to be anxious, but the peace of God infiltrates our spirit when we give God the control.    

We all go through seasons in life where we struggle--it might be addiction, it might be emotional, it might be financial, health, it might be anything...  And the Lord goes through those seasons right alongside of us.  

My current concern is provision.  Not because we are "going to the poor house", but because my mind wants to worry about that happening.  Maybe yours does too.  And if we are concerned/worried/anxious about anything, then our eyes come off of Jesus.  And that is just what satan is hoping for: The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life (John 10:10).

Did we catch what Jesus says His purpose is for us?  My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life (John 10:10).

Watch for God to show up in small and big ways to bring richness and satisfaction to your life.  He is creative and because He created our inmost being (Psalm 139:13), He knows us intimately.

So He would know if I am worried about provision and He might provide in ways that I couldn't ignore to remind me of His sovereignty.  Like free Krispy Kreme Doughnuts.  

I love Krispy Kreme Doughnuts.  In fact, our kids are fourth generation in a family with a love for those hot glazed gems.  So, when we stopped into one of their stores today and they had a sign advertising up to 6 free doughnuts for A's on student report cards, our kids did a happy dance.  My husband and I don't pay them for working hard at their studies, but today God did.  And I can think (or taste) of no more rich and satisfying way for the Lord to remind me of His provision in our lives than through free doughnuts.  Eighteen free doughnuts!  

And if our Lord will lavish bakery on us just because, can we not trust Him with our finances, our health, our worries and our eternity?  

I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.  ~Psalm 37:25  

Not only are our children not begging bread, but they are freely receiving crème-de-la-crème doughnuts.  That is the love of the Father that we serve.  He delights to delight in us.  Keep delighting yourself in Him (Psalm 37:4).  

If we love Him...He calls us righteous.  If we seek to serve Him, He calls us righteous.  

If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.  ~I John 2:29

~~~

So--what big stuff are we worried about today?  

Jesus asks us: Do you love me? (John 21:16).

He knows our answer is "Yes".  But be reminded today that the Lord loves us.  That He provides for us (sometimes in delicious ways!) and that He delights to spoil us sometimes.  

So stop worrying.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?  

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.  ~Matthew 6:25-34

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com