Dear Friends,

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.” – Matthew 6:26

Read: Matthew 6:25–34

A group of turkeys is called a rafter. I know it is Thanksgiving week and our thoughts of turkey normally focus on eating them but watching a rafter of turkeys can teach us some amazing lessons, and a good reason for giving thanks.

I’ve never turkey-watched in person, but thanks to nature shows, we can get insight into their daily lives. They scratch fiercely with spectacular talons. They hunt and peck at the ground, most likely eating. Often the food options in the area do not appear to be able to sustain anything. Yet here are these turkeys, dozens of them, all looking delectably plump.

Watching these well-fed turkeys brings to mind Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:26: “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” Jesus uses God’s provision for seemingly worthless birds to remind us of His care for us. If a bird’s life matters, how much more does ours? Jesus then contrasts fretting about our daily needs (vv. 27–31) with a life in which we “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness” (v. 33), one in which we’re confident of His rich provision for our needs. Because if God can care for that rafter of wild turkeys, He can certainly look after you and me.

Prayer suggestion: Lord remind me to be thankful in my daily life, as I go through life, may I remain dependent on You and thankful for Your presence and provision.