We experience God’s provision on a daily basis, though sometimes it’s hard for us to recognize it, because it doesn’t look like what we may have hoped for. We ask God for things like more money, expecting a check to magically find its way into our wallets, all the while our work place is offering us overtime but we’re too “tired” to work anymore than we already do. Or we ask God to give us a peace beyond all understanding and when we feel an urge to pick up our bibles, or to pray we ignore it, clicking on the T.V. instead.
Our ideas of what God should provide for us in times of need are often things that we could easily try to replace God with. It reminds me of King David in 1 Chronicles 21. Up to this point God had given David such vast victory, triumph and provision. He sent about thousands of men to David’s camp to faithfully fight along side and serve him in battle, he placed it on King Tyre’s heart to provide the materials and laborers needed to build David a palace to finally call home and he caused David to win every battle that he and his army participated in.
I have to admit that I was insanely impressed with the red carpet that God was pulling out for King David. Strengthening his numbers, building him a palace, giving him victory in all of his battles, God literally gave him everything that he needed to start a successful Kingdom. Unfortunately for David, he needed something more.
In 1 Chronicles 21:7, David sends Joab and a few of his army’s commanders to take a census of all the people of Israel. In return he would find out how many people in Israel could wield a sword. Though Joab reported the number that he had collected, he couldn’t bring himself to count everyone because of how convicted he felt about counting the people in the first place. David’s command to take a census was a sin because it showed where David was beginning to place his hope and trust: the amount of men in his army and not God, his ultimate provider. I imagine that King David began to think that if he had a strong army then his kingdom would continue to be on the rise, instead of thanking God for his provision thus far, he wanted confirmation of the amount of men that he could have fight if he ever needed them in battle. Provision and victory to David meant how many men he could potentially have on the battle field, while God’s desire was to provide provision through a close knit relationship, where David would submit himself unto the Lord, and God would continue to provide victory in spite of how many soldiers the Israelite’s had.
What may you be asking God for, that he’s already provided? God’s desire is to be our daily bread and there is absolutely nothing that he could give us that would solve all of our problems. That’s what he is for.
What have you begun placing your hope in, that may be hardening your heart against God this Valentine’s Day?
I’m learning that I have to trust God whether things look like they’re in my favor or not. Even if I feel that things just are not going my way, he surprises me. I want to encourage you to look for provision in the small things. Don’t ask God to provide you with a Godly group of friends and turn down every bible study invitation that you get, or don’t gripe and complain about wanting to be in a relationship when you’ve made absolutely no attempt at renewing your mind, and seeking after god concerning the things that he knows makes relationships successful.
We’ve got to ask God to open our eyes to the provision that he has so faithfully provided in our lives, that we won’t just see it, but embrace and be thankful for it.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
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