Limitless Supply!

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,

according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church

and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:20, 21 (NIV)

It’s taking some time but I am learning that I serve a God of extravagance. He is the “much more” God. Whether it stemmed from a poor understanding of who I am in Christ or a lack of faith, I spent the first 35 years of my life asking God for what I thought I needed – nothing more, nothing less. James 4:2 tells us that we have not because we ask not. I can’t help but wonder how many blessings I have forfeited simply because it never crossed my mind to ask? As a parent, I love to give good things to my children. God is no different and I’m a daughter of the King! Let me tell you a couple of stories about the generosity of the King of kings.

The first took place less than two weeks before my Dad died. I was going to be spending the night with Dad in the hospital so that Mom could catch a few hours of sleep. The nurses had allowed Mom and me to provide much of Dad’s care and I wanted to be right by his side. It was late. I was exhausted. The room was dark and filled to capacity. All four beds were full with patients. So I gathered three cafeteria style chairs and lined them up beside Dad’s bed. As I lay my head on the first chair and balanced my body over the other two, I remember asking the Lord to keep me from falling off the chairs while I slept. The Lord must have shook His head at His tiny child. Did she not know that He owns the cattle on a thousand hills and commands the sun to rise and set? Was He not capable of so much more? A low whisper woke me in the night and a kind orderly was there with a cot – complete with pillow and blanket! How he had managed to fit it into that cramped room I’ll never know but it was heavenly! I climbed in and drifted back off to sleep with tears spilling onto the pillow. I had asked the Lord not to let me fall off the three chairs and He had sent me a bed. He was looking out for what concerned me. I could certainly trust Him with the days ahead…

Another night as I prepared to leave the hospital, I was feeling a little nervous about walking out to the car by myself. It was way past midnight and everyone else who was leaving for the night had long since gone home. I prayed as I left Dad’s room, asking the Lord to provide me with protection. I didn’t expect Him to provide me with a chaperone. I guess I just expected to do it afraid. I clutched my Bible to my chest and headed off to the elevator. As I waited for the elevator to arrive, a nurse walked up from the other direction. She looked at the book in my arms and asked me what I was reading. I told her the Bible and leaned it out for her to see. Her face lit up. “You read the Bible?” she said. I told her I did. She immediately told me that she and her husband had just started attending a Bible study and there was something she just couldn’t figure out. She asked me if she could walk with me and ask me her question. I don’t even remember what the question was but by the grace of God and the prompting of the Holy Spirit, I was able to answer her and point her to where it was in the Word. Our conversation ended at the door of my car! The Lord knew that He could satisfy two needs that night. To the God of all creation, the One who puts the stars in place and orchestrates the spinning of the cosmos, it took nothing more than a thought to cause our paths to cross. A question answered. A protective escort. An Almighty God!

Whatever the blessing is in our cup it is sure to run over (Psalm 23). God never settles for satisfactory or “just sufficient”. His grace is abundant (Romans 5:17). He pardons freely (Isaiah 55:7). Hope in Him overflows (Romans 15:13). Joy from Him is complete (John 16:22). Peace transcends understanding (Philippians 4:6-7). Power, love and capability are beyond our comprehension (Ephesians 3:16-21) and His provision comes from the floodgates of heaven! Now that’s a God worth serving forever!

So I say to you: ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;

Knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives;

he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Luke 11:9-10