God Loves Us So Much

God always causes the Godly to flourish like a palm tree. We grow tall and He transplants us into His own Heavenly garden, so that we are under His personal care (Psalm 92:12-13). King David realized that throughout his lifetime. He never saw a righteous person forsaken or his descendants begging bread (Psalm 37:25). God provides for His children. He also blesses thousands of generations of descendants belonging to those who love and serve Him (Exodus 20:6).

Even in our old age, God uses us to produce fruit and to remain productive and vital. Our success honors the Lord because it shows the world that He cares for His own (Psalm 92:14-15). We get acquainted with God’s ways, and we put our trust in Him. He never forsakes anyone who seeks Him (Psalm 9:10). We hope in our Lord, because He keeps every promise He makes to us with as much certainty as He keeps the world He created in perfect balance (Psalm 146:5-6).

When someone threatens God’s beloved, He takes it very personally (Zechariah 2:8). We are precious in His sight (Isaiah 43:3). God gives justice to the poor and oppressed, and food to the hungry. He heals the sick, lifts the burdens of those crippled under life’s weight, protects immigrants and cares for both orphans and widows. The Lord loves His righteous people and is their defense (Psalm 146:7-9). Those who refuse to obey Him are oblivious of His wonders (Nehemiah 9:17,31).

We believe in God’s faithfulness, because He always cares for those who seek Him (Psalm 9:10). Jehovah made the mountains and heavens; and yet, is mindful of all mankind (Psalm 8:4-6). He gives His angels charge over us, so that we never stumble or fall (Psalm 91:11-12). He never sleeps, but watches over us day and night. He cares for us and defends us, keeping us from evil and preserving our life. He keeps his eye on us as we come and go, and guards us in all of our ways (Psalm 121:2-8).

Prayer:

Father God, we will never forget Your promises, Your mercy, Your grace or the marvelous works You perform (Psalm 111:4-6). Your loving kindness is forever and ever to those who reverence You. If we live faithfully in Your covenant and obey Your precepts, Your salvation is for us, as well as our children if they will accept it (Psalm 103:17). Your love stand firm forever and you establish your faithfulness in Heaven and earth and it endures forever (Psalm 89:2, 119:90).

Thought for the Day:

God's will is not achieved by momentary spurts of self-effort, but by a lifestyle of obedience to His loving presence in our life.

Jehovah-Jireh, My Provider

Read: Matthew 6:25-33

So Abraham called that place “The Lord Will Provide”. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided." – Genesis 22:14

We say that Jehovah-Jireh means, “The Lord Who Provides” (Genesis 22:12-14). The name literally means, “The Lord Who Sees” or “The Lord Who Will See To It”. This is what God promises to all of us who will trust in His name. He is the One who sees our need and He will also see to its provision (Psalm 37:4). Abraham spoke this name when God provided a ram caught in the thicket. This meant that God supplied the sacrifice and Abraham did not have to sacrifice his son, as he originally thought he would have to do. 

God tells us never to worry about our life; not about what we will eat or drink, or about our body and what we will wear. He reminds us that there are more important things in life than food and clothing. Jesus pointed to the birds in the air. He mentioned, that although they do not toil, our Heavenly Father feeds them. He also declared that the lilies of the field are here today and gone tomorrow, but God provides for them in beauty and splendor during their life span.

We are more valuable to God than the fowl and the grass, and He will provide for us so much more. Jesus reminds us that worry cannot add even one hour to our life. He made it clear that the unconverted person dedicates his/her life to pursuing carnal, worldly goals; but we are to pursue His kingdom and holiness above all else. In return, He will give us everything we need (Matthew 6:25-33). The Bible invites us to taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8). 

The bountiful provision of the Father is evident over and over again in Biblical accounts. Stephen, a chosen disciple of the apostles of Christ, preached a sermon and his opposition stoned him to death; however, in the midst of this narrative, we see that Stephen looks up and God opens the heavens for Stephen to actually see Jesus standing at the right hand of our Father. I don’t think Stephen ever felt another stone (Acts 6:8-8:1).  

David declares that in all the years of his life, he never saw the righteous forsaken, nor did their children or grandchildren ever have to beg for bread (Psalm 37:25). The Lord shepherds us throughout our lifetime (Psalm 23:1). He provides for all of our needs. We may go without what we want, but our basic needs of food and shelter, which includes clothes, are given when needed (1 Timothy 6:8). 

In fact, Paul, who suffered every type of peril including nakedness, told Timothy that godliness is actually a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment (1 Timothy 6:6). We can learn as Paul did to be content with what God provides for us (Philippians 4:11). God gives His children a comfortable lifestyle, even though the way may not always be smooth. As we view the circumstance in our life from God’s perspective, He gives us His peace and joy that rise above any trial we may ever experience (Philippians 4:7). 

God also gives us rest and restores our soul ~ our mind, will and emotions ~ to complete health (Psalm 16:9; 62: 1,5; 116:7; Isaiah 58:11). Even if we end up homeless and without any money, He will provide for us as He did for the prophet Elijah. Twice angels fixed him warm bread over hot coals along with a jar of water (1 Kings 16). Another time, the ravens raided someone’s bab-b-que and brought him bread and meat in the morning and again bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook (1 Kings 17:6). God will supply for us as well. 

Jehovah-Jireh guides and directs our steps. Even if we stumble, we never get utterly cast down, because He upholds us in His hands (Psalm 18: 35; Psalm 37: 24). The name Jehovah-Jireh is a reminder to us in these crucial times we live in today. As we seek to know the Father first, we are assured that our Heavenly Father is able to provide any need we have (Matthew 6:33). We can trust Him to keep His Word. 

Even through the worse fear mankind has to face, God walks with us through death (Psalm 23:1). We have no reason to fear any evil, because even if we experience heartache or physical distress, He is with us (2 Corinthians 1:10). He works all things, even the bad things, out for our good (Romans 8:28). God even transforms us into the image of Christ as we walk through sanctification. He constantly convicts us of unrighteousness, so that we will walk blamelessly as a testimony to the world of God’s love for us. He may correct us with His rod, or redirect us with His staff, but they always bring us comfort and joy (Psalm 23:4). 

Prayer:
Lord God, You rescue us even from mortal danger, and You will save us again and again throughout our lives. We place all our confidence in You, and You will continue to liberate us (2 Corinthians 1:10). If we are thrown into a blazing furnace like the young Hebrew men, You are able to save us from it, and You will rescue us (Daniel 3:17).  We continually put our hope in You, who are our living God, who are the Savior of all men, women and children everywhere, and especially of those who believe in You (1 Timothy 4:10).

Thought for the Day:
Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ. - Ephesians 1:3