God Provides

Our God gives you everything you need, makes you everything you're to be. (2 Thessalonians 1:2 MSG)

I came across this verse the other day and I though "That's a relief." You see it is God who provides what we need, note it doesn't say what we want, but what we need. Just as He provided manna for the Israelites in the desert, He will provide for us. Does this mean we can just sit back and wait for the blessing? No!

What does the second part of the verse say? In short is says that He makes you what and who you are suppose to be. You see God has given you a mind to think, passions to pursue, skills to leverage and if you are a believer He has given you a spiritual gift. Your God given abilities, life experiences and learned skills all make you who you are and provide a way for you to get what you need. Not only that, but it gives you the ability to provide for the needs of others. Your spiritual gift is not for you to use for yourself, rather it is given to you for the benefit of others.

God can and does bring unexpected blessing: an unexpected check, a stranger offering to help, a job offer or simply a new relationship. These are all ways God provides for our needs.

What or how has God gifted you to earn a living or benefit others? Have you ever been the recipient of an unexpected blessing? Have you ever responded to a prompting from the Spirit to be the giver of a blessing to someone? If not, you might have to listen a litter closer to that still small voice prompting you to be generous.

Interesting Challenge

While flipping through my Twitter feed I came across this challenge at the web site One Word 365. The challenge is to pick a single word that you will use to "sums up who you want to be or how you want to live or what you want to achieve by the end of 2012."

This past year that word for me would have been "transformation." if you read or want to read my 2011 reflection you will see how this word was applied in my life.

This year the word I am choosing is "integrity." I want to live a life where what I say and believe is mirrored by my actions and deeds. This should include all aspects of my life- time, talents and money.

If you were to let a single word transform you this year what would it be and what would that look like in your life?

Make An Impact in 2012

Don't you see: It's not the cut of a knife that makes a Jew. You become a Jew by who you are. It's the mark of God on your heart, not of a knife on your skin, that makes a Jew. And recognition comes from God, not legalistic critics. (Romans 2:28, 29 MSG)

The passage above points to the idea that is not external actions that God is concerned about. Rather, God is looking for an internal, heart transformation to show that we have have turned to Him. We are all able to put on masks, say the right things and even do what looks right. God sees right through this. When He chose David as king He was not looking at external features as Samuel was, rather God was looking at David's heart.

A transformed heart reflects the internalization, personalization of the head knowledge we have of God. As this new year begins to unfold before you make the effort to grow in your heart knowledge of God. Draw close to Him. Spend time reading the Word, spend time in prayer listening to God's still small voice.

Spend time looking back at what God is teaching you, look though this to see the big picture of what God wants you to do, take a look around where you can join God and finally see what kind of help you might need to accomplish it.

In 2012, step outside your box and make the decision to make a difference for the Kingdom this year. If we all do a little we together (as a community of God's people) can make an impact on our little corner of the world.