^“5-6 Answer this question: Does the God who lavishly provides you with his own presence, his Holy Spirit, working things in your lives you could never do for yourselves, does he do these things because of your strenuous moral striving or because you trust him to do them in you? Don’t these things happen among you just as they happened with Abraham? He believed God, and that act of belief was turned into a life that was right with God.” ~ Galatians 3:5 The Message (MSG)

By grace through faith, Abraham obtained the promise.

And so we also obtain God’s promises this same way.  By grace through faith.

All of it is His doing, the Word tells us even the faith we have is a gift from God!

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”                                                                                                                       ~Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)

 

So when I think of provision, I think of all that God provides right down to the faith I need to believe.  Sounds simple enough, but then I start thinking more about it.  Too much thinking can become a problem because I do tend to complicate matters by over-analyzing them.  However, considering a matter deeply and with regard to the mind of God gives meaningful perspective, as God is faithful to reveal Himself where we seek Him.

Words are my thing.  (Numbers, not so much, but words, yes!)  So while a word study may cause you to (yawn!) excuse yourself for a nap, I am on the edge of my seat!  Stay with me.  I promise it won’t take long.

This is what stood out to me.  The word “provision,” as I began to mull it over, kind of came apart.

Pro- (For or before)  Vision (Seeing).

As I poked around a bit, I found definitions and all as I expected.  Nothing really new here.

Provision {pruh–vizh-uh n}  (noun)   1. a clause in a legal instrument, providing for a particular matter.  2. the providing or supplying of something, especially food or other necessities. 3. arrangement or preparation beforehand, as for the doing of something, the meeting of needs, the supplying of means, etc. 4. something provided; a measure or other means for meeting a need. 5. a supply or stock of something provided.

Origin of Provision from Latin, foresight, from providere, to see ahead, Middle English, a foreseeing.  To see beforehand.

Provision, coming from two Latin words, literally means, To See Beforehand!  (Insert smile here because this is where I start to get excited!)

Looking further, I found myriad verses connected to God providing.  Already knowing that one of the names of God is Yahweh- Yirah, I realize this directly testifies of His role as Provider.

God’s word shows us He is faithful to provide in the account of Abraham taking Isaac to the mountain as a sacrifice.  Church, He wants us to see this!

“So the two of them walked on together. ⁷ Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” And he said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” ⁸ Abraham said, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on together…

¹³ Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son. ¹⁴ Abraham called the name of that place The Lord Will Provide, as it is said to this day, “In the mount of the Lord it will be provided.”  ~ Genesis 22: 7-8, 13-14 (NAS)   (Definitely, read the whole chapter for more of the “Wow” effect)!

 Above and beyond our seeing, long before we even see what our need will be, the Lord has seen it beforehand and has already provided it!

Let this seep into your spirit because it is an energy drink for your life!  I get so excited, I can hardly stand it!

As I pondered this with a thankful heart, Faithful God began to speak more.

 ‘Provision is the conduit of faith’, He said to me, ‘and faith is the conduit of provision.’

This revelation of truth came saying that there is a circular flowing relationship between faith and provision.  Provision being the conduit of faith, meaning it is a channel for conveying faith to us.  In the same way, faith brings provision.  Faith upon faith, abundantly we receive all we need!  Abraham took faith with him to the mountain.  By that faith, God’s grace had already brought provision and held it in the thicket to be there at the perfect time!  That provision increased Abraham’s faith and multiplied it even to all generations!

We serve the Mighty God who is able to give abundantly more than we can conceive in our limited human minds.  We are limited beings, created by Him to be used in unlimited and extraordinary ways!

One of the beautiful mysteries of our thoughtful Creator was in our being made to inhabit this earth, yet within the limits of our human body, He created a limitless space in which only God and the stuff of God will fit and only this will satisfy the space!  This is the treasure that goes with us to eternity!

(Okay, I’m jumping around now!)

I see His provision all around me!  He leads me to focus my thoughts on Him, the Provider.

Desiring the Provider rather than the provision is the hinge on which our satisfaction swings.  You come to my house to visit with me and we will definitely have plenty of food and drink to enjoy during our time together, but our purpose is not that!  Our purpose is to come together!  The being together is our focus.

Once again, He speaks to my spirit.

“You accept your provision, but still desire only Me.  You appreciate Me wherever you are, but still I am your true heart’s desire.  This is pleasing to Me.  I will raise you up above all you can see right now and fit you for what I have in mind because I know this is your desire.  To serve me well is enough for you and this I will bless and continue to bless.  So your worries may be few, know that I do provide and I am providing all things in all ways, always.  You may proceed unafraid into the land I have already prepared for you.  Walk tall into the forest of opportunity with tall trees as your guide, monuments to me and my greatness.

Above your head, Pro — Vision.  Above your sight — Beyond your ability, I move on your behalf.  And as you move forward, stepping as I direct you, one foot then the next, I bless every single step.  And when you turn, I see it, for I planned your footpath carefully and your provision is already there, in Me.

So walk freely into the future as I am already there!

I’ve been there all along, waiting for you with a smile to welcome you into the next phase of your life!

If I falter, the whole world shatters, but you know, I fail not.  There is nothing I have ever missed!  No time I have ever said, “Oh, what happened there?  How did that get past me?”  Not once.  Not ever in all eternity,

For I AM the author of all creation and I know it well from its beginning until its end;

Every change. Every miniscule twitter of every leaf as it makes the smallest waver.

You’ve become awestruck and that is good.  You fathom just a breath of My greatness and unto you I give this task of good work, to share Me, that’s all. Everywhere I lead you and wherever you are, just share Me.  And I will always find my way to you to meet your needs.

I’ll row your boat for you!  I am the rudder.  I steer you to the shore and away from harm and through calm waters.  I carry you gently so that no angry waves overtake you (again).

You are Mine and all your work is to Rest in Me.  Rest in My provision and all will see Me in what you do.

He reminds me to look in His word here on Provisions and the Provider in Matthew 6:30-34.

 ^30-33 “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.  ³⁴ “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”

 

We desire the Provider because He is so good!

Provisions will be there, so let our focus be on Him, our constant companion, our good and perfect Provider!