Living Like Eagles: Trusting and Binding to God’s Grace

Devotional

Day 1: God Knows and Cares for You Deeply

God’s knowledge of every bird and His care for them is a reminder that He knows every detail of your life, including your struggles, your needs, and your hidden wounds. Even when you feel unseen or unworthy, God’s loving attention is upon you, and His presence is constant, offering you sustaining grace in every circumstance. You are of far more value to Him than the birds, and His care for you is unwavering, no matter what you face. [43:21]

Matthew 6:26 (ESV):
"Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?"

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have doubted God’s care or attention? How can you invite Him to show you His presence in that area today?

Day 2: Trusting God Beyond Your Own Understanding

Trusting in the Lord means choosing to rely on Him fully, not just with words but by refusing to lean on your own limited understanding or the shifting ground of your circumstances. When you stretch yourself out in faith, you find that God is reliable and able to hold you up, even when everything else feels unstable. True trust is shown not just in belief, but in the daily decision to lean on God rather than your fears, feelings, or what you see in front of you. [01:07:37]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV):
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

Reflection: Where are you tempted to lean on your own understanding instead of God’s wisdom? What would it look like to lean into God’s promises in that situation today?

Day 3: Waiting on God Means Binding Yourself to Him

Waiting on the Lord is not passive; it is an active, hope-filled binding of your life to God’s strength, wisdom, and peace. Like braiding cords together, your weakness becomes intertwined with His power, your confusion with His clarity, and your fear with His steadfast love. As you bind yourself to God, you are lifted by His Spirit, able to rise above the storms and challenges that would otherwise keep you grounded. [01:17:34]

Isaiah 40:31 (ESV):
"But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to stop waiting passively and start actively binding yourself to God? How can you “braid” your weakness with His strength today?

Day 4: You Have a Choice—Cling to God or to What Cannot Hold You

Every day, you choose what you tie yourself to—your fears, your doubts, your circumstances, or the steadfast love and strength of God. When you cling to God, even in your lowest moments, His right hand upholds you and gives you the ability to rise above what would otherwise defeat you. The invitation is to make an honest decision: will you live bound to the ground, or will you cling to the One who can truly hold you? [01:26:23]

Psalm 63:8 (ESV):
"My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me."

Reflection: What is one thing you have been clinging to that cannot truly hold you? What step can you take today to cling to God instead?

Day 5: Respond to God’s Grace—Today, Not Tomorrow

God’s binding grace is present and available right now, calling you to respond—not just to reflect, but to make a decision to tie yourself to Him. Tomorrow is not promised, and the opportunity to live in the freedom and strength of God’s love is for today. Jesus gave His life so you could be bound to Him, lifted above the noise and fear of the world, and live as He created you to live. [01:30:23]

2 Corinthians 6:2 (ESV):
"For he says, 'In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.' Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation."

Reflection: What decision have you been putting off in your relationship with God? What is stopping you from responding to His grace today?

Sermon Summary

Today, we gathered to celebrate Thanksgiving Sunday, a day to pause and reflect on the goodness and faithfulness of God, even when life feels heavy or uncertain. I reminded everyone that gratitude is not just a feeling for when things are going well, but a posture we can choose, even in the midst of storms. We looked at the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:26, where He tells us to “look at the birds of the air”—creatures who do not worry, yet are cared for by our Heavenly Father. In Psalm 50:11, God declares, “I know all the birds of the hills,” reminding us of His intimate knowledge and care for all creation, including us.

I used the image of two birds—the eagle and the chicken—to challenge us to reflect on how we are living. The chicken lives low, loud, and limited, always reacting to what’s around it, tied to fear, and never looking up. Many of us, if we’re honest, find ourselves living like chickens: anxious, distracted, and bound to the ground by our circumstances and emotions. In contrast, the eagle soars high, lifted by winds it did not create, with vision that sees far beyond the present moment. The eagle waits for the wind, trusting and leaning into what lifts it higher, just as Isaiah 40:31 promises that those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength and rise up with wings like eagles.

The heart of today’s reflection is on God’s “binding grace”—a grace that doesn’t let go, that braids itself to our weakness, our fear, our confusion, and our exhaustion. The Hebrew word for “wait” in Isaiah 40:31, “kava,” means to bind or braid together. When we wait on God, we are not passively sitting by, but actively intertwining our lives with His strength, His faithfulness, and His peace. This is the grace that sustains us, that lifts us above the storms, and that gives us the courage to live as eagles, not chickens.

