Author Archives: C D SWANSON

DEAR GOD: Members in One Body of Christ~

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As we are called to His purpose for all things according to His plan and will for our lives, so too are we one body with Christ.  So too we all have different gifts and different assignments while here on earth, but we are all one body in alignment with His Word, and His will.

Each of us has a purpose while here on earth and when we adhere to the Spirit’s guidance and will we are working as a team each with a goal and area in which He sends us.

With various gifts and talents we explore the tangibles in which we are sent and we plant the seeds in ways of which He wants us to.

Some may have a talent for teaching/preaching, others may be counselors, still others may be writers getting the word out to many through devotionals or poems, or expressions of love and glory to God.

We just need to realize that there is no perfect “church” and no perfect “person” for only One Being is such, and that is our Holy and Sovereign Father.  He is our Church, He is the Perfect One, and He is whom we are called upon to spread the word and love in the way He decides we should.

As a “whole body” of Christ…each part has a role, and when combined it is comprised of a whole body, and that whole body is Christ.

So go out and embrace the gifts given you and tell of His love and glory in the way you can, in the way the LORD wants us to, each one as important and crucial as the next. No one better, all equal on the playing field and growing field of Christ.

Do you know what your talents and gifts are?  Well what are you waiting for, start spreading the Word!  For when we are done here on earth our rewards in the Kingdom of God will be everlasting for all Eternity.

Praise you LORD and Hallelujah!

Amen~

 

 

 

 

12 For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. 13 For also by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free, even all were made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17 If all the body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If all hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body as it has pleased Him. 19 And if they were all one member, where would be the body? 20 But now indeed many are the members, yet only one body.

21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you; nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 But much rather the members of the body seeming to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we put more abundant honor around them. And our unpresentable members have more abundant propriety. 24 For our presentable members have no need, but God tempered the body together, giving more abundant honor to the member having need; 25 that there not be division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is glorified, all the members rejoice with it.

27 And you are the body of Christ, and members in part. 28 And God set some in the church, firstly, apostles; secondly, prophets; thirdly, teachers, then works of power, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, kinds of languages. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of power? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak languages? Do all interpret?

31 But zealously strive after the better gifts. And yet I show to you a more excellent way.

DEAR GOD: I Choose You~

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 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

 He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Daniel 6:26-28 (KJV)

 

 

 

Dear God: I Choose You~ 

Daniel understood God’s law prohibited eating foods that were being offered to idols. He was in Babylon in full captivity—a place that worshiped false gods—when he soon faced a difficult decision. King Nebuchadnezzar demanded that only the finest foods be sent for Daniel’s consumption, but only after being presented to idols.

The question became for Daniel “was it better to merely obey the king—or, disobey God to please the king? The underlying issues were about allegiance to God. He could have reasoned that breaking the divine command was because he had no choice, that he was just a servant. That would have been an easy justification for disobedience. However, Daniel was filled with a driven desire to do what was right in the eyes of God—and so as a result, he resolved not to eat the royal food, and sought instead, for a way that would honor the Lord by keeping God’s laws.

Prayer and a reverent mind and heart helped Daniel, and through God, he was strengthened, and able to pursue the righteous path instead of the thorny road.

It’s vital to realize that obeying God is clearly the right choice. No matter what the world is doing, or what your friends think is “cool” – outside of God’s will and laws, it’s like walking the tightrope without the protective net below.

However, with God—should we fall, or slip…He is always there to catch us.
Prayers and daily dedication/worship is the preponderance of servitude in His eyes. To become like Daniel, it’s crucial to facilitate a wholehearted commitment to follow the Lord and consistently apply Scripture to circumstances and decisions. Then, when a challenge comes, we’ll have the courage and wisdom to obey God’s commands.

Which path will you choose?

 

 

DEAR GOD: Your Light Shines Through Darkness~

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1 John 1:4-5 (KJV)

And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

 

 

 

 

 

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (John 1:4,5, NASB).

 

The Lord is not at all troubled by the darkness, so why should we? We are His children who are under His Sovereign rule, so again, why should we be troubled?

