"...for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him."
Matthew 6:8
This morning as I was packing up the van to take Davis' birthday cupcakes to school, stress was filling my mind because it was POURING down rain. Not sprinkling or even a good soaking. This was a deluge like the kind Noah probably experiened. Concerned about getting drenched and the cupcakes soppy, I began making a plan in my head about how to unload the cupcakes along with my almost 2 yr old, Josh and his stroller. As I pulled out of my neighborhood the rain was beating down and I said a quick and simple prayer,"God if you could just make the rain stop long enough for me to do this cupcake thing, I would be so thankful." I begin the 10 minute drive along with the pounding rain and halfway to the school, the rain was still falling hard. However, a few minutes later as I approached the interstate exit for my son's school, suddenly there was hardly a drop and the skies became clear and bright. My mouth dropped open in awe because the change was so unexpected and at exactly the right moment and with the Newsboys song, "My God's Not Dead" playing in the background, I even got a little emotional....because I know, MY GOD'S NOT DEAD, HE'S SURELY ALIVE!! Without a doubt and immediately in that moment, I knew God had ordered my morning so that I would leave exactly when I did and He even knew I would pray that prayer and yes, He even caused those enormous cat and dog drops to stop long enough for me to unload my van and get into the school with barely a drop. Ironically, once I was in the school, the hard rain would begin again and 30 minutes later as if on cue when I needed to pack up to leave, the heavy rain would stop and I would be able to load up and arrive home, dry and blessed.
In that cupcake experiene, God had an old lesson, made new for me and I desperately needed this reminder. He IS an initmate, personal God who cares for even the simpliest details of our lives. He's a living, active God and 100% in control of ALL things. I do not believe He sits on the sidelines, passive and unconcerned or that He EVER in any way forgets about the needs of His children. Even if we think God is ignoring our prayers or has forsaken us, remember this truth: in His perceived absence, He is ever present and always working all situations for our good and His glory. God wants us to surrender not just the big things, but even the little things to HIM. Give it to HIM and watch HIM work. He may work in a matter of minutes, as with my rainy day cupcakes or He may work out a situation over a period of weeks, months or many years but never give into doubt - He IS always working and His timing IS always perfect and the finished work will leave you in awe. I know this truth but sometimes...many times, the static of my life drowns out His voice and prevents me from being on the right "God station" to hear and live out this knowledge and this personal promise straight from His Word. He said, "never will I leave you or forsake you". The word is NEVER! Meaning He is ALWAYS there. We may FEEL forgotten but it is just a feeling and not a fact. God is never absent. He is always there and He is always aware of our struggles, triumphs, prayers from a cross and even prayers made about cupcakes.
Lord, I praise You as the One True God, who is Faithful and Sovereign over all things. You are a Roaring Lion and Consuming Fire and You are active and ALIVE! Thank You God for knowing us so deeply and for caring about the simpliest detail of our lives. Thank You for hearing our prayers and knowing our needs before we even ask. Thank You for the truth found in Your Word. Thank You for never giving up on us or forsaking us. Forgive us for believing in the lie of self sufficiency and for depending on our own strength. Help us to tune our lives to Your station and align our thoughts with Your thoughts. May we always seek to know You the way You so personally know us.
Deut 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
Heb 4:15
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.
Gen 16:13
She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me, ” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.
Ps 27:8
My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek.
I AM Immanuel - God with YOU. Your pursuit of Me is actually a response to My ardent pursuit of you. You don't have to batten down doors between us. Rather, as you open the door of your heart to Me, you find Me gloriously present - having already thrown open My door to you!
I want you to realize how utterly safe you are - in My perfect Love. You understand that the strength of your love is insufficient to keep you connected with Me. You know you cannot rely on your own faithfulness. That's why you must depend on my unfailing provision.
Book of Matthew Devotional by Sarah Young, Jesus Calling
