Our daily devotional of the miraculous provision of God speaks to the power and faithfulness of our Creator to provide for our every need, both physical and spiritual.
Come with me as we reflect on the biblical story of the prophet Elijah, as recorded in 1 Kings 17:17, and the ways in which God divinely provided for him in his time of need.
In today’s devotional, we will learn about the ways in which God desires to bless and care for us, and how we can have faith in His provision for our lives.
» Thursday, 9th February 2023 | I Stand In The Gap Daily Devotional | The Miraculous Provision of God
Yesterday’s daily devotional was on the topic of “Divine Prompting of the Holy Spirit” and today’s is “The Miraculous Provision of God”.
Anchor verse of the day
13 And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. 14 For thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.
So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah.
1 Kings 17:13-16 (NKJV)
In our anchor verse of 1 Kings 17:13-16, the prophet Elijah is speaking to the widow and telling her that the Lord, the God of Israel, has commanded him to ask her for food.
This verse is an example of God’s miraculous provision and the faithfulness of God in providing for those who put their trust in Him.
Themes in 1 Kings 1 Kings 17:13-16
- God’s Provision: we see the miraculous provision of God for Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath, divinely orchestrated.
- Trust in God: The Widow demonstrated her trust in God by providing for Elijah and relying on God’s provision.
- The faithfulness of God: God was faithful to His promise and provided for the widow.
- Miracles: The verse is a demonstration of God’s ability to perform miracles and provide for His people in ways that seem impossible.
- Obedience: The Widow of Zarephath demonstrated her total obedience to Elijah’s request, even in the midst of a famine.
Background to 1 Kings 17:13-16
The background of our anchor verse of the day, 1 Kings 17:13-16, is the story of Elijah, a prophet of God in the Old Testament.
In this verse, Elijah is visiting the widow of Zarephath, who was about to make a final meal for herself and her son before they died of starvation.
However, Elijah asked her to make him a small loaf of bread first, promising that her jar of flour and jug of oil would not run out until the Lord sends rain on the land.
The woman complied, and as Elijah had promised, her provisions miraculously lasted throughout the famine.
This verse highlights God’s miraculous provision for his people in their time of need.
Similar verses to 1 Kings 17:13-16
Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
Matthew 6:25-26 (NKJV)
Here, Jesus teaches about God’s provision for his children. He says we are not to worry about life’s necessities like food, drink, and clothing because God will provide for us just as he does for the birds of the air.
This verse highlights the trust we should have in God’s provision for our needs.
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 (NKJV)
Here too, Paul writes to the Philippians that God will provide all their needs through His riches in glory through Christ Jesus.
This passage stresses the idea that God will provide everything we need, not just our basic necessities, but all our needs according to his wealth and abundance. It highlights the unlimited resources that God has to provide for us as his children.
What miracles do you need in your life?
Well, I sure have a couple of miracles I want God to perform in my life, although He has done so many of them already.
Pause for a moment and focus on your needs and say a little prayer asking the miracle worker, in the name of Jesus Christ, to meet you at the point of your need.
Reflection on the miraculous provision of God
We are aware that our anchor story of the prophet Elijah and the widow in 1 Kings 17:13-16 highlights the miraculous provision of God in times of need.
In this story, Elijah visited a widow who is in the midst of a famine and asked her to give him something to eat. Note that despite her limited resources, the widow provided Elijah with food and sustenance, and in turn, God provided for her and her son throughout the famine period.
Well, I don’t know what this tells you, but to me, it is a straightforward reminder that God is always willing to provide for his children in times of need, no matter how difficult the circumstances may seem.
As Christians, and in our current dispensation, this means that we should trust in God’s provision for our lives, no matter what challenges we may face.
Beloved, this does not mean that we will not encounter difficulties, but it does mean that we can trust that God will always be there to help us in our time of need, and in every step of the way. This is a central tenet of our faith, and it is something that should be remembered and cherished in our daily lives.
See, we have to live our lives in a way that reflects this trust in the provisions of God, by being faithful in our lives and in our prayer life, seeking out ways to give to others and relying on God’s strength and wisdom in all that we do.
We have countless assurances in His Word, that when we live in this way, we will find that God’s provision is always there for us, to sustain and guide us through every challenge that we face.
Prayer for the miraculous provision of God
Dear Lord, we come to you today with grateful hearts and recognize the miraculous provision you have provided for us.
Father, we are forever grateful for your constant care and provision in our lives, even in times of scarcity and lack. We trust in your promises that you will supply all of our needs according to your riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Today we pray that you will continue to lead us and guide us in all aspects of our lives, by providing us with the resources we need to fulfill our purpose. We ask that you help us to be good stewards of the gifts and resources you have given us, using them for your glory and to bless others.
We also pray for those who are struggling with lack and financial difficulties. We ask that you open their eyes to see your miraculous provision in their lives and give them the strength and courage to trust in you.
Thank you for your faithfulness, Lord. We pray this in the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
