It can be very easy to slip into a fretful and anxiety-ridden state of mind when I focus on my circumstances instead of on my Lord. My circumstances sometimes, or even often depending on which season of life it is, can look rather bleak or seemingly impossible to work out. How am I going to have enough time to do this? How can I work to get some more money for that? The truth is that sometimes life and all of the responsibilities, bills, details, etc look impossible.
Enter the LORD of Hosts.
When my focus is on Him, even if my circumstances are still crazy, I experience peace. This is the peace that only comes from Him, from Jesus. This can be a real tough struggle if I let it, or I can chose to surrender even if I don't feel like it, and even if I don't feel peace...yet.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6,7)
Why do I so often either sit and fret or get up and "get it done" without first taking my requests to the Lord, with thanksgiving, through prayer? Wow, when I do this I notice a difference! I have to be intentional with this because it is easy to just forget, or chose to do otherwise if my resolve is not strong.
Really this introduction can come before a discussion on any of the names of God, but today my focus is on this one: Jehovah Jireh - The LORD will provide. What does He provide? There are so many examples of His provision all throughout the Old and New Testements of the Bible and scriptures I hold on to regarding this, but here are three scriptures that encourage me and help me trust the Lord to provide:
"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)
"Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalm 46:10)
"The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." (Deuteronomy 31:8)
The LORD will never forsake His children, He will supply me with all that I need, I can rest in the fact that He is God and can handle it much better than I can, and as a result of all of this He will be glorified! Truth is so freeing!
God provides with much more than money, and He has many ways to go about it. We have experienced His provision with money, things, food, water, friends, decisions that were in our favor, the ability to give and bless others, talents, timely and appropriate words that were needed, ideas, creativity, protection, a liason or advocate, understanding, wisdom, knowledge, guidance, time, patience, joy, strength, hope, kindness, forgiveness, restoration, fun, peace...
Furthermore, not only will the LORD take care of me with the big and the little needs and desires (lined up with His will and plan and timing, thankfully!), He has already provided for the absolute biggest need I had to begin with. I needed a Savior (see Romans 3:23), and He provided that by coming to earth as a baby (see Luke 2:11), giving me an example of how to live (books Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John of the Bible), suffering and dying to pay the price for my sins for me (see 1 Peter 3:18), and then rising again and sitting back down at the right hand of the Father (see Mark 16:6 and Hebrews 10:12)! He didn't stop there, though. He then wooed me to Himself as the gentleman He is, pursued me with His unconditional love, and then sealed me in with Him, making me His forever (see 2 Corinthians 1:22). He did this not just for me, but for all who chose to believe and follow Him as Lord (see Romans 10:9,10).
So with all of this being said, here I am in a period or at least a few days of waiting on the LORD to provide a few needs. Am I going to trust Him to do what He has always done (take excellent care of me), or am I going to fear, fret, worry, be anxious, and doubt Him to be God?
Of these two options, which one will you chose to walk in today?
The LORD does indeed provide. Trust Him. You will see. He is so good.
"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:33,34)
No comments:
Post a Comment