As children of the Great I AM, we see His light through it all.  No matter what is going on in the world. No matter what is happening before our eyes, we are able to see the light beyond the devastation.

In His own time He carries out His plan for distributing His Light throughout the world, and His time is perfect at all times.  His plan is splendid, above all, and at all times.

Early on He decided on the means that would/will dissolve the darkness. He easily could have shown forth His light and awed all. Instead, however, the Lord chose to have His light shine through  various vessels that would/will reveal His light. The degree that the vessel’s reception of the light be clear and the windows that open to the world clean, God’s own light will shine into the world.

We are vessels and as such have the blessings of being an ambassador to the LORD by carrying out His plan and shining His light to be an example to all we encounter.

Jesus is the way, the light, and the truth…when we ascribe to His doctrine and apply His ways into our ways, we are doing what we are called to do.

Darkness?  I don’t think so.  Only light!

So shine your light because the LIGHT of the world shines His…

Amen.

 

DEAR GOD: Heal Those Suffering and in Pain~

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Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.  Jeremiah 17:14 (KJV)

 

We are God’s children comprised of flesh and blood, but encased within our flesh is the Spirit of the LORD– that is….should we accept Him as our LORD and Savior. And, when we do, we come under grace, and are saved.

When we call upon the LORD for help in all of our circumstances, by His grace we are saved, and by His grace we are healed.

We are sinners, natural sinners, and we will all fall short at times, and its at that time we need to “go easy” on ourselves and realize that God loves us, and He will forgive us when we go to Him with contrite hearts asking for His forgiveness. He already knows our heart and knows if we are truly repentant, we cannot fool Him…He is a “Cardio knower” — which means, He knows our heart and our intentions.

Christians are notorious for being able to forgive others but not so much with their own transgressions.  Five years ago I met a friend of mine that had moved to the mid-west, and during a conversation she confided to me that she was having difficulty forgiving herself for “deeds” and “actions” she’d done when she was in her teens and early twenties.. She was having a tough time understanding how God could love her if she was such a blatant sinner doing such atrocities against the LORD and His Word.

We kept in touch throughout the years, and one day she told me about her sad diagnosis of cancer.  However, she was healed three times, and went into remission three times,   and lived longer than the doctors had predicted, but she was still struggling with forgiving “herself.”

Through emails and conversations, she began to grasp  the concept of God’s love, and ever so slowly and gently  the outer portion of her “shallow perceptions of self” melted away.

She sent me an email, three weeks prior to her death, it was quite an email, and one of which I have saved… it was quite touching and prolifically sad, yet I rejoiced.  You see during the close of the email she said she had finally forgiven “herself” realizing that Jesus had forgiven her all along. She went on to say that she was ready to leave this earth, and wasn’t frightened, in closing she said these words:

“I am a child of God and I finally get it now, He has forgiven me all those years ago on my altar call, He loves me, and I am worthy to be loved because HE LOVES ME. Now I can go home to Him with peace and assurance of being welcomed into His Kingdom…”

When she died it was bittersweet. It was sad that I’d no longer speak with this lovely sweet woman that I enjoyed such a close friendship with, ostensibly at the same time,  I truly rejoiced knowing she was with the LORD and in peace, where she was finally realizing and experiencing first-hand knowledge of  just how much the LORD loved her. Amen.

God’s grace and love should be worn as a “bejeweled cloak” that envelops our bodies every single moment of our lives. It is after all an endless gift of glory given to us by the blood of Christ and by the love of our Father.

So realize this ” He loves us and will always be with us, no matter what.”.

My  beloved deceased friend knows that now.

Blessed are those who realize the depths of His love  while right here on earth.  And know that in Heaven it shall continue for Eternity.

Amen!

 

“Father God, thank You for Your great love that fills us to capacity and beyond as You allow our cups to overflow with joy and peace, in Jesus name, Amen.”

