Provision Promises (8 page)

On the other hand, in the promised land of Canaan that God had prepared for His beloved people, there was no River Nile to depend on. So they had to look up and depend solely on the Lord for the blessing of rain to fall upon their land.

Beloved, even as you labor diligently in your career today, what is your trust in? Is it in your self-efforts to provide for yourself, or is your dependence on the Lord to bless, increase and promote you? It's time to look up, especially in times of economic turmoil when the "Niles" of the world are drying up. Look up to Jesus for your supply!

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly... but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.

—Psalm 1:1-3

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

—John 1:14

But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

—1 Corinthians 1:24

DELIGHT IN JESUS DAILY

The Bible tells us, "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly." This means that while there is wisdom in ungodly counsel, a blessed man does not depend on it or walk in it. On the contrary, his delight is in the Word of God, which is the person of Jesus!

My friend, let your delight be in Jesus. See Him in every page of the Bible as you meditate on God's Word day and night.

Beloved, whose counsel are you walking in today for your provision? Be wary of ungodly counsel that promises you quick short-term gains that could cause you to get into a debt trap. Conversely, as you meditate on Jesus daily, you will enjoy the blessings of abundance as a by-product of just being in His presence! As you delight in Jesus, you will bring forth fruit in season, your leaf (your health) will not wither, and whatever you do becomes abundantly blessed!

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.

—1 Corinthians 1:30

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.

—Proverbs 4:7

The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought...

—Isaiah 58:11

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

—James 1:5

WISDOM IS THE PRINCIPAL THING

The solution to money problems is the wisdom of God. Today, as you believe God for increase, I want to encourage you to ask God first for wisdom with regard to all the provision challenges that you are facing right now.

In the Book of James, we learn that if anyone lacks wisdom, "let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him."

The wisdom of God will help you to identify and solve the money problems that you are currently experiencing. Don't prioritize accumulating material things. God's Word declares that wisdom is the principal thing. My friend, in all your getting, get wisdom and understanding!

When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve you; understanding will keep you, to deliver you from the way of evil...

—Proverbs 2:10-12

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.

—Psalm 32:8, NIV

Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O Lord...

—Psalm 94:12

For whoever finds me [wisdom] finds life, and obtains favor from the Lord.

—Proverbs 8:35

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

—Proverbs 3:5-6

INVOLVE JESUS

You don't need a financial miracle when you are consistently walking in the wisdom of God. In other words, when you walk in His wisdom, you won't be surviving from one bailout to another, nor will you be in a constant state of financial crisis and lack.

My friend, God's provision of wisdom is abundant and I want to challenge you to tap into this powerful resource from heaven.

Before you make a career move, start a new business, or make a significant purchase or investment, involve Jesus. Don't exclude the Lord. When someone pressurizes you to sign an agreement because the offer is "only valid for today," take a step back. Don't make an emotional decision and rush into it. Wait upon the Lord. Be prepared to walk away from this "great opportunity" if you don't sense His peace and wisdom. Learning how to flow in divine wisdom will save you both precious time and money.

I returned and saw under the sun that—the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.

—
E
cclesiastes 9:11

For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield.

—Psalm 5:12

For they [God's people] did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, nor did their own arm save them; but it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, because You favored them.

—Psalm 44:3

...in Your favor our horn is exalted.

—Psalm 89:17

THE RACE IS NOT TO THE SWIFT

The world tells you that those with the qualifications, talents and experience get the jobs, promotions and high salaries.

My friend, though you live in this world, as God's beloved child, you need not be limited by it. You have God's favor—His unmerited, unearned, undeserved grace! Read Ecclesiastes 9:11—"The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong..." So even if you are not the smartest, strongest, most knowledgeable or best looking in the natural, God can still give you good success when you depend on His grace.

Instead of mulling over your "disqualifications," be conscious of God's favor on you. Smile and say, "God's favor is all over me because of Jesus. I expect good things to happen to me today!" Beloved, be conscious of His favor. Believe it. Confess it. And you will experience it!

Take JESUS as your WISDOM and make all the right decisions.

One moment of GOD'S FAVOR can turn your life around.

