Watching it Fall
I stare out the front door at the snow falling. How beautiful is as it floats through the air on the wind without care. I think of the manna in the desert given to God’s people as provision in a dry and weary land. I wondered if anyone ever saw it falling. Did it just appear to them when they woke, or did they get a glimpse of the miracle as it fell from their tents? Did they have worries that awoke them early enough to see if it would be there?
God promised them he would provide through His servant Moses. He even told them when to store enough for the next day, and offered instruction on how to collect it, and how to get rid of it when it was going to be dangerous to them. (see Exodus 16:1-36, Numbers 11:1-9) His provision included provision in understanding how to use it.
Provider Who Promises
God promised us that He would provide for us. He told us through the apostle Paul that all our needs would be met according to His riches. The Israelites never had to work up manna. They never had to chant, or praise, or pray, or attend meetings to work out the provision they would receive daily. No, they complained, and they took too much, and they didn’t listen, and yet it kept coming until God knew in the promised land that He had other provision for them. God knew what they would do before He gave the provision and yet He gave.
What keeps us up wondering about God’s faithfulness to His promise to provide for us? Have you ever tossed and turned all night, night after night, wondering if God would provide for that need that you have? Waited on that call, that letter or check in the mail, that healing, that peace you desperately need? Have you wondered if you have done enough, complained less and praised enough, mishandled your prior provision to the point that He would stop being a provider? Me too.
God knows our need. He tells us to ask Him for what we need, but He knows. He sent His Son to tell us not to worry. The days are dark in the world, but we are the light, the children of God. We may fail Him, but that doesn’t change His character. He knew what we would do before we did it. We may need to repent (change our thinking). We may have to seek Him in new ways to understand the provider that He is, but He will always provide. He tells us to examine the flowers of the field and the birds, and trust that we are of more worth to Him than them.
If You Can Worry
I always recall words to me that lift me up when I worry. They were, “If you can worry you can meditate!” So roll over the promises of provision for every, I mean every need (wisdom, clothing, shelter, food, financial needs, emotional and psychological needs, and physical needs such as healing), with me this week. Let’s increase our faith in the Provider and expect provision from Him.
22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life[b]? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Luke 12:22-34 NIV
Free To Live, Expect, and Give
We literally have no need to fear in giving as well. We have no need to fear because when we give there is a promise for that too. So God doesn’t just meet our needs, but gives us enough to meet the needs of others that He credits to our account. So He is not only providing for us here and now, but for others, and our eternity. Hallelujah! What a provider. ❤ Melinda
Another Samaritan Woman 