God alone is the provider. The way He provides can have different forms (a work, a blessing from someone, favour from people, etc.) My brother, my sister, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17). Why then, do you always turn to people first when yo…u need something? Learn to turn to the provider. Today, let’s listen to one way we can do this.
In today’s passage, Nehemiah says to God: “Remember, O my God, all that I have done for these people, and bless me for it” (verse 19). But what gives validity to his request before God? It is what he had been doing with what God gave him, which we can read on the verses preceding his request to God: “I also devoted myself to working on the wall and refused to acquire any land… I asked for nothing, even though I regularly fed 150 Jewish officials at my table, besides all the visitors from other lands! The provisions I paid for each day included one ox, six choice sheep or goats, and a large number of poultry. And every ten days we needed a large supply of all kinds of wine. Yet I refused to claim the governor’s food allowance because the people already carried a heavy burden” (verses 16-18).
This is it. You see, God is the provider, and He provides for those who are willing to do things that benefit His Kingdom. He provides for those who are as generous as He is. He provides for those who have understood that “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones” (Luke 16:10). My friend, the Bible adds that “if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities” (Luke 16:10). It is simple, we are the only ones pushing the blessings of God away. Our blessings have already been released in heavenly places while we are on earth. My friend, if you want to see your blessings travel down from heavenly places to the earth without interference, start being generous, faithful and show God He can trust you, because He is not going to bless you for you to please Satan by being dishonest, unfaithful or selfish. What have you done with what God has blessed you with? What are your intentions with what you want God to bless you with?
My friends, today, can we, like Nehemiah, stand before the Lord with confidence and say: “member, O my God, all that I have done for your people, and bless me for it” (verse 19). Sometimes, we think a miracle is needed for our lives to flood with God’s favour and blessings. Maybe that blessing and miracle you are waiting for is only in your change of mentality and attitude towards the Lord and His principles. Stay blessed in Jesus’ name.