April 25, 2024

God’s Perfect Provision

September 18, 2015 by

encouragementbloggraphicromans15Then the LORD said to Moses,
“I am going to rain bread from heaven for you.
The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day.
This way I will test them to see whether or not
they will follow My instructions.”
Exodus 16:4

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The story of God supplying the children of Israel with manna is a beautiful example of God’s perfect provision.  He had allowed His children to hunger and starve in a desert…and they pretty much were without hope of finding food anywhere else.

It wasn’t His intention to starve them; He really could have met all their needs in a different way.  Have you ever wondered why He didn’t produce crops or just place a farm in their midst?  Or He could’ve taken their appetites away or allowed them to fill up on much less.  Or maybe He could’ve made them satisfied with just water.  HE is the Creator and He could do anything He wanted to.  But instead, He showed up and met their needs.  God literally rained down bread from Heaven six days a week for forty years to feed His children.

I think the reason He did it the way He did was to show them that it was all Him.  And that He alone was their Provider.  They were surrounded by nothing and yet they had what they needed. In fact, they had more than enough—they had plenty and they never had to ask.  He was testing them, too. In the verse above it says,”This way I will test them to see whether or not they will follow my instructions”.

Did you know that we are far more likely to be obedient to Him when we are in need?  Think of that for a minute:  If you are in Jesus and your life is chaotic and you are lacking in necessities, you are more likely to reevaluate your life and see where there may be an area where you are not being obedient. You may even pray for God to search you and reveal where it is that you need a change.

You may not have all the wealth in the world, but you will have peace and joy in Him.  And because He loves us so much and gave so much for us, we should live a life of obedience to Him—whether we have much or little.  In Jesus we have more than enough.  In Jesus we have a Protector and a Lover of our souls.  In Jesus we have eternal life.  In Jesus we have plenty….

God is so faithful, each and every single day.  He delights in obedience especially when it comes from a heart of love and devotion to Him.  Let’s ask Him to help us to become a child of God who obeys simply because we love Him.

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Do you know this Jesus?  If not, then I ask that you pray this prayer with me today and ask Him to come into your life and be your Savior.

Dear God, I know that I am a sinner and my life is really messed up.  I have been living a life of disobedience and I am ready for a change.  I believe that Jesus is Your Son and He died to save me.  I confess Him as my Savior. I ask that He live in my heart forever and help me to become an obedient child of God.  Forgive me of my sins and walk with me in this life…in Jesus’ name, amen.

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What He Thinks Of Me

September 8, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand.
When I awake, I am still with You.
Psalms 139:17-18

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Have you ever been out of sorts because someone you know (or even someone you don’t even know at all) said something about you?

“Wow, she’s fat.”  “Well, isn’t she just stupid!”  “She’s mean.”

This happens. Most people aren’t so bold to say things to your face, but some people don’t know how to whisper. I think the worst of it is when you have someone come to you and tell you that someone else was talking about you. How do you handle it…what do you do? Do you mull it over? Do you try to take the comments as criticism and determine whether it is legit or not? Do you confront the person? Or do you internalize what they say and let it effect how you think of yourself?

The thing is this…I believe that it is important to listen to our trusted friends. If your boss gives you constructive criticism then you should mull it over and take it into consideration. However, not all opinions should be accepted. In fact, before we accept anything about ourselves we should prayerfully go to God. He can show us our flaws in a different light and show us what He thinks and show us how to change. God does that. Now, if God says that it is so, then it is so.

I remember one day I was driving home…something had happened at work and I was very upset. I started to pray. Through tears and screaming I began to explain to God why the situation wasn’t fair and how I was being mistreated! I can’t remember now exactly what it was about, but I do remember clear as day that the Lord spoke to me and told me, “But you do the same thing to me.” I was stopped dead in my tracks. The very behavior I was upset with was a behavior that I did myself…and to the Lord, of all people! The Lord has a way of showing us our “yuck” without making us feel “yuck.”

In our focus verse this week, the psalmist says to God,

How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand
—when I awake, I am still with you.

We are loved and thought very highly of.  God sees our potential and loves us right where we are.

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Lord, help me to address the areas in my life that are lacking Your light. May I seek Your guidance in shedding Your light on these areas. Help me to cast away, and not internalize, the negative things people say about me and to me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Gold

September 6, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

You were walking on the moon, now you’re feeling low
What they said wasn’t true, you’re beautiful
Sticks and stones break your bones, I know what you’re feeling
 Words like those won’t steal your glow, you’re one in a million

This, this is for all the girls, boys all over the world
Whatever you’ve been told, you’re worth more than gold
 So hold your head up high, it’s your time to shine
From the inside out it shows, you’re worth more than gold
You’re worth more than gold

When everybody keeps score, afraid you’re gonna lose
Just ignore they don’t know the real you
All the rain in the sky can’t put out your fire
Of all the stars out tonight, you shine brighter

So don’t let anybody tell you that you’re not loved
And don’t let anybody tell you that you’re not enough
Yeah there are days that we all feel like we’re messed up
But the truth is that we’re all diamonds in the rough

So don’t be ashamed to wear your crown
You’re a king, you’re a queen inside and out
You glow like the moon, you shine like the stars
This is for you, wherever you are

So don’t be ashamed to wear your crown
You’re a king, you’re a queen—inside and out

Singer/ Songwriter Britt Nicole along with Jess Cates and Dan Muckala

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We may not always fit in.  We may not have ‘the look.’  We may not say the right words all the time.  God knows our hearts and that is all that matters.  As long as we put our best out there, He will love us.  We must remember we are sons and daughters of the Most High God!!!!

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perish,
though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise
and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 1:7

When we are going through trials and suffering, how we endure it is a great testimony of our love for God.  We are not to dwell on the discomfort but on the reward that awaits us in eternity!  The salvation of others may depend on how we move through and persevere.  We are to have a boldness to share the good news as David stated in Psalm 40:10.

I have not hidden Thy righteousness within my heart;
I have declared Thy faithfulness and Thy salvation.
I have not concealed Thy lovingkindness and Thy truth from the congregation.

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Father, give us the courage to stand up for You in all situations.  Let us seek You when we are made fun of for being different, or for standing out in a crowd, or for not doing what everyone else is doing.  Help us be a light for the younger generation and even for our own.  We need You in our life so we can be strong advocates for You and Your son, Jesus.  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,