Flowers and Faith - The Crosswalk Devotional - July 26

PLUS...7 Questions to Ask before Posting about Politics on Social Media  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ &zwnj [Crosswalk.com Logo]( The Crosswalk Devotional  [Devotionals](        [Newsletters](        [e-Cards](      [The Crosswalk Devotional]( Flowers and Faith By Whitney Hopler “… See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 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? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” – [Matthew 6:28-33]( NIV After a busy week at work and school, my family and I decided one Saturday to let our long list of chores and errands wait so we could enjoy a botanical garden together. Worries about all I had to do still crept into my mind as I walked around. So, I chose a path toward some rose bushes and decided to literally “stop and smell the roses.” I enjoyed sniffing the fragrances of every single rose variety there. Inhaling those sweet scents felt like inhaling God’s grace because God made it possible for me to enjoy that [wondrous nature experience]( unconditionally. I didn’t have to earn the experience by completing any chores or errands. When I exhaled in between sniffing the roses, I felt like I was letting go of more and more worry each time. In this fallen world that’s full of stress and uncertainty, it’s easy to find ourselves consumed by worry. However, Jesus calls us to a different way of living – one marked by [faith]( and trust in God. Jesus tells us that flowers can serve as beautiful reminders of God’s care and provision for us. In both Matthew chapter 6 and Luke chapter 12, Jesus uses the example of flowers (which some translations identify as lilies) to illustrate a powerful truth about God’s provision. He points out how these simple yet exquisite creations of God don’t worry, yet God makes it possible for them to bloom with beauty that surpasses even the grand clothes of [King Solomon](. Jesus highlights this awe-inspiring reality to remind us that if God takes such good care of plants like flowers and even grass – which live only briefly – how much more will God provide for us, his beloved children?  [CONTINUE READING →](            You May Also Like:        [7 Questions to Ask before Posting about Politics on Social Media](  Scott Slayton Engaging with people on social media, particularly about politics, can be tric  [CONTINUE READING →](       [5 Religious Words You Might Not Know](  Candice Lucey Christians use a language some call “Christianese” when discussing their faith, and this kind of language can be intimidating to non-Christians or those who were not raised in the church. Let’s tackle a few distinctly Christian words and phrases.  [CONTINUE READING →](            [Dancing Security Guards Surprise Workers With Choreographed Dance](  GodTube.com People in a London office building were treated to an unexpected and choreographed dance routine involving a pair of security guards.  [WATCH NOW →](        [10 Worship Songs I'd Be Fine with Never Singing Again (And Why)](  Elizabeth Spencer If you’re reading this piece, it’s probably for one of two reasons: 1) to see if your favorite worship song is on this list, or 2) to see if your least favorite worship song is on this list.  [CONTINUE READING →](                            Bible Trivia Question of the Day                                           Why was Barabbas in jail? A. robbery B. larceny C. murder D. perjury [ANSWER THE QUESTION →](     [Crosswalk.com Logo](  [Read about Salem Web Network](  |  [Unsubscribe](   [Email Preference Center](  |  [View in Browser](   © 2023 Salem Web Network. All rights reserved. 111 Virginia Street, Suite 200, Richmond, VA 23219. This email is never sent unsolicited. You are receiving this email because your email address, {EMAIL}, is signed up to receive newsletters, updates, and special offers from Crosswalk. Â