Matthew 6:26, New Living Translation

“Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?”

God has a beautiful way of working in our lives, if we let Him. So many times, we can get in the way of what God wants to do in our lives because we are so consumed with the moment and how we are going to make it through to the next one. Jesus tells us, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?” (Matthew 6:25, NLT) I know, it is easier said than done. Trust me, I have done my share of worrying over circumstances in my life, wondering and hoping that God would come through.

It's important to understand that we have an enemy that wants to blind our minds from the truth and the glory of who God is. He wants us to be riddled with fear and anxiety and worry. He wants us to not trust in God, because if we don't trust in God, we are believing what he says and therefore are falling to deception. Ephesians 6:11-12 (NLT) says, "Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places." We must be prepared for this fight, but we must first put on the full armor of God to be prepared to stand against the enemy. We do not take him on alone, but with the help of God. For the battle belongs to the Lord! The Old Testament is full of moments in history where the king decided to go out to battle without consulting the Lord. It did not end well for the king that proceeded without the Lord. It will be the same for us if we choose to go out in the battle alone. Scripture tells us to be filled and continue to be filled with the Spirit. That means two things to me:

1. Knowing your identity. You must know and believe with all your heart that you are a child of God! Your power and authority rest in your position as a child of God. With this comes confidence, a godly confidence. 

2. You must be in the Word to allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you. Not only to speak to you, but for you to know God's word. To allow it to go from head knowledge to your heart. 

God, our Father, wants to do a beautiful thing in us and for us. But we must align ourselves with Him. We cannot just do whatever we want and expect to get everything we want. Selfishness and greed do not fulfill the law of love.

I have recently experienced a change in myself that I don't even know how to put into words. But I know that it is good. I have accepted and fully believed that I am who He says I am. I am not rejected but chosen by God for great honor. And so are you! Do not let the enemy take this from you! It is a constant journey of pursuing God. It is a beautiful journey that I want to encourage us all to continue to pursue. You see, we have the abundant life that Christ has promised us already. We do not have to earn it; we don't have to search or strive for it. We have it. We just have to walk in it. Christ died so that we could be free from sin, and so that we can have love, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. What a beautiful heritage!

Will we always get things right? No. Humanity is imperfect. I am imperfect. That is why we need a Savior. Adopting a spirit of humility and always keeping yourself before the Lord will keep you under the shadow of His wing and in His care. When we love someone, we don't just leave them hanging to figure things out. We walk with them to help them. Our Father does that and so much more for His children. For you and me. Paul tells us in Romans 8:38-39 (NLT), "And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. " What God started in us, He will complete. He is faithful and His love is faithful and endures all things. He wants more than we do, for us to fulfill our destiny. As long as we keep our little hand in His big hand and follow Him, we will be able to do all things through Christ who gives us strength. (Philippians 4:13)