Inspirational Thought of the Day:
Sometimes it is not until we are lacking that we can see God’s provision.
Scriptures of the Day:
Ecclesiastes 7:14
“In times of prosperity be joyful, but in times of adversity consider this: God has made one as well as the other, so that no one can discover what the future holds.”
“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
Matthew 6:26
“Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?
Simply thanking God for provision would be hardly sufficient for all He provides for us. He gives us life and grace to live this life. He provides for our basic needs and even delights to lavishly express His love and care for us.
“The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; but they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing.”
I vividly recall seasons in my life when my husband had lost his job due to the economy and the Federal Government cutting back on defense spending budgets. Trying to find a job when whole offices were let go was challenging, to say the least, but this time became precious to me as I noticed the many ways God provided for us.
Sometimes it is not until we are lacking that we can see God’s provision.
I remember telling my children that we would have to do without things we were accustomed to. Things that we thought were necessary were now understood as amazing blessings. During this season of “lack”, our garden flourished (boomed!) and we were able to give to others.
Unspoken requests and desires in my heart were met by my God Who sees all and Who sometimes goes to great lengths to demonstrate His care. I missed coconut oil, feta cheese, fruit, veggies, cheese and popcorn. I thanked the LORD for the times when we could afford those things and repented for when I had not been more grateful. Barely were these thoughts formed, when, within days, two people randomly said they felt led to give me coconut oil, feta cheese and popcorn. Wow. I had not told anyone. Friends brought fruits and veggies that were not growing in our garden and I realized how blessed we were to have a God Who lived in these precious friends who considered it a joy to help us in our time of need.
In times of need, our flesh can be prone to doubt God’s goodness. But it is in the times of scarcity that we can draw nearer to our God and accept blessings and burdens from His hand. For the burdens of this life cause us to depend on our Maker and remind us that we were not made to live solitary lives apart from God. We were made to know and worship Him.
God truly gives us every single thing we have. Friends, family, home, food, health, work, talents, favor, joy, hope, strength . . . EVERYTHING! His gifts are never taken back, but given at just the right time. Most of all, I am grateful that God provided Himself as a sacrifice for us because of His great love for us. Saved. Forever.
We cannot boast in any belonging, any gift of God in our lives. We can only humbly bow to our Jehovah Jireh, our magnificent Provider, who faithfully gives His children what they need.
Oh, God! I worship You, our Provider! Thank You for all You graciously give to us! Help us to cultivate gratitude in our lives as we recognize Your abundant provision moment by moment!
Denise Pass | Author | Singer | Speaker | Worship Leader
Amen! I have learned that also. Often learned when I look back after doing without then realizing how much God had really provided during that time of “lacking”. God is amazing in how He can provide something out of nothing. Hope where there seems to be no hope.
Yes, so true. I wish we always were able to see God’s activity, but He is so kind to reveal Himself to us at the right time.
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
Amen! Praising the Lord for introducing us via WordPress today. I look forward t reading more of what He has wrought into you as you denied self and followed Jesus… Oh, the power of the testimony of Christ transforming us!! A prophetic word He awoke me with one night years ago was, “Open the tabernacle of the testimony.” I knew this was from Rev. 15:5, but did not have a full apprehension of it. Ten days later the Holy Spirit empowered me to boldly share testimonies of the Lord’s miraculous workings in my life with my Bible study group that I knew was taken by them
out of their comfort zones; that night He awoke me with this word: “The testimony of the Tabernacle has been opened,” and then joined it with Joshua 1:5-9 the next morning. He has graciously held faithful to His promise from that time forward, leading me to testify boldly of His power to transform this sinner saved by grace.
Amen! Don’t you love how the LORD speaks to us through His word? He is Holy, Awesome and faithful! I look forward to reading more of what the LORD speaks to you, as well. God bless!