Let Us Exalt His Name Together, Considering His Faithful Provision
Proverbs 3:5-6, a familiar passage, reads, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."
How often do we trust with most but not all of our hearts and lean just a little bit on our own understanding to make up for that lack of trust? And in consequence, we do not acknowledge Him in all our ways nor have Him make our paths straight?
This passage from Proverbs, as well as some from Philippians and James, has meant a lot more to me in recent months. Let me illustrate.
My family needed to move our Mom into a memory care facility, and how were we going to do that? The LORD made a way.
The family home of 29 years needed to be sold, and how were we going to do that? The LORD made a way.
My sister, after retiring and selling the house, needed the right apartment, and how was that going to happen? The LORD made a way.
We had 29 years of items (and some being much older than that) to clear out of the house when it sold, and how was that going to happen? The LORD made a way.
We could not lean on our own understanding at any point, so we turned to James 1:2-5: "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given him."
How often during these months have we rejoiced in this truth as we sought wisdom from God in each circumstance--He has given it generously and without reproach.
Another pertinent reference is in Paul's letter to the Philippians: "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).
It is easy to be anxious when we can't see how God will provide. We found ourselves discussing how thanksgiving fits in with prayer and supplication, and concluded that we give thanks for His faithfulness to us in the past. And the peace of God has guarded our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus, as He promised.
"The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23).
How often do we trust with most but not all of our hearts and lean just a little bit on our own understanding to make up for that lack of trust? And in consequence, we do not acknowledge Him in all our ways nor have Him make our paths straight?
This passage from Proverbs, as well as some from Philippians and James, has meant a lot more to me in recent months. Let me illustrate.
My family needed to move our Mom into a memory care facility, and how were we going to do that? The LORD made a way.
The family home of 29 years needed to be sold, and how were we going to do that? The LORD made a way.
My sister, after retiring and selling the house, needed the right apartment, and how was that going to happen? The LORD made a way.
We had 29 years of items (and some being much older than that) to clear out of the house when it sold, and how was that going to happen? The LORD made a way.
We could not lean on our own understanding at any point, so we turned to James 1:2-5: "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given him."
How often during these months have we rejoiced in this truth as we sought wisdom from God in each circumstance--He has given it generously and without reproach.
Another pertinent reference is in Paul's letter to the Philippians: "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).
It is easy to be anxious when we can't see how God will provide. We found ourselves discussing how thanksgiving fits in with prayer and supplication, and concluded that we give thanks for His faithfulness to us in the past. And the peace of God has guarded our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus, as He promised.
"The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23).
posted by Ebeth | 8:59 AM
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