“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you more valuable than they are? And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life? Why do you worry about clothing? Think about how the flowers of the field grow; they do not work or spin.  Matthew 6:24-28

Have you ever been caught in the middle? It’s a terrible place to be. Some people are well-practiced because they’ve assumed the role of peacemaker as children. They’ve learned that the stress of trying to please both sides is crippling. Compromise helps temporarily, but neither side is ever truly satisfied because neither feels like they have won.

What does this have to do with what I’ll eat or what I’ll wear? It’s about worry and anxiety.  And anxiety serves Master Satan as we wonder if God will be faithful.  Satan is the author of such storylines.  Worry leads to autonomy as I take matters into my own hands to care for myself, believing that God might not come through for me. 

Remember the daisy game? ‘He loves me – He loves me not.’ Although it was childish, I still recall the suspense as I got to the last few petals. Which way would it go? Love me – or loves me not? This captures the tension of serving two masters.

When the stakes are high, so is the battle. How can this tug of war be won? Remove the influence of the evil one.  Nothing Satan says is true. He is a liar, and his default language is based on deceit. Today, I step out of the middle. When the first thought of worry comes, I will capture it and kill it at the root with the sword of the Word. 

No middle, Father.  No torment.  Only a simple, childlike trust built on every single promise You have made.  Amen