1 00:00:02,690 --> 00:00:13,100 Speaker 1: Life Audio Welcome to the Crosswalk Devotional. We are so 2 00:00:13,119 --> 00:00:17,060 Speaker 1: glad to have you listening. I'm Michelle Lazarek. Today's topic is, 3 00:00:17,380 --> 00:00:20,690 Speaker 1: When God's Provision Comes, One Day at a Time. We'll 4 00:00:20,730 --> 00:00:36,370 Speaker 1: be back after a word from our sponsor. When God's 5 00:00:36,409 --> 00:00:39,310 Speaker 1: provision comes, one day at a time. Written and read 6 00:00:39,350 --> 00:00:43,290 Speaker 1: by Michelle S. Lazarek. Your kingdom come, your will be 7 00:00:43,330 --> 00:00:46,129 Speaker 1: done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us 8 00:00:46,170 --> 00:00:51,290 Speaker 1: this day our daily bread. Matthew 6, verses 10 to 11. 9 00:00:51,290 --> 00:00:53,430 Speaker 1: For the past few months, my husband has worked as 10 00:00:53,470 --> 00:00:56,770 Speaker 1: a transitional pastor. This means he helps churches fill the 11 00:00:56,790 --> 00:00:59,510 Speaker 1: gap after a pastor leaves while they search for a 12 00:00:59,550 --> 00:01:02,190 Speaker 1: new one. While the work has been good and then 13 00:01:02,230 --> 00:01:05,090 Speaker 1: he can help them discuss areas of growth, resolve any 14 00:01:05,150 --> 00:01:07,709 Speaker 1: issues as they await their new pastor, and help with 15 00:01:07,730 --> 00:01:10,850 Speaker 1: the revitalization of certain aspects of the church, it is 16 00:01:10,890 --> 00:01:15,020 Speaker 1: not always as consistent as full-time ministry. After my husband's 17 00:01:15,060 --> 00:01:17,460 Speaker 1: contract ran out with one church, we went many months 18 00:01:17,560 --> 00:01:20,700 Speaker 1: without a consistent income. Even though we were content with 19 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:23,060 Speaker 1: what God was giving us, the money still wasn't enough 20 00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:26,119 Speaker 1: to make ends meet. At first, my husband grumbled and 21 00:01:26,170 --> 00:01:29,449 Speaker 1: I worried. What if God wouldn't provide? What if we 22 00:01:29,470 --> 00:01:31,910 Speaker 1: lost our home? What if we didn't have enough to 23 00:01:31,950 --> 00:01:35,060 Speaker 1: pay the bills? However, instead of getting stuck in a 24 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:38,280 Speaker 1: rut of complaint and fear, we decided to change our strategy. 25 00:01:39,300 --> 00:01:42,240 Speaker 1: Each night, we would pray. We would present our requests 26 00:01:42,260 --> 00:01:45,800 Speaker 1: to God, both big and small. The income became so 27 00:01:45,860 --> 00:01:48,610 Speaker 1: unpredictable that we literally prayed every night that God would 28 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:51,710 Speaker 1: give us our daily bread. We laid all our bills 29 00:01:51,770 --> 00:01:54,630 Speaker 1: figuratively before his feet and asked him to take care 30 00:01:54,670 --> 00:01:58,270 Speaker 1: of them. Although not all were paid instantly, he gave 31 00:01:58,290 --> 00:01:59,890 Speaker 1: me peace to know that I had given it over 32 00:01:59,930 --> 00:02:02,290 Speaker 1: to the one who could truly change the situation for 33 00:02:02,330 --> 00:02:05,430 Speaker 1: his good. Since he already knew what we needed, I 34 00:02:05,450 --> 00:02:07,090 Speaker 1: had to trust that he would give us what we 35 00:02:07,110 --> 00:02:09,390 Speaker 1: needed each week to pay all the bills we had 36 00:02:09,430 --> 00:02:13,030 Speaker 1: that month. As the holidays approach, it'll be easy for 37 00:02:13,090 --> 00:02:14,929 Speaker 1: all of us to get bogged down in extra bills. 38 00:02:15,630 --> 00:02:19,179 Speaker 1: Christmas gifts, holiday shopping, and holiday feasts can all take 39 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:23,220 Speaker 1: a toll on a budget, especially one as volatile as ours. However, 40 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:27,520 Speaker 1: there is hope. First, ask Jesus for your daily bread. 