May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands.

—Psalm 90:17,
NIV

But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.

—1 Corinthians 1:27-29

But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.

—Genesis 39:20-21,
NIV

You have granted me life and favor, and Your care has preserved my spirit.

—Job 10:12

HAVE BIG DREAMS

Here's a story of a young man in my congregation who had started a small business distributing swimming pool equipment. When a massive tender for building the world's longest elevated swimming pool came up, this young man, who had been listening to my messages on depending on God's favor, decided to participate in the tender. Despite intense competition for this multi-million dollar construction project, this young man, who had never built a swimming pool in his life, was awarded the project!

He didn't have the qualifications or experience of his competitors, but he certainly had the favor of God. His first construction project became the world's most expensive swimming pool. It sits atop an iconic landmark in my country, suspended 57 stories above the ground across three buildings, right in the heart of the city. Every time I drive past this landmark and look up to where this beautiful pool is, I am reminded of the goodness and favor of our Lord! Beloved, lean on God's favor and have big dreams!

So Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, "Please let me go to the field, and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight I may find favor. "And she said to her, "Go, my daughter." Then she left, and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.

—Ruth 2:2-3

So she fell on her face, bowed down to the ground, and said to him [Boaz], "Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?"

—Ruth 2:10

Remember me, O Lord, with the favor You have toward Your people. Oh, visit me with Your salvation.

—Psalm 106:4

GOD'S PROVISION EXCEEDS ALL YOUR EXPECTATIONS

Are you believing God for a life partner? Trust the Lord to position you at the right place at the right time to meet the right person. Look at the story of Ruth. Of all the fields that she could have stepped into to collect grain, the Lord led her to Boaz's field! Boaz then fell in love with Ruth and the rest is history.

In the natural, all the odds were stacked against Ruth. She was a poor widow and a Moabitess (a foreigner). But that did not stop her from putting her trust in the Lord's favor. Now, that favor not only led to the provision of grain for her and her mother-in-law, Naomi, it also led to the provision of a blessed life partner.

Beloved, God's provision will exceed all your expectations! Ruth was only believing for grain, but the Lord exceeded her expectations and blessed her with Boaz! Believe with all your heart that Jesus can do the same for you!

Then the Lord appeared to him and said: "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father."... So Isaac dwelt in Gerar.

—Genesis 26:2-3, 6

Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the Lord blessed him.

—Genesis 26:12, NIV

STAY PUT, TRUST JESUS AND REAP A HUNDREDFOLD!

Looking at the cracks that lined the parched earth, Isaac thought, "This famine is bad. Perhaps I should leave Gerar and go down to Egypt and plant my crops there." But when he looked up, the Lord appeared and said, "Do not go down to Egypt... Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you..." So Isaac stayed put in Gerar.

When Isaac had stayed in Gerar for some time, he "planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the Lord blessed him." Do you see that? Despite the severe famine, Isaac's crops flourished and he had a most bountiful harvest! Beloved, stay put where God has called you—don't run to the world for help but keep depending on the Lord and His abounding favor. Don't give up on God. When your faith is in the One who multiplied the loaves and fish and who knows everything, you will flourish even in times of famine!

Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him. The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous; for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of servants.

—Genesis 26:12-14

Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you.

—Isaiah 60:1-2

DON'T FEAR THE FAMINE—GOD WILL PROVIDE

Do you believe that you can experience the most increase when the world is experiencing famine?

My friend, famines have been around since the time of the Old Testament patriarchs. But the good news is that God always takes good care of His people. Abraham had more than enough during a time of famine. His son, Isaac, had enough to sow during a time of famine and reaped a hundredfold. In fact, Isaac began to experience the most abundant increase and provision during the time of famine.

That's God's style! All glory goes to Him when you and your loved ones are provided for during a famine. Beloved, fear not, but be confident and assured that Jesus will lead you into new levels of success and blessings. He will cause you to experience a hundredfold increase while the world is in famine.

When you keep your eyes on Jesus abounding favor toward you...

...you don't have to be afraid in times of famine.

While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease.

—Genesis 8:22

...He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work... Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness.

—2 Corinthians 9:6-10

Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.