Look and Seek

Do you recall the parable of the seeds?  Within it we learn of seeds that fail to grow for various reasons.  Look for the reason given for such seeds. 

"Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful."
Mark 4:18-19 (NIV)

The seeds fail to grow because they lose focus on true fruitfulness as they grow weary under the strain of the worries of this world. 

The same parable, however, contains hope. 

"Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”
Mark 4:20 (NIV)

Notice what strengthens those healthy seeds. Two actions:
1) Hearing the Word.
2) Accepting the Word.

Do you desire a life in which chronic stress is absent?  The path to such a life, while not easy, is within your reach.  Reach out to God through His Word.  Chapter six of Matthew is a good place to start. 

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Matthew 6:26 (NIV)

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:33 (NIV)

Give attention to two verbs.  Look.  Seek. 
Those two action verbs identify the methods by which we overcome stress - how to place our heads in the right location.

• Looking (trusting that God will provide).
• Seeking (focusing on the kingdom of God).

Looking is accomplished by devoting time to noticing the provisions of God.  For example . . .

• Look to the birds (nature).
• Listen to music that declares the glory of God.
• Thank God you are able to pay your bills.
• Praise God for the breath in your lungs.
• Observe your child carefree at play.

Seeking is accomplished by hearing and accepting the Word of God.  For example . . .

• Read the Bible.
• Live according to the teachings of the Bible.
• Worship the God of the Bible.
• Give money generously - trusting that God will continue to provide.
• Give time to others - showing the compassion of Christ.

#ordinarylives