 

 

 

DEAR GOD: OUR CONTRITE HEART~

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A CONTRITE HEART~

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. (Psalm 51:17 KJV)

When we hold onto things the Lord wants us to release, He may hold off on His blessings. Those things, superficial in nature, can be hindrances to our spiritual growth. When we harvest things of insufficient and insignificant pleasures, ultimately, we’re stagnating under His watchful eye. It’s our Father’s will that we should be aware in order to progress to a higher realm to grow closer to God. “Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you. (James 4:8 KJV)

God wants us to follow His will, not ours. When we do things without consulting, or listening to Him, we’re saying—and demonstrating through our actions—we don’t trust Him enough to surrender to His will. When we forego the discipline to begin each day with meditation of His word, and prayer…we may be inviting the “world” to crash into our spirituality. We should keep the scripture of 1 John 4:4 in our hearts, “…greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.”

When we undergo periods of brokenness—which invariably life will throw at us—it’s up to us as children of a great sovereign God, to bow before Him in humility, reverence, praise, and thanksgiving. He surely will bring forth blessings so numerous, our cup will runneth over. With each experience, there will be growth, and refinery.
When we trust Him and journal our lives through prayers, and a keen awareness of outside forces (the world) humility (contrite heart) and compassion…God’s light will not only shine upon us but through us.

Psalm 119:10 ( King James Version)
With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

DEAR GOD: The Power of Your Love~

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The Power of Your Love~

Lord You hear me and know my heart,
You guide me and show me where to start.
Lord You answer according to Your will,
I wait, watch and listen while I am still.

Lord Your Hands are always ready to hold me,
Your purpose and magnificence my eyes see.
Lord this child loves and worships You,
I seek You always that much is true.

Lord You watch us and keep us from harm,
We can walk through fires without alarm.
Lord You brought us through the Red Sea,
Away from Egyptians and set free.

Lord you sent a Prince and Savior to rescue me,
I am so sorry that the world could not see.
Lord I pray that Your children will bow and proclaim,
That Jesus is coming back again to forever reign.

Lord all glory and honor and praise You are due,
I feel renewed and filled with life something I never knew.
Lord You came into my heart and You ignite my soul,
Your fire consumes me, being Your servant is my role.

Lord I stand by You and love learning all,
You lift me and hold me and make me stand tall.
Lord with You I can walk into Your courts so bold,
And shout “I love you” like so many times I have told.

Lord I will be waiting and listening for You,
I wait and watch and look up at the sky so blue.
You are the King, the master of everything,
Your mercy endureth forever this I sing.

by C D Swanson~

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Mark 10:27 KJV
“…With men it is impossible, but not with God: with God all things are possible.”

DEAR GOD: Follow Your Plans & Path Even When Outside of Comfort Zone~

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Jeremiah 29:11-13 

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

 

 

The Lord is faithful and good and He wants what’s best for all of us., and the question then becomes;   “How does He show us that He wants the best?”  The answer— by and through His Word.  He has given us His love and instructions in the Holy Bible…an informative and comprehensive guide for each of us, His children.

Book after book, verse after verse, describes in detail through individuals chosen by God to do His will, and be vessels for His purpose, establishing His commandments and the outcome for doing His will, as well as the outcome for “not” following His will.  The Old testament is obviously before Christ, but is important to this day, establishing a continuity that ties all the way up to Christ’s death and resurrection, and finishing with Revelation, of times that had happened, and will happen at the end times, and also for eternity.

When we get to know our Father through His powerful Word, and meditate on Him, and spend time with Him daily, we are able to ascertain His plans for us.  Sometimes those plans are clear and undeniably precise, at times they can be cloudy and seem hard to understand, and still other times, we can feel “outside of our comfort zone” with where God is placing us.  This is when we need to trust Him fully, and know that where He leads us, and the path in which He puts us on is the absolute best possible scenario for us, His children.  He wants us to be with Him for eternity, and sent His Son to establish that covenant with us, that “those who choose to believe and accept Christ as their Lord and Savior shall spend eternity” with our Father in Heaven.

Reach out to the Father, ask Him to do His will and He will oblige and be only too glad to show you.

Read His Word, and learn of the sacrifices and trials that chosen individuals went through.

Meditate on His love and experience the assurance and peace that stems from this knowledge.

And go forward in applying His will and purpose for Your life, and if it is outside your comfort zone, so be it, it is for your benefit and for His glory.

