Sermon Reflections from Trusting the Provider | Stephanie Soltero | August 17
When was the last time you asked God for something big? Maybe it was a job, a house, a spouse, healing, guidance or wisdom, but you prayed in faith that God would provide. What about little things like a parking space, a word of encouragement, or the right choice for dinner? As Stephanie reminded us God desires that we ask Him for things as He is the great provider, but we are not to treat God like a cosmic bell boy who is at our beck and call for whatever we want or think we need. It isn’t that God can’t provide all our wants but they might not be in alignment with His will.
The Apostle Paul prayed to be able to visit the Roman Christians in his letter he states in Romans 1:11 “always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—” He wanted to go to Rome and preach and teach among them, but God was not allowing it at that time. He later did go to Rome but in chains and after several years of ministry from his confinement was executed. That was not what Paul envisioned for his trip and ministry, but it was what God had planned. Paul also speaks of a ‘thorn of the flesh’ that he continually dealt with. We do not know if this was a physical or spiritual thorn but Paul talks about it in 2 Corinthians 12:7 “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.” Paul felt that God did not remove this so that he would not become conceited, selfish and puffed up in his ministry and great successes for the Lord.
I am reminded of the passage in James where there is boasting going on about what the person plans to do. James 4:13-16 “ Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.” When we pray we need to have this same attitude and mindset, that God’s will be fulfilled. The focus of our prayers is to glorify God and that the results would bring glory to His name. It isn’t that God does not want us to have the job we are praying for but it might not be the right time or the right job for us. We need to pray with an open heart and mind that God will provide for us in His time and in His way, not ours. I know I faced this years ago when I had a friend dying with a brain tumor. I fervently prayed that she would be healed. However, God intended for her to be home with Him and be healed in heaven and not here on earth. I struggled with this as I wanted her to be here. In later years, I have come to realize that just because I want it, that does not make it God’s will.
Now back to Stephanie’s chosen verse Philippians 4:19. “ And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” It is one of my favorite verses and a foundational truth about God’s provision. God is capable of providing for you and me. He promises to meet our needs, not our wants. There is a difference between what I want and what I need. Sometimes I think I desperately need something, but when I think about it more seriously, I realize it is what I want. Paul seriously desired that God remove his ‘thorn’ but God knew it needed to remain with him to keep him humble. God knows what we need. The other example I used of Paul desiring to go to Rome shows us that it was God’s will that he go but not just then. What we are praying for might be coming, but not just now. What we can know for sure is that God desires to provide and will provide the very best for you and me. I claim Jeremiah 29:11 when I doubt what God has in store for me. “ For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare] and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Here are some truths I have taken from Philippians 4:19: God has infinite resources available to me through Christ Jesus. God is sovereign over all circumstances, places and people. God in His omniscience knows all my needs. God can and will provide for me. He loves and cares about me, and I am important to Him.
These truths can be applied to Crossroads as well. God knows our needs and what he has planned for our growth. We need to pray fervently that His will be done and for His glory to be shown in all that is accomplished. We serve a great God and He knows what is best and planned!
Linda
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Linda is a member of Crossroads church and regularly blogs about her faith.
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Discovering God is a fresh look at how God is moving in our lives. Rooted in the Crossroads Church community, we reflect on sermons, share stories, and explore everyday moments where God invites us to grow. Join us as we take steps toward Him together. Learn more at www.wearecrossroads.church.
Discovering God is a fresh look at how God is moving in our lives. Rooted in the Crossroads Church community, we reflect on sermons, share stories, and explore everyday moments where God invites us to grow. Join us as we take steps toward Him together. Learn more at www.wearecrossroads.church.
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