God’s heart for us – 9 February 2021
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By Benescke Janse van Rensburg
Bible text(s)
James 4
Matthew 7
Ask, Seek, Knock
Psalms 145
Sometimes we think we can only consult God with major crises in our lives. However, this is a mistake. We can make Him part of every situation in our lives. This is what Lee John Serafin, a full-time pastor from Cape Town, experienced:
Lee: “I enjoy running for exercise. About 8 months ago, my running shoes started to hurt my feet. It was time for a new pair. With three children in the house and a limited budget, I told my wife that I would rather wait. There was no extra money for sports equipment in our budget at that time.
“However, every time I put on my tekkies to go jogging, my prayer was: ‘Father, you know I need a new pair of tekkies. Thank you that I can ask You for that. Amen.’
“One morning some time later, a friend invited me for breakfast. We had just finished eating when he turned to me with the words: ‘You need a pair of new tekkies, right?’ I was speechless. There was no way he could know about my need for a new pair of tekkies. He said that for the last two weeks, every day when he put on his tekkies to go exercise, he clearly heard a voice in his heart: ‘Lee needs a new pair of tekkies.’ I could only laugh.
“Two days after I received my new pair of tekkies, another friend called me and said that he felt it in his heart to give me a pair of tekkies. Again I laughed. I told him about the other tekkies and that I had already been helped. However, he wanted to know if it was jogging tekkies or sneakers that I had already received. I said jogging tekkies. He said he would like to buy me a pair of sneakers – which he did.
“In one week I received two pairs of new shoes – an absolute gift from God! God is a loving Father. Sometimes He gives us what we desire just because He can. Sometimes His love is revealed to us precisely through what He holds back. He is Sovereign and loves us all equally – from the street sweeper, the king, the baker, cleaner, butler, doctor and even the one to be cared for. I praise His Name.”
Lee is right. God has a desire to reveal His goodness to us. Sometimes we make the mistake of thinking that we should not bother Him with “unimportant things”. In James 4:2b we read: “You do not have because you do not ask God.” Also in Matthew 7:7 Jesus reminds us: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” And in Psalm 145:9 we read: The Lord is good to all; he has compassion for all he has made.
God wants to demonstrate His goodness to us – in great crises, but also in small seemingly “unimportant desires”. Let’s talk to Him and make Him a part of the detail in our lives. If it’s important to us, it’s important to Him too! God bless.
Prayer: Father God, thank you for loving and caring for us in every aspect of our lives. I bring (name your need) to You today. Please help me because I know You can. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen