Live Like A Sparrow

1 Thessalonians 5:11 – Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing. (AMP)

Matthew 6:26 – Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather in barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (NKJV)

Once the snow has melted and the ground has thawed, I stop filling the bird feeder on a regular basis. It is during this early window of springtime when the mother squirrels are fattening themselves up that they commandeer the feeder, or "snack bar", solely for their own use. It's squirrel pitted against squirrel, as they squabble over the bountiful seed. The poor little birds sit off to the side in the hedge and wait patiently for the greedy squirrels to finish gorging themselves, often emptying the entire feeder at one sitting. The sparrows don't seem bothered that their routine has been disrupted. They don't fret as the seed disappears. And they certainly don't try to thin the crowd by chasing their fellow sparrows away. As the seed is gobbled up by the bickering squirrels, those sweet little birds just sit and chirp while awaiting their turn at the feeder.

How lovely it would be to be as carefree as a little sparrow, without a worry or concern: never discouraged, never down-hearted, never a fearful thought or complaint. Yet, through Christ, we are as free as the birds. We need not worry or fret about anything. God tells us to cast "all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7 NKJV) Simply by asking, we can exchange our troubles for His peace. And just as the little sparrows chirp together while they patiently wait in the hedge, we can speak words to each other that edify and encourage our sagging spirits. We can share our resources, our wisdom, our hope, and our love, because our God is well able to richly supply all of our needs. With that in mind, we can lift our hearts and voices in songs of praise and thanksgiving to our Provider, our Redeemer, our loving heavenly Father.

His Eye is on the Sparrow

(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.

Civilla D. Martin

Prayer: Gracious and loving Father, thank You for Your generous hand of provision. Thank You for using a simple sparrow to illustrate the art of blissful reliance and complete trust in You. Thank You for the folks who speak timely words of encouragement and freely share their blessings with others. Dear Lord, watch over us today. Put a song in our hearts, a smile on our lips, and a skip in our steps. Amen and Amen.