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Eternity 15 - Prayers That Work - Praying For Provision
(Matthew 6:11 NKJV) Give us this day our daily bread. (Matthew 6:33-34 NKJV) "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. {34 } "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
(2 Corinthians 9:8 NKJV) And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
In Matthew 6:11 God commands us to pray for our daily provision. As we connect to God, he connects to our needs - as a heavenly Father.
But He commands us to pray for our needs AFTER we have prayed for His honour and His kingdom. So later on in the same chapter He says in verse 33..seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness (thy kingdom come, they will be done) ...then all the necessities will be added to you. No contradiction there..first the Kingdom concern, then the prayer for provision, then the abundant supply.
He wants us connected to Him for the right reasons - not commercial ones. In 2 Corinthians 9 in a chapter about giving Paul says that God gives to us so that we may have "an abundance for every good work" - educating our children, caring for our aged parents, giving to God's work and so on. God gives to you so you can use it for "every good work" .
He wants to invest your funds in godly living. If He sees someone investing wisely and well in Kingdom concerns..then He will give more. Some of God's most faithful stewards handle millions!
If you are in constant financial crises you need to ask:
a)am I seeking first the Kingdom
b)am I using my funds for every good work?
c) Am I spending unwisely and unconsciously on impulses - or on planned
and deliberate thought out things of benefit.
You may need to ask God for more than money - you may need to ask for self-control,
financial wisdom and godly priorities.
But God is merciful and gracious and will meet your need but not your greed. He wants disciples - not consumers, worshipers - not dependent fans bought with cash.
God does provide, twenty years in faith ministry has shown me that, but he provides more than money - he provides dignity, strength, wisdom self-control and discipline.
He wants you to mature both personally and financially and be productive. Yes, He wants you wealthy, but only if you can handle it - Solomon asked for wisdom first and got money second. Would you trust yourself with a million dollars to use it "for His Kingdom and His righteousness"?
Blessings,
John Edmiston
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