It was such a blessing to start out the week celebrating moms, and the women who God has used to bless our lives! I want to share a quick story with you.
Recently, a woman was watching our Real TV program and God touched her heart. She came to the realization that she needed Jesus, and she prayed and texted SAVED to 51400. Our call team reached out to her and as a new believer she asked for prayer for her housing situation. Her family had to be out of their house within 3 weeks and they could not find another house anywhere in their local area.
So our call team prayed with her and sure enough, about 3 weeks later she emailed us and said, “Praise God! After giving my life to Jesus and praying with you guys, God gave us the perfect house! Not only was it one block away from where we were living, it was still in the same school district, near to our extended family.” Out of nowhere God answered her prayer and she shared how her mind was blown and God was drawing her so close through this experience. It was also a witness to her husband and children who are not Christians yet, who we are praying for. She said “it’s all purely Jesus and what He is doing.”
God loves us and knows our needs, and we absolutely love hearing stories about God providing for those needs!
What does it mean when people say, “God provides”? I know for me, it’s one of those concepts that I really didn’t understand when I was a young Christian. I came from an all-Italian family where you put in a day’s work for a day’s pay. My parents always told me the world isn’t going to hand you anything, you have to go out and make it happen. I moved out of the house as soon as I graduated from college. And so as a young believer in Jesus, I just thought God gave us brains and opportunity and we need to make the best of it.
But over time Jesus began to transform my heart. I started to wake up to the reality of God’s provision for His kids. As I read my Bible every morning, I was challenged by verses like Philippians 4:19 which says, “And my God will supply all your needs, according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” And Psalm 84:11, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory. No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”
Then one day it really hit home. I had moved back to New Jersey to plant a church, and had just gotten married to my wife, Lynn. The church was giving me a small salary and we were doing our best to make ends meet. One day, Lynn and I found out about some friends who had gone through a really trying situation. They were up against it and we prayed about how we could help. We felt a strong sense that God wanted us to empty out our bank account and send it to them. Right after we sent that money, a huge bill came in the mail that we weren’t expecting. Now what would we do?
Here we are, newly married, trusting God, stepping out in faith and giving what little we had to help someone, and all of the sudden we couldn’t pay our bills. All we could do is pray. God, you are our provider. Everything we have is yours. And we sure need your help with this bill.
Later that week, a letter came in the mail. My wife opened it up, and she just looked at me. Guys, you know that look! The look when your wife is telling you something is not normal. I ran over and looked at the letter. What?? A friend of ours in California had sent a letter saying I was praying for you guys and God told me to send this check to you. And get this…it was the exact amount we needed to pay that bill! We were absolutely speechless. God provided when there was no other way, in a way we never imagined.
It’s so important for us to realize and that no matter what we face, God already is in the middle of our adversity. That is why following Jesus is so amazing. Because no matter what we face, actual issues and potential issues..there is a God at work over and above anything we’re confronted with. Jesus never said if you follow me, everything will work out just like your 5-year plan. But what you do have is the incredible promise that no matter what happens, Jesus will be with you and his presence will work everything together for good – to help transform us into the people He wants us to be.
This week I encourage you to take the next step God has for you. Whenever we ask for help…our help comes from God, and God sends people. I like to say we the hands and feet of Jesus! God sent Abraham, He sent Moses, He sent David, He sent John the Baptist, He sent Jesus, He sent Peter, James and John…and today He sends you and me.
So let’s ask God how he wants us to be a part of his plan for meeting needs and supporting His work in the world today.