The God who provides
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want, he makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. Psalm 23:1-2
Over these past few years, the Lord has taught me a lot about His character. One particular characteristic that I will be writing about today is Jehovah-jireh, which means the God who provides. I have seen his provision in small ways and in huge, unfathomable ways. As I began to trust the Lord more, the first big thing I remember his provision in, is providing a vehicle for me. I needed one, and had searched and saved for months with no success of finding one. Around that time is when my journey of surrender to Him began and I remember placing this situation in his hands, asking that he would provide, and letting go of control on it. Not long at all later, I was signing a truck title, and driving out of the driveway in my first vehicle, completely paid for. I sought the Lord and he answered..
A small way I saw the Lord provide was just a month or more after I bought my truck and my love for God was growing daily as I learned complete dependence on Him. I had went into work early one day, unable to eat before and I was telling God about that as I was stuffing ads into an envelope. Minutes later, a regular customer walks in and gives me a breakfast sandwich from McDonald's because they had a buy one get one free deal, and he was given two but only wanted one. He provided food when I was hungry. I sought the Lord and he answered...
Fast forward a few years, and I was about to go on a journey that has forever changed me. A trip that I had dreamed of and prayed for ever since I was a little girl, and my dream was about to come true. The Lord says many times in his word, "do not worry" but I admit that that has always been a struggle for me. What if I don't get the amount I need to go? What if I can't pay this months bills? What if my vehicle breaks down and I have no money to pay someone to help? What if, what if, what if?
But, what if I serve a God who is the most high God (El Elyon), who is the all sufficient one (El Shaddai), the good shepherd (Jehovah-raah), the God who provides (Jehovah-jireh), and so much more? Then I bow down in complete awe and surrender as he washes away all my worries as I see Him provide everything needed. Things that "with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."(Matthew 19:26) Within just a couple months, the Lord had completely provided all I needed, and during, wrecked my life, tore me apart, and built me back up, but changing me in ways I can never be the same again. All while reminding me that He is with me always and he will never leave me or forsake me (Deuteronomy 31:6), and He didn't. No matter how many times I tried to run, he was right there, pulling me back into himself, pursuing me in ways I've never been pursued before.
The verse above in Psalm 23 has been a verse I've went back to a lot in these past few months. After doing a study by Kay Arthur, I have loved this passage as I see the meaning to it. If you have been around sheep you know that they are helpless by themselves and they need a shepherd. We, too, are like sheep and helpless without our Shepherd(Jehovah-raah). Sheep cannot lay down if they are hungry, or in need of something, but when they have everything that they need, usually provided by their Shepherd than they are able to lay down in green pastures. In these passages I am reminded of why we are compared to sheep so much. I, too, am helpless without my Shepherd and I cannot rest if I am in constant "worry mode" yet when we allow our God to be Lord of my life (Adonai), and know that He is the good Shepherd (Jehovah-raah) that provides everything that I need, then I can lay down peacefully knowing that my needs will be met.
I write all of this to encourage you that no matter what your need may be, the Lord will provide. Let go of any grips you may have and be set free. Fall into his arm, weak and unable to do anything without your Father. It may not be provided how you would see fit, it may not be easy, and praise God for that. If everything were easy we would never grow, and we wouldn't know the Lord in ways we will if we remember our desperation for Him. Let him be your Jehovah-raah (Shepherd). The Lord of your life (Adonai), and release any worry over to him, and allow him to be your Jehovah-jireh(the Lord that provides).
Over these past few years, the Lord has taught me a lot about His character. One particular characteristic that I will be writing about today is Jehovah-jireh, which means the God who provides. I have seen his provision in small ways and in huge, unfathomable ways. As I began to trust the Lord more, the first big thing I remember his provision in, is providing a vehicle for me. I needed one, and had searched and saved for months with no success of finding one. Around that time is when my journey of surrender to Him began and I remember placing this situation in his hands, asking that he would provide, and letting go of control on it. Not long at all later, I was signing a truck title, and driving out of the driveway in my first vehicle, completely paid for. I sought the Lord and he answered..
A small way I saw the Lord provide was just a month or more after I bought my truck and my love for God was growing daily as I learned complete dependence on Him. I had went into work early one day, unable to eat before and I was telling God about that as I was stuffing ads into an envelope. Minutes later, a regular customer walks in and gives me a breakfast sandwich from McDonald's because they had a buy one get one free deal, and he was given two but only wanted one. He provided food when I was hungry. I sought the Lord and he answered...
Fast forward a few years, and I was about to go on a journey that has forever changed me. A trip that I had dreamed of and prayed for ever since I was a little girl, and my dream was about to come true. The Lord says many times in his word, "do not worry" but I admit that that has always been a struggle for me. What if I don't get the amount I need to go? What if I can't pay this months bills? What if my vehicle breaks down and I have no money to pay someone to help? What if, what if, what if?
But, what if I serve a God who is the most high God (El Elyon), who is the all sufficient one (El Shaddai), the good shepherd (Jehovah-raah), the God who provides (Jehovah-jireh), and so much more? Then I bow down in complete awe and surrender as he washes away all my worries as I see Him provide everything needed. Things that "with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."(Matthew 19:26) Within just a couple months, the Lord had completely provided all I needed, and during, wrecked my life, tore me apart, and built me back up, but changing me in ways I can never be the same again. All while reminding me that He is with me always and he will never leave me or forsake me (Deuteronomy 31:6), and He didn't. No matter how many times I tried to run, he was right there, pulling me back into himself, pursuing me in ways I've never been pursued before.
The verse above in Psalm 23 has been a verse I've went back to a lot in these past few months. After doing a study by Kay Arthur, I have loved this passage as I see the meaning to it. If you have been around sheep you know that they are helpless by themselves and they need a shepherd. We, too, are like sheep and helpless without our Shepherd(Jehovah-raah). Sheep cannot lay down if they are hungry, or in need of something, but when they have everything that they need, usually provided by their Shepherd than they are able to lay down in green pastures. In these passages I am reminded of why we are compared to sheep so much. I, too, am helpless without my Shepherd and I cannot rest if I am in constant "worry mode" yet when we allow our God to be Lord of my life (Adonai), and know that He is the good Shepherd (Jehovah-raah) that provides everything that I need, then I can lay down peacefully knowing that my needs will be met.
I write all of this to encourage you that no matter what your need may be, the Lord will provide. Let go of any grips you may have and be set free. Fall into his arm, weak and unable to do anything without your Father. It may not be provided how you would see fit, it may not be easy, and praise God for that. If everything were easy we would never grow, and we wouldn't know the Lord in ways we will if we remember our desperation for Him. Let him be your Jehovah-raah (Shepherd). The Lord of your life (Adonai), and release any worry over to him, and allow him to be your Jehovah-jireh(the Lord that provides).
Comments
Post a Comment