Blessings,
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“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6–7 ESV
“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”
Matthew 6:26 ESV
We don’t have a bird feeder or a birdhouse—or even one of those hummingbird feeders that have become so popular here in the South. But our neighbors do.
And from my porch, I get the privilege of watching the birds come and go from their feeders and visit the plants and trees around our own home.
I love looking at all their colors. I have to admit, the little finch is my favorite. I think it’s because that bright yellow catches my eye.
I enjoy watching them gather at the feeder. Sometimes they seem to get along wonderfully, happily eating together. Other times, there’s a little struggle for power going on over which bird gets to the feeder first. A bigger bird—or sometimes even a smaller one—will chase another away.
And as I watch them, I think about Jesus’ words: “Look at the birds.”
God knows what they need.
Jesus reminds us that the birds don’t plant crops or gather food into barns, and yet our heavenly Father feeds them. Then He asks a question I don’t want to rush past:
“Are you not of more value than they?”
If God cares about the needs of these little birds, how much more does He care about what I am carrying today?
He already knows.
He knows the concern that keeps circling through my mind. He knows the burden I haven’t quite figured out how to put down. He knows the questions I don’t have answers for yet.
And He invites me to bring all of it to Him.
“Do not be anxious about anything,” Paul tells us, “but in everything” pray. Bring our requests to God with thanksgiving. And then comes this beautiful promise: His peace, beyond what our minds can understand, will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
That’s my Jesus! That’s my God!
I have friends who will listen to me. They love me, encourage me, and pray for me. What a gift they are.
But to have a God who says, Bring Me all of it. Give Me what you’re carrying. I care about you.
That is more than my mind can comprehend.
As I sit on my porch watching those little birds come and go, I realize they have found a kind of sanctuary—a place where they return again and again for what they need.
And so have I.
My sanctuary isn’t a bird feeder or even this quiet porch. My sanctuary is the presence of a God who already knows what I need and invites me to come to Him with everything I carry.
The same God who cares about every detail of these little birds searching for their morning food cares about every detail of our lives. He invites us to bring our burdens to Him because He cares for us.
His love for us is greater than our hearts and minds can comprehend. This is the God who invites us to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. This is the God who sent His own Son, Jesus, so that we could have a relationship with Him.
Because He loves us that much.
This morning, sitting on my porch, I am overwhelmed by the beauty around me.
But even more, I am overwhelmed by His love.
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