Encouragement for Today - Aug. 13, 2008 - Encouragement for Today Daily Devotional from Proverbs 31

August 13, 2008

On Its Way – Part 2

Whitney Capps

"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 (NIV)

Devotion:

In yesterday’s devotion, I told about God’s wonderful provision for the people of Israel and a poor seminary couple I call “Mom and Dad.” My parents’ legacy of faith is a great teacher, but today I want to tell you of a time God demonstrated today’s key verse for me personally. Bear with me. You’ll need some background on my dear husband, Chad. He is a man after God’s own heart and one of his most amazing gifts is that he’s a wonderful manager of money.

Chad has countless spreadsheets that track not only our bills, spending, retirement, and tithe but also our savings. Nothing slips by Chad. He prayerfully accounts for every bill paid, every obligation we’ll have to meet, and any potential catastrophes, including my occasional shopping weaknesses. I can’t remember a time when we were ever caught off guard, except one.

In early 2003, the leadership of our church asked us to commit to a “Day of Giving.” It was established as a day to bring a sacrificial offering, beyond our tithe, to present to the Lord.

Chad and I began praying about our gift. One night on the way home from church Chad told me that he felt God leading us to give $5,000. (Please understand I share with you the exact amount because its magnitude shows how far beyond us this task was, and just how big our God is.) For us to give $5,000 was huge, but it didn’t really hit me how God-sized this would be until Chad uttered a sentence I had never heard him say before. “Babe, I don’t know where it will come from.”

So I did what any good, moderately freaked out, submissive wife would. I worried, and then I said, “Let’s just pray about this.”

It was the first of February and we had about 6 weeks to try and find $5,000. By the end of 3 weeks we had managed to save just over $1,800. Though we had more time, we couldn’t foresee any other significant money coming in. I was beginning to panic. Like Chad, I sensed that God wanted us to give $5,000. What were we going to do?

Three weeks before our Day of Giving, Chad called me at work.

“Are you sitting down,” he asked.

“Yeah. What’s up?”

“Well, last night I was working on our taxes. I had guessed that we were going to receive a slight refund, but this morning I got up and finished entering all our gifts and exemptions and, babe, we’re getting back almost exactly $3,200.”

Chills ran over my entire body, and I felt I heard God say, “I will take care of you. I will receive glory for this gift. I am the benefactor; you are the beneficiary.”

Trusting God seems so basic and yet this is one of the fundamental faith issues that must be resolved in the heart of every believer. Do I really trust God? Despite seeing God work marvelously, Chad and I still have moments of weakness in trusting not only that His provision is coming, but that His ways will always be better than our own. In those moments God gently reminds us that He is neither hurried nor surprised. He will meet our needs and mold our lives into testimonies of His faithfulness.

Dear Lord, help me fight the temptation to scheme and fret rather than resting in Your sovereign provision. Help my impatient heart to trust Your unfailing love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Intimacy with God: Your Daily Guide to Prayer by Tara Furman

What Happens When Women Walk in Faith by Lysa TerKeurst

Visit Whitney Capps’s blog

Application Steps:

Begin tracking ways that God has been faithful in the past.

Study characters in Scripture who were asked to wait on the Lord. What can you learn from them?

Reflections:

Are you petitioning God for His will or for your provision?

Are you prepared to see God’s wisdom and care even in the waiting times of your life?

Power Verses:

Psalm 40:1, “I waited patiently for the lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.” (NIV)