Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today- January 26, 2011
“But the Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.” Jonah 1:17
The Lord provides. He provides because this is His heart’s desire. By His very nature He is a provider. He cannot, not provide. It gives Him great pleasure to provide. Just as an earthly father delights in providing for his children so does your heavenly Father. “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 the Holy Spirit to those who ask him” (Luke 11:13).
When you fear, He provides peace. When you feel lonely, He provides companionship. When you suffer loss, He provides comfort. When you become proud, He provides humility. When you lack the necessities of life, He provides your needs. When you struggle with confidence, He gives you little victories to gain back much needed confidence. Your confidence grows out of your trust in Him. He gives you strength.
“If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:11b).
God’s provision may come in a manner that you are not expecting. It may be an unsolicited check in the mail. It could be the compassionate prayer of a complete stranger. It may be a material provision that comes out of left field, because someone at church felt led of the Lord to provide for your need. They are blessed. You are blessed.
God gets the glory, so do not underestimate the creativity of God. Do not lock His provision capability into a conventional box. He may have bigger and better plans. Do not limit God with false humility or lack of faith. He loves being your provider. Do not forget Him. The grace He provided yesterday will not suffice for the grace He provides today.
You can trust that He has just the right life mate for you. Do not settle for someone other than God’s very best. He may very well do much better than your current relationship. He is in the relational business. He knows exactly the husband or wife for you. Be patient. Believe the Lord for someone who will love Him more than he or she loves you.
Many times prayer is His avenue of provision. Prayer facilitates His powerful promises. You prayed for it and now He has provided, but be careful what you pray for—He may answer. Sometimes He answers swiftly and other times His answer is delayed. Do not compromise your convictions or give up. A saint who experienced God’s provision on a regular basis said, “God’s work, done God’s way will not lack God’s provision”.
“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (1 Timothy 6:17).
For what need do I need to be patient and pray for the Lord’s powerful provision?
Related Readings: Job 36:26-31; Psalm 111:5; Matthew 6:25-34; Acts 14:16-17
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When God provided a great fish to swallow Jonah and keep him imprisoned in less than stellar surroundings, I am sure Jonah did not feel that God’s provision was ‘perfect.’ Yet it was exactly what he needed to bring him back into a right relationship with God so that he could be of service to God and used by God to bring a whole city to its knees in repentance.
There have been many times when my circumstances have seemed outside the scope of God’s ‘lovingkindness,’ His faithfulness or goodness. Yet through those difficult moments, I have been drawn into His embrace and heard His heartbeat as He revealed another step along my path in life. Pleasant times? Not always…Precious times…ah yes.
Thank you for these devotionals. They bless my heart and lift my soul. God bless your ministry!
I have to say, interesting subject. Good covering on it too!