New Every Morning (prt. 2)

Honestly, I didn't think there would be a "part two" to this post, but God laid it on my heart.

In Part one, we talked about trusting God because He commands it and He abundantly provides for us. The center of our story was the Shunnamite woman in 2 Kings 4. Well, she makes a reappearing in chapter 8!

Read 2 Kings 8:1-6. Remember that God provided for this woman and brought her son that he promised to her in her old age back to life. (Mouthful! :) Now, God tells her to go to the land of the Philistines, because there would be a famine in her land. After seven years, she brings her family back, trusting God to give her the provisions, such as her home and land, that she gave up when she left. She confronts the king, at the same time that Gehazi, Elisha's servant, is telling the king about her son coming back to life! Once again, God's timing is perfect! The king makes sure all her previous possessions are restored.

Here we see that God not only provides, but He has purpose in His provision. And sometimes, God's provision doesn't seem like much of a blessing at the moment. I am sure this woman, at the time of her son's death, did not see the death as a blessing. But God brought her son back, and she rejoiced. Even then, I doubt she realized exactly how God would use this in her future.

You may not realize it now, but God will use your current trials and blessings in the future. What He is providing now has a purpose. He is preparing you now, and He will be preparing you for other things throughout your life.

4 steps for an open heart to God's provision and purpose:

     ~Recognize that submission is necessary:
       "And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will
        come after me, let him deny himself,and take up his cross,and follow me."
        ~Mark 8:34

     ~Recognize that God is faithful in His work:
       "And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that
        seek thee."
        ~Psalm 9:10
       "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the
        day of Jesus Christ."
        ~Philippians 1:6

     ~Recognize that God's way is much better than your way:
       "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts
        than your thoughts."
        ~Isaiah 55:9
    
     ~Recognize that God has a purpose for you and what He is doing in your life-He knows what He's
       doing!:
       "Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I 
        sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations."
        ~Jeremiah 1:5

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."

I named this series "New every morning" inspired by this verse. God's mercies and compassions are faithful. We can count on waking up every morning to His love and mercy.