I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and you’re listening to Joni and Friends.
You know, sometimes we are so quick to talk up God’s attributes – you know, what we believe about him, what we’ve memorized in Sunday school about him – but do we really believe it? Like we say God is completely and utterly self-sufficient… we say that, we know that, but face it: how many times do we entertain the thought that he needs a “little help from his friends,” as though he were low on cash, short on reserves, or in need of extra resources? We find ourselves in a fix and we wonder, “Can God really help me? Does he even want to? Does he have enough ‘ummph’ to make a difference in what I’m going through right now?”
Look (and this is good to remember this first week of the New Year): God has everything he needs and more. It does not boost his ego if he sees us drop a big check into the offering plate; it does not enrich his kingdom if we tithe 15% rather than 10%. God is not cowering by the doors of major charitable foundations, hoping the grant committees approve more “Christian” requests than “secular.” No, look at what God says about it in Psalm 50, he says, “I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.”
I tell you, that is good news in this tough economic climate, because God is not behind schedule, he’s not low on energy, he’s not short of clout, thin on reserves, nervous about the stock market; he’s not hoping people follow through on their pledges. He’s not short on donors, or awaiting bank approval and a zoning permit to fulfill his plans, because as it says in Daniel 4, “No one can hold back His hand or say to Him: What have you done?” When it comes to these troubling times in our economy, friend, it is good to know that God does not operate “in the red.” God always operates “in the black.”
Well, that’s okay for God, but you are probably thinking, “What about me?” It’s a New Year and you may be still out of a job, wondering how you’ll make ends meet. Well, you can be encouraged because Psalm 115 assures you that “Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.” And friend, it is his express pleasure to meet each and every one of your needs, for now and in the future. You are his child, his son, his daughter. Of course he will meet your needs. He’s said it a hundred times in his Word!
So… can he help you today? Does he have enough power on reserve to make a difference? Oh, my goodness – more than yes. Like Matthew 6 tells us, “‘What shall we eat?’… or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, but your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.”
That’s right, seek Christ’s kingdom; seek the righteousness of Jesus first. And to help you do that, don’t forget today’s your last day to get your copy of this wonderful laminated booklet on the names of Jesus. Just click joniandfriendsradio.org and the team here will send you your booklet on the names of Jesus right away. Finally, friend, who knows what this year is going to hold. But I do know that God has all the resources you and I will ever need and it is his distinct pleasure to meet those needs for our good and his glory.
Used by permission of
JONI AND FRIENDS
P.O. Box 3333
Agoura Hills, CA 91376
© Joni and Friends