"The providence of God reaches as far
as the realm of prayer. It has to do with everything
for which we pray. Nothing is too small for
the eye of God, nothing too insignificant for
His notice and His care… His care reaches to
the smallest things and has to do with the most
insignificant matters that concern men. He who
believes in the God of providence is prepared
to see His hand in all things that come to him
and can pray about everything."
Are you tempted to sometimes think that God
doesn't care or is not in control of some things
that happen in your life or those around you?
You may feel that you have prayed and prayed and
still the door is shut. Yet you know in your heart
that God wants to open it. God can open the door
and make a way where there is no way. He is in
control, and some things are going to take great
faith to really believe and know that God is in
control. He notices and cares about the smallest
matters in your life. His providence reaches as
far as the realm of prayer. If he could make a
way for Moses and the children of Israel in an
impossible situation, He can make a way for you.
In Exodus
14:13, we see a 3-part exhortation that Moses
gave the children of Israel. This is a key to
success in seeing and experiencing God's control
and deliverance in your circumstances.
-
Fear not - There is a tendency to fear,
doubt or question when the door is shut and
the obstacles seem insurmountable. When life
seems out of control, we must not give way to
fear and doubt. We read in James 1:18, "A
double-minded man is unstable in all his ways."
There are 365 exhortations in the Bible to "fear
not", one for every day of the year.
- Stand
still - There is a tendency to look in all
other directions for the answer. But the real
answer in most cases will be in standing still,
holding our ground in prayer, and looking up
into the face of God for the answer. Standing
still is so hard for us. Yet it is the real
key to success in the spiritual realm.
- See
the salvation of the Lord
- There is a tendency to look for other earthly
things to be our salvation when the door is
shut regarding our circumstances. Perhaps someone
else will come to our rescue. Maybe if we do
this or that, things will go in our direction.
We must realize that ultimately salvation comes
from the Lord. He is our deliverer. He is always
in control.
"A
man of prayer as well as the man of faith
in God, Moses was on the ground. This man
of prayer, who recognized God in providence,
with commanding force, spoke to the people
like this: 'Fear ye not, stand still, and
see the salvation of the Lord'. With this
he lifted up his rod, and according to divine
command, he stretched his hand over the sea.
The waters divided, and the command issued
forth, 'Speak unto the children of Israel,
that they go forward' (v. 15). And Israel
went over the sea on dry ground. God had opened
a way, and what seemed an impossible emergency
was remarkably turned into a wonderful deliverance."
What
does the providence of God mean to us as believers?
Providence in Webster's Dictionary means "the
care and superintendence which God exercises over
his creatures, the act of providing or preparing
for future use or application, foresight, timely
care, particularly active foresight. A belief
in divine providence is a source of great consolation
to good men." Another way to think about this
is to realize that God is in control of everything.
His care is timely. His eyes see everything. He
superintends our lives and actively sees beforehand
all that concerns us. This should be a source
of great comfort and encouragement to each one
of us. This should motivate us to recklessly abandonment
ourselves to an all-knowing, all-seeing God who
is in ultimate control. The following are some
verses that show God's providential care in our
lives. His providential care is seen in:
-
The smallest details of our life - "Are
not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one
of them will fall to the ground apart from the
will of your Father. And even the very hairs
of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid;
you are worth more than many sparrows" (Matthew
10:29-31). God cares for the smallest detail
of your life!
- The
working of all things together for our good
- "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" (Romans
8:28). God works all things for your good!
-
The ability of God to see and remember everything
- "Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?
Yet not one of them is forgotten by God" (Luke
12:6). God remembers everything that you
have prayed!
-
The comforting presence of God in our life
- "And God said, 'I will be with you. And
this will be the sign to you that it is I who
have sent you. (Ex. 3:12). God is with you
in the daily activities of your life!
"Nothing
occurs by accident under the superintendence
of an all-wiser and perfectly just God. Nothing
happens by chance in God's moral or natural
government. God is a God of order, a God of
law, but nonetheless a superintendent in the
interest of His intelligent and redeemed creatures.
Nothing can take place without the knowledge
of God!"
When
the going gets hard, it may seem like God is not
in control or that He has not heard your prayers.
Do not grow weak in your prayers. Strengthen your
spirit in God's Word, and cry out to Him. He is
your deliverer who can break through any obstacle.
Do not give way to fear, stand still in quietness
and prayer before God, and see His salvation and
deliverance. Know that in spite of circumstantial
difficulties, God is in control. This is only
a test of your faith. Do you and I really know
how truly great it is to be shut up to God where
He alone is our deliverer and our salvation? When
we have no other escape routes, we have truly
come to the place where the supernatural can take
over. The problem we often have is that we have
squeezed God out of being our only source of deliverance.
Let us pray, watch God open the way, and bring
forth our deliverance.
"Prayer
brings God's providence into action. Prayer
puts God to work in overseeing and directing
earth's affairs for the good of men. Prayer
opens the way when it is shut up or hampered.
Providence deals with temporalities most especially.
It is in this realm that the providence of God
shines brightest and is most apparent."
Many
times I have been in a place where God had to
be my deliverer in certain situations in my life.
If He didn't come through, then there was no other
way. I have seen God break through again and again.
The street a few yards from my house is called
"Providence Road". It is a reminder to me that
God is in total control. I choose to say "yes"
to the providence of God. I choose to fear not,
stand still, pray, and see the salvation of God.
Will you agree to the providential care of God
in your life as well? Will you choose no other
escape routes for yourself but God Himself? God
is in control of your life and destiny. His providential
care is active. His care is timely. Prayer brings
His providence into action. He is overseeing and
directing the affairs of your life, even when
things seem contrary. Prayer will open the way
before you. Prayer will bring God's providence
into action.
"Things
that come to us from second causes are no surprise
to God, nor are they beyond his control. His
hand can take hold of them in answer to prayer,
and He can make afflictions from whatever quarter
they may come, work 'for us a far more exceeding
weight of glory' (II Corinthians 4:17). The
providence of God goes before his saints, opens
the way, removes difficulties, solves problems,
and rings deliverance when escape seems hopeless."
Quotes by E. M. Bounds
For
additional training on the intercessor and God;
the transcendent purpose of God and upgrading
your relationship with God, read the book called
Intercessors Arise - Book 3 by Debbie Przybylski.
Training
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