What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Matthew 6:31-33 (MSG)
How many of you have seen God provide in the past? I am pretty sure every single person should have raised a hand on that one. He provides for us in obvious (food, shelter, clothing) and non-obvious (amazing functioning bodies) ways.
Yet, we (I) still worry about things. Maybe I don’t worry about food, or shelter or clothing, but I look at how things are going in my life and worry about why they are not going the way I want them to go. And then I can become anxious because I start thinking “What if they don’t go the way I want them to go?” And my mind is off to the races on a runaway horse without a bridle.
Of course, I pray about it and get some temporary relief but there is still a nagging voice in my head. This morning, I faced the nagging voice head on by asking myself and God some questions.
Why is it I feel that God will not answer my prayers?
Do I think that because he’s answered in the past that he won’t do it again?
Do I think I only get one answered prayer in a lifetime, a week or a day?
Did I forget how he has provided in the past and proven that his timing is perfect? (Obviously I did.)
Am I spending more time focused on what I want instead of who God is?
Do I trust in his promises?
And finally I got to…….
God, will you please forgive me?
I often wonder how God can so love someone with such fickleness. But then, there are those promises that deep in my core I do trust. I know he does and always will love me (and you). And that is going to be today’s focus.