Knowing His Provision

Many, many times in my life I have said that I believe God provides. However, in those times, I did not always understand and know his provision. I leaned unto my own understanding, I sowed and worked my own provision, my own way. It wasn’t until around 2014 that the Lord taught me how he provides. God provides abundantly and God provides to us through faith.

Let me try to explain. The Lord wants relationship with us and through that relationship he wants us to rely on him, fully. Therefore, we cannot expect all our provision to be deposited securely into our bank accounts before we head out on mission. This is not faith, it definitely does not require trust, and there is zero dependence upon him. Now, I am not saying that God holds back finances or wealth from us. In fact, I believe he wants us to be successful and prosperous in every way. Just ask Abraham, Joseph, Joshua, David, Solomon, and many others. I do believe that He wants us to learn how to walk through life with Him, trusting for abundant provision, and using it appropriately for His Kingdom.

From the Word we can see how God provides for his children. He gives a command, by faith a servant obeys, and in the process the servant sees God’s provision come to pass. Elijah had to go to the place where the Lord commanded the ravens to feed him. It wasn’t where he was standing, the food was over there!! Elijah had to trust that God was faithful and travel to where he said. He had to believe that birds were going to bring him food instead of stock piling resources. Now that takes faith!!!

It is no different for us today. This law of provision still holds true for us because God does not take back his words. (Isaiah 31:2) As the Lord began to reveal this biblical principal to me through his word, he also allowed me to experience it so that it would become part of my knowledge.

One example of this is when Jesus set me on a path to trust him in all areas of my life: finances, housing, occupation, my relationships. Step by step, little by little I would listen to his guidance and release control of portions in my life that I was holding on to. He had moved my family into a home that had a yard for my children to play(provision for my little ones) in which they had never experienced. However, it seemed unaffordable to maintain. My wife and I had to trust that the finances would be there weekly to purchase food, gas, pay bills, and rent. When I say weekly, I mean it. We were relying on the Lord for everything, including how to heat the home as the season was changing to winter.

The house had an old wood burning stove and two wall heaters- that was it! The more affordable option was to use the stove but we didn’t have extra money in the budget to purchase a large load of wood for everyday use. I spent my early morning hours asking God how to navigate the issue, since my wife could literally see her breath as she was getting ready for work each day. That Saturday, the Spirit shared with me to ask my dad for a small bundle of oak from his wood pile. I thought, “Ok, but that will only last for a day.” Obedient, I asked my dad and he said, “Yes.” I drove my Honda Accord to his house, praying all the way, to fill the trunk with whatever I could. Upon arrival, I popped the trunk to see that it was full of items that we were supposed to give away. UGH!! I was angry, my time and gas money were important and now I couldn’t even get the wood I needed.

Reversing out of the driveway, I sped off complaining about my situation to God. I was heading to drop off the items in frustration not quite understanding why the Lord would have me run around like this. “Why are things so difficult? Lord, I just need some wood to heat my house.” I stated. At that moment, I heard him speak, “Look to your right.” I turned my head as I drove down the street and saw a business with its doors open, clearing out the interior of a large indoor skate park. A giant truck and trailer were full of old lumber! “Is that for me?”

I debated this question for the next few minutes as I pulled up to the giveaway drop off location. Quickly I emptied the trunk and headed back to my dad’s house, still wondering about the potential load of wood. As I neared the business, and almost passed by, I heard, “Pull over.” I immediately pulled to the side of the road and questioned what to do. “Just go ask,” He said.

Hopping out of my vehicle, and crossing the street, I met two workers coming out of the building. “Morning, what are you guys gonna do with all this wood?” I asked.

“We are taking it to the dump right now,” replied the worker.

“Would you be willing to drop it off at a different location? Like my house?”

“If I can pull in, dump the load, and drive away, then you can have it.”

“When are you leaving?” I questioned.

“Right now.”

When I returned home, the look on my wife’s face said it all. Absolute shock as they pulled away, leaving a pile of wood 6 feet tall and 20 feet long!!!! We had firewood to build multiple daily fires for the next 3 months. The Lord supplied warmth to my house in abundance, and it was all free of charge. He knew the exact timing that day and blessed me in knowing His provision by His word. All I had to do was be willing to listen, to trust, and to obey.

God’s provision is now a part of my everyday life and I continue to know and trust him in this way. His miraculous provision is not something only for those “Heroes of the Faith” from the past. Dig deep in the Word, listen to his voice and He promises that it is the same for all of his children. Receive the invitation to Know his Provision.

• Knowing the Lord
  • Knowing his Heart and Mind
  • Knowing his Faithfulness
  • Knowing his Guidance
  • Knowing his Ways
  • Knowing his Provision
  • Knowing the Source