“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” - Philippians 4:19 (NIV)
Where do you go when ever in need? Many of us when we are in need are most likely to look about for those we know to enjoy plenty of resources to share some. After all they have. The poor nations run to rich nations for aid. The deprived look to tycoons for hand outs.
Not so when it comes to the Lord’s ways. A long time ago when a draught occurred in Jordan, the Lord sent his prophet Elijah not to palaces for food, but rather to a poor widow who lacked either. Upon being approached and asked for help the widow told Elijah, “I don’t have any bread- only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil” (I Kings 17: 12).
And that is all was needed. “Don’t be afraid.. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jar of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land” (verse 14).
With all that the Lord fed the widows household and her visitor without ever lacking. “So there was food everyday for Elijah and for the woman and her family” (verse 15).
This story teaches us that when the Lord needs something of us it is not dependent on our big pockets. Neither does being generous start with how much you have. Rather, the important thing is to look to the Lord.
Prayer for today: Lord Father in heaven, today I pray in the mighty name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, that I may always look up to you to meet my needs.
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06/05/2024 - 07/05/2024 All day“Do not confirm to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2)
Almost all cultivators are aware that if soils are used perpetually without rains but constantly under work they are deprived of all nutrients. So, though once productive, they lose all power to yield fresh crops as before. But so is our Christian life when we do not regularly feed our spirit life with the Word!
In our leading verse, the Apostle Paul is urging believers to “renew” their minds rather than make them stale, lest they end up losing all power to yield fruit. But how is this done? We renew our minds by constantly reading the Word of God, for there are always insights with God speaking to us afresh. Psalm 119:104-5 says, “I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” The Apostle Peter reminds us, “Like newborn babies hungry for milk, you should want the pure teaching that feeds your spirit. With it you can grow and be saved.” It is a beautiful illustration for any who have seen a hungry baby sucking the teats of a mother.
Renewing our minds is also by reading about the lives of people of faith who have walked before us and their created works. The Christian faith started in the first century after Jesus was crucified and resurrected from the dead. Now over two millenniums it has produced giants of faith who have shared their walk with God through inspired teachings that are a treasure to dig into. By scouring the writings of the great saints before us, listening to their recorded sermons, songs and preaching, which these days can be found on virtual medial channels like Yu tube, reading their biographies, our faith is renewed.
And then we also renew our faith through fellowship. When the Apostle Paul urges us, “not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” ( Hebrews 10:25), he is reminding us that our faith cannot grow in isolation. During the Covid pandemic lockdown one bitter issue was denying Believers opportunity to meet fellow followers of Christ to share testimonies showing the work of God in their lives.
So today, if your faith is on a low keel, or you want it to flower, one thing you can’t help doing without is “renewing” your mind. The blessings to unfold are endless.
Prayer for today:Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a treasure we have of your rich Word to dig into always; books around us of faith to inspire us; and believers to share our faith- may we make use of these, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
