The other day I let you know that unbeknownst to me (because I hadn’t stopped to think about it), I had been worrying. And in my state of worry, I wasn’t sleeping well. This morning I listened again to the message the Lord sent me last week, Freedom from Anxiety by Dr. Tony Evans. The text of this message comes from Matt 6:25-34, where Jesus tells us not to worry.

This text is referring to our needs, not our wants. God has promised to provide our needs for today, and we are commanded not to worry (v 25, 28, 31, 34). If we do something different from what Jesus has commanded us to do (or not do), then we are sinning against Him. Here’s what Jesus said about knowing who truly loves Him: “The one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me. And the one who loves Me will be loved by my Father. I also will love him and will reveal Myself to him.” (John 14:21)

As I said the other day, when our spiritual priorities are out of order, we can’t expect God to come through for us. The Lord expects us to do what He says, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matt 6:33) The reason we aren’t to worry about our needs, is because the Lord knows what those are and has promised to provide them to us IF we seek Him first. Within the hour of posting on Friday, I received a confirmation by text: “Sometimes we want God to change things when He’s waiting for us to change. Put Him first and watch things fall into place! Matt 6:33”

What fell into place over the weekend was going to the Lord first in the morning. Poring over His Word and submitting myself to Him in prayer. And I slept much better and was able to rest. “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matt 11:28-29) It is when we seek this Lord, submit to Him and to His commands that we find rest for our weary souls. And a bonus to the rest we receive, is true intimacy with our Great High Priest who has promised to reveal Himself to us if we keep His commands from a heart of gratitude, showing our love for Him (John 14:21).