GOD IS OUR PROVIDER

There is a beautiful verse in the Bible that brings a smile to my face whenever I remember it. It is Psalm 68:19.

"Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation."

We have needs, all kinds of needs. Sometimes, our earnings are not enough to meet these needs. We may feel harassed and overwhelmed. We may feel desperate. But let us remember we have a Father who cares for us. Let us lay those needs before Him as He has asked us to in His word and believe that He will meet them for us.

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." - Philippians 4:6

"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." - 1 Peter 5:7 

"... my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:19

King David understood God's role as our provider so well he wrote a special song about it. The first verse says:

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." - Psalm 23:1 

David knew the special relationship between a shepherd and his sheep. He knew the shepherd will go to any length to find good pasture for his sheep. He himself was such a shepherd and because he had that sort of heart, God appointed him the shepherd of His people.

"He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands." - Psalm 78:70-72

If David, a mere man, could get such a commendation from God for how he cared for Israel, how much more will God care for us, the apple of His eye? This position is clearly stated in these words of the Lord Jesus.

"7. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 
8. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 
9. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 
10. Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 
11. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" - Matthew 7:7-11 (emphasis mine)

To ensure that the devil does not claim rights over you and frustrate your blessings, make Jesus your Lord and Saviour today. That way, you can confidently call God Father and enjoy His gracious provision. 

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" - John 1:12.

PRAYER:
Almighty God, I put my trust in You. You are my Jehovah Jireh. Provide for me according to the promise of Your word. Open doors of favour to me. May I not live my life in debt and destitution. And as you bless me, dear Lord, help me to always remember to extend the same kindness to others. This I pray in Jesus' name.

+++++++
The scriptures used in this post are from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.
+++++++

You may also like these popular posts on God's loving care:

http://edithohaja.com/do-not-be-anxious/

http://edithohaja.com/god-will-see-you-through-today/

http://edithohaja.com/our-god-is-faithful/

YOU ARE SAFE IN THE LORD! Do not live in fear

The world we're living in is a dangerous place: conflicts, accidents, natural disasters, violent crimes, you name it, abound. It seems that wherever we turn, there's something to make us afraid and potentially hurt us. 

When we listen to the news, this feeling is magnified because calamities and misfortunes get reported much more than heartwarming events. We call it the journalism of exception in mass communication. The bad, or as one scholar called it, "the odd, eccentric and bizarre", which may likely be unusual, makes it faster into the news than the good, (most likely) commonplace stuff.

Contemporary events, especially as reported in the news, create a climate of fear.

If you dwell on these things so much, you will be trapped in fear day in, day out. While you shouldn't neglect to be careful to avoid danger where possible, don't allow the perception that evil prevails cripple your life.

Fill your heart with the word of God and look out for the good in the world. Believe me, it's out there and you will see it. Do your share of good as much as you can too. 

Know that irrespective of the evil in the world, God is still in control. You can make Him your shelter and have peace of mind. That is not the same as living in a bubble. We as believers know that nothing can be petfect this side of heaven. But we also know that if ever we encounter anything untoward, God will be with us and help us through it. None of these things that people fear should break us. Rather, they should make us stronger because of the grace of God.

Irrespective of the evil in the world, God is still in control and He is our banner.

We know that the troubles in the world come directly or indirectly from the sin of humanity. I want to briefly share a Bible story in this regard. In Genesis, chapter 20, Abraham claimed that Sarah, his wife, was his sister because he thought he would be harmed by other men who would desire her.

"And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake." - Genesis 20:11 

🌺

(Related: http://edithohaja.com/our-god-able-save-us-sovereign/)

🌺

Well, someone did take Abraham's wife, the king of the land no less, but God scared the living daylights out of him and he returned Sarah with apology and costly reparation. You can read the entire story and know that the God, who defended Abraham and his wife in Gerar (and it wasn't the first time, He'd done it in Egypt too - see Genesis 12: 10-20), the same God is your Father and He is watching over you.

Take the words of God to heart:

"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence  that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday." - Psalm 91:1-7 

Keep fear at bay because you are safe in the omnipotent and omniscient God.

Read that entire psalm and others like it. Many of them were written by a man whose life was in peril for a long time: King David. Generally, the Bible is full of such encouraging words. Do not live in fear, my dear, because you are safe in the Lord. Amen in Jesus' name.

+++++++

The scriptures used in this post are from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

+++++++

❤️

You may also like these related posts:

http://edithohaja.com/fear-not-my-child-poem/

http://edithohaja.com/live-in-hope-poem/