The choice is before each of us: will we continue to tie ourselves to fear, doubt, and the noise of this world, or will we bind ourselves to the God who knows us, loves us, and upholds us? Today is the day to make that decision, to cling to the One who will never let us go, and to live in the freedom and strength of His binding grace.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s grace binds us, not just visits God’s grace is not a fleeting feeling or a temporary fix. It is a binding, steadfast presence that attaches itself to us, even when we are at our weakest or most unworthy. This grace is like a braid, intertwining our brokenness with His strength, our confusion with His wisdom, and our fear with His peace. When we truly grasp this, we stop striving to hold ourselves together and allow His grace to sustain us through every season. [57:27]
2. The chicken life is reactive and limited Living like a chicken means being tied to what we see, feel, and fear—always reacting, never rising above. This life is noisy, anxious, and bound to the ground, unable to see beyond the immediate. Many believers settle for this way of living, but it leads to spiritual exhaustion and a lack of vision. God calls us to recognize what we are tying ourselves to each day and to choose a higher way. [61:17]
3. The eagle life trusts, waits, and soars The eagle is not ruled by fear or the chaos around it. Instead, it waits for the wind, trusting in what it cannot see, and rises higher than any storm. This is a picture of faith that does not flap in panic but extends its wings in trust, allowing God’s strength to lift us. The eagle’s vision is far-reaching, seeing beyond the present trouble to the promises of God. [72:21]
4. Waiting on God means braiding your life with His The Hebrew word “kava” for “wait” means to bind or braid together. Waiting on God is not passive; it is an active, intentional intertwining of our lives with His. As we braid our weakness with His strength, our instability with His faithfulness, we become strong and unbreakable, able to rise above what would otherwise hold us down. [77:34]
5. The choice is yours: what will you tie yourself to? Every day, we choose what we will bind ourselves to—fear, doubt, or the steadfast love of God. The invitation is to cling to the One who upholds us, just as David did in his darkest hour. This is not just a call to feel better, but to make a real, honest decision to live as God’s beloved, soaring above the noise and fear of this world. [86:23]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[40:30] - Thanksgiving and Gratitude
[42:01] - Greeting from Pastor Lou
[43:21] - God Knows All the Birds
[44:55] - God’s Ever-Present Grace
[47:36] - Chickens and Eagles: A Life Comparison
[49:25] - Honest Self-Reflection
[50:53] - The Call to Decision
[52:29] - God Knows and Still Loves
[53:56] - The Chicken Life: Low, Loud, Limited
[55:33] - Gratitude for Binding Grace
[57:27] - Grace That Binds Us
[59:32] - The Chicken Life: Tied to Fear
[69:47] - The Eagle Life: Higher, Quieter, Stronger
[72:21] - Vision Beyond the Present
[75:14] - Waiting on the Lord: “Kava”
[77:34] - Braiding Your Life with God
[79:56] - What Are You Tied To?
[83:39] - Rising Above by God’s Strength
[86:23] - Cling to God Who Upholds
[90:23] - Today is the Day of Salvation
[91:31] - Tie Yourself to Jesus
[93:15] - Responding to God’s Call
[94:18] - Closing Prayer and Commitment

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Living Like Eagles, Not Chickens

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### Bible Reading

Matthew 6:26 (ESV)
> "Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?"

Psalm 50:11 (ESV)
> "I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine."

Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)
> "But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

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### Observation Questions

According to Matthew 6:26, what does Jesus say about the birds of the air and how God cares for them? What point is He making about our value? [42:01]
In Psalm 50:11, what does God declare about His knowledge of creation? How does this connect to His relationship with us? [43:21]
The sermon uses the image of two birds: the chicken and the eagle. What are some key differences described between how chickens and eagles live? [47:36]
What does the Hebrew word “kava” (wait) mean in Isaiah 40:31, and how does this deepen our understanding of what it means to wait on God? [01:16:29]

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### Interpretation Questions

Why does Jesus use birds as an example when teaching about worry and trust? What does this reveal about God’s character and our relationship to Him? [42:01]
The sermon describes the “chicken life” as low, loud, and limited. What does it mean to live this way spiritually, and why do so many people settle for it? [59:32]
The “eagle life” is described as trusting, waiting, and soaring. How does this kind of life reflect faith in God’s promises, especially during difficult times? [01:09:47]
The idea of “binding grace” is central to the sermon. How does understanding grace as something that binds or braids itself to us change the way we see God’s involvement in our struggles? [57:27]

