Experience God's Provision

January 9 – Experience God’s Provision

Scripture:

Philippians 4:19, "And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."

Thought:

On December 9, 2018, a dear friend of Centerpointe Church left this earth to be with Jesus. He was a man filled with joy, love, and wisdom. I can distinctly remember a conversation I had with him concerning provision. He was asking me to pray with him concerning an issue and after I prayed I said, “You have too much history with God’s provision to think He will let you down now.” I have repeated that sentence hundreds of times since then. It is a statement of thanksgiving and recognition of God’s provision.

To say that God is our provider is to say that God is our ultimate source in life. We like to project the impression that we are self-made people, but the reality is that no matter how strong or self-secure or self-sufficient we pretend to be, we are completely dependent on God .

It was Abraham that first identified God as a provider when he was about to sacrifice his son, Isaac, on an altar. In that moment an angel intervened to stop him. When he looked, he found a ram in the thickets, which he offered as the sacrifice. Afterwards he called the place, “The Lord Will Provide,” or “Jehovah-Jireh.” This story looks forward to Jesus being the sacrificial Lamb of God, providing for us our salvation.

In addition to our salvation, scripture shows the Lord’s provision in many other ways. He provides strength, resources, daily bread, water, hope, restoration, wisdom, etc. 

When we gain a deeper understanding of his provision, we gain a deeper sense of gratitude. We begin to recognize God’s provision in small ways as well as the more obvious ways. Furthermore, we also develop a sense of humility and trust, which keeps us dependent on God’s help. 

If you are running low on your own resources, remember and repeat:  “We have so much history with God’s provision, we have no reason to doubt him now.”

Reflection:

In what other ways does understanding God’s provision change us?

What are the small ways God has provided for you?

What are the large ways God has provided for you?

Take some time to give God thanks for his provision.

In what way are you still trusting God to provide for you?

Decision: 

Based on what you have read and what God is saying to you, what decisions do you need to make?

Prayer:
Lord, give us this day our daily bread. We are grateful for your continual provision

Other provision scriptures:

Deuteronomy 2:7; 1 Chronicles 29:12; Psalm 147:8; Acts 14:17; 2 Peter 1:3,