six steps

don’t you love it when God takes His word and slaps you in the face with it???

it’s always done in love, of course, and i don’t mean to imply that God beats His children. but there are times when i read something in the word and it is so apparent and obvious that God meant it just for me, just at that moment, that it almost feels like i’m being slapped in the face with it. i love it. why? not because i’m a glutton for punishment, but because i see that God loves me and wants me to understand His love for me. when His word applies so readily to my life, i can’t help but realize that God is taking notice of me and concerned for me.

such was the case this morning…

coincidence? i think not

sometimes things happen that you can’t explain…

i love reading the old testament book of esther. i know most people think of that book along the lines of a great woman of God and her story, but i see that book in another light. i think the story is more about God; God working behind the scenes, causing certain events to happen and showing how powerful He is. the book is about God’s providence.

today i got to see God’s providence at work in my own life. things for my wife and myself have been quite busy lately. those of you who are regular readers know that we just recently moved. well, we’re moving again. yes, believe it or not, we will complete two moves inside of a month. God opened the doors for us to purchase a house here in town, so we’re leaving the rental behind after only a few weeks. now that i think of it, that story is another evidence of God’s providence just recently. but that’s not the instance of providence i want to share with you today.

so things have been busy for us. well, monday i had lunch with a friend and left the lunch meeting with some things to think about. by the time i got home monday night my wife was on her way out the door to practice for a conference she’ll be singing at in may. needless to say, we didn’t get much of a chance to talk about my lunch appointment that night. so, it carried over to tuesday. she is at the church on tuesday doing the bookkeeping, so we have short opportunities to talk throughout the day. i’m still thinking about it, but now i have the opportunity to talk to my wife. by now it’s been more than 24 hours since my lunch meeting, and my thinking about this is turning more into worrying, or fretting, about it. just by coincidence Terry drops off a new devotional on my desk before we head out of the office for the day. it’s written by my old pastor, jon courson. i don’t think much of it, but bring it home with me, thinking maybe in the morning i’d peruse through a part of it.

the evening tuesday night goes pretty well, except for the fact that my wife and i are still talking about my lunch meeting from monday, and i’m still having no peace and i’m still worrying. the evening passes and turns into night and we finally get the kids into bed. by now i’m bushed. not only have the days been long, but the anxiety is getting the better of me. just by coincidence i show my wife the devotional i was given. just by coincidence she suggests we read one of them that night. i was tired and didn’t feel up for reading, but i complied. so, you guessed it, by coincidence the entirety of the devotional thought for the day dealt with worry and anxiety. in a nutshell, don’t worry, but trust in God.

don’t you love our God? why should He care about my worries and anxiety? why would He send me His peace when i’m worried and not trusting Him? but He does. that’s amazing. and that’s His grace!