“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34).

There are two places where the wicked seeks to trap us: with yesterday or tomorrow.  We do not know whether or life here will be over five minutes from now.  We do live for another time constantly.  Why?  You can make plans, but our today is constantly changing.  You live in this moment and this is the only moment in which you have any ability to act.  Luther said when asked if he knew that he would die tomorrow what he would do today.  He said, “I would plant an apple tree.”  Live in today.

Lord, You have given me today.  This is the day You have made and You have asked me to rejoice in it.  Guide me now and always in today.  Yes, I need to make plans for all of the tomorrows which might be mine, but I do not know when my journey here will end.  Help me so that I walk the fine line between these things without crossing into the zone of worrying about the unknown future.

Lord Jesus, You did not instruct me to make no plans, but You have given me instructions to walk faithfully each day that You give me in this age.  Help me to walk with You so that I may be resilient to do those things that pop up day by day.  In all that I do, may I have the priorities You are speaking about.  Lead me in the way of righteousness.  Lead me and teach me how to be faithful each day.  Amen.

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you” (Matthew 6:33).

Jesus says it plain and simple here.  Seek the Lord first.  Do not let this just be an idea in your head, but the reality of your life.  Seek the Lord.  He is here and may be found.  When your priorities are straight, everything else falls into place.  The Father knows what you need.  He knew you before you were born and He knows the plans He has for you.  Seek His righteousness.

Lord, I fight against You because I do not want to be controlled.  But even in saying this, I fail.  I am tossed about by the ever-changing whims of the culture.  I look at old pictures and see that I did care about the clothing I wore.  It is silly now.  Help me to focus upon what it means to be righteous.  Help me to know that only in You is there true and everlasting life.  Lead me the way I need to go.

Lord Jesus, You have spoken the truth plainly for all to hear.  You have told me to set the right priorities.  Guide me this day so that I may walk humbly in Your presence.  When I am confronted with the old desires that get in the way, let me see this plainly.  Help me to now and always look to You as the One who must lead me in faith.  Guide me in the ways of pursuing Your kingdom and the righteousness You offer.  Amen.

“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear for clothing?’  For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things” (Matthew 6:31-32).

What is it that you live for?  We live in an age where people scramble one on top of the other seeking after approval, status, or any number of other things.  Jesus is asking us why we would fall into the trap of these things.  Why do you live for food or clothing?  You were created for real and eternal life.  The Father knows what you need and has already made provision for each of us.

Lord, You know that I do long after these things.  The old Adam in me wants to be recognized.  Guide me away from such fleeting distractions to focus upon those things that will shape me into Your image.  I often do not know where to begin, but You know the plans that the Father has placed before me.  Guide me in the way You would have me go and lead me according to Your will to walk in a life of faith.

Come Holy Spirit and check my spirit when I go back into old habits.  I know I can enjoy food and clothing, but keep me from living for them.  Keep me in the safe place where I do not cross the line when tempted.  Lead me now and always to live into the life for which You have created me.  Help me to eagerly seek first Your kingdom knowing that the Father has already provided all that is needed.  Amen.

“But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!” (Matthew 6:30)

Do you not see that the Lord provides for all, sometimes even if it is for just a short while?  The Lord knows what we all need.  He provides.  Yes, there are the covetous and greedy who take from others, but there is enough for all.  How much time do you waste fretting over things that are temporary.  Do you spend the same amount of time seeking the Lord and His wisdom?

Lord, You are always calling to me.  You have come so that I may have life and have it abundantly.  This age convinces me to hoard.  You tell me to trust You.  You know the struggle I face.  Only You can take these words which are most certainly true and implant them deep in my heart so that they become a part of who I am.  Take these words from my head to my heart, Lord.

Come Holy Spirit and work deep in my soul.  You know where I covet and hold onto things that do not matter.  Free me from those things which enslave me so that I may become a slave of the Most High.  Guide me to not be prudish, but prudent.  Remove my temper and replace it with temperance.  Above all, lead me in the most cherished attributes of faith, hope, and charity.  Amen.

And why are you worried about clothing? Notice how the lilies of the field grow; they do not labor nor do they spin thread for cloth, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these” (Matthew 6:28-29).

Have you noticed how fashions are always changing?  The purpose of clothing is both for modesty and coverage for weather.  That’s it.  But how we love to make frills and changes.  Clothing is fine, but remember that Jesus left behind one thing that others wanted, his heavy outer garment.  Clothing is just a covering.  What is on the inside?  That is what Jesus is interested in.

Lord, help me to understand that You have come so that we may have life here, now, and forever,  You have created life to be lived in a certain way and we are not living that way.  You have come to teach us the way of everlasting life.  The rich and the poor wear clothing.  As long as it does its job, it really makes no difference.  Help me to come to the place where this is true for me.

Lord Jesus, you know the things I have coveted.  You know where I have been enticed into fashions and trends.  This world is always tugging at me.  Lead me deep in my soul to be functional and not tempted by the trends of society.  Guide me to be one who looks to You first always and for all things. Lead me to invest in the true wealth of Your presence, purpose, and power.  Amen.

