August 15th – Confidence in God

Taking It to Work:

I think that I think, too little of God. Today’s scriptures, and listening to God’s Spirit speak to my heart; I am reminded of a gathering of men and women who had little issue with thinking too little of God.

I remember sitting at the table with a young missionary and his wife. We were in a small, annual gathering that brought full-time missionaries in from the deep poverty of the poorest, Mexican communities. It was a chance to meet for a prayer dinner to honor and support the selfless lives that these missionaries had chosen to live.

Wanting to make conversation, but also curious if my wife and I could help, I asked the young couple sitting beside us, what was their greatest need as missionaries in the areas that they were serving. The young man had a puzzled look, and asked me exactly what I meant. I responded with a little more clarity, hoping to home in on a place where we might be able to provide. He said, quite as a matter of fact, “We have everything we need. God always supplies.”

The rest of the conversation was about stories of how, on quite a regular basis, God provided, usually just in time, whatever it was they needed, and sometimes things that they did not even know they were going to need. The young man’s faith was remarkable. What we would consider a once-in-a-lifetime miracle of provision in our lives, was an every week occurrence in his. He had a great big God, and in that young missionary’s heart, there was no need to worry for want. He was totally convinced that his God already had anything that he and his wife would ever need – totally covered. Miracles of provision were commonplace; they had their focus on higher things.

It made me think. Was my mind on the “higher things”, or was I like so many in the working world of western culture, busy day-after-day “creating” my own wealth, or figuring out how to create more provision on my own? Was my focus on what pleased God, or just on the next business opportunity, career move or paycheck? Or was I like that young missionary, confidently placing those things firmly in God’s hands, so that my mind would be free to go after the more important, eternal things of the Kingdom? I’m thinking about that again now, and I hope you are too, as His Word works on us, today.

Col 3:2 (ESV) – Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

Phil 4:19 (ESV) – And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Matt 6:31-32 (ESV) – Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.

Listening to the Holy Spirit (Rhema):

Those who walk in faith have expectations beyond the natural. Their mind is not limited to what is common, for those things common are in the control of He, who is uncommon. The created heart knows of the existence of He who is above existence, in all ages reaching for what is unseen. You have experienced My Spirit within, children receiving only what the Father gives. Beyond life, it is He who brings life within you. Why then do you expect only the natural? Why do you pray for what needs no faith? For when it comes to be, then it is easily explained out of My hand. To ask for the common gives no glory to your faith, and no glory to He who gives. Seek a greater prayer of the Kingdom and without self, that it would bring glory, and an earnest approach in faith. You do not ask, for your faith is small, but in the asking and in the receiving, growth and glory to My Name. You fear for lack of faith. Weaker is the faith if unanswered, and thus hides the Godly asking. Search your heart for an uncommon desire, one of heaven’s will for man. Pray with the expectation and look closely to receive. Search My heart, that you would know yours, and the petition to My throne would be not as the common man prays, but that of the faithful. In this you shall see My hand, and thus begins the more powerful journey, common to those who know My power, uncommon to those who know not their God.