A Father we can Trust

Right now, what is 1 thing you want? If Christmas was tomorrow, what would be on the top of your list?

Now, what is 1 thing you need right now?

Do you understand the difference?

Right now, I want a new Palm Treo 700 so I can combine my phone, planner and email all into 1 tiny package and I can go anywhere with it. However, I don’t really need it as I already have a phone, a pda and a laptop. They may not be the most up to date or in best working condition, but I have them already, they work fine and they don’t cost anything extra.

Today, we are going to look at God and how he wants to provide for us and take care of us in all situations in life. We are going to look at 2 Bible passages and, as I read them, I want you to listen for who God is. Remember, we are talking about foundational truths about who God is. Truths that will allow us to turn to God.

Scripture

Read Matthew 7:7-11

1. How are we described?
2. How does that contrast with God?
3. If, then, we are evil, yet capable of doing good and God is good, what does that mean he will do for us?
4. What do we have to do to get God’s provision?

We have to go before God and ask him to provide for us. He is the perfect father who wants to meet all our needs. He wants to give us all things and bless us beyond measure, but we first have to ask and seek him out.

I do want to say, though, that he wants to meet all our needs, not all our wants. We may want a brand new BMW 315i, but what you need is just a car to get you to school, work and home. You may want a brand new iPod, but you don’t need it. There is a difference between our needs and our wants.

He provides for our needs, not our wants. I will say, sometimes our wants and our needs are the same, but I just want to make clear that God isn’t Santa Claus.

So, God wants to provide for us. What we have to ask and seek Him out. Not only is God someone who will provide for us. But, he is also something else.

Let’s look to see what else is true about God.
Read Proverbs 3:5-6

If we have already asked and sought God out, what else do we have to do? Trust Him
What will happen when we trust in God? He will make our path straight
What does that mean? He will guide us down the right path for our life.

Application

Based on these 2 readings, what do we know to be true about God?

In God, we have a Father we can trust who wants to provide for us. He wants to meet our needs. What we have to do is to
· ask Him,
· trust Him and
· seek His ways.

We may not always understand them – as they are often not our ways. But He will make our path straight and will meet our needs when we trust Him.

So, now knowing that He wants to provide for you, what is 1 thing you can trust God with this week? What can you give over to him? College selections, decisions about friendships, dating relationships, money issues can all be given over to God.

Write it down, share with a friend and give it over to God. Then, see how God provides for you this week.

Remember, God opens and shuts doors for us so that we will know which way to go. The key is that we ask Him, trust Him and seek His ways. Only that way, we can know which way to turn. Only that way, can we stand firm in our faith in God.

Pray