The Upper Room Daily Devotionals in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "God Provides" for Saturday, 12 November 2016 with Scripture: Romans 12:1 I exhort you, therefore, brothers, in view of God’s mercies, to offer yourselves as a sacrifice, living and set apart for God. This will please him; it is the logical “Temple worship” for you. 2 In other words, do not let yourselves be conformed to the standards of the ‘olam hazeh. Instead, keep letting yourselves be transformed by the renewing of your minds; so that you will know what God wants and will agree that what he wants is good, satisfying and able to succeed. 3 For I am telling every single one of you, through the grace that has been given to me, not to have exaggerated ideas about your own importance. Instead, develop a sober estimate of yourself based on the standard which God has given to each of you, namely, trust. 4 For just as there are many parts that compose one body, but the parts don’t all have the same function; 5 so there are many of us, and in union with the Messiah we comprise one body, with each of us belonging to the others. 6 But we have gifts that differ and which are meant to be used according to the grace that has been given to us. If your gift is prophecy, use it to the extent of your trust; 7 if it is serving, use it to serve; if you are a teacher, use your gift in teaching; 8 if you are a counselor, use your gift to comfort and exhort; if you are someone who gives, do it simply and generously; if you are in a position of leadership, lead with diligence and zeal; if you are one who does acts of mercy, do them cheerfully.
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The word of the LORD came to Elijah: “Leave here, turn eastward and hide. . . . You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.”[1 Kings 17:2-4 (NIV)]
When I was in college I had very little money. One Sunday morning I used some of what I had to get to church. While I was in church I felt called to give an offering, and I decided to give all that I had left to the church. I did not think about how I would get back from church or how I would eat that day. I gave what I had to God and continued to worship. After the service, someone approached me and gave me enough money to cover the costs of my day, and even more.
This event inspired me to think about the way God provides for us. In today’s scripture, the prophet Elijah fled without taking anything to eat or drink because God had promised to send ravens to bring him food. God can help us in unexpected ways and can use anyone or anything around us as instruments of care for us. When we give our best, God will give us more than we can imagine.
The Author: Peter Hulu (Yogyakarta, Indonesia)
Thought for the Day: God can send other people to help me.
Prayer: Dear Lord, teach us to better understand and believe in your promise to provide for us, so that we will not hesitate to give our best to you. Amen.
Prayer focus: THOSE FACING FINANCIAL STRUGGLES
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