February 15th
Read: Luke 11:5-13; Matt. 6:9-13; Philippians 4:6-7, 19
During our winters in Arizona we enjoy many varieties of birds which come to our feeders. Occasionally we do not get out to fill the feeders before the birds arrive for their breakfast. The towhees will scratch among the reddish gravel stones of the yard, searching vainly. The quail will take a quick look and leave to find a more promising breakfast table, but the house finches with their bright red heads and striped vests are another matter.
One or two of them will fly directly to the window where we sit at our breakfast and perch on the narrow metal sill of our RV window, looking right in to see if we know that they are here and hungry. If we do not take food outside immediately they will persist. They depend upon our provision.
They remind me of the man in Luke 11, who ran out of bread and went seeking it from his friend. He knew where to go when he had a need. Jesus compared that man to us who seek everything from the source of all good, our God. Just as the finches come and ask for breakfast, so should we simply go to our Father to have all our needs met … physical, emotional, and spiritual. He enjoys it when we show our trust in Him by asking. Take a lesson from the house finches.
GIVE US THIS DAY
“Give us this day our daily bread”
That we might then give more for Thee,
For all Thy children must be fed
If we’re to give in Spirit free.
But teach us, Lord, if we should seek
More than we use, more than we need,
That our excesses always speak
To others of our human greed.
We must break the bread of life
And purpose deep within each heart
That when we see some lack or strife,
Our love for You will sharing start.
Teach us, Lord, that we might see,
That every child of Yours might know
How as we give and share for Thee
Thy good to us will overflow.
Prayer: Father, I come to You as Jesus taught, asking for all my needs to be met. Your understanding of my needs is greater than my own, and so I trust You to give as You deem best.