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### Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to reflect honestly: Are you living more like a chicken or an eagle right now? What are some specific signs in your daily life that reveal which one you are? [49:25]
The “chicken life” is tied to fear, anxiety, and reacting to circumstances. What is one area of your life where you notice yourself reacting out of fear or worry instead of trust? What would it look like to respond differently this week? [01:00:32]
The “eagle life” waits for the wind and trusts in what it cannot see. Can you share a time when you had to trust God for something you couldn’t control? How did that experience shape your faith? [01:12:21]
The Hebrew word “kava” means to braid or bind together. What would it look like for you to actively intertwine your weakness, fear, or confusion with God’s strength and peace this week? Is there a practical step you can take to do this? [01:17:34]
Every day, we choose what we tie ourselves to—fear, doubt, or God’s steadfast love. What is one thing you are currently tied to that you want to let go of? What would it look like to tie yourself to God instead? [01:19:56]
The sermon says God’s grace is not a fleeting feeling but a binding presence. When you feel unworthy or weak, how can you remind yourself of this truth and let God’s grace sustain you? [57:27]
The choice is yours: What will you tie yourself to? What decision do you need to make today to live in the freedom and strength of God’s binding grace? [01:26:23]

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Sermon Clips

Every time we get up here to preach, we're not here preaching just for you to say, wow, what a great word. No, it's not about a great word. It's about reflecting on what God's trying to reach out to you. Reflecting to the point where it causes you to make a decision to act on what you're reflecting. The best thing you could do in response to God's word is respond to it. Really respond to it. Make the decision and don't put it off for another day when today is the day of salvation. [00:50:11] (32 seconds) #RespondToGod

God knows me. And you know, that's pretty scary because if God knows me, that means God knows every decision I've made, every step I've taken, every word I spoke, every line of my eyesight, every thought of my mind. And how many times there are things that I've done, said, thought that are so shameful. And yet in the midst of all that God knows, he still looks at me with tenderness and with love and mercy. That's the God that is here in this moment. [00:52:53] (32 seconds) #KnownAndLoved

There's movement of God, his grace, the triune God, one God in three persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. They move in unison towards you. It's a steadfast love. It's a love that doesn't give up today. It's a love that's permanent day in and day out. When you mess up, when you forget him, when you say what you're not supposed to say, do what you're not supposed to do, that love is still there after you. That love is present right now. His binding grace. [00:56:47] (33 seconds) #BoundByGrace

It's the grace that bound to me. It's the grace that sought me when he was the last thing on my mind. What was on my mind was sin. What was on my mind, what I wanted to do to satisfy my flesh. And there were mistakes made. But even in the midst of the mistakes, the grace was still present to the extent that it came upon me when I was not worthy of that grace. That's the beauty of God. That's the God that we preach. [00:57:38] (36 seconds) #ChickenOrEagle

Trust is the posture, but leaning is the proof. Can I say that again? Trust is the posture, but leaning is the proof. You see, chickens trust only what they see, so they lean only on the ground. They see the ground and that's the only thing they lean on. But eagles, they trust the wind, so they lean into what lifts them up. They lean into what lifts them up. I mean, come on, somebody gotta be with me right now. [01:07:19] (39 seconds) #StrengthThroughStorms

The eagle life is higher, quieter, and stronger. Can I say that again? The eagle life is higher, quieter, and stronger. You know, Charles Spurgeon, an amazing preacher from the turn of the century, he said, God does not make his children strong by keeping them from the wind, but by lifting them through it. Can I say that again? God does not make his children strong by keeping them from the wind, but by lifting them through it. [01:10:11] (39 seconds) #EagleVision

``If I'm braiding myself, that means my weakness is braided with his strength. If I'm braiding myself, that means my instability is being braided with his unchanging faithfulness. If I'm braiding myself with God, that means my confusion is getting together with his perfect wisdom. If I'm braiding myself, that means my fear is getting connected with his steadfast peace. If I'm braiding myself, my exhaustion is getting braided with his amazing rejuvenating power. [01:18:44] (37 seconds) #LiveLikeAnEagle

Ultimately, the reason Jesus died on the cross is so he could braid himself to you. That's it. That's it. God wants to braid himself to you. Are you living like a chicken or are you living like an eagle? What are you tying yourself to? You might look at me and you might say, but what do you mean, what am I tying myself to exactly? When you open up your eyes in the morning and you live out your day, you're choosing to tie yourself to something. [01:19:45] (40 seconds)

The choice is before you. The chicken life reacts to everything, bound to the ground, lives in fear and noise. Or the eagle life trusts, binds itself to God, and it ascends, it rises higher. There's a beautiful verse, Psalms chapter 63 verse 8, it says, my soul clings to you, your right hand upholds me. Can I say that again? My soul clings to you, your right hand upholds me. [01:25:49] (43 seconds)

Today the choice is yours. Cling to what cannot hold you or cling to the God who will always hold you. What are you tied to? What are you tied to? What are you tied to? Very simple, very profound, it deserves an honest answer. You know if you're tied yourself to God or not. You know if you're tied to God or not. Don't live like a chicken, live like the eagle that God called you to be. Amen. Are you with me today? Are you with me? [01:27:37] (47 seconds)

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