"Provider"

"Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:  Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation."  Habakkuk 3:17,18

There is a lot of talk about some major events that could happen in the near future-- the fall of the economy, a cataclysmic disaster, wars, etc.  These things may or may not happen.  But what if they do?  What if there is no money to buy with, no food available, no jobs, and no homes because they have been wiped out by an earthquake, a flood or even a volcano.  Are you prepared? 

This preparation is not putting things like food, water, money, provisions, etc. back-- although we have already talked about the wisdom in doing that.  I am talking about another type of preparedness.  I am talking about renewing your mind and affirming your faith now (daily) that the Lord is your provider. 

It is so easy to get accustomed to the natural way of doing things that we forget about God's hand in our needs being met.  Therefore, you have to get it settled and stay settled that the government is not your provider.  The stock market is not your provider.  Your spouse is not your provider.  Your stockpile is not your provider.  Your job and your boss is not your provider.  Natural resources are not your provider.  Some religious organization is not your provider.  These are only ways and means that God uses.  When your faith for not only the future but for your daily bread is rooted in the fact that God alone is the provider, it won't matter that there is no physical means of provision.  It won't make you fearful, anxious or distressed because your full trust is in God's faithfulness to provide whatever you need.  

He already provides for you every day by giving you air to breath.  He has not changed.  He can still give water from a rock, send manna from heaven, put money in a fish's mouth, and multiply bread and oil.  Get it settled in your heart everyday who your real provider is.

Have a great day.  Everyday settle it in your heart that your provider is the Lord.  If you do, when natural provisions are cut off, you won't be afraid or worry because you know He will take care of you.         

"He's In The Darkness"

"He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies."  Psalm 18:11

How can a God who is Light-- in Him there is no darkness-- make darkness His secret place?  It isn't that He "lives" in darkness, but He uses darkness as a place where we can find Him.  It is like He "hides out", or "camps out" in the dark places-- the places of grief, sorrow, trials, testing, tribulation, storms, etc.-- so that when we go through them, we can find Him because He is already there. 

He was already waiting ahead of time in the fiery furnace when the three Hebrews were thrown in.  He was already in the dark lion's den when they threw Daniel in it.  He is already there in our trials but often we don't see Him because of the darkness of the situation. 

If you are going through a "dark place" remember that He is already there.  He is there so He can be easily found when you seek for Him.  He is already there so you can touch Him in your dark time when you reach out to Him.  When the disciples were in a storm on the sea, it was dark.  There was no moonlight, no lamps, no flashlights, but there He was in the darkness of the boat, in the darkness of the storm.  They had no trouble finding Him and calling upon Him to save them.  The same for us today.  The storm may hide Him from sight.  The darkness may cover His presence.  But rest assured, He is already there waiting for when you call upon Him for help.

Have a great day.  The Lord is already in your dark times, waiting to help you when you need Him.