Ask the Lord with Expectation - Crosswalk Couples Devotional - July 18
Ask the Lord with Expectation
By: Michelle Lazurek
“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? By worrying, can any one of you add a single hour to your life?” - Matthew 6:26-28
My husband and I recently purchased a bird feeder. We filled it full of birdseed and waited as birds eventually found it and indulged in its bounty. Soon, the bird feeder was swarmed with birds. They came starting early in the morning and didn't leave it alone until dinner at night. I enjoy watching the birds enjoy the food, even dropping to the deck and pecking at the leftovers that fell from the feeder.
It's no surprise that we purchased this feeder while we were going through a financial trial. Financial issues arose in our home, one after another. Some were significant; others were small. But all of them were enough to dent our savings and make me worry about whether we'd have enough money to meet our basic needs.
One day, as I enjoyed watching the birds tweet and peck at each piece of feed, the Lord reminded me of the above verse. Immediately, the Holy Spirit convinced me that I worry too much about how I will make ends meet. This is because I worry more about my ability to meet these needs rather than trusting that God will meet them. In the same way that he meets the needs of each bird, giving them just enough to feed each day, I should come to the Lord with the same expectancy.
The birds come to the feeder expecting food to be there for them to eat. They never make a makeshift plan in case things don't work out. They don't worry about not getting enough sleep at night because they're concerned that the feeder won't have enough food. Instead, they rely on the supplier who feeds it, fills it to capacity, and allows them to enjoy its bounty.
The Lord was using the bird feeder and the birds as an example. He always cares for my needs. In the same way he cares for those birds and provides enough seed each day for their fulfillment, God will supply all my needs, too. One of the ways Jesus taught his disciples to pray was to ask each day for their daily bread. While I'm busy planning how to feed myself for months or even years, God wants me to ask him daily for his provision.
Although complicated, I've learned to come expectantly, trusting that God will supply my needs. Because he is a good God, he never wants me to go hungry or without a place to stay. Even if my savings account doesn't reflect this idea, God will use it to trust him for our daily provision.
Just as I love watching the birds enjoy the feed we supplied them, it's the same with God. God delights in watching us enjoy the blessings of his bounty. Whether it's saying grace at a meal to give thanks for the food he has given us or another month where we can pay the mortgage, God delights in sharing with his children exactly what they need. Even if it's not in the same way that I expect or even desire it to be, God is faithful in everything, including our basic needs.
Think about how you approach God to meet your needs. Do you trust him to meet your basic needs each day? Is that something that you take for granted? Do you build wealth for yourself to be independent and meet your needs apart from God?
God wants us to rely on him for everything, including our basic needs. Even if you experience a financial struggle, such as job loss, amassing large amounts of credit card debt, or another financial transition, God assures you that he will meet your basic needs each day because that's the faithful God he is.
Father, let us be people who rely on you for our daily basic needs. Let us pray to you each day, expecting you to meet our basic needs. Let us pray as you have taught us, asking you for our daily bread. Allow us to open our hands freely, expecting you to fill them with everything we need or want. Amen.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/FatCamera
Related Resource: Why Couples Drift and How to Reverse It
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