Morning by Morning—Daily Prayer Journey with Tommy Hays: Wisdom and Provision

Thursday, April 16, 2020

Wisdom and Provision - Morning by Morning, April 16, 2020

Morning by Morning, April 16 - Wisdom and Provision

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me begin my day here in the deep communion of prayer -- embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. ...

I hear in my heart, "Look to Me for your wisdom and provision." ...

Yes, Lord. You are the Source of all I need -- wisdom and provision, to discern what I'm to do and how I'm to rest in what You will do, trusting in You to be working in many ways, whether through me or apart from me or both. Whichever way You work it out, You will be the Way it all gets worked out. "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God" (2 Corinthians 3:5). "My God shall supply all (I) need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).

You're bringing to mind the story of Your wisdom and provision for the widow women who lost her husband and then her family faced all the grief of the loss of life and also the fear of economic collapse.

"Now the wife of a member of the company of prophets cried to Elisha, 'Your servant my husband is dead; and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but a creditor has come to take my two children as slaves.' Elisha said to her, 'What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?' She answered, 'Your servant has nothing in the house, except a jar of oil.' He said, 'Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not just a few. Then go in, and shut the door behind you and your children, and start pouring into all these vessels; when each is full, set it aside.' So she left him and shut the door behind her and her children; they kept bringing vessels to her, and she kept pouring. When the vessels were full, she said to her son, 'Bring me another vessel.' But he said to her, 'There are no more.' Then the oil stopped flowing She came and told the man of God, and he said, 'Go sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your children can live on the rest'" (2 Kings 4:1-7).

So many messages of hope leap out at me from Your Word: being honest with our questions about our grief and loss and disappointment, the unfairness of seeming lack of protection for the people of God and servants of God and their families, how the thief comes like a creditor to steal and kill and destroy as he tries to take us into the bondage of slavery to him, the offering our hearts like empty vessels to be filled with the oil of Your Holy Spirit, to go out and engage our neighbors so their empty vessels can be filled with the oil of Your Holy Spirit as well, and of course, Your miraculous provision of all she and her family needed, as they heard and obeyed the word of the Lord.

But what strikes me the most this morning is that You gave both Your wisdom and provision as she actively participated in Your plans with what she they had. All of it from You. There was her part and Your part, but You were the Source; and there was nothing she could do apart from You.

Also, I see that the miracle began when she and her family were "sheltered-in-place." She was first to "go in, and shut the door behind (her) and (her) children" (v. 4). She was first to offer up own empty vessel and the empty vessels of her family. That's when the oil started to flow. That's when the miracle of provision started to happen.

And then came the next stage of divine strategy for her provision -- to out to the neighbors and bring their empty vessels. All of that took time, all of that unfolded in stages and steps of obedience and trust, with You doing Your part and her family doing their part. But You provided all the wisdom and provision they needed to get them through their crisis.

Come Holy Spirit of God, draw us into the deeper place of intimacy and prayer. Lead us in to the Holy of Holies of the Presence of God with the door shut behind us. As You taught, Lord Jesus, "When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you" (Matthew 6:6).

Father, reward us with Your wisdom and Your provision, as we seek You and listen for the leading of Your Spirit to hear Your wisdom and experience Your provision. Show us when to come in and when to go out. Let us not waste a moment of our time sheltered away from the world and hidden away in You. That's where our hope comes from; that's where our help comes from; that's where our wisdom and provision comes from. "My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth!" (Psalm 121:2)

Lord Jesus, You said, "Apart from Me, you can do nothing" (John 15:5). And we praise You that we never have to be apart from You! You are with us always (Matthew 28:20). But when we come apart from the world to seek Your face and listen for Your voice, You provide us with Your wisdom and Your provision for all we need -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God.

As we seek You and receive Your wisdom and provision, let our debts be paid and our hearts be free. Let us come closer to You than ever before. And in its time, let even our neighbors experience that same great outpouring of Your Holy Spirit that Your doing in our hearts as well. Grief of loss and fear of economic collapse will not prevail. You will get us through this crisis. And You will turn it all around to display Your glory in Your unfailing love! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

My Friend, may you draw nearer to God in deeper intimacy with Him during any crisis you face to receive His wisdom and provision for all you need, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!