I was faced with a question this last weekend: Do you remember a time when you loved God more than you do now? I'm sure many of us can say that there was a time in our life that we had a greater passion and zeal for God than we do now. If so, what brought this downslide? For me it was my proud, stubborn, selfish attitude. Along with that, my lack of faith and trust in God.
Early on this year, God showed me that this year wasn't going to go as I had planned it to. For the past couple of weeks I have been desperately looking for a job. I was now presented with an opportunity but with a very low income. I look around saying I need this and I need to do that but I can't do it without money. As I was thinking about this this morning, I remembered the verse:
Matthew 6:33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
How much do I really trust God for His providence? I may not get all the things I want, but I will get all the things I need. I love how this verse is a promise; Jesus doesn't say all these things may be added unto you or I'll think about it but is spoken with assurance. I also think of a verse in Psalms:
Psalm 37:4,5
Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
Psalm 1:2,3
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Again and again we see great and precious promises but each one is attached to a prerequisite: that we seek God and love Him and delight in Him. I wonder why we often get so worked up about things rather than grabbing hold of God's promises. It would make life so much easier.
Philippians 4:6
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Here we have another requirement: thanksgiving. One thing I have seen is that God cannot put me into the workplace until I'm content at home. It's like this with so many other things as well; God cannot call us to marriage until we are content in our single life and He can't send us out to another country to be a missionary until we learn to be a missionary at home. Well, I guess that's enough rambling for one day. Blessings!
Psalm 105: 3,4
Glory in his holy name: let the heart of the rejoice that seek the LORD.
Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.
Amen! I have been reading a biography of George Muller recently and I have been amazed by his faith in God's provision. He refused a regular salary and through prayer God provided not only for his daily needs, but also the needs of two thousand orphans and ministries supported by his institution.
ReplyDeleteIn my life I have seen again and again how God needs me to be content before he will give me what I desire.
Beautifully said! Don't worry, if God wants you to get a job He will send one along in His perfect time. There is nothing better then being in the will of God, and it may be that God still wants you at home for a little while longer. Once you start working time goes by so quickly. I wish I had taken advantage of my time at home more than I had.
ReplyDeleteThank you for reminding me that not only must I delight myself in the Lord, but also commit my way unto him. Verse 4 has a very special meaning to me, but I never really understood verse 5 until lately.
Thank you for stopping by my blog! I have been meaning to look around "your place" but I have been quite busy! I hope you come visit me again!
Thank you for sharing, Margaret!
ReplyDeleteSarah
I was having a difficult time with a friend in Tijuana, Mexico and I recited and studied this verse; Seek ye first the kingdom of God and everything worked out super!
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