ON THE VANGUARD

YOU'RE IN GOOD HANDS
"And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:19

I love to write. My computer is filled with files and files of poems, songs, short stories, book ideas, Bible study notes, and quotes that have helped me over the past two years. But not all my writings are in this computer. I also keep a journal. And today when I was trying to find something in my past writings, I found my entry for January 10, 2008. I had heard someone speak on Gen 24:12. "Then [the servant] prayed, 'O LORD, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.'"
Here is what was happening in the story. Abraham was growing old and requested of his servant that he go and find a wife for Issac. The servant agreed and made an oath with Abraham that either he would bring a wife back, or would be released of his oath if the woman did not wish to come back. While standing beside the spring where the woman came to draw water, he prayed this prayer, asking God for success in his mission. I like this next part, "Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar..." (Gen 24:15). All the servant had prayed, about knowing she was the one because she would give him a drink and offer to his animals, she indeed did. Unknowingly, she was the answer to the prayer.
When I first journaled about this back in 2008, God opened my eyes to just all this provision included. Abraham's request of the servant was that she would agree to come back with him. The servant had to find a woman, receive both her and her parent's permission for marriage, have her agree to leave her family, have her family agree to let her go, and then do all this on a blind date. Unlike today when we can atleast see a picture when online dating, the servant had no picture to show Rebekah. But still, God provided and Rebekah and her family agreed.
So what is the message that is on my heart today. It is simple...God will supply. I am not announcing a marriage, but rather I want to boast in the Lord. If you have read my recent entries, then you know I have been in the hospital. Bills add up when the doctor is checking you out. But back in August of this year, I really felt that I was supposed to start a savings. I thought it might be for a house, but God had something else in mind. You see, He knew before I did that I would need some medical attention. He began providing for me the overtime hours at work. And when the bills started coming in, although higher than I wanted to pay, I found that I was able to pay. My God supplied my needs.
I can look back and see the many times that God has supplied for me. When my marriage went bad and I was asked to move out, God supplied furniture for me. When my car gave up, God supplied a car for me. When I was lonely, God supplied a friend for me. When I needed a little extra cash, God supplied overtime for me. I feel bad, because sometimes I take God for granted. But then I see stories like this and am reminded that because He loves me, He takes care of all my needs.
When I read the Bible, I like to know what certain words mean. So from the Strong's, here are a few words.
MEET: level up, finish, furnish, complete
NEEDS: employment, demands, requirements
RICHES: wealth, abundance
Now let's look at this verse again:
And my God will COMPLETELY FURNISH all your DEMANDS according to His glorious WEALTHY ABUNDANCE in Christ Jesus.
God loves us enough to care for us. We won't always get what we want, but He will be sure to give us what we need. There is hope in this. I did not want kidney stones, but God provided for me the funds needed to pay the bills. And this applies to all of life. I have learned to throw away my list of what I want in a future spouse and begin to ask God to supply what I need in a spouse. After reading Genesis 24, I know God will supply.