“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19, ESV)
“Sophia’s husband John, an ardent soul-winner, spent his short life preaching on the streets, in the parks, in halls and theaters, wherever he could. But at age 27, he contracted typhoid and quickly died, leaving Sophia Ironside with two small boys and no income.
One of the boys, Harry (later the world-famous pastor of Moody Memorial Church), watched his mother closely. On one occasion, he recalled company coming for supper. Sophia’s cupboard was nearly bare, but she scraped together a meal with the little that remained. After the visitors left, she found under one of their plates a ten-dollar bill—a vast sum in those days. With eyes full of tears, she offered thanks to God.
Some time later, the cupboard was again empty. Sophia gathered her two sons to the table for breakfast, but their plates were empty, and there was only water to drink. “We will give thanks, boys,” she said. Closing her eyes, she prayed, “Father, Thou hast promised in Thy Word, ‘Your bread shall be given you, and your water shall be sure.’ We have the water, and we thank Thee for it. And now, we trust Thee for the bread, or for that which will take its place.”
Just as she finished praying, the doorbell rang, and the boys ran to the door to find a man there. “Mrs. Ironside,” he said, “I feel very bad. We have been owing you for months for that dress you made for my wife. We’ve had no money to pay you. But just now we’re harvesting our potatoes, and we wondered if you would take a bushel or two on account of the old bill.”
“Indeed, I’ll be glad to,” replied Sophia.
In a few minutes, the potatoes were sizzling in the frying pan, and the boys had answered prayer for breakfast.” (Robert J. Morgan, From This Verse)
Like Sophia Ironside, I have seen God supply my needs over and over. When I ran out of money for pre-seminary classes, a scholarship was awarded to me. I had just enough money to continue my work. The crazy thing is, I never applied for that scholarship! And, it came at the perfect moment!
When in seminary, we didn’t have money to come home for Christmas. I was saddened by this but left it in the Lord’s hands. I told my wife, Laura, that I was praying about it. She too has learned to just trust God. A week before Christmas, I received a Christmas card with a check in the mail from a wealthy woman who was from my home congregation. She had no idea of our situation nor of our prayer. It was for the perfect amount I needed for the trip home!
Two years ago, I was given a gift by an individual who supports this ministry. The day after receiving the gift, I found out about a pastor who was put on leave during the COVID epidemic. His family was receiving no compensation whatsoever. With no worship services being held, the small church couldn’t make its payments. With no care for their pastor, they stopped payment of his salary. After four months, the pastor, his wife, and two children were running out of money to pay their utility bills and food to stock the cupboards. Laura found out about the family THE DAY AFTER I RECEIVED THE MONEY FROM THE DONOR! I immediately saw it as a sign from God and sent a check of $1000 over to the family to help them get over their present crisis. The pastor and his wife ended up losing their jobs because of COVID and that money was their cushion until they could find other work. God supplied my needs and their needs all in two days and with one gift!
I could go on and on for hours telling you of a thousand stories from my own life and the lives of others. In each of those stories, God supplied a need that was crucial in that moment. Often, what God supplied came through the generosity or love of another. Most times, the giver had no idea of the prayers that had been sent to God for that need. The giver had no idea that he or she was part of God’s plan to supply the need of another.
Paul wrote to the Philippian church that “God would supply every need” they had. God would do this out of “the riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). I don’t know how God does it. I don’t understand how perfect are HIS ways. What I do know is that I have learned to rely on God’s grace and gifts. I have learned to lean on God when a need crops up. I have learned that God works in and around me to supply the needs of the faithful. God may not supply one’s wants but God will always supply one’s needs.
In today’s world, people often don’t see how and when God supplies needs because they often don’t ask God when they need something crucial. When hungry, a person might ask a relative. When low on funds for schooling, a young man might get a loan from the bank. Even Christian organizations have failed to trust in God’s providence. When they need operating funds, they might look to wealthy donors or seek the help of a local church. What they often fail to do is pray to God for help. Even though needs are supplied to the faithful, it is good to recognize that God not only supplies one’s needs but knows the perfect way for you to get them. But would it hurt you to recognize the hand of God in getting what you need?
I have seen and heard of faithful people who praised the generosity of a donor or had a special recognition of a generous donation. When was the last time you heard of a faithful person or a church or a Christian organization that organized a gathering to just give thanks to God for a need that was supplied? It does happen… but never enough! Would it hurt to give God more of the credit for coming through?
Today’s scripture is a promise that God supplies the needs of the faithful. Today’s meditation is proof that God does do that A LOT. However, today’s meditation is also a challenge for you to recognize and give thanks for all those blessings that God supplies all along your way! It is a call for you to praise God’s providence and celebrate the wonderful gifts the come from the “riches in glory in Christ Jesus”! Those gifts may be financial. They may be spiritual. The gift may include forgiveness, grace, or healing. There are so many ways that God “supplies every need of yours”. Isn’t it time you include more thanks and praise in your prayers and from your mouth for God’s bountiful gifts and grace?
