Receiving God's Provision

The LORD is waiting to show you mercy, and is rising up to show you compassion.

Isaiah 30:18

The devotional today tells a story about a single mother named Katy. Katy is telling her friend about a recent Saturday morning surprise. When her doorbell rang, she couldn't understand who would be at her house that early. It was the men's ministry from her church, they were there to put a new roof on her house. She was telling her friend how not only the men's ministry helped her, but that her dad had been doing repair work on her house, the older kids had helped out with groceries, and her friends had given her gift cards for her birthday. She was grateful to recieve these things, but was telling her friend how painful it was to know that she couldn't give anything back right now. Her friend told her that she needed to understand that she was not indebted to these people, that they were simply being God's hands and feet, as He honored His word and provided for her. Her friend told her that she would be robbing these people of great blessings if she refused their kindness, and that one day God would use her to extend that same blessing to someone else.

We all need help from time to time, and I think we all struggle with accepting acts of kindness like this. Even though we may desperatly need it at the time, we deny the help, and yet at the same time wonder why God is not providing for our needs, when if we would have just accepted a blessing from someone we would have been accepting God's provision for our need. During my mission trips I have had the great honor and privilage of being the hands and feet of Jesus, and meeting needs for people who desperatly need them. Some are struggling with accepting our help, and some are overwhelmed with gratitude, but I always feel like I walk away much more blessed then the person I am there serving. I have also learned that I need to accept act of kindness, and not refuse them out of my own pride. I now know the feeling of being blessed by blessing someone, and I do not want to rob anyone who feels they are being led by the Lord to bless me.

My husband and I have someone in our life that has many needs. They have let us help them on a few things, but struggle to let us help them very much. I pray that they would understand that we feel we were placed in their life for this season to help. I just wait and pray that God will show me opportunities to help.

Steps of Faith:
Thank you, Lord, that You are the God who provides. Teach us to recognize and receive Your good provision with thanksgiving and praise.

Deeper Walk:
2 Corinthians 9:6-13 NAS

Now this I say , he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudginingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; as it is written, "HE SCATTERED ABROAD, HE GAVE TO THE POOR, HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER." Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God. Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all.