“Father God, thank You for Your love and guidance in our life, and for Your faithfulness in all of Your children since the beginning of time, You alone are in control, and You alone are the sole purpose of our existence, shine Your light into the darkness Lord, and wash us clean with Your love, in Jesus name, Amen.” 

 

DEAR GOD: Sowing Seeds While Rooted in Your Love~

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Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 19When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. 20But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. 22He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 23But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Matthew 13:18-23 18 (KJV)

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Producing Spiritual fruit and sowing  seeds all comes down to love.

If we love God, and sow good seed in rich soil…we will preserve.  When we are rooted in Christ, we are rooted in truth so we can stand firm in the temptations of the world, and lure of riches and empty visions dancing before us in terms of darkness, as we look toward the ultimate light. When we are tapping into the soil of God, we can stand firm.  We can make better decisions, we are gilded in the light and protected by the armor of the Gospel.

When we are tapped into the “soil of the world” we will be overrun with temptations and the seductive cries of the world. But when we stand firm, and sow where we can, continuing the work of the LORD and offer the seeds to those who haven’t any idea, we are growing in spirit, and becoming grafted in the vine,  while doing what the LORD orders.

When we have firm faith we are tapping into the good soil, we are persevering and continuing to the end.  This is the road map to eternal happiness. This is the soil that we should always be cultivating and using our spiritual fertilizer, which is God’s grace unto all that we aspire.

God will provide the water for growth to the seeds we sow….and open eyes and open ears, but some will not benefit, and they will grasp the word for a little while before the “enemy” will take it away, long before they’re firmly rooted in Christ. The world can choke the word, the enemy is of the world, and so it is.

While we are loving God and offering ourselves as a vessel, while surrendering to Him fully, we are able to withstand the temperaments of the world, and exhibit a sense of confidence that only comes from being a devout Christian in the Army of the LORD! Amen!

Spread your seeds of love and hasten someone’s life from an abysmal existence while bringing them, with God’s grace, into the light.  Help them see and hear and breathe an entirely new way of living, because without God, let’s face it…there is NO living!

“Father God, help us to sow seeds to those who are without the “soil of Your love” and are sinking in the soil of the world, help us to be an example of Your light, and Your ways, and bring them out of the darkness into the light of Your love, in Jesus Christ name, Amen.” 

 

DEAR GOD: Fill Your Children with Joy~

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1 Thessalonians 1:6

You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit,

 

No matter where we are, or what we may be doing, we should be thrilled and rejoice knowing we have the Spirit within to guide us and take us to depths of love of which we only could know through having Him dwell within. Our amazing and loving Father who gifted us with the Comforter, who will never leave us nor forsake us.

The indelible mark of love is left on our heart by His generosity in giving up His life for us, and by the Father who sacrificed His Son for us. We are therefore filled with Joy, which is LOVE which is His Spirit.

The Apostles waited longingly for the Comforter to come, and were granted the gift as He came over all of those in the upper room after He was resurrected, as told in Acts.  It was a beautiful moment then, and equally beautiful now when an individual accepts Christ and invites Him into His heart as their Lord and Savoir.  No matter how many times it’s been done throughout time…it is as beautiful as it was way back then, as it is today.  When even one soul is saved it’s powerful and moving…and the angels in heaven rejoice and sing.

When we become “imitators of the Lord” through the joy of the Holy Spirit and transform into a realm of receiving Him daily and being a witness to others by speaking the truth and sharing the Word, we are basking in the glory of His love.  The joy is complete and overwhelmingly obvious.

So many people are hurting and walking around in a virtual abyss of blackness never coming to the light or giving light a chance.  These are the ones that the Lord calls us to sow seeds and share the Word.  It’ll be up to the LORD whether it takes root or not.  We are called to sprinkle seeds where we can…but ultimately it’s the LORD who provides the water and the growth.

Rejoice and be exceedingly glad as we are called to be vessels of the LORD in His word and ways, even when there are those who will ridicule us and make fun of our faith.  There will be those who will seemingly take delight in mocking us in a fiendish way, but as Jesus said, “when you are ridiculed or mocked be exceedingly glad for great is the reward in heaven.”