“Look at the birds of the sky, that they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather crops into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more important than they?  And which of you by worrying can add a single day to his life’s span?” (6:26-27)

In the sight of God, so much of what we do is quite silly.  Work hard, accumulate stuff, die, and the stuff is given away.  Rich or poor, it seems to be the same.  The point?  Really, it’s quite pointless.  What are you here for?  You have been invited to be transformed into the image of Christ by grace through faith.  The stuff of life is fine while this earthly life lasts, but Jesus is forever.  He who is forever invites you to prepare to be with Him forever.

We all need to do what we do in this time in which we live, but what are your inward priorities?  Meditate on where you are going and how you are getting there.  Do your priorities line up with what Jesus is teaching us?  If not, why not?  We’re not talking about religious fanaticism, but the truth for all ages.  Are you becoming like Christ?  Are you living into the new life which you will have forever?

Lord Jesus, I see in the Gospel,  from Your example, that You were amongst the people, loving them, and living with them, only without sinning.  Help me to live that way.  Help me to live joyfully as one who is gracious, kind, and determined in this life You have given me in the calling You have given me.  Lead me in the way You would have me go each and every day.  Amen.

“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing?” (Matthew 6:25)

What control do you have over tomorrow?  None, not one, has control over what tomorrow will look like.  So why do you worry?  Life is more than the physical things that are experienced.  Life is in and of the Lord.  He who created you calls you into His life so that you may be made complete.

Complete is the better translation for the word when we say, “Perfect.”  Jesus taught us to become complete even as the Father is complete.  He who knows us will complete us.  We are not yet what we will be, but this we know, we are to be transformed to the image of Christ.  Come then and live into the life for which Christ paid the ransom on the cross.  Come and be made whole in Him, for this is what He has come to do.

Lord Jesus, You know exactly where I struggle and the things that need to happen in order that I might live in the righteousness You give by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Lead me. Lord, so that now and always, I look to You as the whole and complete source of my faith and life.  Guide me by faith to seek the righteousness You give that I may live into the life for which You are preparing me.  Amen.

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth” (Matthew 6:24).

Too many think they can multitask.  You may do two things at one time, but neither one will be done at one hundred percent.  Who is your master?  Do you notice that Jesus does not give the option of no master?  We were created to serve.  We do serve.  The rich serve their wealth.  We are slaves to someone or something.  But it cannot be two things. It is either/or. Who is your master?  Choose wisely.

Lord, You know I struggle and in fact, serve many masters.  Guide me in the way of life so that I serve You first as my Lord and God.  Help me to see it clearly as my first priority.  Where my loyalty is mixed, help me to make it clear and right.  Lord, this world is temporary and filled with lies.  I too often believe them to be permanent and the truth.  Help me shed this nonsense to serve You first.

Lord Jesus, You are my Lord and Master.  I know this, but then I am distracted and worship other masters.  Help me to learn to serve and obey You above all.  Clear my mind so that I can practice good priorities.  Help me now and always to walk with You in all godliness.  You know what I need, and You provide all that is needed; help me to humbly submit each day to You, my Lord, Savior, and God.  Amen.

“The eye is the lamp of the body; so then, if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light.  But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” (Matthew 6:22)

You are not condemned for the first look, it is what you do with that second look that matters.  Jesus is telling us to be careful with what we let into our souls.  We live in a culture that feeds us garbage all day long.  Do you take care about these things, or do you just let the garbage come in?  Take care, for your mind can wallow in the place of temptation.  Spend time with the Word and clear your mind.  Be full of light.

Lord, You know that the light always clears out the darkness.  Where I am lax, help me to spend time in Your word.  Where there is darkness in my soul, let the light of Your truth bring wisdom.  Help me to take seriously my part in taking care with what comes into my soul.  I need what You alone can give.  You have come as the author and finisher of my faith to lead me in all righteousness.

Lord Jesus, I cannot do this without the Holy Spirit ministering to me each step of the way.  Guide me in Your light to live the life You have given me.  Help me to be intentional about cleaning my own house so that my mind and soul do not harbor the darkness of this world.  In You alone Lord do I have my hope, life, and being.  Guide me now and always to keep a clear vision which is focused upon You.  Amen.

“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:20-21).

We do accumulate over a lifetime and the question is, “What will I accumulate?”  The Lord is calling us to work on our character.  What He means is that we should focus on becoming like Christ.  The closer you are to the image of Christ, the richer you have truly become.  Why settle for things that are worth nothing when life ends here, when you can have all that you need and could ever hope for in the goodness of the Lord.

Lord, You know that I become greedy for stuff.  Help me to live into the call of faith and focus upon my character and not just the stuff this world has to offer.  Guide me now and always to have the right priorities so that even in seeking to be like You I do not seek in a covetous way.  You know what I need and how to get there, so lead me the way You know I need to be led to become like You more and more each day.

Lord Jesus, You have come to save us from ourselves.  This world is temporary; You are forever.  Help me now and always to know that in You alone do I breathe and have my being.  Let me grow to be like You by not just thinking about it, but walking with You today doing what You give me to do.  Guide me now and always, Lord, in the way You would have me go.  Lead me by Your power, Holy Spirit.  Amen.