Worry-free
The Lord God is like the sun that gives us light.
He is like a shield that keeps us safe. ~ Psalm 84:11 (NIRV)
So don’t worry. ~ Matthew 6:31 (NIRV)
Powerful God, thank you for shining light onto our situation. Thank you for protecting us. I'm glad that I do not have to worry. But I admit that I do worry. I worry because it makes me feel powerful -- as though I can change things by thinking about them. But that kind of magic does not work. I ask that you would help me to understand just how powerful you are and how silly it is for me to worry over things. I'm not asking to escape from responsibility but to be able to rest and relax in your sunlight. I'm aiming to live a worry-free life because of the power of Christ Jesus. Amen.
TRANSLATIONS
ABP = Authorized Boydston Paraphrase — my own freestyle biblical adaptation — somewhere between paraphrase, commentary, and sermon
CEB = Common English Bible (©2011, the Common English Bible)
CEV = Contemporary English Version (©1995, American Bible Society)
MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)
NIRV = New International Reader's Version (©1996, 1998, Biblica)
NIV = New International Version (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica)
NLT = New Living Translation (©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, Tyndale House Foundation)
