Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith! --Luke 12:24-28
A raven is an ugly bird. Just a bird. It has no soul, no desire to be near its creator, no seat of emotions, no capacity to feel heartache or despair. It's just a bird that lives to eat and reproduce. But God loves that ugly bird enough to provide it with food and water. God loves it enough to ensure its survival.
A lily is a beautiful flower, with what I'm sure are vibrant and vivid colors (I'll take your word for it). It's just a flower, though, that sprouts, grows, gets pollenated, and dies. But God has given that flower beauty and immortality through the symbolism of His Word. "The Lily of the Valley," remember that?
We pray because God loves us. He loves us above any other creation of His. He loves us enough to promise to meet any and every need we might have.
There's been a ginormous (hate that made-up word) amount of prayer going up today. It's been a day of caring, loving, encouraging, and supporting. I felt depended on today and that makes me giddy like a schoolgirl. I felt God prompting us to reach out to those we love the most and help heal them up a little. Man, I love God! He's great.
Ravens and lilies are God's creations, but we are His most precious. The above Scripture refers to God's provision; food and clothing. But He provides us with so much more than just those things. He provides us with strength, encouragement, comfort, faith, healing, peace. And He gives us soft places to land when we fall, and shoulders to rest on when we are weak.
But most importantly, He gives Himself. And the promise that He is enough to cover any circumstance.
Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
The creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might He increases strength.
Keep praying for the Mays family.
