May 21, 2009 0 comments

Posted in: Weekly Devotionals

Maybe you've heard the old adage, "Where God guides, he always provides." It may be more appropriate to say, "God often guides by what he doesn't provide." Read that again slowly and think about it in relation your life or church. God often guides by what he doesn't provide. Are you up against a wall with no good plan to get past it? Have you hit an obstacle that appears impenetrable? Maybe God will guide you to see something that you couldn't have seen if he'd just removed the wall.

One of the greatest examples of this principle is found in Acts 3.  Peter and John were traveling to their afternoon temple prayer meeting when they saw a man, who'd been crippled his whole life, being carried to his begging post. The hurting beggar recognized Peter and held out his cup, hoping to get some change to buy dinner.  That's when God started using Peter's limitations- what Peter didn't have - to guide him. Think about it. If Peter had had a few bucks on him, it might've been easy to toss a bill toward the man, nod politely, and keep moving to be on time for prayer. But because he didn't have what man wanted, he was able to give the man what he needed. Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk" (Acts 3:6 -emphasis added). Then Peter reached down and pulled the man to his feet. I wonder if this would have happened if Peter hadn't been financially limited. 

The truth: you have what you need. Watch out for the excuses. Whenever you're tempted to whine about what you don't have, remember that God has given you everything you need to do everything he wants you to do.

Adapted from it by Craig Groeschel