"Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you? O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying what shall we eat? Or, what shall we drink? Wherewithal shall we be clothed? …For your Heavenly Father knows that ye have need of all these things.”
Matthew 6:30-33
As a society we have become so compartmentalized in our thinking, we somehow believe God is the same as we are. We do not understand that our God is The God of all things; One who cares and encompasses all aspects of our lives, not just the tragedies, maladies, and emergencies.
One day, while printing the newsletter for my church at the printer’s office, the salesman offered to take me to the other side of town where I could get a direct train home. As it happens, we ended up working very late so he insisted that I take him up on his offer. Then he said to me, “Furthermore, I might as well, because there is no way that I am going to get parking near my home; it is much too late. In my neighborhood, if you don’t get there early, it’s hard to find parking on the street; and, even if I get there at this time, I’ll never find parking on my block or near my home. It just never happens." I thanked him for his offer and took the ride.
While in the car, we began to talk more in-depth about God. He told me that he didn't really believe God was in the mundane things of his life. God had more important things to worry about than the episodes of his insignificant life. I explained that I believed just the opposite and began to explain my reasoning. We continued to speak in the car while he waited with me for the train. Before I left the car, I asked him if I could pray for him and some of the issues he was going through that he had shared with me. He agreed. Before I closed the prayer I said, “And Lord, just so that he will know that you care deeply about all aspects of his life, please provide parking right in front of his building. Amen.” He began to chuckle a little and said, “Do you really believe God will provide parking right in front of my house?” “—Yes.” I said smiling “I know He will. —You just have to do one thing for me.” I said, as I opened the door and got out of the car. He looked at me quizzically and said, “What?” I closed the door and looked at him through the passenger-side window, “Promise me that you will call me tomorrow and tell me where you found parking.” He began to laugh. “O.K., I’ll call you in the morning and tell you where I found parking.” "—You promise?" I asked again. “I promise.” He said smiling. As I heard my train coming, I waved goodbye and watched him drive away. On the train ride home I prayed for him, his family, and the parking space again.
The next morning I received a call on my cell phone. “Well, when you left the car, I looked at the time and said to myself, you’ll never find a parking space so late. You’ll have to search for the next half-hour just to find parking. —But, because I promised you, I decided to take a chance and ride through my block first. -You’ll never believe this,” He began to laugh, “—But as I approached the block, my building is in the middle of the block, there was a parking space right in front of my building! —I couldn't believe it! I guess you were right; God really does care about the small mundane things. —I have to remember that the next time I am looking for parking!” I began to laugh. “See, I told you! —God cares about everything in your life —everything!”
It is important for us to remember that God cares deeply about every aspect of our lives, the gigantic and the minutia. If we care about it, God cares about it. If it bothers us, concerns us, or troubles our spirit, we have to remember to take it to God in prayer. And yes, the prayer can be as simple and mundane as “Lord, please provide a parking space in front of my home.” L.
Study Reference: Matthew 6:30-33
From: "God, In The Mundane." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Joel Robison -fireflies
Matthew 6:30-33
As a society we have become so compartmentalized in our thinking, we somehow believe God is the same as we are. We do not understand that our God is The God of all things; One who cares and encompasses all aspects of our lives, not just the tragedies, maladies, and emergencies.
One day, while printing the newsletter for my church at the printer’s office, the salesman offered to take me to the other side of town where I could get a direct train home. As it happens, we ended up working very late so he insisted that I take him up on his offer. Then he said to me, “Furthermore, I might as well, because there is no way that I am going to get parking near my home; it is much too late. In my neighborhood, if you don’t get there early, it’s hard to find parking on the street; and, even if I get there at this time, I’ll never find parking on my block or near my home. It just never happens." I thanked him for his offer and took the ride.
While in the car, we began to talk more in-depth about God. He told me that he didn't really believe God was in the mundane things of his life. God had more important things to worry about than the episodes of his insignificant life. I explained that I believed just the opposite and began to explain my reasoning. We continued to speak in the car while he waited with me for the train. Before I left the car, I asked him if I could pray for him and some of the issues he was going through that he had shared with me. He agreed. Before I closed the prayer I said, “And Lord, just so that he will know that you care deeply about all aspects of his life, please provide parking right in front of his building. Amen.” He began to chuckle a little and said, “Do you really believe God will provide parking right in front of my house?” “—Yes.” I said smiling “I know He will. —You just have to do one thing for me.” I said, as I opened the door and got out of the car. He looked at me quizzically and said, “What?” I closed the door and looked at him through the passenger-side window, “Promise me that you will call me tomorrow and tell me where you found parking.” He began to laugh. “O.K., I’ll call you in the morning and tell you where I found parking.” "—You promise?" I asked again. “I promise.” He said smiling. As I heard my train coming, I waved goodbye and watched him drive away. On the train ride home I prayed for him, his family, and the parking space again.
The next morning I received a call on my cell phone. “Well, when you left the car, I looked at the time and said to myself, you’ll never find a parking space so late. You’ll have to search for the next half-hour just to find parking. —But, because I promised you, I decided to take a chance and ride through my block first. -You’ll never believe this,” He began to laugh, “—But as I approached the block, my building is in the middle of the block, there was a parking space right in front of my building! —I couldn't believe it! I guess you were right; God really does care about the small mundane things. —I have to remember that the next time I am looking for parking!” I began to laugh. “See, I told you! —God cares about everything in your life —everything!”
It is important for us to remember that God cares deeply about every aspect of our lives, the gigantic and the minutia. If we care about it, God cares about it. If it bothers us, concerns us, or troubles our spirit, we have to remember to take it to God in prayer. And yes, the prayer can be as simple and mundane as “Lord, please provide a parking space in front of my home.” L.
Study Reference: Matthew 6:30-33
From: "God, In The Mundane." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Joel Robison -fireflies
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