One of the boys, Harry (later the world-famous pastor of Moody Memorial Church), watched his mother closely. On one occasion, he recalled company coming for supper. Sophia’s cupboard was nearly bare, but she scraped together a meal with the little that remained. After the visitors left, she found under one of their plates a ten-dollar bill—a vast sum in those days. With eyes full of tears, she offered thanks to God.
Some time later, the cupboard was again empty. Sophia gathered her two sons to the table for breakfast, but their plates were empty, and there was only water to drink. “We will give thanks, boys,” she said. Closing her eyes, she prayed, “Father, Thou hast promised in Thy Word, ‘Your bread shall be given you, and your water shall be sure.’ We have the water, and we thank Thee for it. And now, we trust Thee for the bread, or for that which will take its place.”
Just as she finished praying, the doorbell rang, and the boys ran to the door to find a man there. “Mrs. Ironside,” he said, “I feel very bad. We have been owing you for months for that dress you made for my wife. We’ve had no money to pay you. But just now we’re harvesting our potatoes, and we wondered if you would take a bushel or two on account of the old bill.”
“Indeed, I’ll be glad to,” replied Sophia.
In a few minutes, the potatoes were sizzling in the frying pan, and the boys had answered prayer for breakfast.” (Robert J. Morgan, From This Verse)
Like Sophia Ironside, I have seen God supply my needs over and over. When I ran out of money for pre-seminary classes, a scholarship was awarded to me. I had just enough money to continue my work. The crazy thing is, I never applied for that scholarship! And, it came at the perfect moment!
When in seminary, we didn’t have money to come home for Christmas. I was saddened by this but left it in the Lord’s hands. I told my wife, Laura, that I was praying about it. She too has learned to just trust God. A week before Christmas, I received a Christmas card with a check in the mail from a wealthy woman who was from my home congregation. She had no idea of our situation nor of our prayer. It was for the perfect amount I needed for the trip home!
Two years ago, I was given a gift by an individual who supports this ministry. The day after receiving the gift, I found out about a pastor who was put on leave during the COVID epidemic. His family was receiving no compensation whatsoever. With no worship services being held, the small church couldn’t make its payments. With no care for their pastor, they stopped payment of his salary. After four months, the pastor, his wife, and two children were running out of money to pay their utility bills and food to stock the cupboards. Laura found out about the family THE DAY AFTER I RECEIVED THE MONEY FROM THE DONOR! I immediately saw it as a sign from God and sent a check of $1000 over to the family to help them get over their present crisis. The pastor and his wife ended up losing their jobs because of COVID and that money was their cushion until they could find other work. God supplied my needs and their needs all in two days and with one gift!
I could go on and on for hours telling you of a thousand stories from my own life and the lives of others. In each of those stories, God supplied a need that was crucial in that moment. Often, what God supplied came through the generosity or love of another. Most times, the giver had no idea of the prayers that had been sent to God for that need. The giver had no idea that he or she was part of God’s plan to supply the need of another.
Paul wrote to the Philippian church that “God would supply every need” they had. God would do this out of “the riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). I don’t know how God does it. I don’t understand how perfect are HIS ways. What I do know is that I have learned to rely on God’s grace and gifts. I have learned to lean on God when a need crops up. I have learned that God works in and around me to supply the needs of the faithful. God may not supply one’s wants but God will always supply one’s needs.
In today’s world, people often don’t see how and when God supplies needs because they often don’t ask God when they need something crucial. When hungry, a person might ask a relative. When low on funds for schooling, a young man might get a loan from the bank. Even Christian organizations have failed to trust in God’s providence. When they need operating funds, they might look to wealthy donors or seek the help of a local church. What they often fail to do is pray to God for help. Even though needs are supplied to the faithful, it is good to recognize that God not only supplies one’s needs but knows the perfect way for you to get them. But would it hurt you to recognize the hand of God in getting what you need?
I have seen and heard of faithful people who praised the generosity of a donor or had a special recognition of a generous donation. When was the last time you heard of a faithful person or a church or a Christian organization that organized a gathering to just give thanks to God for a need that was supplied? It does happen… but never enough! Would it hurt to give God more of the credit for coming through?
Today’s scripture is a promise that God supplies the needs of the faithful. Today’s meditation is proof that God does do that A LOT. However, today’s meditation is also a challenge for you to recognize and give thanks for all those blessings that God supplies all along your way! It is a call for you to praise God’s providence and celebrate the wonderful gifts the come from the “riches in glory in Christ Jesus”! Those gifts may be financial. They may be spiritual. The gift may include forgiveness, grace, or healing. There are so many ways that God “supplies every need of yours”. Isn’t it time you include more thanks and praise in your prayers and from your mouth for God’s bountiful gifts and grace?