GOD’S PROVIDENCE: PRESERVING AND GUIDING HIS CREATION,PART 3.

Personally, I have learned to trust God for my finances as I lost all my dependence on my own strength about thirty years ago! I was finishing my schooling where I was focusing on my future career that would provide for me financially, when my health went down the hill! I have learned that if I really trust Him without fear, finances come in, all the time! As I finished my Masters, I looked to make a change, at HIs directive, trusting Him to supply all my financial needs! I know I can trust Him without anxiety and fear! Of course, I have seen Him provide in the area of healings, emotional, physical and spiritual! As I used to be very independent and thought I needed none of God’s help, because I thought I was doing everything out of my own strength! I knew I would have a career, a marriage, have children when I chose to! A life without problems! When all this came tumbling down with all my dreams gone to the dust, I learned to look to Him as my Source, Provider; and to trust Him more and more with each year! And I can say He is the best Provider; He has been good and as such I do not lack anything! It has not been like I had decided in my heart but it has been with much more fruitfulness than I had ever dreamed for my life! “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1).

According to New Dictionary of Theology, “Providence has been carefully distinguished from creation. The upholding and directing of all things is understood in Scripture to be subsequent to, and distinct from, their having been made. The distinction is partly sequential : first, God created, then He sustained and directed.”1 So I have shown how God has sustained and directed His creation in the past and how He continues to do so even today! Prayer is necessary to be done by His people, especially by His friends , in order that His will becomes clear as to how He wants to preserve and guide His creation. And how He wants to provide and guide us personally! From Scripture it appears that in many cases God works in a kind of partnership with humans. God does not act if humans do not play their part. It is the act of faith in bringing the needs of people which is necessary for God to act. As an example, in Nazareth, Jesus’ hometown , there were not many miracles due to the people’s lack of faith in bringing the needy ones to Him for healing! So we need to pray in faith!

NOTES
1Sinclair B. Ferguson, David F. Wright and J.J. Packer, eds., New Dictionary of Theology, (Downers Grove: Inter-Varsity Press, 1988),541.