We live in such a "techy" world today, people share so much online - the good, the bad, and the ugly. Sharing, even the bad and the ugly, can sometimes be helpful though so that others can pray or help in some other way.
It takes wisdom to know what to share and what not to share. Good things are always a blessing to share, but some things are meant to be kept private. Special. Not everyone needs to know. And yet, sharing little miracles from God can encourage someone else's heart.
That is the reason behind this post. I'm sharing something special that, until now, has been kept, primarily, between me and God.
You see, exactly five months ago today (Monday, November 7th) I had something very special happen. It's something I'll never forget, a testimony to the power of prayer and faith in God's Word.
An anonymous gift from a friend who used me as a courier. God bless your journey.
1 John 4:10 says it well:
That is the reason behind this post. I'm sharing something special that, until now, has been kept, primarily, between me and God.
You see, exactly five months ago today (Monday, November 7th) I had something very special happen. It's something I'll never forget, a testimony to the power of prayer and faith in God's Word.
It was an ordinary, autumn day. The sun was shining, the sky was a deep blue color, and the trees had lost most of their leaves. I went for a walk that morning to take in some of the autumn beauty while we still had it.
My nature walks often turn into prayer walks. Sometimes, my prayer walks are a series of little, thankful prayers like: "Thank you, Father!" Other times, my walks become earnest, prayer walks with lines such as: "Please lead me and guide me, Father. Please give me wisdom. I need You!"
This walk became one of those prayer walks, but this time, I came to the Lord with a specific need.
I needed new clothes, but I had no money to purchase new clothing. I had four every day dresses (jumpers, to be specific), and the one I was wearing had a hole in it that was growing with more holes threatening to appear. Holes can only be sewn shut so many times. This dress was well loved and well worn, and sadly, it needed to go. My others would also need to be replaced soon.
Knowing that all my saved money had gone towards other legitimate needs and large bills (owning a vehicle is expensive!), I was sobered to the point of tears. My harp teaching job wasn't quite reaching it. Money coming in would just meet my other needs and bills.
I don't have a husband to ask for money for new dresses - or anything else for that matter. I couldn't ask my Dad because he asked me to pay for all my own things at age 20 when I began working in a grocery store.
And so, I prayed.
"Father, would You please, somehow, provide money for me to buy some new clothes? I need new clothes, Father."
While on my walk, I thought of these verses:
"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or,
Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:25-33
I've seen the Lord provide for me before, particularly before and after major surgery a few years earlier. I was given monetary gifts I'd never been given before. They were gifts from God.
Taking God at His Word, in faith, I asked Him:
"Father, would you please provide me with $100 so that I could make some new dresses? You could put the $100 bill underneath a rock right out here on this path. I know you can do that, Father!"
I felt God speak so clearly to my heart:
"I don't need to do that, Erin. I can send it to you."
"Okay, Father."
With a lighter heart, I drove home for lunch that afternoon. In expectation, I asked someone at home:
"Did I get any mail today?"
"No, nothing for you."
My heart sank. Maybe it would come another day?
I finished eating my lunch and went back out to pick up some toothpaste I needed at the grocery store. Before going into the store, I sat in my vehicle for a few minutes. I knew the toothpaste would take the last little bit of money that I had. Being a music teacher, at home, makes me happy. I love being at home. But not having quite enough money for something I needed (new clothes!) was not a fun feeling. I never dealt with that when I worked in a grocery store for 15 years. I sat in my vehicle and cried before going into the store.
Grateful that I had money for the toothpaste I needed, I checked out at a self checkout. While inside the store, I felt my phone buzz inside my purse. After getting into my vehicle, I checked the notification on my phone.
I was confused. The notification on my phone was from Gmail. The email notified me that a transaction had gone through my PayPal account. Did someone order harp CD's, I wondered?
When I read the email from PayPal, I didn't recognize the person's name. The person was unknown to me. The note with the transaction read:
I was stunned. This money was a gift? The amount stunned me even more. The amount? $400.
I sat in my vehicle completely speechless. After some brief investigating, I discovered this truly was a gift from a friend - someone who knows me, but wished to remain unknown.
I had said nothing to anyone that day about my need. God was the only One Who knew. And God gave me 4 times the amount I prayed for. Never in my entire life have I received such a gift!
Before and after having major surgery a few years ago, I was given a few monetary gifts from others, often around $100. Someone gifted me with $200 a few months after having surgery. That money went toward needs.
But never was I given this much before. PayPal took a fee from that amount, but that left me with nearly the entire amount. God answered my prayer just a few hours after I prayed - He truly did send me that money!
I purchased some new dress fabrics that month to replace my older ones. (a need) I also purchased a new winter coat. (a need) I also purchased other, legitimate needs with that money. To this day, I am still amazed at God. I won't ever forget it.
God truly is our Provider. He promised in His Word that, when we seek His Kingdom first and His righteousness, that is, when we live for Him, He will meet our needs.
David echoes this in the Psalms:
"I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." Psalm 37:25
God does not always meet our wants, but He promises to meet our needs.
God not only promises to supply our physical needs when we follow Him, God also supplies all of our spiritual needs.
2 Peter 1:3-4 says:
"According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises... "
This verse says that God has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness. What a promise! When we choose to live for God, He promises to meet our every need - physical and spiritual.
Living a Godly life is possible because of what God has given to us and done for us. Full provision has been made by Him.
This makes me think of Jesus, God's only Son.
1 John 4:14 says:
"And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world."
To think that God gave His only Son, His perfect, sinless, spotless Lamb, to die in our place, to shed His blood as the perfect and final atonement for all of mankind! Such love!
1 John 4:10 says it well:
"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
Another very familiar verse, also written by the apostle John, says:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
John 3:16
This year, in remembering Christ's sacrifice for us, I've thought a lot about the blood of Christ. Without that perfect atonement, we would be totally lost. Because of Christ's sacrifice, we are made righteous before God. (Romans 5:9 and 5:19) Because of Christ's sacrifice, we have power over sin.
God provided that through the shed blood of His Son.
Everything we need is provided to us by God.
One of my favorite hymns to sing and play on the harp words it so beautifully:
My Shepherd will supply my need,
Jehovah is His name,
In pastures fresh He makes me feed
Beside the living stream;
He brings my wandering spirit back
When I forsake His way,
And leads me for His mercy's sake
In paths of truth and grace.
The sure provisions of my God
Attend me all my days;
O may Thy house be my abode,
And all my work be praise .
There would I find a settled rest,
While others go and come
No more a stranger, nor a guest,
But like a child at home.
~ Isaac Watts
God is our Provider.
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