Pray: ‘Heavenly Father, Your Word says, “Seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” You are well able to take care of my life; You know what needs to be done.

Direct my steps (Proverbs 3:5–6). Help me to remember that Your resources are meant to flow freely from the place of abundance to the place of need (2 Corinthians 8:14). 

When fear of the future threatens to overwhelm me, I will hope continually and praise You more and more (Psalms 71:14). You promised to keep me in perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3). Forgive me for worrying. I cast all my cares on You right now (1 Peter 5:7).

I don’t have to bear these burdens on my own… I lay them down and receive Your divine rest (Matthew 11:28). You promised to supply all my needs (Philippians 4:19); that it’s Your good pleasure to give me the blessings and benefits of Your Kingdom (Luke 12:32). You told me not to worry about anything and instead make my requests known to You with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6–7). I know You’ll take care of tomorrow because You’re Jehovah–Jireh, my provider (Matthew 6:34). You know what I need and when I need it… You’re the God of more than enough (Ephesians 3:20). 
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Thank You for meeting my every need, and for the sense of peace and security You’re imparting to me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.’ 

Ephesians 3: 20
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

-  Bob Gass (Word for today)

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Living a life of devotion requires us to rely upon God and not upon our own strengths. Though trials may test our faith, we have already received Christ and it is our choice to live a life of devotion, centering our faith in Christ (Colossians 2:6-10).

When we devote ourselves to Christ, it provides clarity and removes confusion. A life devoted requires intimacy in our relationship with our Creator. It involves using our head, hands and heart to receive our promises promised by God and only through Him, we will be enabled to be rooted and built up in Him, as God strengthened us to live a life of devotion and faith waiting upon Him. But how do we know what a devoted heart looks like? 

In Psalms 138, we can see that a devoted heart is thankful and praises the Lord; it is respectful, humble and certain of God’s promises. A devoted heart uses prayer and trust to build our relationships with God and it also protects us during our hardships.

Living a devoted life can be challenging, but the rewards outweigh the trials we face today.

Psalm 138 : 1 - 5

I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; before the “gods” I will sing your praise. I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your unfailing love and your faithfulness, for you have so exalted your solemn decree that it surpasses your fame. When I called, you answered me; you greatly emboldened me. May all the kings of the earth praise you, Lord, when they hear what you have decreed. May they sing of the ways of the Lord, for the glory of the Lord is great.

- Melanie Riley

Do you let your feelings dictate your life? Through the Bible, the Lord reminds us to trust in Him and His word, instead of our feelings.

Jeremiah 17:9 said: The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

In the Lord's desire that we trust in the love, joy, hope, promises and victory presented in His word. Our feelings are mostly determined by our circumstances. Sometimes we might not feel God's presence, we might feel down, depressed, lonely, hopeless or defeated. What we feel might not necessarily be true.

Faith is not a feeling. Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. We need to draw near to God and His word daily to enable us to keep walking in joy, hope and faith.

2 Corinthians 5:7 
for we walk by faith, not by sight

James 4:8 
Come near to God and he will come near to you.

- Diven

On one sunny spring day after church, I saw two ladies staring intently at the small patches of grass they were standing on. They were admiring the wildflowers sprouting on the grass and they picked one tiny flower up to show me its delicate composition. They commented on the color contrast of purple and white of the flower, the shape of the petals, the texture of the leaves and I remember how one lady admirably said, “they are wildflowers yet how good is God to lavish such attentive care and beauty upon it.”

Matthew 6: 28 – 34 paints a beautiful assurance of the Lord’s care in all of His creations. He clothes the grass on the field and dresses it in all its splendor only for a day and tomorrow it is thrown to the fire. Despite the short lifespan, the intricate details and beauty of the flowers reveal God's standard of glory and over-providence. How much more will God lavish His care upon our lives? 

A story was told about a beggar begging on a street and a King stopped to give him a gold coin. His servant then proceeded to ask, “My King, a silver or copper coin would have suffice, why have you given the beggar a gold coin?” The King replied, “It is true, silver or copper would suffice for the beggar but a gold coin fits a King’s giving.”

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 
(Matthew 6: 31 – 33)

- Irene Soon

When a great storm arose as Jesus and His disciples were in a boat on the Sea of Galilee, He did not say to His disciples, “The storm is here to teach us courage.” Instead, He took authority over the storm and said, “Peace, be still!” And there was a perfect calm. (Mark 4:39)

When He met the widow of Nain whose only son had died, and on another occasion, the two sisters whose brother Lazarus had died, He didn’t tell them, “God wanted to take him home.” No, He spoke to the dead son: “Young man, I say to you, arise.” (Luke 7:14) And standing outside Lazarus’ tomb, He said, “Lazarus, come forth!” (John 11:43) And both men came back to life.

What have you been saying about your situation?

