Peacock Sunglasses and Worry

Well... at least that's what I like to call them. It's not too often I do some serious shopping. My wardrobe consists of a couple of summer dresses, jeans, flip flops, and various blouses (a large majority of them are black - I'm a photographer, what can I say?). Because of my lack of designer-wear, a common person might say I could benefit from a serious shopping spree. I don't absolutely love going shopping like the typical female though. Cute clothing isn't an important part of getting ready in the morning for me. I shouldn't worry about what new designer jeans I'm going to buy, or getting the cute shoes I saw in the store window. 

I will admit -- it's hard not to. 

So often we are bombarded as a people with messages that we are not good enough. Our clothes don't fit the best, we aren't spending enough money on our handbags, our makeup isn't top quality.

Ranting about my new peacock sunglasses and clothes in general reminded me of several verses I read awhile back found in Matthew 6. The Lord reminds us "do not worry." Not about food, drink, or clothing. He reminds us that he has dressed the lilies of the field in their beauty -- will he not dress me, his daughter, in such splendor? Although the Lord does not literally pick out my clothes each morning and put them on my body, it is an excellent reminder that He will provide for me just as he cares for the flowers. He has up to this point, and I have faith that he will continue to.

31“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." Holy cow. Just reading this verse kindles a flame in my soul that I can literally feel. What power in such words! Recently, Ethan and I have been doing some planning for our near future -- aka apartment hunting. Talk about good timing. Who knew that a pair of new sunglasses I saw in the store today could lead me to a verse that rekindles my hope in our future and assures me that good things will come when we follow Christ! It is things like this that remind me that I am not alone and that our God is SO good.

Matthew 6:19-34 NLT

19“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

22“Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. 23But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!

24“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

25“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? 26Look 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? 27Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

28“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

31“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

34“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today