Matthew 6:25-26 – Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (NKJV)
I am fortunate to live in one of the staging areas and flyways for the Canada and Snow Geese. These beautiful birds collect by the thousands in the grain fields and on the many lakes in this area of the Canadian mid-west. In the morning, they leave the main lake and travel to their feeding areas. Around noon, they head for a safe lake where they can rest and drink fresh water. Late in the afternoon they head back to the main lake.
One of those small lakes is two blocks from our house, and we have seen thousands of geese collect there during the day, returning home at night. At first, these geese flew high and in perfect V formations, honking and letting us know they were coming. Now, after several weeks of feeding and resting, they are so fat and heavy they rarely get a chance to form a flying V before they get to their main lake. At times we even wonder if they are going to clear the rooftops between the two lakes, because they have gained so much weight.
At this time in our world's troubles as we worry about terrorist attacks and other things, I am very distressed. I know I shouldn't worry, because it is all in God's hands, and I know that I am his, but —
Then I see the geese, and remember the words of scripture about his looking after them. If he cares enough to look after a Canada Goose, how much more does he look after and love me!
I mentioned the flying V of the Canada Geese, in which the leader cuts the wind and the others follow in the slip stream. When the leader is tired, he or she drops back, and another leader takes over. This enables these large birds to fly non-stop for hours and hours to their winter nesting grounds in the south, and then again back to their northern nesting grounds in the spring.
We, as the children of God, have a leader, Jesus, who leads his flock, but, unlike the leading goose, he never gets tired. He lets us follow him, and if we take advantage of his leading, we can avoid many of the heartaches and dangers of life. We can even avoid the worry and paranoia that grips so many of us these days.
As I worry about the state of the world, I find today's scripture brings me comfort. It is also my prayer that it bring comfort to those who read this devotional.
Prayer: Almighty God, we thank you for looking after the birds of the air, including the Canada Geese as they prepare for winter. Even more, we thank you for the security of knowing that you are looking after us. We thank you that we mean so much to you. At this time of stress in our world, help us to put our faith and our lives in your hands. Amen.
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