God Knows Our Needs

Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

Our reading, titled God Knows Our Needs, was written by Karen Huang. Lando, a public transportation driver in Manila, gulped down coffee at a roadside stall. Daily commuters were back again after the COVID-19 lockdowns, and the sports event today means more passengers, he thought.

I'll get back lost income. Finally, I can stop worrying. He was about to start driving when he spotted Ronnie on a bench nearby. The street sweeper looked troubled, like he needed to talk. But every minute counts, Lando thought.

The more passengers, the more income. I can't linger. But he sensed that God wanted him to approach Ronnie, so he did. Jesus understood how difficult it is not to worry, so he assures us that our Heavenly Father knows exactly what we need. We're reminded not to be anxious, but to trust Him and devote ourselves to doing what He wants us to do. As we embrace and obey His purposes, we can have confidence that our Father, who closed the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will provide for us according to His will, just as He provides for all creation. Because of Lando's conversation with Ronnie, the street sweeper eventually prayed to become a believer in Christ. And God still provided enough passengers that day, Lando shared. He reminded me my needs were His concern.

Mine was simply to follow Him. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Matthew chapter 6, verses 25 through 34. Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air. They do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Can any one of you, by worrying, add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow.

They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon, in all his splendor, was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you, you of little faith? 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. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Let's pray.

Dear God, things like the COVID-19 pandemic showed us just how uncertain life can be, even on a global scale. But for those of us who trust You, we also saw how faithful You are to provide in the midst of such uncertainty. Help us to rest in the assurance that You will always provide. Thank you, Lord. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Thanks for listening today. My name is Joyce Dinkins, and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.