PERCEPTIONS OF FAITH God always provides
Have you noticed how much is changing around us at the moment, and all for the worse I think.
If you live on a budget, you’re probably working miracles to make it work. It dawned on me the other day just how much more expensive things are when I was filling up the car. I’m the type of person who never fills it up, who just puts in $40 for obvious reasons. That $40 could last me most of the working week, but last week my car needed three lots of $40, great for the discount, bad for the bank.
Around me, I hear young couples talk about rising interest rates on mortgages, and for those who are past 65, the challenge of shopping.
Builders can’t get supplies and nothing arrives on time, except bills.
If you’re like me, small change is good but bigger change can lead to stress, unless it’s a good news story of change in your life, eg, winning Lotto.
While all this is happening, there is one thing in my life that will always be the same and that is Jesus Christ and his word the Bible.
I recently taught from the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament. In those times, kings and empires created huge changes in people’s lives. Daniel was ripped away from his home and family in Israel to become a slave living and working in Babylon. Daniel went to school in Babylon and took on some very important roles, but deep down, I’m sure he wanted to go home.
What would I do in the same position? Run away? Fight back? Daniel held on to his belief in God.
He prayed three times a day looking back to where he had been taken from for about 100 years and faithfully served four kings that he was slave to.
Thankfully, the changes inflicted on Daniel were very different to our lives today, but change isn’t. In my almost 50 years, my life has seen so much change, but since I’ve come to know who Jesus Christ is and when I read the Bible it inspires me to look at stress in a very different way.
A few Bible verses that have encouraged me are:
Daniel 2:20-21: “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons, he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.”
Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
My favourite verse that helps me to keep focus on the here and now is:
Matthew 6: 33: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
It may not put more money in the bank account, but I know I have a loving God who provides for me.
If you’re feeling lost , there are some churches around Whangārei that would love to introduce you to God who loves you so much.