When you feel the pain in your body, don’t say of the Lord, “God wants me sick to teach me to trust Him more.” Instead, say, “Lord Jesus, I thank You that by Your stripes I am healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)

And while trying to make ends meet, don’t say of the Lord, “The Lord keeps me poor to keep me humble.” Instead, say, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1)

We are living in the last days when there are terrorist attacks and deadly viruses lurking around, and the world is afraid. But we will not speak negative words and be fearful like the people of the world. Instead, we will speak God’s Word and reign over these things. Like the psalmist, we will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.”

So find out what God’s Word says about your situation, believe it and declare it. And because God’s Word cannot return to Him void (Isaiah 55:11), you will see what you believe and confess come to pass!

Psalm 91:2 
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.

- http://www.josephprince.org/daily-grace/grace-inspirations/single/declare-gods-word-over-your-situation/

My favorite railway in the world is Australia’s Indian Pacific. The line runs between Sydney on the east coast to Perth on the west coast, traversing a whole continent and connecting two oceans, the Pacific and the Indian.

It spans a distance of 4,352 km (2,704 miles) and crosses three time zones—farther than London to Istanbul.For most of the 65-hour journey, the train travels through some of the most rugged and barren landscapes in the world.

One section crosses the Nullarbor Plain, which is an arid, treeless plain with a moon-like landscape the color of cayenne pepper. The word “Nullarbor” is derived from the Latin nullus arbor, meaning “no trees.” Nothing but parched, infertile limestone soil surrounds the track and stretches endlessly, 478 km (297 miles); it is the longest stretch of straight railway track in the world.

The train is the only moving object in the desolate landscape. Even though there is only desert outside, the comfort, amenities, and relaxed atmosphere on board make the journey enjoyable.

After a seemingly endless journey, the train reaches its final destination—the city of Perth. It feels like arriving in another world altogether. A shining city of natural wealth, glittering buildings, parks and open spaces, a beautiful river flowing into the sea. It is hard to believe that just a little while before we only saw dust and scrub all around us.

What an analogy of the Christian’s journey! As a pilgrim passing through this transitory world, the most efficient way he can travel is by walking the path God has ordained for him, just as that train travels across the straight track laid out for it. Aided by God’s Spirit, we can pass through the desert of this world in the peace and comfort He gives.

A shining new city also awaits us at the end of our journey—a city not built by the hands of men, but by God the Creator Himself. As Revelation 21 describes, it is a city unlike any here on earth, prepared for His own dear children who love Him and abide in His love; a city in which, unlike the cities of men, goodness dwells and evil shall not enter; a city where we shall leave the heat, dust, and scrub of this world behind us. “The former troubles are forgotten … and shall not be remembered or come to mind.”

So let us travel the path God has laid out for us, enjoying the journey and knowing that He is with us through it all and will get us to our heavenly destination safe and sound.

1 Peter 2:9 ESV
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

- Anonymous

As God’s children, we are His dependents. The Bible says, “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him.” Dependent children spend little time worrying about meals, clothing, and shelter. They assume, and they have a right to, that all will be provided by their parents. Because God is responsible for our welfare, we are told to cast all our care upon Him, for He careth for us.

Because we are dependent upon God, Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled.” God says, “I’ll take care of the burden—don’t give it a thought—leave it to me.” Dependent children are not backward about asking for favors. They would not be normal if they did not boldly make their needs known. God is keenly aware that we are dependent upon Him for life’s necessities. It was for that reason that He said, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the [children] of God . . . 
—1 John 3:1

http://billygraham.org/devotion/cast-your-cares/

In his autobiography, Blessings in Disguise, the late actor Alec Guinness wrote that as he was walking in the middle of an afternoon, he had an impulse to start running. He ran until he reached a little church. He’d never been there before, but he caught his breath and knelt to pray. For the next ten minutes he “was lost to the world.”

Guinness explained the compulsion as a “rather nonsensical gesture of love,” an outburst of thanksgiving. He ran to the church and fell on his knees in prayer not long after March 24, 1956, the day he had converted to Christianity after years of being an atheist.

Guinness learned in part what “fearing God” is all about. Although Scripture uses the word “fear,” God doesn’t want us to be afraid of Him. Instead, He wants us to realize how magnificent, awe-inspiring and deserving of our worship He is.

God always expresses His love in some kind of action toward us, and He desires that we return our loving expressions in action, as well as in trusting His leading and following His commands for our life.

God’s love, coupled with our sense of awe and reverence, leads us to action. It led Alec Guinness to run down the street and then fall on his knees in thanksgiving and adoration. Perhaps you’ve only recently come to know about God’s grace revealed through Jesus Christ. Perhaps you’ve been His devoted follower for years. Or perhaps you’re just looking for a fresh experience of God in your life. What actions will you take today to express your “fear of God”? Don’t be afraid to go for it!

Deuteronomy 10: 12 - 15
And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?

To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. Yet the Lord set his affection on your ancestors and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations - as it is today.

- Unknown Author