Provider

Lord today you led me to Psalm 111 where I was able to delight in you and your promises.

“Great are your works Oh Lord they are pondered by all who delight in them.”

How true it is that many times I ignore what you do or overlook your mighty hand in my life. How many times have you provided for me and I have just gone on with the next thing, submitted my next request, become consumed in the next worry that I am blinded to your hand? We move on after struggle and pain without acknowledging who it was that got us through. Lord shame on me for neglecting to acknowledge you and what you’ve done. It is like walking through an art museum with blinders and an unappreciative spirit. That canvas was once blank! Bring to light the magnificent things I have ignored that I may ponder your beauty.

“The Lord is gracious and compassionate.”

Now this one you have revealed to me lately. You are exactly what David describes you to be. I don’t understand how you can be so loving and comforting. You extend your kindess despite my turned face. Lord you ARE compassion. You ARE grace. You cant act any other way towards me. I cant believe I am allowed to be in such intimate contact with the source of these powerful and life changing traits. Lord soften my heart that your kindness might transform me.

“He provides food for those who fear him”

David’s practical addition seems a bit out of place in the context of this passage. However, I think it matches our nature as humans. Even when we are acknowledging the goodness of you and your loving character traits, we so easily turn to worries and concerns that have turned to habit. What will we wear tomorrow? How will we pay for our next semester? Where will we live when we get married? What if I don’t pass that test? What if I can’t find a job? How will I find time to do all the things I need to do?

David’s assurance that we will be fed extends from the provisional master that God IS. 1 Timothy 6:17 claims God richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

David goes to great length in other Psalms to glory in the provision experienced in God:

“O God, you provided for the needy”

“He also gives bread and provides meat for his people”

God IS provision. He is gracious, he is compassionate. He will therefore not allow his child to go wanting. He will fill your stomach, but he YEARNS to fill you mind, soul and spirit with the water that forever prevents thirst from entering again.

In view of the loving daddy that God delights to be to us, how silly we are to let our mundane concerns affect our attitude, behavior and effectiveness in loving others. When filled with anxiety over something God tells us he will take care of, we waste energy worrying over something that logically doesn’t make sense to worry about.

In the case of something we DESIRE God to provide for us, we can trust he will give us what is best – exactly what we need beyond what we can imagine. His prescription takes the entire chart and family history in to account. He has the highest degree in medicine. We only see the immediate headache. Wouldn’t you rather be treated for the source of the disease rather than just disguise a small symptom?

We can trust him and delight in what he provides for us, KNOWING that He knows better and wants the best for us.

Psalm 65:8-10 “You visit the earth and water it; you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide their grain, for so you have prepared it. You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth.”