Our Provider

I heard the following story when growing up.  When my older sister was a toddler, my mother would wash her cloth diapers over the bathtub.  One night, it seemed she wasn't making any progress in getting the job done. "I didn't realize there were this many," she thought. Passing by the bathroom, my dad watched as my mother would place a washed, damp diaper to the side, only to see my sister retrieve one from the same pile and place back into the bathtub behind my mother's back. Amid laughter, he pointed out to my mother her double duty.

I thought of this while reading I Kings 17, concerning the widow at Zarephath.  The Lord sent Elijah to her during the dry spell, ensuring him she would provide for his needs. Upon a request for water, she obliged. However, when he asked for a bite of bread, she could only refuse. She explained she only had enough for her and her son to have one final meal. But Elijah told her, if she would honor God's man, all of her needs would be provided for.

Taking him at his word, she prepared a meal for Elijah first. Then for her family of two. She did the same day after day, only to find she never ran out of flour or meal. She'd turn her back and, while it was turned, God would add a little more to her stock. Every time she turned around, he'd blessed her yet again. Every time she turned around, He was making a way.

Here's another vein of thought. If we'd turn our eyes off our lack, our problems, etc., and let God work in the situation without our fretting and counting pennies, we might see something different when we take a second look at it in due time. I know I've had to do this for myself these past couple of weeks. It was as if God was saying, "If you'll let it go, stop dwelling on it, and shift your attention to other matters, I'll work in this. And before you know it, this will be resolved." Sure enough, that's just what happened. Let go, and let God.

Security

A friend of mine has the most adorable little, three-year-old daughter.  I remember when she was about a year old how she used to walk around their house with her favorite blanket.  She was so at one with that blanket that sometimes she wouldn't even hold it in her hand but would instead put a corner of the blanket between her teeth and proceed with walking, the blanket dragging alongside her.  My friend said, "I'm thinking of a way to add vitamins to the blanket considering how much she keeps it in her mouth."

We never really grow up from our need for security.  You may not carry a blanket around with you, but you have some other forms of it.  For some, security is found in money.  As long as a certain amount is in the bank, they feel like they have a good hold on life.  For others, it could be another person and, should that person ever become unavailable, their life would fall apart. 

Guess what?  It's OK to need to feel secure; it's OK to have security.  Just have it in something eternal instead of the temporal things of this world. 

II Samuel 22 is David's Song of Praise.  In verse 3, David mentions his security blanket..."He is my shield, the strength of my salvation, and my stronghold, my high tower, my savior, the one who saves me from violence."  Coming from a mighty king, that's quite a statement!  David knew in whom he believed, and he was persuaded the Lord of Hosts could keep and preserve him through anything.  Notice that David didn't mention any earthly gain or possessions, of which I'm sure he had much.  No, he mentioned the one, true, and living God. 

Allstate can say all they want.  But you're in good hands with Yahweh.  Now that's security.

As I've mentioned before, I've started working with a personal trainer in a more focused attempt to get in shape.  I did well on my own for a while, losing some 20+ pounds.  But the last 15 have been more of a challenge for me.  I'd lose 5 lbs. and then gain 7 lbs.; I'd lose 7 and then gain 5.  I came to the conclusion that I needed to change up my workouts, but I didn't know who to go about doing that...safely.  Hence, my decision to hire a personal trainer. I knew a trainer would not only hold me accountable to a proper diet but also would push me more than I'd know to push myself.

I couldn't have been more correct! His name is Luke, and he works me like crazy.  He adds an additional 5 or 10 lbs. to my weight load, walks in with a heavier medicine ball...I just never know what he's going to pull next.  What I abhor the most is running laps.  I never have been the running type, even when I was a child.  If THIS girl is running, it's because an insect of some sort has made itself known in my presence, and I'm looking for the nearest escape route.  And on Day 1, he tells me I'm to run 3 laps?!?  "Do you want me to run with you?" Luke asked.  Well, of course I did.  I'd never run a lap before, and I didn't want to go at it alone.  About 1/3 of the way through, I was glad he was beside me.  By that point, I was ready to give up and just walk the rest of the way.  Still, I knew I had to keep up with him, and he just wasn't stopping.  Thursday he pushed me to run 3.5 laps.  Again he asked, "Do you still want me to run with you?"  You'd better believe I said yes.  As long as he was there with me, running beside me, I somehow could find the strength to keeping picking up my feet and putting them down again.  With him next to me, I know I'll make it to the end, even when I don't feel like I will.

The Israelites had a similar inspiration in the Ark of the Covenant.  It represented God's presence and, without it, they were doomed.  David realized the importance of having it when he learned how blessed Obed-edom of Gath became after leaving the Ark at his home.  II Samuel 6:11 reads, "The Ark of the LORD remained there with the family of Obed-edom for three months, and the LORD blessed him and his entire household" (NLT).  When David heard that, he knew he had to retrieve the Ark for the sake of all of Israel.  With it, and in obedience to God, they were on the winning side.  They could accomplish any task or feat, but they needed God with them, beside them every step of the way. 

Next Tuesday, Luke warned me that we're taking it up to 4 laps!  I'm already dreading the "I can't make it" feeling I get during the 2nd lap.  But Luke will be in the lane right beside me, and I will keep up.  Together, we will run 4 laps.