Our relationship with God is centered on our ability to wait on Him, depending on Him 100 percent for everything. If we lack the faith to wait on God, then we don’t really know Him or we don’t understand how this area fits into our lives as Christians.
Concerning the first reason—lack of knowing God— if we knew God better we would not be concerned about anything: personal problems, work problems, the necessities of life, church problems, world issues, etc.
David wrote: “Truly my soul silently waits for God; from Him comes my salvation” (Ps. 62:1).
The Hebrew word translated “salvation” in this verse refers to deliverance from threat. Salvation means that God will provide for all our needs: personal, physical, emotional, and spiritual. There are many promises that tell us about God’s providence: “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him” (Ps. 34:8, 9).
“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).”
“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).
God’s covenant promise to His people contains three things He promises to provide for His children. We read of these in John’s third letter. “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (3 John 2).
God promises spiritual prosperity (eternal life), health (physical and emotional), and material prosperity. Of course, there are conditions for these to be fulfilled. The material prosperity mentioned here does not mean that God will make us rich. In fact, we are warned not to seek material riches: “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition” (1 Tim. 6:9). Instead, God will provide for our material needs. We should not worry about this aspect of our lives. In actuality God desires to provide us with more than we need materially so that we can be a blessing to others by sharing from the abundance God has given us.
“When we worry about whether or not the Lord will provide for our needs, we are acting like children who distrust their parents to provide. How would you feel if your young daughter asked you, “Daddy, are you going to feed me tomorrow?”
How would you reply? I am sure you would say, “I love you. Of course I am going to feed you tomorrow.”
But what if she asked you the next day, “Daddy, are you going to feed me tomorrow?” How would you feel? And how would you feel if she kept asking this question every day?
This is how we treat God when we worry about the necessities of life. Such anxiety indicates that we really don’t trust Him or believe He loves us and will provide for us as He has promised.
I believe that 3 John 2 also seems to indicate that our material and health prosperity is dependent on our “soul” or spiritual prosperity. Our spiritual prosperity is dependent on our relationship with God. So, the more intimately we know God and understand His will, the more these promises will be fulfilled in our lives, and the more we will patiently wait in faith on Him to provide. This relationship between our spiritual prosperity and material prosperity is also taught when Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt. 6:33).
Personal Reflection and Discussion
1. Do you find it difficult to wait on God? Why, or why not?
2. List two Bible promises where God promises to provide for your needs.
3. In God’s covenant what three things does He promise to His people? How does it make you feel to know that He wants to give you these good things?
4. When we worry about our needs being met, what are we really saying about God?
5. What areas in your life do you worry about the most? What can you do to turn these worries over to God?
Prayer Activity
• Call your prayer partner and discuss this devotional with him/her.
• Pray with your prayer partner:
1. for God to baptize you with His Holy Spirit.
2. for God to revive you and His church.
3. for God to forgive you for distrusting Him.
4. for God to give you the faith to trust Him to provide for you.
5. for the individuals on your prayer list.”
Excerpt From: Dennis Smith. “40 Days.”