August 27

"Be not anxious for your life."—Matthew 6:25 (R.V.).

LET me take no anxious thought; birds and lilies teach me better. God spreads a table for the sparrows, and clothes the wayside anemones with their exquisite beauty. And I am dearer to Him by far. I, who am made in His image, and for whom His Son has died, and whom He means to dwell beside Him in His heaven—I occupy a larger place in His heart of hearts.

Let me take no anxious thought; it serves no good purpose to fret and worry. I cannot, with all my solicitude, add a cubit either to my stature or to my age. Carefulness will only plunge me into mental distress and annoyance and sorrow, without bringing me any compensating advantage whatsoever. It knows how to wound; but ah! it does not know how to heal.

Let me take no anxious thought; a child should have more confidence in his Father's wisdom and watchfulness and love. It may be excusable for Gentiles, poor heathen men and women, to be perplexed,—one of their poets may write, Post equitem sedet atra cura,—but not a son in the royal and wealthy family of the King of kings. There is no justification for him if he go perplexed and burdened during the day and lie down to hours of sleeplessness at night.

Let me take no anxious thought; there are much more important matters to remember. I must seek God's kingdom and His righteousness—their government within me, their advancement through me. All things are mine, if only I am certain that these things are mine; fighting His battles, God's soldiers are immortal till the campaign ends. My Lord will make me sit down to meat, and Himself will come and serve me.