God Provides

God provides for the birds of the air, He provides for you too!

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" (Matthew 6:26, NIV)

Each morning I wake up in Sweden and I hear birds. I go to the balcony and see them clustered in the trees, on a rooftop, or in a field. Someone recently mentioned to me that a bird must consume it’s weight each day. I cannot imagine having to eat as much as I weigh every day, but then again, I don’t go around flapping my arms through the air. As I watch these birds, I realize that God provides for them every day. They don’t have any thoughts about tomorrow, or what someone said about them. They aren’t concerned with politics, religion, hatred, animosity or envy. They exist. We humans, far superior to the birds of the air, are constantly faced with a multitude of questions demanding to be answered each day. What will I wear? What will I do? What will I eat? What happened to my Internet access? How will I pay my rent? When will I get a job? When will I find someone to love? Don’t get me wrong. These are all legitimate questions we humans ask ourselves, but they often obscure the fact that God provides for us. He is Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides. Worry? Yes, we all have concerns regarding our life and of those whom we love and care for, but we must not lose sight of the fact that God cares even more. He loves us! If a bird can eat its daily weight in food, then I am certain that God will meet my needs. No matter what they are, he will provide because He cares. No matter what you face in this life. No matter that there are times when you may feel all alone, God cares. You can trust Him. Abraham trusted Him with the life of his son Isaac. David trusted Him with his life even though Saul sought to slay him. Elijah trusted him with the life of the widow’s son. The centurion trusted Jesus with the life of his servant. A father trusted Jesus with the life of his daughter. The woman with an issue of blood trusted Jesus by touching the hem of his garment. You can trust Him too! I am certain that God provides because He has demonstrated His provisioning grace in my life. I am certain that God provides because I am a witness to His healing power. I am certain God provides because I have experienced how He makes a way out of no way. These words may sound cliché, but they ring true in my spirit. They affirm my belief that God is a Provider. What are you faced with that concerns you? Trust in the God who loves and cares about you. Be a witness to the grace He extends your way enabling you to ascend mountains, overcome obstacles, and achieve what you know you could never do on your own. God provides. MTJ

Prayer:
No matter what you are faced with today, I want you to know that I'm praying in agreement that God will provide your need. Heavenly Father, I'm praying for this one whom You love and care about. I faithfully believe that You will meet their need no matter what it requires. You are the God who saves, heals, and protects. You provide! I speak Your word right now that we can come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. This is that time of need Father. We trust, depend upon and need You to be our light and shield. Our faith is strong and steadfast. We refuse to doubt who You are. We declare that You are Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides, and You will provide. Thank You for Your infinite love, mercy and grace, in Jesus name. Amen.

A Note of Thanks: I would just like to say that I appreciate each of you who visit My Thought-filled Journey. Taking time out of your schedule to read a post on this blog is encouraging to me. Many of those who visit, will from time to time leave a comment. Whether a comment is left is not important. What is important, is that you came. I do hope you find encouragement and inspiration in these words. Please know I will pray with you regarding any circumstance you may be facing. Feel free to write me to say "Hello", request prayer, or share what God is doing in your life. I have not said it enough, but thank you for the light of Christ in your life which illuminates the way for us all.

Note: This post is linked to Spiritual Sundays (hosted by Charlotte).

God Has A Plan For You

God has a plan for your life

Last week as the New Year was ushered in, I was reminded that God not only loves you and me, He’s concerned enough with us that He establishes plans for us. I decided to look a little deeper into what God says concerning this and found many verses which provide me with even more to consider. These verses either refer directly to the plan of God for you and me, or they indirectly infer of His plan for you and me. “And Abraham called the name of that place The Lord Will Provide, as it is said to this day, ‘In the mount of the Lord it will be provided’” (Genesis 22:14, NIV) The reality for us is that The Lord provides! The Lord Will Provide is our assurance that He has a plan for each of us. This plan which existed in eternity before creation is revealed in us by God. I believe God wants and desires that we know His plan for our life. “May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.” (Psalm 20:4, NIV) “But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.” (Psalm 33:11, NIV) “Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:16, NIV) “The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.” (Proverbs 12:5, NIV) “The plans of the mind belong to mortals, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD (Proverbs 16:1, NIV) Have you had moments when everything you do seems to just come together? You can’t explain it, but you know, you have an inner confidence that you won’t fail? “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” (Proverbs 16:3, NIV) “The human mind may devise many plans, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will be established.” (Proverbs 19:21, NIV) “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” (Proverbs 21:5, NIV) Then, there are those instances when nothing you do seems right. It’s like you’re stuck in quicksand and you’re going nowhere. I’ve had those moments where it seems like I’m in one of those Snickers candy commercials. I keep waiting to hear the words…”Not going anywhere? Eat a Snickers!” “Woe to the obstinate children,” declares the LORD, “to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin;” (Isaiah 30:1, NIV) It’s in my best interest to follow the plan God has for me because it will produce the best possible outcome for my life. One thing I've noticed regarding a person’s life is when they have a real passion for what they're doing. I don’t mean something you would like to do, or something you wish you could do. No, when you have a passion for something, you have to do it. A painter paints, a singer sings, and a writer writes. There is no straddling, half way commitment. Like the company Nike says, “Do It”. You do what you’re passionate about, and you do it with passion. When you do what you’re passionate about, you’re committed. Does this mean that’s all you do? No, not all musicians play in a band, some teach, some sell instruments. Some even make instruments! But they are still passionate in what they do. They have an inner joy which really can’t be quantified. They also have an inner peace within that keeps them balanced. The bible uses to the word "passion once (Acts 1:3), when it refers to the suffering of Jesus. But I believe this gives a glimpse of the mind of Christ in the garden; His attitude was one of obedience. Christ chose to please God through His obedience of suffering and dying for the sins of the world. This is what I believe Paul describes should be our attitude and pattern for living when he wrote: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, (Philippians 2:5, NIV) The person who has no passion for what they’re doing struggles to find some happiness (not inner joy) and quiet (not inner peace). This person often encounters frustration. They are in conflict with not only their own life, in some instances with others, and many instances, with God. Their mind is focused on self. Pleasing myself only creates more problems for me. Pleasing God opens up a world of opportunity for me. Knowing that God has a plan for your life indicates a need to trust Him with the things you do not know or understand. You realize that God will reveal His purpose for you through the unfolding of time. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV) Never doubt your significance or your place in this world. You have a purpose because God has a plan for you! MTJ

A Note of Thanks: I would just like to say that I appreciate each of you who visit My Thought-filled Journey. Taking time out of your schedule to read a post on this blog is encouraging to me. Many of those who visit, will from time to time leave a comment. Whether a comment is left is not important. What is important, is that you came. I do hope you find encouragement and inspiration in these words. Please know I will pray with you regarding any circumstance you may be facing. Feel free to write me to say "Hello", request prayer, or share what God is doing in your life. I have not said it enough, but thank you for the light of Christ in your life which illuminates the way for us all.

Note: This post is linked to Spiritual Sundays (hosted by Charlotte).