Look Again and Consecrate
Inspired by Oswald Chambers’ “My Utmost for His Highest”
"If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you—you of little faith?"
—Matthew 6:30
Jesus’ words in Matthew 6 challenge us to look at the simplicity of life as God intended. He draws our attention to the grass of the field and the lilies, reminding us that they do not toil or spin to clothe themselves, yet they are arrayed in splendor by their Creator. Why, then, should we worry about our needs when our Heavenly Father promises to care for us?
At the heart of Jesus’ teaching is a call to consecration—a daily choosing to trust and align ourselves with Him. Yet how often do we complicate what He has made simple? Worry sneaks in, clouding our faith, and we find ourselves questioning if He will truly provide. The problem is not His provision; it is our failure to trust.
The Parable of the Stream
Imagine a stream flowing peacefully through a valley. Its purpose is simple: to flow where it is placed, bringing life to the surrounding land. The stream doesn’t fret over where it will go or if the rocks along its path will be removed. It doesn’t try to carve its own direction. It simply flows, trusting the One who carved the valley and sustains the water source.
We are like that stream. When we trust in God’s provision and live where He has placed us, He ensures that all we need is provided. But when we worry, when we try to divert the flow of His provision with our own plans, we disrupt the peace He intended for us. Consecration is choosing to let the stream flow as He designed it—not once, but every day.
A Life of Daily Consecration
Jesus calls us to grow where we are placed, to focus on the life He has given us and trust that He will care for the rest. Consecration is not a one-time event but a daily surrender to His will. Each day, we must lay aside our concerns, our “what ifs,” and our need to control, and instead consider the “much more” of our Heavenly Father.
Jesus said, “Behold the fowls of the air.” They do not sow or reap, yet God feeds them. When we obey His Spirit, focusing on the life He has called us to live, He takes care of our “feathers.” This is not about passivity but about trust—an active reliance on Him to meet our needs.
If we are not experiencing the peace of the “much more,” it may be because we are tangled in our own plans, refusing to let Him direct the stream of our lives. His promises are true, but we must continually separate ourselves from the cares of the world and commit to trusting Him daily.
A Prayer of Trust
Father,
Thank You for the simplicity of Your promises. I trust that You have already provided all I need and that Your care for me is constant and unchanging. Like the stream flowing through the valley, may I rest in Your direction and provision. Let my focus be on the life You have placed within me and the work You have prepared for me to do. I rejoice in the “much more” of Your love and care, knowing You are faithful. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Final Thought
The lilies do not toil, the grass does not scheme, and the birds do not fret—yet God provides for them all. How much more, then, can we rest in His provision as we daily consecrate ourselves to Him? Let the stream of your life flow as He directs, trusting that He will guide and sustain you.