Corona Devo 3169
Seventeen years ago, my husband felt led by the Lord to step away from his current job (and corrupted boss) and to start his own company. I was staying at home to raise our children, (ages three and one), and our third child was on the way.
The realities of groceries, insurance, home, and life were as real and blatant to us as to any young family, but heard the Lord's call and we obeyed it. My husband left a position of stability, security, and even surplus--to walk away and to walk in the ways of the Lord.
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, (2) but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. (3) That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. ~Psalm 1:1-3
And daily and yearly since--at grace before meals, in personal prayers, sometimes in daily pleas...our family prays for the Lord's provision over us.
We pray for daily provision and God in his glorious omniscience and Fatherhood always provides and even does immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine.
For this reason I kneel before the Father, (15) from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. (16) I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, (17) so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, (18) may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, (19) and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
(20) Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, (21) to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. ~Ephesians 3:14-21
But, let me also be clear, and honest...and frank: There have been days and weeks and even months and years that have been very skinny for us sometimes. But the lack keeps us latched to our Lord.
In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. ~Psalm 18:6
And then there are days of fullness and in marveling at God's abundance over us. And even in our tightest times: we can always know that we are under God's umbrella of provision.
Sometimes, (and more often than I want to admit), I can long for surplus...and the security that it would bring. But over the years, I have gained the spiritual eyes to see and to understand just what the Lord is doing. Through our daily dependence on Him (alone) for provision, He tethers our hearts and focus, and dependence to Him. We know fully and completely that it is the Lord providing...and not us.
The Lord desires for His children to be tethered to Him, so that we might understand and appreciate His daily care and provision for us..
Too much, and we might not recognize Him. Too little and we might forsake Him. But just enough to satisfy our needs? That is where God has us today.
O God, I beg two favors from you; let me have them before I die. (8) First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. (9) For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?”And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name. ~Proverbs 30:7-9
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Where are we today?
Has the Lord tested our faith and asked us to step away from comfort, or wickedness, in order to walk in His ways? Is He asking us to trust Him to be our provider, instead of trusting ourselves?
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, (2) but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. ~Psalm 1:1-2
These verses are not written for someone else today.. God's Word and His timing are always perfect and impeccable in our lives.
The risk seems huge, but have we considered the reward in following hard after the Lord?
- Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. ~Malachi 3:10
- That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. ~Psalm 1:3
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, (21) to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. ~Ephesians 3:20-21
We might be in a skinny season of life, where there are more days left in the month than dollars.
Or we may be pinching ourselves at the blessing that has been bestowed on us today.
There will be days and seasons of both, and God is Lord over both and all. He tethers our hearts and focus, and dependence to Him, so that we know fully and completely that it is the Lord providing...and not us.
The Lord desires for His children to be tethered to Him, so that we might understand and appreciate His daily care and provision for us. Do we know that He is our Heavenly Provider?
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Too much, and we might not recognize Him. Too little and we might forsake Him. But just enough to satisfy our needs? That is where God has us today.
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