The God who Provides
Above photo courtesy of Steven Xiong Photos
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns‚ and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his lifespan?
And why do you worry about clothes? Consider how the lilies of the field grow: They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Therefore do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the pagans pursue all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:25-34).
The above chapter in Matthew is called DO NOT WORRY. A simple phrase, yet so difficult to follow. I worry often; yet, there have been a countless number of times that God has provided for me, my family, and/or friends. He provides financially, spiritually, and physically. He provides shelter, comfort, healing, freedom, jobs, protection, blessings, people, and so much more. He also provides wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and discernment, and the list goes on. Often times, God provides for us even before we ask because He knows our needs. Sometimes He provides just as we think a thought, or other times when we say a silent prayer. He does this because He is our Provider, and also a good, good Father. However, it is important that we verbalize our needs to God. We have to talk to God, and ask Him to help us, for He desires to. 1 John 5:14-15 says And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we already possess what we have asked of Him. God is the God who provides, and He hears our supplication. We see him answering prayers in many Bible stories: God made Eve for Adam (Genesis 2:21-23); He gave Abraham the child of Promise, Isaac (Genesis 21); and gave Abraham a ram as a sacrifice, in place of Isaac (Genesis 22); He gave the Israelites water, manna, quail, and additional items for their journey out of Egypt (Exodus); and during their 40 years in the wilderness, their clothes and sandals did not wear out (Deuteronomy 29:5). God gave Hannah a son (1 Samuel); the Israelites a King, even though God wanted to be their King (1 & 2 Kings); and most significant of all, He gave us a Savior, Jesus Christ, from which all of our blessings flow from! The Bible is filled with hundreds of stories of God's supplying people, things, and blessings for the people.
On a different note, God sometimes ask us to do something, which can sound daunting or scary. He may ask us to start a ministry, talk to someone, pray for something, or move somewhere. But, no matter what it is that He asks us to do, He always gives us the provisions to complete the task. We also see this time and time again the in the Bible. Moses was afraid to talk to the Israelites and Pharaoh so God even gave him Aaron to help him, as well as other signs, wonders, and miracles (Exodus). God tells Zerubbabel and Nehemiah rebuild the temple and walls in Jerusalem, and though people were against it (even causing trouble), the Lord helped them to complete it, providing all the supplies and people to do the work (Ezra and Nehemiah). God told the Israelites to go in and possess the land on the other side of the Jordan, and said that He would deliver the enemies into their hands (Joshua); God provided their victory and gave them the land He promised. And I haven't even gotten to stories in the New Testament yet, but there is a point I want you to get: when they did their part, God always did His. God wants us to trust Him!
However, we must make sure that what we are doing is in God's Will. Sometimes we do things that are not God's Will, and that thing doesn't work out. This is when we must pray for discernment, and for God's leading and direction. Once we know it is not God's Will, we stop, put our gears in reverse, and go another direction. No matter how bad we want it, we must learn to follow God's leading and stop moving forward. If we don't, we may face loss, trouble, or other harm that God is trying to keep us from. Remember, if any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you (James 1:5). Ask God what you should do. God will not leave or abandon us, but we must continue to seek Him. Psalm 34:10 says The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. You see, God provides for all creation. As you read the Bible, you will see God's provisions over and over: He feeds his people, He protects them, He delivers them, He heals them, He defends them, He fights for them, He gives them life, He blesses them...He even died for them (us). There is nothing that God cannot do! Have faith and start seeing God as your Provider!!!
I love this ending that Paul wrote to the Hebrews and I'm going to leave you with it: Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen (Hebrews 13:20-21).
Let us pray.
God our Provider,
Who is like You, full of majesty and wonder? Lord, we give You praise! You do so much for us, and for Your people! Yet, we only see a sliver of Your amazing work, much of which You've hidden from us, or that we just cannot to see. Father, be exalted, magnified, and glorified today! It is You who laid the earth's foundation, marked off its dimensions, and laid its cornerstone (Job 38:4-6). We cannot comprehend the magnitude and glory of Your Workmanship. We bow our knees and our heads in amazement and awe; we worship You. Only You are worthy of all power, honor, glory, and praise. Father, I thank You for this message and for the readers. I pray that they will know You more and read Your Word so that they may grow in faith, in truth, and in You. You are our Provider and we lack no good thing. I pray that You would continue to meet their needs. Show them Your power and outstretched arm. Open their eyes, ears, minds, and hearts to all the many ways that You've already given them provisions, so that their hope and faith in You may forever be increased. If You have given them a task or assignment, use this message and Your Word to encourage them. Give them the comfort and courage to do and be all that You've called them to. I know You will bring provision! There is nothing too hard for You God, for You alone are God. I thank You for the reminder of Your Power, Presence, Redemption, and Faithfulness! In Jesus' name, amen.
Prayerfully,
Pam
