God’s Provision!

November 2, 2023

God’s Provision!

Many of us want two things from God; wealth and health! 

Listen to our prayers.  We are praying for our most recent ache and pain or we are praying for a health issue for a friend.  We pray for the test results to come back good, we pray for a surgical procedure to go well, or we pray a treatment will bring complete restoration.

Listen to our prayers.  We are praying about our money issues or we are praying about the money issues for our adult child or a dear friend.  We pray our income will be more than our bills this month, we pray our adult child will get their finances in order, or we pray we will have enough money in our retirement.

Sometimes we have done our part; we have been careful about taking care of our physical and mental health as well as learning all we can about our personal finances.  And yet, with all our care and the wise counsel of others there are seasons when we seem to struggle with our health and our money.

Many of us want two things from God; wealth and health! 

There are other times when we stop giving effort.  Instead, we plead with Jesus to relieve the pain of a health issue or the frustration of a financial challenge.  We beg Jesus to fix things right now to which we are not willing to give much time or energy.  Sometimes, we tell Jesus what we need, when we need it, and how it should be given to us. 

I’ve not found that treating Jesus like a puppet we control is very helpful.  Jesus already knows what I need, when I need it, and the best way for His answer to come to me.  It is better to ask Jesus than to tell Jesus what to do about my wealth and health challenges. 

Jesus knows that when it comes to our health and wealth, there are consequences to the choices we made years ago as well as to the choices we are making today.  So much of our lament (complaint!) about our health and wealth focus on the consequences of our own choices. 

Gradually, we begin to learn that blaming others does not really help our situation.  Slowly, we begin to learn that other people may not or can not rescue us from our circumstances.

There are many times when I need the help that only Jesus can provide.  Whether it is my health or my wealth, Jesus is able to provide exactly what I need when I need it most.  God will provide!

In II Corinthians 9:8 Paul writes; “And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.”

When it comes to your health and wealth, God is able to provide you with blessings and abundance as well as with peace and joy.  In other words, we can ask Jesus to abundantly provide and to quickly help and to fully restore.

Jesus is able to heal your health issue in a moment or over a long season of treatment.  Jesus is able to restore your health or give you strength as you navigate the challenge of failing health.  Jesus is able to provide…and will in His way and in His time.

Jesus is able to provide during your financial challenges or multiply your resources over a life-time.  Jesus is able to fill the financial gap today or give you opportunities to gather more resources.  Jesus is able to provide…and will in His way and in His time.

Many of us want two things from God; wealth and health! 

Paul tells us there are two reasons why Jesus answers our prayers about health and wealth.  First, so we will have enough.  Second, so we can share with others.  The first reason is something we desire and celebrate while the second reason is something we often miss.

God provides so I can share good things with other people. 

If Jesus answers my prayer for a good medical report, I am called to share good things with other people.

If Jesus answers my prayer to get out of a financial mess, I am called to share good things with other people.

If Jesus answers my prayer to ease the pain of my parent’s health challenge, I am called to share good things with other people.

If Jesus answers my prayer for my adult child to get her financial house in order, I am called to share good things with other people.

If Jesus answers my prayer to provide a way through the limitations of aging on my body, I am called to share good things with other people.

If Jesus gives me a path to follow as I go through a difficult financial season, I am called to share good things with other people.

Many of us want two things from God; wealth and health!  The promise of God is that He can and will provide.  The call of God is that when Jesus does provide, we are to share good things with other people. 

Our generous sharing with other people is our celebration of the goodness and greatness and generosity of God as well as the sharing of God’s blessings with the other person.

When we share good things, delight wells up in our heart and in the heart of the person with whom we have shared.  Let us share good things with other people this week and watch God’s delight fill our hearts. 

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug