“Oh Give thanks to the LORD for He is good.” For the first time in nearly nine months, due to chronic illness, I finally slept for nearly five hours. I awoke and heard birds singing and was reminded of Luke 12:25- where Jesus says to those who are worrying, “Consider the ravens- the birds…they neither sow nor reap, have no store house or barn YET YOUR Father feeds them, HOW MUCH MORE VALUABLE ARE YOU.”-

CONSIDER; The word translated “CONSIDER” is Greek “katanoeo, ” which means ‘notice, observe’ something carefully … ‘look at (with reflection), consider, contemplate something.’ It’s not a mere glance and then back to worry, but to observe, contemplate something carefully. Consider, contemplate, the words of the Lord Jesus. Contemplate, consider carefully and intentionally the character of God, His promises. His provisions. His dealings with you personally.

Think about it. They were worrying and then the Lord Jesus says, think about birds- ravens the most selfish of them all. And the temptation could be “I have real problems and you want me to think about BIRDS!!” seems mad. But the LORD says I want you to consider, contemplate birds, and in particular, what they do not have- no barns, no storehouses, no plan”B”… but then consider not what they do not have but WHO HAS THEM! Your Heavenly Father who attends and knows when every sparrow falls- HE MAKES PROVISION TO FEED THEM and then here is the kicker…THINK- THINK- THINK- CONTEMPLATE- “HOW MUCH MORE VALUABLE ARE YOU.”

If God takes care of birds – HOW MUCH MORE VALUABLE ARE YOU!

So for me, when I hear birds I am always reminded of Luke 12 and whatever my troubles, to hear birds singing outside my window is but the Love of God to me to cause me to stop – arrest my thinking and consider the TRUTH, to REMIND me as I am prone to forget- My Heavenly Father is my Provider, He is my Portion, He is the one who places Value upon me and wants me to consider, contemplate the birds, who have no plan “B”- but they do not need one for they have HIM!

Today if you are worrying, or tempted to- CONSIDER- the birds, listen to them sing, and be reminded if God provides for them, He wants you to stop worrying because the FACT IS- YOU ARE MUCH MORE VALUABLE… think on Him, Your Heavenly Father cares for you. He knows all about you. He knows your tendency to worry. He wants to remind you by having you consider the birds, let their singing remind you to THINK- THINK- THINK- ON TRUTH- YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS YOUR GREAT PROVIDER- and He wants you in considering the birds to recognize, embrace, rest in and marvel at God, Your HEAVENLY FATHER’S knowledge, Intimacy, care for you.

Understand, embrace, rest in and rejoice in the DECLARATION of your Heavenly Father’s thoughts concerning you and indeed His PAST ACTIONS towards you! Has He not been faithful in the past? Ask Him to remind you of His faithful care towards you in the past. Specific instances. “Stones of Remembrance.” Know your worth to Him and He wants you to know – “HOW MUCH MORE VALUABLE ARE YOU” What will cause the injection of fear and worry to be arrested from your thinking? Think on The TRUTH abut your Heavenly Father.

Worry is PERVERTED FAITH. It looks to self rather than the Heavenly Father. It is to say He may mean well, but He cannot be trusted, He does not understand…I will handle this myself and do worry.
Faith in self is perverted faith and is forbidden. {Proverbs 3:5-6- DO NOT LEAN to YOUR Understanding.}

Worry is THE FRUIT OF UNBELIEF– the refusal to Believe God, submit to God, give Him your concerns!

Worry is A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE LOST -Attitude and behavior of the lost.– people who have no personal relationship with Jesus Christ. {Luke 12:30}
Worry is SIN.

THE ANTIDOTE TO WORRY IS TO TRUST YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER,WHO HE IS, HIS LOVING HEART FOR YOU, TRUST WHAT HE SAYS….

One reason birds exist is to REMIND YOU to stop worrying by considering their…

* Provider.
* Consider Your Heavenly Father
* Consider His valuation of you, “How much more valuable are you.”
* Meditate on truth and on the love and care of the Heavenly FATHER for you!
* He Uses the Birds as a TESTIMONY TO YOU TO- CONSIDER HIM!

Well, the birds have stopped singing outside my window, but it doesn’t matter because He has used them once again to break into my wayward thoughts and to arrest my attention and cause me to THINK on TRUTH- He Knows, He cares, He undertakes, He Provides. Why worry when He has us in His loving sight!- THINK on His Love and Intimate knowledge and Great Big Heart of love He has for you!

 

HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW

Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav’n and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Refrain:
I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me”.

I give thanks to Him because He is GOOD!