Prayer and Provision

In a time where many of you may be struggling to have your day-to-day needs met, here are some stories of prayers of provision answered, both from my personal experience in this past week and from author James Nicodem.

Last month, my husband and I, wanting to become better stewards of our money, started doing a cash budget.  Every other Saturday, I determine how much money we need to withdraw to put into our envelopes of various categories, and then that’s it for the next two weeks.  If an envelope goes empty before then, well, we just don’t spend any more money in that category.  As time consuming as it is, it’s been a great learning experience for the both of us, both in spending and in husband/wife communication.  

Anyway, about a week and a half ago when Brian went to pay his $130-ish  health insurance bill, we saw that somehow we were close to $200 short in our bank account compared to last month.  Having no idea how that happened, Brian put the bill on his credit card so that we could figure out the math in the meantime.  This season of our life has taught me to depend on God even more for our everyday provision and so, just as I have been doing, I prayed, this time a bit more urgently, that God would provide for our needs where we could not.  We had done all the math, and somehow, it just wasn’t adding up.  

A few days later, on a Saturday afternoon, God answered my prayer.  Brian was at the church at the same time that “treasure boxes” were being distributed.  These are boxes of frozen and packaged foods worth well over $100 which families in the community can buy for $40, and then pick up at our church.  It’s really a great program, and a great deal.  Though Brian and I had not purchased a treasure box, Brian was nearby when they were being distributed, and as he heard that there were a few extras that people hadn’t picked up (they can’t save the food for later due to the large quantities of frozen meats and vegetables in each box, combined with a lack of storage space), he prepared to pay and bring one home so that I didn’t have to spend as much money doing the grocery shopping that day.  However, much to my husband’s surprise, the man distributing the food just gave him a box for free.  He explained that the food had already been paid for, and since the customers know there is a strict time limit on pick-up, if they don’t pick it up on time, then they end up blessing other people with free food.    

Do you know what that meant?  God had answered my prayer for provision!  The money we would have spent on food that week, we got to spend on the thing that had somehow not “fit” into our budget.  Isn’t God amazing?!  And not only did He provide for our physical and financial needs, but He acted to confirm and increase my faith in knowing that God will provide for our needs, in His timing, in His way.  And the next time that something like this happens, I can remember what He has done before, and take that as confidence that He can and will do it again.  I love that about Him.

Author James Nicodem also has some good insights on prayer and provision.  The following pieces are taken from chapter 5 of his book, Prayer Coach, on praying with passion.  He writes:

Prayer is helplessness plus faith.  

Our prayers are cries of dependence.  ”Please do,” we call out, “what only you can do.”

God loves doing God things.  Things that nobody else can do.  God loves being the Go-to Guy (no irreverence intended) who, alone, can get the job done.  ”Call upon me in the day of trouble,” God says through the psalmist, “I will deliver you, and you will honor me”(Psalm 50:15).  It’s almost as if God relishes opportunities to show us his stuff.  He’s not bothered by our appeals for help.  He’s honored by them. (emphasis mine)

God is honored by prayers of dependence.  He loves to hear us acknowledge that we need him.  When we pray without passion it’s almost as if we’re saying: “I could probably do this without you, but if you want to take a swing at it, go ahead.”  What kind of invitation is that to the God who created the universe?

Consider this story.  Bill Gothard writes about a plumber friend who left his truck idling while he ran into a convenience store to pick something up.  When he got back out to the parking lot the truck was gone – and all his tools (read “livelihood”) with it.  

The police came by to fill out a report.  They told the plumber he’d done something stupid.  (Like he didn’t know!)  They estimated that if the truck were not located within the hour he could kiss his tools good-bye, because they would all be sold as “hot” items by then.  What could he guy do?  Nothing – except pray.  He prayed with passion.  He cried out to the Lord.  He expressed his utter dependence on God.

Two days later the police called and told him to come and pick up his truck.  They’d recovered it in one piece.  In fact, his job orders were still neatly stacked on the front seat.  What about his tools?  Some of them were missing – but only for a short time.  Less than a week later he just “happened” to see them at a flea market and they were immediately returned to him.  And in the meantime (this is the best part) the widow of another plumber had heard about his plight and had given him all of her deceased husband’s tools.  Now he had two of everything!

Sometimes God is such a show-off!  But he only does that for people who declare their dependence on him by praying with passion.  So, put some energy into your prayers.  Go find a place where you can kneel, or prostrate yourself, or march about.  Raise the volume of your voice until it reaches a “call” or “cry” level.  Tell God that if he doesn’t intervene you have no “plan B”.  Then watch what happens!

So, what is your God story?  How has He intervened when it seemed like the facts just weren’t going to add up?  Can’t remember the last time that happened?  Then pray!  Pray with faith!  Trust Him!  Because our God is a God who loves His children and is honored by our passionate cries for help.  And He is a God who loves to show us just how much we can trust in Him.

Posted by christiekiley on April 5, 2009

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