The Habit of Recognizing God’s
Provision
“. . . so
that you may be partakers of the divine nature . . .”
2 Peter 1:4
We
are made "partakers of the divine
nature," receiving and sharing God’s own nature through His promises.
Then we have to work that divine nature into our human nature by developing
godly habits. The first habit to develop is the habit of recognizing God’s provision for us. We say, however, "Oh, I can’t afford it." One
of the worst lies is wrapped up in that statement. We talk as if our Heavenly
Father has cut us off without a penny! We think it is a sign of true humility
to say at the end of the day, "Well,
I just barely got by today, but it was a severe struggle." And yet all
of Almighty God is ours in the Lord Jesus! And He will reach to the last grain
of sand and the remotest star to bless us if we will only obey Him. Does it
really matter that our circumstances are difficult? Why shouldn’t they be! If
we give way to self-pity and indulge in the luxury of misery, we remove God’s
riches from our lives and hinder others from entering into His provision. No sin is worse than the sin of self-pity,
because it removes God from the throne of our lives, replacing Him with our own
self-interests. It causes us to open our mouths only to complain, and we
simply become spiritual sponges— always absorbing, never giving, and never being satisfied. And there is nothing
lovely or generous about our lives.
Before
God becomes satisfied with us, He will take everything of our so-called wealth,
until we learn that He is our Source;
as the psalmist said, "All my
springs are in You." If the majesty, grace,
and power of God are not being exhibited in us, God holds us responsible. "God is able to make all grace abound
toward you, that you . . . may have an abundance . .
." then learn to lavish the grace of God on
others, generously giving of yourself. Be
marked and identified with God’s nature, and His blessing will flow through you
all the time.
Taken from My Utmost for His Highest
by Oswald Chambers.
copyright 1935 by Dodd Mead &
“…’Prove me now,’ says the LORD Almighty, and see if I will
not throw open the windows of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you
will not have room enough for it.’” Malachi 3:10