“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” – Mat 7:11 (NIV).
Everyday that we live our lives are blessed with provisions from the Almighty: some more obvious like food and water, others less so, like the air we breathe. However, when we speak of provisions it is easy to imagine certain more ostentatious items on our wish list- perhaps having a powerful vehicle or raising up some glorious mansion. Yet while God is not unmindful of these grand requests of ours, there are these daily provisions that could easily escape us.
The author John Piper says, “God is always doing 10,000 things in your life, but you may be aware of only three of them.” The challenge is with our eyes focused elsewhere it is easy to fail to take note of His abundant provisions. “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” (Mat 6:26-7).
And then, at times, we may have something quite different from what we had been expecting. But that does not mean God is not providing. Instead we are reminded to be always thankful. “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” (I Thessalonians 5:18).
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of heaven and earth, I thank you for the daily provisions of my life and the love you shower over me, every day, this I pray in Jesus’s name!
Related upcoming events
-
27/04/2024 - 28/04/2024 All day“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God” (Psalm 42:1).
In the wildlife, a common feature is predatory animals chasing after less ferocious ones, which on a bad day become good dinner. Through the savannah plains of Africa the antelope tends to suffer that fate. After a long chase from a mighty lion, cheetah or leopard; antelopes that survive tend to retreat to a fresh water spot. There they gladly refresh their quench with streams of water.
King David, must have been more familiar with deer, as there are more common in the Northern Hemisphere. For us in the tropics we can substitute the deer with our antelope, commonly chased by predators. After a long chase, of course all pant for pints of water.
The significance of this metaphor is that whenever we encounter any situation that puts us on a chase, where do we run to! Habakuk 3:19 says, “The Lord God give my strength. He helps me run fast like deer. He leads me safely on the mountains” (Habakuk 3:19).
Two things of note here. The Lord can make us run as fast as the fastest antelope being chased by a predator to a well of safety. And of course, as we run, we have that the well of God to end up to and refresh ourselves! This is why David wrote, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:11).
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today like the antelopes of the wildlife I run to you, to that well of life, which refreshes my soul, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
