Acknowledging Your Provider

She doesn’t realize it was I who gave her everything she has -

the grain, the new wine, the olive oil;

I even gave her silver and gold...

[Hosea 2:8, NLT]

Today's verse of scripture speaks about the Israelites whom God gave not only corn for necessity, wine for delight, and oil for ornament, but He multiplied their silver and gold. However, Israel robbed God of the honour of His gifts. They forgot their relation to their great benefactor and their obligations to Him. They did not consider what they had as blessing from God, and they did not return thanks to Him for His gifts. Instead they dishonoured God with those gifts - they adorned their images with gold and silver, and adorned themselves for the worship of their images.

It is quite easy for us to act like the Israelites as described above. This we may do knowingly or ignorantly. You may encounter people who say, "I got the one of my dreams because I fasted and prayed very well", "I got that promotion because I worked so hard", "I got into the best school because I studied tirelessly", or "I am where I am today because my parents made the right decisions". 

While we should acknowledge that there is a role we have to play in receiving what we have from God, we should not forget that it is God who has given us all that we have. It is God, our loving Father who gives us the ability to get wealth. He is the one who gives us strength to do what we do. He is the one surrounds us with favour as a shield. He is the one who equips us, and provides us with open doors of opportunities.

You may not have all you want, but your loving Father has provided for you all you need. If you reflect on this year, you will realize that He has done many great things for you. Spend time today thanking God for His provision, for thanksgiving opens doors to receiving more from Him.

Prayer: My Loving Father, I thank You for being my provider. You have provided me with all I need, even those things I do not know are important for me. I am sorry for times when I have assumed that what I have is of my own abilities and effort. Please show me if there is any way I dishonour You with the blessings You have bestowed on me. I pray, Father for Your help, that I may be a good steward of all You have blessed me with. May I always remember that what I have is from You, and acknowledge You with a heart of gratitude. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Living Beyond Self

..and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.
The LORD will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. 

[Isaiah 58:10-11] 

The world has somehow made us believe that our fulfillment comes from how much we can obtain and gather for ourselves, many of us live life in search for higher paying jobs, bigger contracts, better cars, bigger houses...and the list goes on. We tell ourselves, if I can just get that house, then I'd be satisfied, then we get the house, and realize, it wasn't all we thought it would be after all, and the struggle continues.

We have become a selfish generation, so much so that even the plight of the under privileged does not stir our hearts anymore. Or maybe we believe we are too busy, tied up with tight schedules, we tell ourselves that we really have no time to do anything else. But this is the kind of Christianity we have been called to , to feed the hungry and  help the helpless and oppressed, then the Lord would guide, satisfy and strengthen us.

As much as it is a good thing to increase and acquire material wealth, even more expedient is the grace to reach out to other with the increase that we have received from God. There is one who scatters, yet increases more, and there is one who withholds more than is right,but it leads to poverty. So today, and through the days to come, take a step outside of the me cocoon, and ask the Lord to show you ways to be a blessing to those who need your touch, you would be amazed how much more fulfilling it is to give than to recieve.

 

 

Prayer: Lord, today I ask for the grace to be used as your vessel to bless another. You have blessed me with so much and I know that the blessings are not just for me but that I may share and spread your love abroad. i am here as an ambassador of your kingdom and so Lord, i submit to you, touch lives through me as I yield to give of myself to others. Help me look beyond myself to see the many opportunities for ministering that abounds. Amen

One-Year Daily Bible Reading Plan - Dec. 12 2010 - Psalms 83-84 (OT), Matthew 27(NT)

Miracles In Disguise

Give us help from trouble for vain is the help of man.

[Psalms 108:12, KJV]

While a mountain is an obstacle to many, it is a stepping stone to a few, with which they get to the next level. How you see a mountain and what you call it can affect it’s final outcome. A mountain can be God’s way of revealing to His own the need for them to seek Him. When everything goes on smoothly it is easy to forget God and even think that victories are won by personal effort. With such mountains of challenge we are drawn to God and He shows up in mighty ways to rescue us.

In 2 Chronicles 20:1-20, God was about to take Jehoshaphat to the next level, and He sent three rich and powerful kings against Jehoshaphat. This immediately led Jehoshaphat to seek the Lord's face. What the young man thought would stop him, became his greatest, sweetest and easiest victory. That problem before you which appears like it has come to sink your ship, has only come to deliver your greatest victory in Jesus name.

The process of going through a mountain grooms us to be better people in various aspects of our lives. As you look at any mountain standing before you threatening to swallow you up, ask that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes to see your victory. Ask that the benefits of each mountain will be uncovered and delivered to you completely.

Prayer: Dear Lord, please open my eyes and my understanding to look beyond the mountain facing me. Help me to see your gifts and benefits packaged for my good, help me to receive all the blessings due me, help me to overcome by your mighty power in Jesus name.

One-Year Daily Bible Reading Plan - Dec. 12 2010 - Psalms 81-82 (OT), Matthew 26(NT)