May 2

“I pray that out of His glorious riches, He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being...” —EPHESIANS 3:16

The book of Ephesians deals with the biggest need that we have in the spiritual realm and it is this: there are demands made upon us, obligations and responsibilities given to us for which many of us feel we simply do not have adequate resources. As a result, we often find ourselves living in a state of tension, especially in difficult situations. 

If we imagine a set of weighing scales designed to balance things, and we put on one side ‘responsibilities’ and on the other side ‘resources’, we will find that in the book of Ephesians they balance. Now, we say, “surely the resources are much bigger,” and they are, but God ministers to us what we need, when we need it… the balance. 

If we look at living the Christian life by the imposition of demands made upon us in Scripture, we will become frustrated and discouraged, because we will soon discover we are unable to do it. The marvelous thing is that the resource we have for these demands is the presence of Christ within us, and His indwelling presence is what creates the very appetite for wanting to meet those demands. We develop a hunger and thirst for righteousness, and in Christ we are equal to it. 

Sometimes God may take us to the end of our own resources in order for us to discover our utter need for dependence on Him. A good example of this is the Israelites wandering the wilderness for 40 years in what should have been an 11 day journey. But every morning God fed them with fresh manna. It was just enough to nourish them for that day, no more, no less. God did not say, “Here’s a big pile of manna; whenever you feel like it, just help yourself.” No, “the manna is sufficient for today.”

When walking through the burnt out city of Jerusalem after the Babylonian invasion, Jeremiah writes, “I remember my affliction and my wandering… my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:19-23). That is being aware of our own inadequacies (my soul is downcast), yet strengthened in our inner being, (for His compassions never fail), and being confident in God’s provision. We are not to stockpile our blessings, but come to Jesus fresh every day for the appropriation and experience of what He already is in us… the balance for what we need this day. 

PRAYER: Dear God, thank you for providing me with sufficient resources. Help me to live every day dependent on your daily provision.

TO REFLECT UPON: Do I understand God’s ideas for what I need are often different from what I think I need?