Shouts of GraceSample

God's Grace in His Provision

When I was single, I knew I wanted to get married, but it seemed impossible to find a good Christian woman that I would like. First of all, I wasn’t enthusiastic about socializing, let alone talking to the opposite sex. I decided to take my desire and need to God, because I knew I couldn’t do it on my own. I sat down with God and made a list of every characteristic and feature I wanted in my future wife. I asked big and didn’t leave anything out.

God’s grace comes in our asking. Why do we need to ask? Doesn’t the Bible say that God already knows what we need before we even ask Him? (Matthew 6:8 NIV) When we ask, it humbles our hearts to say, “God, I can’t do it without you, I need your help.” It focuses our thoughts on God’s ability to come alongside us and provide our need. God wants to do life with us. He wants to walk and talk with us daily. Asking gets us to communicate with God just as a child communicates with their father. Asking with childlike faith produces the Father’s provision.

God’s grace comes in our seeking. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33 NKJV). When we diligently seek we are fixing our eyes on what we are looking for. When we seek His kingdom it gives us perspective on what truly matters in life. “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:2 NIV). Earthly things are temporary and will pass away, but Godly things are eternal. When we seek first God’s Kingdom and His righteousness, it magnifies God’s glory and gets our attention on His word, His promises, His grace and His provision in our lives.

God’s grace comes in our knocking. Jesus gives us this example in (Luke 11:5-8 NLT): “Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’ And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you.’ But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence." Sometimes we need to keep knocking with our prayers. Consistently asking God for what we need until we receive it.

Every day for five years I asked God to bless me with a wife. I diligently lifted my list of what I wanted in a wife up to Him, asking, seeking and knocking. God answered my prayers by connecting me with a beautiful girl from South Africa through online dating. He supernaturally connected two people from across the world and gave me everything I asked for and more. Today I have been married for 13 years to the most amazing Proverbs 31 woman I could have ever asked for! His grace is big enough to do exceedingly abundantly above all we can ask or think!

- Adam Ewert

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you that you know what I need before I even ask. Thank you that I can come to you with all my needs, wants and desires. Forgive me when I try and do it on my own and forget to put you first. I seek first your kingdom and your righteousness and ask for your will to be done in my life. Thank you for providing all of my needs according to your riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Journal Directions

1. What have you been trying to do on your own that you need to ask God for help with?
2. What are your needs, wants, and desires spiritually, physically and financially? Write them down and take time to ask Him for each one.
3. Are there any prayers that you have given up on asking God for because He hasn’t answer them yet? Will you continue to ask God until He answers?