Blessed be the Lord,
Who daily loads us with benefits,
The God of our salvation!  (Psalm 68:19)

Worry and anxiety at times grasp our attention and affection unknowingly and unconsciously, especially nowadays if and when our focus is lured toward what is going on around us.  You and I know how media relentlessly proclaim and spread negativity of things and if this will be our steady diet, setting our eyes and ears to the fickle, ever-changing news, what do you think we are feeding our souls (our minds, our wills and our emotions) with?  Before we know it, we have been taken into a downward spiral, finding ourselves in a pit of depression.

But, thanks be to the Lord our God Who is rich in mercy and abounding in love Who daily loads us with benefits through His promises in His Word that are yes and amen!  He sent His word and healed us, And delivered us from destructions. He committed Himself to never leave us nor forsake us.  He pledged to not even loosen His grip on us and lift us up above the snakeline each time.  He never stops pursuing us, showing us how we are to maneuver and set our minds on things above.  This is the place where we take every thought captive into the obedience of Christ, switching from worrying to worshipping the King of kings and Lord and lords, Jesus, knowing that He’s got our backs covered and victory is an assured promise.  When we call upon His Name, He surely hears, answers and shows us an array of His goodness that will cause our hearts to rejoice in Him.  He indeed is our ever help in time of need. 

“It is the Lord Who goes before you; He will [march] with you; He will not fail you or let you go or forsake you; [let there be no cowardice or flinching, but] fear not, neither become broken [in spirit—depressed, dismayed, and unnerved with alarm].” (Deuteronomy 31:8 AMPC)

May this truth be our reality and not just a theory, tasting and seeing how good the Lord our God is as He busies Himself with our every step.

One of the most important ways to combat  worry and anxiety is to find time to meditate His Word day and night.   At the onset of the day, we quiet ourselves in His love, dedicate our time, set our affection upon Him, intentionally be present in His presence, acknowledge Him,  commune with Him, saturating our minds and hearts with His Word.  This daily time of devotion, passionately devouring our daily Bread of Life, feasting at the table that He has prepared for us, will sustain us for the rest of the day.   The Holy Spirit will reliably and faithfully bring to our remembrance every revealed word that we have deposited into the reservoir of our hearts perfectly in time when we need to be refreshed, encouraged and strengthened throughout the day.  This is the well recommended steady diet for us, for “His Word is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrew 4:12)  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.  His Word is equated the same way, forever settled in heaven and may it be resolved in the fertile ground of our hearts as well. 

In Psalm 1, we are likened to a tree that is nourished by the river.  This is not just any ordinary river, but it is the river of life that flows from the throne of God and of the Lamb.

“…  his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.”  (Psalm 1:2-3)

I don’t think there is ever a living tree that does need water to thrive.  When it is planted, its roots are there to absorb water and to take nutrients from the soil used to produce what it needs for growth, development and repair.  Moreover, it is there to anchor the tree in the soil for strength and stability.

If we want our lives to count, bear much fruit and be a conduit in God’s kingdom for people around us to taste and see how good He is, why not let our roots grow deeper into the knowledge of Him as we continually drink from the river of life in spiritual wisdom and understanding.  Then, we shall make our way prosperous, deal wisely and have good success.

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8)

Mind you, how many times the word “you” is mentioned in this verse? 

In our faith walk, we do have a part to play.  Faith without works is dead.  The Holy Spirit is our “Helper” (John 14:6).  He helps!  Jesus is our Good Shepherd Who leads us and He said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:27-28).  Verse 5 says, “they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

The more we spend time in His Presence feasting on His word, the more we get know Him, be confidently familiar with His voice and be led by His Spirit.  “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”  (Romans 8:14)

In the natural, how do we know if our father or mother is calling us? We may say it’s instinctive, yes, but have we taken into consideration our closeness with them as well?  We live with them.  We spend time with them day in and day out.  When we get lost in the midst of a crowd and they call us by our names, we immediately recognize their voices beyond a shadow of a doubt.  I believe, this has been patterned after how we are to hear, listen and be led by the Spirit of God, a relatable way indeed.  

“Listen carefully, My dear child, to everything I teach you, and pay attention to all that I have to say.  Fill your thoughts with My words until they penetrate deep into your spirit.  Then, as you unwrap My words, they will impart true life and radiant health into the very core of your being.”  (Proverbs 4:20-22 TPT)

A portion of the prayer that Jesus taught His disciples was, “Give us this day our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11).  This typifies that there is an apportioned provision everyday of our lives.  “So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:34 AMPC).  We are to live our lives “today” as it is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it. 

