I took a few days off this week to spend time with my nephew and get my book collection inventoried and organized. It’s been a huge project because, like my Pango site says, I’m a book hoarder. 🙂

What’s been wonderful this week is sleeping an hour or two later than I would normally for work. My nephew has been sleeping late so I’ve been able to enjoy some valuable me time and spending it in His Word first thing in the morning when I wake up.

Wednesday, he slept so late that I had enough time to even finish a short story, too. 😂

Anyway, the time in His Word has been great for me this week for a reset. Haven’t had to go into the office and I’m feeling more free to prioritize, but I don’t feel like I normally do about this need to be productive, even though I am. I just want to coast through my days off, no stress. It’s been a nice change! All God.

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Wednesday’s reading stuck with me, which was 1 Peter 5:6-7, but I read all the way to 11. There were so many actions and truths in that short passage that I came back to it that day and even at the beginning on Thursday before I got into that day’s reading.

• Have humility
• God is Mighty
• He may exalt you
• Cast all your anxieties on Him
• He cares for you
• Be sober-minded
• Be watchful
• The devil seeks someone to devour for his purpose
• Resist the devil
• Stand firm in your faith
• Throughout the world, brothers and sisters are suffering the same as you
• Suffering is relatively a short time compared to eternity in Heaven with the Father
• God is full of grace
• He has called you to His eternal glory in Christ
• He will restore, confirm, strengthen and establish.

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Thursday’s reading was Matthew 6:25-34. Just this short passage is about anxiety and so many references to that word. Anxiousness isn’t from God if we’re to have a spirit of peace, not this unsettled form of ourselves. My Bible note from the previous day’s reading said that anxiety is a form of pride because we’re wanting to control what God has in His hands already. Letting go of the situation and letting Him provide the care we need as our shepherd, physician, etc., will bring rest.

What I found interesting from my time in Matthew though was this verse that probably gets overlooked.

But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Matthew 6:30

The note for that verse says that grass was a natural source of fuel for fire and a common biblical metaphor for human frailty.

The reference is back to Psalm 102:4 that says, my heart is struck down like grass and has withered; I forget to eat my bread.

The psalmist is focusing on discouragement (heart is struck down & I forgot to eat my bread) throughout the psalm and the notes say that these types of images describe what it feels like to be consumed by sorrow, which has withering effects on one’s body. A person feeling such things inevitably senses his own mortality.

So what does it mean?

The things we long for and our basic needs, they will fade. Chances are, the clothes from your 20s won’t make it to your 80s. I’m struggling to bring them to my 30s, people!

I don’t struggle with having clothes, but the sentiment is still there. Why are we worrying? The things we need can be burnt up. Our life here isn’t even long, but it’s enough to matter. We should be worried rather with the things of Heaven, what’s going to further the Kingdom of God.

My days are like an evening shadow. I wither away like grass.

Psalm 102:11

A voice says, “Cry!”

And I said, “What shall I cry?”

All flesh is grass,

and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.

The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass.

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

Isaiah 40:6

When we’re not being nourished in the right ways (seeking the Lord and His Kingdom first), we’ll feel struck down by the trials of this life.

Lean into the solid foundation of God’s Word instead of what is passing through.

Be hidden in Him and not consumed with the world.

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Thank you for reading and I hope you found some dose of encouragement today. Have a great weekend!

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Bible references come from ESV Student Study Bible.