41 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:31,519 Speaker 1: This is how he taught us to pray. we are 42 00:02:31,540 --> 00:02:34,470 Speaker 1: to come expecting that God will provide exactly what we need. 43 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:37,209 Speaker 1: It may not always be in abundance, but He will 44 00:02:37,250 --> 00:02:41,490 Speaker 1: always provide first for His children. Second, trust that He 45 00:02:41,510 --> 00:02:44,630 Speaker 1: will do His part in providing for you. Often, we 46 00:02:44,650 --> 00:02:47,130 Speaker 1: take matters into our own hands and believe we need 47 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:50,040 Speaker 1: to make more to provide for ourselves. But God wants 48 00:02:50,100 --> 00:02:52,480 Speaker 1: us to rely on Him, not on ourselves, for our 49 00:02:52,540 --> 00:02:57,020 Speaker 1: own provision. Third, don't bog yourself down and worry. Do 50 00:02:57,060 --> 00:02:59,870 Speaker 1: you fear losing control of the situation? Do you just 51 00:02:59,910 --> 00:03:02,970 Speaker 1: want to focus on one day at a time? Focus 52 00:03:02,990 --> 00:03:05,050 Speaker 1: on the present moment and ask God what he would 53 00:03:05,090 --> 00:03:07,780 Speaker 1: want you to do for today only. You may find 54 00:03:07,810 --> 00:03:11,140 Speaker 1: your peace increases when you focus only on today, not 55 00:03:11,180 --> 00:03:14,360 Speaker 1: the worries and cares of tomorrow. This is a great 56 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:17,460 Speaker 1: time to memorize scripture. When we focus our minds on 57 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:22,780 Speaker 1: the word rather than our worries, our situations feel less cumbersome. Last, 58 00:03:23,090 --> 00:03:24,810 Speaker 1: don't feel as if you must put on an elaborate 59 00:03:24,830 --> 00:03:28,340 Speaker 1: holiday to win people's approval or acceptance. If this year 60 00:03:28,380 --> 00:03:30,980 Speaker 1: is a thin year for you financially, make accommodations as 61 00:03:31,020 --> 00:03:34,220 Speaker 1: you need. Seek to limit your budget by only for 62 00:03:34,260 --> 00:03:36,540 Speaker 1: the kids and the family and set limits as to 63 00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:39,350 Speaker 1: how much you can spend. It is harder for God 64 00:03:39,370 --> 00:03:41,830 Speaker 1: to provide all your needs when you overextend your budget. 65 00:03:42,950 --> 00:03:45,150 Speaker 1: Being a good steward of life means being a good 66 00:03:45,210 --> 00:03:48,310 Speaker 1: steward of finances. By doing so, you can afford and 67 00:03:48,350 --> 00:03:52,820 Speaker 1: enjoy the holidays stress-free. As the above verses indicate, God 68 00:03:52,860 --> 00:03:55,880 Speaker 1: wants us to provide for our daily bread. He will 69 00:03:55,920 --> 00:03:57,740 Speaker 1: give us exactly what we need when we need it 70 00:03:58,720 --> 00:04:01,040 Speaker 1: Ask him for what you need, then watch in amazement 71 00:04:01,460 --> 00:04:04,660 Speaker 1: as he provides over, and sometimes even above, what you've 72 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:07,790 Speaker 1: asked for. Lord, let us be willing to ask for 73 00:04:07,830 --> 00:04:10,190 Speaker 1: our daily bread. Let us come to you with our 74 00:04:10,250 --> 00:04:13,650 Speaker 1: fears about our finances. Let us trust you with our 75 00:04:13,690 --> 00:04:16,469 Speaker 1: daily provision. Help us to know that you love us 76 00:04:16,529 --> 00:04:21,400 Speaker 1: enough to provide for our every need. Amen. Intersecting faith 77 00:04:21,460 --> 00:04:24,580 Speaker 1: and life, do you struggle to ask God for God's provision? 78 00:04:25,460 --> 00:04:27,540 Speaker 1: What prevents you from asking God for your daily bread? 79 00:04:28,650 --> 00:04:36,740 Speaker 1: Further reading Matthew 6, verses 25 to 34. Thanks for 80 00:04:36,779 --> 00:04:40,020 Speaker 1: listening to today's devotional. If you liked what you heard today, 81 00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:42,900 Speaker 1: we want to make sure you know about our sister podcast, 82 00:04:43,279 --> 00:04:46,790 Speaker 1: Your Daily Prayer. When you follow Your Daily Prayer in 83 00:04:46,810 --> 00:04:49,909 Speaker 1: your favorite podcast app, you'll get a brand new prayer 84 00:04:49,990 --> 00:04:53,669 Speaker 1: and devotional each day, so your days begin in conversation 85 00:04:53,710 --> 00:04:57,060 Speaker 1: with God. If you're looking to grow in prayer, or 86 00:04:57,160 --> 00:04:59,880 Speaker 1: start your day with your heart focused on the right things, 87 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:04,460 Speaker 1: search for Your Daily Prayer in your favorite podcast app, 88 00:05:04,839 --> 00:05:07,020 Speaker 1: and be sure to follow the show so you get 89 00:05:07,060 --> 00:05:10,230 Speaker 1: a new prayer delivered straight to you each morning.