"Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?"
-Matthew 6:26
I have spent so much time working to provide for myself, paying for college, struggling to stay out of debt, making sure that I never went without the basic things I desired to have. When the question arose, "Do you trust God to be your provider?" My answer was always, "Yes of course I do." Always answering this question without really much thought behind what I was saying.
The biggest challenge of my move to Kansas City, to pursue the deeper desires of my heart, was to lay down a full time career and what I thought was my source of provision. How were my bills going to be paid? How would I buy food, gas, and simple everyday needs? What about the thousands of dollars of debt I still had?
I realized for the first time in my life that I had never truly seen the Lord as my provider. This thought went through my head one morning while sitting in church. "I have no other option now than to trust God to provide for me." It was a scary thought, but something deep inside my heart longed to feel that complete trust in Him. I longed for a basic trust that God would provide for me because He loves me. I knew He was getting ready to answer that prayer I am sure many of us pray, "Lord help me to trust you."
The Lord shows us in Matthew 6:26 that the birds of the air do not sow, reap, or gather and He still feeds them. He is their provider simply because He values them. When we are able to realize that God is our ultimate provider and our employer is only the channel He uses to provide for us then we can not be taken over by fear, anxiety, or worry. The source of your provision is constantly the same. He may change the channel it comes to you from, but He is still the same.
In 1 Kings 17:2-16, the Lord comes to Elijah and gives him specific instruction to go to the brook where He will provide for him. When the brook dries up He then directs him to go to the widow next for his provision. In sending him to the widow, the Lord is increasing Elijah's faith, as well as hers; teaching them both that He is their ultimate provider and all they must do is obey His voice. God was after their faith; He wanted to be their source. Faith in God can release miracles.
For the last 5 months of my life, the Lord has been doing so many miracles and showing me that He is my 100% provider. My faith muscle has been stretched, but I am so thankful for this lesson He has given me. I have countless testimonies of how He broke in a provided exactly what I needed at the perfect moment.
One of my favorite stories from several months ago: I got to the prayer room that morning very discouraged because I was out of money, out of gas, and rent was due. I told my friend, Hannah, that I couldn't handle the pressure anymore. I was feeling a bit crazy for believing I could do this, and knew that I had to go back to work. Hannah simply prayed, "God today give her a special gift to show her you see her and you are going to provide everything she needs." I heard her pray this, but did not have any faith in the moment to even believe He heard. An hour later, standing in the hallway outside the prayer room, my friend Joy (who I had not shared any of this with) came up to me and handed me something. She said, "I believe God told me to give $40 to you." I began to cry as I realized that God was paying attention to me that morning. He saw my need, heard my friend's prayer, and even in my lack of faith in that moment, He gave me a special gift to show me He was listening.
I am sharing this story with you today to help put a new idea in your mind and heart. Do you believe that God is your provider? Are you in need of a miracle? Don't be afraid to ask Him to show you He is listening. He wants you to trust and believe that He will provide everything you need because He loves you!
Share with me some of you favorite provision stories and please continue to keep me in your prayers. I am still in need of finances to help cover my expenses for the next several months.
Blessings, Tisha
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