Encouragement for Today - March 16, 2006
3/16/06
Encouragement for Today
(Principle #1)
“Jehovah-Jireh” – Part 1
Susanne Scheppmann, Co-editor of Online Daily Devotions, Proverbs 31 Speaker Team Member
http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/speaker_susanne.htm
Key Verse:
Genesis 22:14, “So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided." (NIV)
Devotion:
Death, doom and depression stalked my friend, Monika. She had just moved to
Yet, they did. Her beloved husband of forty years developed terminal cancer. Monika felt like Job. Although, a Christian for most of her life, she felt completely abandoned by God. She questioned God’s trustworthiness in her life. Her heart cried out to Him,
My face is red with weeping,
deep shadows ring my eyes. (Job 16:16, NIV)
Why do you hide your face
and consider me your enemy? (Job 13:24, NIV)
Even as her faith stumbled, God heard her and the answers were on the way. Just as Scripture assures us, “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear (Isaiah 65:24, NIV),” the Lord responded.
Monika dropped by a Bible study I was teaching on the Names of God. The day’s lesson happened to be on Jehovah-Jireh — God will provide. I read “And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen” (Genesis 22:13-14, KJV).
Although familiar with the Bible, Monika listened carefully as I taught on the Lord as our Provider. God whispered comfort to her aching heart, “Monika, I will be Jehovah-Jireh to you. I will provide for you.”
After that, God confirmed His message to my friend. Within a week, Monika received a postcard from a local card store inviting her to come and select a gift. As she strolled over to the designated table, she could tell most of the offerings were junk. Left over broken candles, mismatched cups and saucers. Her eyes swept the table expecting to find nothing she would bother to take home and then her eyes landed on a small devotional book, titled Jehovah-Jireh. Ah ha! A token of love sent straight from heaven through a retailer’s promotional event. On that day, Monika realized that although her troubles abounded God knew all the details and He cared for her. She acknowledged she needed to rest in His love and His plan for her life.
Indeed, sometimes it is hard to trust God, especially when everything seems to go wrong. But God is faithful even when we feel otherwise. Babbie Mason sings a beautiful song titled, “When You Can’t Trust His Hand, Trust His Heart.” The song explains even when we can’t understand all the problems of life, we can trust in the goodness of God—our Jehovah-Jireh.
My dear friend, Monika, soon learned that God would not only provide for her every need, but would surpass her greatest expectation for provision with bountiful blessings. Tomorrow we’ll see just how Jehovah-Jireh blessed her.
My Prayer for Today:
My Jehovah-Jireh, help me to trust Your heart when I do not understand my circumstances. Open my eyes to Your love and care even in the small details of life such as a store promotion. Reveal Yourself to me as my personal Jehovah-Jireh. In Jesus’ Sweet Name, Amen.
Application Steps:
On a piece of paper write down how you interpret “If You Can’t Trust His Hand, Trust His Heart.” List the areas that you have the most difficulty in trusting God and then, pray for Jehovah-Jireh to provide for you in those areas.
Reflection Points:
Do I believe in God’s goodness?
Do I trust God even in the most difficult circumstances?
What can I do to enable myself to trust God more?
Power Verses:
Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (NIV)
Jeremiah 29:11, “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” (NIV)
Psalm 27:3, “Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.” (NIV)
Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." (NIV)
Psalm 27:5, “For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.” (NIV)
Additional Resources:
What Happens When Women Walk in Faith, by Lysa TerKeurst
http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/newresources_whatHappens.htm
Good to Me, by LaTonya Mason
http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/newresources_goodToMe.htm
Because (Music CD), by Gwen Smith
http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/newresources_because.htm
