God Provides

       It would seem that most of us have needs of one sort or another.  While it is true that many of our needs branch out into an area that says "wants" more than "needs" there are still those basic things that we do need such as a place to stay,  some food to eat and some clothes to put on.  These might be considered basic needs.  Other than that, much of our life is filled with "wants" that exceed those basic needs.  First, let me say that God has always taken excellent care of my family and myself.  When I had decided to go into the ministry, we had to adjust our lifestyle somewhat.  My full time job became a part time job at a grocery chain in Washington, D.C.  My wife also got a part time job and even though our salary went from $22,000 a year to $8,000 a year, God still took care of us in what seemed to be miraculous ways.  I crammed 4 years of study into 3 years by going to summer school and a few correspondence courses.  The first two years were great especially with the VA assisting in college costs.  Then, the third year came and VA benefits stopped and we were confronted with costs that we could not pay.  It seemed as if the dream was coming to a close.  Then, God took care of the rest, as He always does.  Tuition and supplies were paid for, one hundred percent.   Philippians 4:19 says, "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."   
     This passage of God's Word always is a great one for seeing how God is going to work in any given need that we have in our lives.  It usually comes when we have exhausted all of our resources and are faced with the fact that we don't know how we are going to make it unless there is some type of Divine intervention.  The final conclusion to the matter was that God did provide our needs as He always does.  He doesn't do it in any half way measure but, as the verse says, "according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."  Notice those two little words, "according to."    It did not say, "out of" but it did say, "according to."  There is a big difference.  When you come to God with a real need, you better come with a big basket because it is going to be a bigger response than you ever imagined.  So, yes, God does always do what His Word says He will do.  He will supply our needs.  Praise God that He does what He says He will do.