Floodgates of Heaven Devotions: God's Provisions

Today’s Reading: Psalm 16-17, Acts 20:1-16

Today’s Reflection: Psalm 16:5 The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.

Would you rather have the gift, or the giver? If we were talking about mere men, it could be argued, depending upon the circumstances, that in some cases one might prefer a gift over its giver. However, we’re not just talking about mere men in our text.

The psalmist is saying that The LORD is his inheritance! He did not say that The Lord gave him nice things. He did not say that he had a mansion just over the hill top! No, but he said THE LORD is his portion!!

Now, just in case you didn’t know, The Lord is the greatest giver of them all! When God gives, He holds nothing back. Not convinced? Then what about John 3:16? For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son!! There’s nothing greater to give than His son for us.

But then, let me remind you of Romans 8:32, which also says, “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” Do you see that? He is teaching us that, again, when God gives, He holds NOTHING back! And the best thing? IT’S ALL FREE to us.

It came at great expense to HIM, but WE are the beneficiaries of His grace at no charge to us. Now, THAT’S a portion worth noting! You didn’t know you were so rich in Christ, did you?!?

AND, it get’s better. NOT ONLY is God and everything that comes with Him freely given to us through faith in Christ His son, BUT what HE gives us is also “low maintenance” on our end!

Think about this for a second. Have you ever received a gift that, in and of itself was great, but the maintenance for its upkeep was still out of your financial reach? If not, I’m sure you’ve heard of others who have experienced this kind of “gift”. But before you receive a gift from another man, you better make sure that the maintenance is within your means, or the “gift” becomes a “taker”!

BUT, God is SO thorough, that He gives us Himself, the giver, AND the maintenance man! Do you see it? “Thou maintainest my lot.” God will give you more than YOU can handle, but that’s only because He intends on handling it as well!

OH GLORY! Listen dear reader, The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. This means that whatever He gives you, He holds in place for you to keep! SHOUT!

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Floodgates of Heaven
Volume 2
Entry 197 of 365

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copyright © by Gary D. Caudill

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Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 4-6, Luke 24:36-53

Today’s Reflection: 2 Kings 4:2 And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? Tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.

“Tell me, what hast thou in the house?” The widow’s response is really no different than what most of us would have said, had we been in her shoes. She barely even mentions the pot of oil…it was the last thing that actually came to her mind. She mentioned it as if it was really nothing.

To her, this pot of oil was insignificant in comparison to what she actually needed to meet her need, hence the hesitation in even bringing it up. However, the very last thing that was on her mind was the first thing that was on God’s mind! When she thought she was out of options, God used her insignificant pot of oil to provide for her need.

Isn’t that just like God? We can find ourselves in despair, wondering where we are going to make ends meet, so to speak, and then all of the sudden, seemingly from out of nowhere, comes an idea, a solution, a remedy, for our problem, and more times than not, it is directly tied to something already within our grasp.

Much like the disciples who toiled all night, and caught nothing, and then Jesus came along and told them to cast the net on the other side. They did, and you know the rest of the story. They caught a great multitude of fish! Same boat, different strategy. All it took was an inspired fresh look with an inspired new strategy with the same old stuff.

And did you know, that if you will take your nothings to God, He can do the same for you? I know we have been taught that you can’t squeeze blood out of a turnip, but that’s only if God is not in the equation. However, the truth is, with God, ALL things are possible! He can take your seemingly impossible situation, give you an idea you’ve never had or a set of instructions for you to follow, and voila, all is well because of His touch!

But there are two things I notice in the text that will be true under any scenario in which God does this for His children. First, there will be a giving of your own meager resources. An investment, if you will, no matter how small. The size of the sacrifice is not as important as your willingness to obey.

And that leads to the second element; complete and total obedience. If you are willing to give, and obey, at God’s Word, then after you step out on faith and do as He commands with what little you have in your “house”, then God will bless in such a way that it will be nothing short of a supernatural miracle just begging you to give God all the glory. Have faith in God, give Him your insignificants, and watch Him go to work!

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Floodgates of Heaven
Volume 2
Entry 128 of 365

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God gives for keeps!

Tell me, what hast thou in the house?