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Bible Reading Plan

Reading Plan: Psalm 37:1-11

Do not fret because of those who are evil
    or be envious of those who do wrong;
for like the grass they will soon wither,
    like green plants they will soon die away.

Trust in the Lord and do good;
    dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
    your vindication like the noonday sun.

Be still before the Lord
    and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
    when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
    do not fret—it leads only to evil.
For those who are evil will be destroyed,
    but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.

A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
    though you look for them, they will not be found.
But the meek will inherit the land
    and enjoy peace and prosperity.

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Daily Devotional: Optimist Way

“And why do you worry about clothes? 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?

Matthew 6:28-30

A few years ago, my New Year’s resolution was to “expect the best.” My habitual worrying had me expecting the worst, and I was tired of the negativity. When I was a child, my home environment was chaotic. Worry seemed like a way to control things and avoid being caught off guard. I relied on it to the point that it seemed irresponsible not to worry. My New Year’s resolution acknowledged that hope based on predicting problems is no hope at all. Stability can only be found in the One who created and sustains all things—our unchanging, all-knowing God.

In today’s passage, Jesus describes the disciples as “you of little faith.” He is not rebuking them. He is patiently pointing out the gap between what they believe about God and their lack of trust revealed by worry. Hebrews 11:1 says faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Sometimes, even though we believe in God’s goodness, we are afraid. The problems all around us overshadow our faith. It is human nature to believe what we can see, but faith is confidence in unseen realities.

I have made progress, but I still worry more than I want to. Recently, I was obsessing over an issue. I decided a walk with God would help. As I strolled, I asked Him what He thought about my worries. I was out of town and not familiar with the area. Soon, I came to a street called “Optimist Way.” I smiled and snapped a photo of the street sign as a reminder to expect the best. Next, I rounded a corner and saw a steep brush-covered hill with a towering cross at the peak. The sight reminded me that God is always with me. In that moment, I knew I did not need to make a perfect plan because nothing I chose could compromise God’s will. Immediately, my worry vanished, replaced with gratitude and hope.

Is it a coincidence I picked that neighborhood that day? No. I believe God guided me there to show me He cares. He knew I needed visual reminders to overcome my “you of little faith” moment. Since I want my state of mind to match my theology, I set the “Optimist Way” photo as my phone’s wallpaper. It is a visual reminder to trust God and expect the best. 

Next Steps

Does your state of mind match what you believe about God? Frequent conversations with Him can help. Trust is built through relationships. Knowing God personally is as essential as knowing about Him. Make room in your day for both prayer and Bible study.