As we attempt to go through this life our journey will be filled with many different kinds of paths. Some will be gravelly, some will be smooth, some will be stony, some will be dirt filled…and some will have a fork in the road…it’s the Spirit that will offer guidance and help through all of our paths, and the Father who holds us up in the process.

Be glad and be of good cheer…God is here today, tomorrow…always!

 

“Father God, Creator of the Universe, Master of all things, thank You for the gift of the Comforter, for the joy that fills my heart due to Your love and guidance, and thank You for all that You do since the beginning of time, may I bring You joy through my diligence in Your Word, and in my love for You, I pray all that I do will be a witness for You and Your amazing love, in Jesus precious name, Amen.”

 

 

1 Peter 4:13-14

….But to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

DEAR GOD: My Eyes Forever on You~

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Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net. (Psalm 25:15 KJV)

While driving a song came on the Christian radio that said, “Keep your eyes on God, stay in the moment with Him.” And I thought, of course…I already do. However, upon further reflection I realize that there are times that all Christians will focus on something other than God.

It may be a selfish “me” moment, or it might be an “oh, that’ll happen next week” thought. It’s normal of course, the world can come crashing into our Christian “space” and deliver conflicting moments that deter our thoughts from focusing on what is right and what is real. To be in the moment with God is to truly enjoy the sanctity of His presence and to allow His Spirit to fully encompass our being, ultimately surrendering to His will while basking in His glory.

To be in the moment, is concentrating on Him and all that He requires of us, and walking in His light of righteousness. To be in the moment, is to focus on Him and not worrying about tomorrow, as Jesus so eloquently states in Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

To be in the moment is to fully entrust His Omnipotence and His Sovereign power to guide us and bring us to our full purpose in life. To be in the moment is to not look at things superficially and worry about “ourselves” or sitting on a pot of “woe is me”– but instead to meditate and be one with His being.

Trials will come our way–all of us will and have faced these difficult moments–but when we focus on Him and stay in the moment with Him, an inner peace will transcend the mounting pressures and worries allowing the fire to purify and bring us closer to that mirror image of Christ. Diverse actions will abound and multiple scenarios will creep into our lives, no matter how careful or meticulous or faithful we are, but God will always be there with us to guide us through. And, when we focus on Him and drink in His vitality and His essence of the true living waters…we’ll be able to get through any desert and He’ll nurture us in the process as He brings us through the valleys of decline, and before long we’ll be on the incline.

His eyes are on us at all times, His hands is outstretched and His heart filled with love never ending for His children. With His promises, and His sacrifices, and His depth of compassion and knowledge, shouldn’t we concentrate on the “Great I am?” instead of focusing on worthless worrying that’ll do us no good.

Worrying, as Jesus teaches, will not amount to any good. All the worrying will not change a thing. “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? (Matthew 6:25)

God is in control at all times…we don’t have to worry, He has our back!

Faith is in itself a gift from God. He opens ears and opens eyes to those who have a heart for Him. However, be it known, that He can turn a heart of stone into a veritable loving and compassionate one. His divine will, and His plans according to our purpose, for our good, always for our good.

For those going through difficult times at this moment, take solace, He’s with you. He’ll not forsake you, nor will He ever abandon you. He will lead you through your adversity, whether it’s grief, physical illness, despair over finances, a troubling relationship, or whatever the case may be…He’s there for you. He loves you, and He will always be your Father forevermore.

To those who are suffering through a crisis, please concentrate on Him, and allow Him to be in control while entrusting Him with your path and your pain. Stay in the moment, embrace His presence and bask in His glory. The pain will eventually subside and the situation will undoubtedly leave. However, God will always be with you. As our amazing Lord and Savior Jesus Christ promised and said– “…and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Matthew 28:20)

 

Thank You my LORD God, Father how I love You, I give You my heart and know You own my soul, keep me alive and pulsating in Your Word, as I do all according to Your will, now and always, in Jesus precious and loving name, Amen.”

 

 

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 “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? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 28 So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble…”

(Matthew 26:34 )