A warning which needs to be repeated is that “the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches,” and the lust for other things, will choke out the life of God in us (Matthew 13:22). We are never free from the recurring waves of this invasion. If the frontline of attack is not about clothes and food, it may be about money or the lack of money; or friends or lack of friends; or the line may be drawn over difficult circumstances. It is one steady invasion, and these things will come in like a flood, unless we allow the Spirit of God to raise up the banner against it.

“I say to you, do not worry about your life . . . .” Our Lord says to be careful only about one thing-our relationship to Him. But our common sense shouts loudly and says, “That is absurd, I must consider how I am going to live, and I must consider what I am going to eat and drink.” Jesus says you must not. Beware of allowing yourself to think that He says this while not understanding your circumstances. Jesus Christ knows our circumstances better than we do, and He says we must not think about these things to the point where they become the primary concern of our life. Whenever there are competing concerns in your life, be sure you always put your relationship to God first.

“Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34). How much trouble has begun to threaten you today? What kind of mean little demons have been looking into your life and saying, “What are your plans for next month— or next summer?” Jesus tells us not to worry about any of these things. Look again and think. Keep your mind on the “much more” of your heavenly Father (Matthew 6:30).

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I thank God for Cynthia who's taught me, since the day I knew her, that my happiness in life doesn't have to depend on food or clothes or how much money I have left. She's unlike most people I know, living each day contented with the little but sufficient amount that God provides for her. I find that in such situations where we live on just enough to get by, our trust in God grows and reliance on Him is only ever evident. It's like how God provided food and told the Israelites not to store them, because He'll provide for them every single day.

This gave me the thought that if we keep storing things up, it makes us less reliant on God to provide for us because we think we can do a better job in keeping ourselves alive. God can definitely do better than merely keep us alive. While He's giving us a purpose to live a full life, we're here trying to find security in the storing up of earthly "necessities". So like the title of the devotional says- let's look again at our storerooms and think about what we're actually doing with our lives.


-On an unfortunate sidenote, I've misplaced 'soul cravings'. When I do find it again, I'll write about it as promised.-