Day 15: Providence

This post is part of “30 days of Giving Thanks” To read more within this series, click here.

A man’s heart plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps.

~ Proverbs 16.9, NKJV

Providence.

Thats one of those old churchy words that people used to use in reference to God’s plan, right?

Very close!

Its actually a very beautiful concept. The origin of the word is from the Latin ‘providere’ meaning “to foresee, to attend to.” It is currently defined as “the foreseeing care and guidance of God or nature over the creatures of the earth.”

You know, I love God’s providence.

I find great comfort in knowing that God provides and will provide for my basic needs. I am able to trust in the Lord because I know that He sees the end from the beginning and can guide my steps in the right way.

My friends and I were discussing prayer a bit yesterday and one of the things we touched on was the fact that God knows so much more than we do. We may ask for something and think that we ought to have it or that it would be beneficial. God may say “no” or “not yet” because He recognizes the physical or spiritual harm in what you request. God ultimately wants us to love and serve Him with our whole heart. Our prayers also should be geared toward that.

God orchestrates so much of what goes on around us. He confounds the plans of Satan. He raises and destroys kingdoms.

Today I arrived home safely from the conference in Anaheim. It was a lovely trip, but I was so thankful to get home safely.

I’m unaware of the abundance of ways in which the Lord has blessed me and led me safe thus far. But in moments like these, there’s a line from an old hymn that goes through my head:

Thy bountiful care, what tongue can recite?

It breathes in the air, it shines in the light!

It streams from the hills it descends to the plains

And sweetly distills in the dew and the rain!

~ Robert Grant, ‘O Worship the King.’

what a lovely expression—his care distills in the dew and rain. His providential care surrounds us! I am so thankful for such assurance in this crazy life!