Give Us This Day

I've been thinking lately about the part in the Lord's prayer that says, "Give us this day our daily bread..." and what that really means. It says in a nutshell that God will provide....it just may not look like what we think it should look like.

I realize that there are many people struggling financially right now. Times are hard, I've been there and still there at times. But I know that when we stop and seek Him for our "daily bread" He is faithful...

How do I know you ask? Just recently we had some unexpected things happen with my husbands' job. At this time he is the sole provider for us. Things began to look really bad, I wasn't sure how or if we would have gas money, grocery money or bill money. At first, I felt overwhelmed. I mean, things had been going so well for so long, that it sort of caught me off guard I guess. Then I started to pray....no don't think I am a saint, I didn't pray right off, a few days went by before I thought about the praying....but I simply went to God, I said to Him, that He knew our needs and that I believed Him to be faithful. I felt like I should have a yard sale, so the kids and I began gathering things for the sale. I just knew that God would provide for me this way....On the day of the sale, it was pouring down rain, so hard you couldn't see anything in front of you.  I was crushed, I felt abandoned, I didn't know what we would do. Then, I felt God remind me of craigslist. I thought to myself, I never have any luck with craigslist, but if that is what I need to do God, I will just trust you. I took a shower and re-grouped. My kids asked me what we were going to do. I said God will make a way, He always does. Then I started listing the items on craigslist....you know what, nothing happened! I refused to believe that we were doomed.....I knew what God had said. I just had to keep believing. After my items being on craigslist for about an hour, people began to email me about them. I sat at the computer for about two hours working deals and making arrangements for items to be picked up. All together I made about $400...it was enough. It carried us through until things straightened out at his job. I kept thinking that this money would run out, that it wouldn't be enough, but that wasn't true at all! I had exactly the amount I needed for each day and it lasted for about two and a half weeks like that.

In 1 Kings 17 is the story of Elijah and how God had sent him to Zarephath. There was a famine in the land, but when Elijah did as he was told, God provided for Him. He sent ravens to him to feed him. God will use whatever is necessary to get the job done. We have to quit looking at the outside of things, look deeper and realize that God is providing for you. If there is no other way He will send the ravens by with food for you or he will send buyers from craigslist......He is faithful!

Be encouraged today!
Regina