GOD'S PROVIDENTIAL CARE IS SUSTAINING

I have written on this subject before but something moves me at this moment to have another go at it. When I sat down at the computer I had something entirely different in mind. I tend to act on impulse, or inner direction.  Funny how that works.

Mention "providential care" to the average person today and they will more than likely think that you are talking about the health care system in the great Province of Ontario. There is a failure to understand that there is only one true providential care in the world today and it is the one inherent in our Christian faith. In essence, we ARE talking about "health" in this case, but it is the kind of health that God has in store for us, should we be of a mind to embrace it.

We really do not know how God works providentially to make things come out the way they do. We know from the Old Testament, however, that He works in "providential ways" -- that is, ways in which He provides for His people. We know from Joseph’s statement in Genesis 50:20 (“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”) that God can sometimes work in ways that are well beyond our understanding and not immediately recognized as being in keeping with His "providential" care. 

"God's eye" or "God's eyes" are symbolic of providential care. The supreme being we believe God to be, is a guiding spirit and gives us counsel while constantly being watchful over us. He is unquestionably aware of our daily activities, our personal circumstances, of what we set our minds to do, and in return we are compelled to include Him in our plans and to commit those plans to Him so that He can cause them to succeed and bring us breakthrough and deliverance in our times of need. It is as simple and basic as that!

Proverbs 16:3 says to, "Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed."

The word "thoughts" in the Greek speaks of our intentions, inventions, calculations of the mind and imaginations. The power of imagination includes the ability to see with insight and foresight. "Insight" is the ability to apprehend the true nature of a thing, especially through intuitive understanding or penetrating mental vision or discernment; the faculty of seeing into inner character or underlying truth. "Foresight" is the ability and power of prevision or knowledge gained through looking forward; a view of the future so to speak. 

Proverbs 29:18 says, "Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish; but he who keeps the law [of God, which includes that of man]--blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he."

If our vision is blocked or distorted, we lack not only the ability to "see" and to perceive with intelligence, but we also miss out on seeing God in the ecstatic state of worship. Our very spirits were meant to live in a place of ecstasy with God forever in that heavenly place. When our minds are aligned, we see what God sees. We see clearly. We see through God's eyes and we see His providential care, and our hope is restored for the future.

That, in a nutshell it what keeps me moving forward -- and living as I do. I call it the good old-fashioned "faith of our fathers", literally. My parents raised me to trust in the love of a Heavenly Father and to obey His biblical Commandments, and there has been life-long comfort in that for me. It has sustained me in times of weakness, failure and grief. I look to God's blessings in life, and they are countless to keep me plodding along. 

I look for no profound insights, although I certainly welcome them on the rare occasions they have been presented to me. I ask no special favors because I know that God's providential care will provide for me in all times and in all ways. Beauty in all things coupled with God-granted peace and tranquility sufficient to commune with the nature that surrounds all of us, is sustenance enough for my inner-self.

Indeed, my "faith" is what sustains me! I pray that my vision never fails and that I have foresight sufficient to follow Biblical examples and teachings, given my human foibles, shortcomings and failings. I have to continually work at it. I must be forever vigilant, trusting and thankful for all that I "see" and for all that has and will sustain me to the end of this worldly journey.

I hope that you and I are of the same mind-set, dear reader...Together we are sustained!