No wonder at the time of Moses when the Israelites were in the wilderness, one of God’s instructions was to gather manna that was good enough for a day’s sustenance and never to keep a portion for the day after, except the day before Sabbath when they were given twice as much.

“And Moses said to them, “This is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat. This is the thing which the Lord has commanded: ‘Let every man gather it according to each one’s need, one omer for each person, according to the number of persons; let every man take for those who are in his tent.’ ”

Then the children of Israel did so and gathered, some more, some less. So when they measured it by omers, he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack. Every man had gathered according to each one’s need. And Moses said, “Let no one leave any of it till morning.”  Notwithstanding they did not heed Moses. But some of them left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them.”  (Exodus 16:15-20)

The Lord desires for us to have a daily spiritual appetite so that you and I will have a great inward desire to devour His Word, savoring it with joy, consuming it with grace and living it out as sons and daughters of the Most High God.  The more we partake, the more we will be made in a new order after Him Who has created us for His plan, purpose, delight and satisfaction.

One day, my car’s aircon broke down.  Having heard a lot of stories of being robbed by many auto shops when one isn’t familiar with cars, I was a bit fearful and disheartened. I didn’t want to bring it to the official service center knowing it that would cost me an arm and a leg.

I saw one service center not so far away from where I live, but I was hesitant to go alone.  So, I thought of bringing one of my male friends just as so they won’t over-charge me.  Yet, from deep within, it just didn’t feel right.

I sought the Lord where to go and how to go about it until my heart was settled to go to the shop nearby and alone.  The strong prompting in my heart said, “Don’t be afraid.  Don’t you trust Me?  … ouchhhhh!!!  I prayed then for favor and protection, and off I went.

The young guy who was manning the shop seemed nice and when the quote was given to me, I simply agreed to go ahead with the repair.  There were four mechanics fixing my car and I was watching them carefully, inch by inch, never leaving the post unattended, as I didn’t want them to charge me unnecessarily.  Our fear oftentimes manifests itself when we plan and act excessively. 

Ohhh my, as I was attentively observing them, I came to realize how strenuous their job was.  My heart was melting with His compassion for them.  I was thinking how much will they be paid for such toil.  Will they ever have a fair share of the charges with the owner of the shop?  

To my surprise, when everything was completely done and paid, I gave them a more than reasonable tip. 

When I think about what happened, oh how the Lord touches our hearts that catches us off guard.  You see, instead of a fearful thought of being robbed, I voluntarily, with grateful intention, blessed them. 

Sometimes we unneedingly worry, yet thankfully, He causes our eyes to see differently when we seek Him and His ways.  He makes us see through His fiery, loving and compassionate eyes that go beyond the obvious. When we respond to the circumstances of our lives with affirmations of trust, it makes Him smile, for when we are in faith, oh how it pleases Him.

Truly, when we are humble enough to hunger and thirst daily for the Bread of Life, He comes and feeds us with the abundance of His Presence, until our hearts are filled with His love, joy and peace that surpasses all understanding.  The radiance of His glory shines upon us as we set ourselves in confident trust that all is well because He is always with us.

“And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35)

The Lord our God daily loads us with Himself and in Him all things consist.  Nothing was made that was made apart from Him.  When we realize how powerful and great He is Who is in us, the Spirit of the One Who is the Creator of this world and the Shepherd of our hearts, how can we lack?  He is The Provider and The Provision at the same time.  Whatever we need, HE IS.  He vowed and made an oath that He will provide for us according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. 

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank You for providing us The Savior and The Redeemer of the world, Jesus Christ, in Whom all things are created by Him and for Him.  In Him, we have perfect peace, a nothing-missing, nothing-broken and a nothing-lacking life.  Thank You, Jesus, that in You we will invariably be of good cheer for You always cause us to triumph.  By the power of Your blood shed at the cross, You set us free from death, hell and the grave.  By Your mercy, You saved us from the wrath of God which was exhausted at Your body and You poured upon us Your immeasurable great love.  By Your grace, we see how You daily load us with Your benefits as we meditate Your word day and night.  Thank You, Holy Spirit, for unveiling our eyes to see the beauty of Jesus Christ and His finished work, that we may live and move and have our being in Him, not by our might nor by our power, but by Your indwelling presence.  Amen!