Jehovah Jireh: The Lord my provider

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13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen. (Genesis 22:13-14)

This is well-covered territory for most Christians, but God is a good God. More than that, God is a good Father. We are his children. As a good Father, the Lord knows he must take care of us. 

I reiterate this as a reminder to myself and anyone else out there that needs to hear it again. 

My family and I are in a battle. We are on a journey. But, in this journey, we have enemies. 

Some of the enemies are our circumstances. I'm jobless. I'm 54. I'm on unemployment. Most businesses in this day and age have no interest in hiring a man my age. 

First of all, a man my age needs a larger salary than a 22-year-old just out of college. I have established bills and a family to care for. Companies can pay the young college grad (I'm a recent college grad myself) far less than what they would pay me.

Secondly,

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/intentional-insights/202003/why-you-should-hire-women-over-men-according-science

https://disasteravoidanceexperts.com/why-you-should-hire-women-over-men-according-to-science/

That's just 2 examples of the narrative that our society is pushing. Supposedly, 2020 has been declared the year of the woman. So employers are actively searching for reasons and ways to hire women over men. 

Both of these, plus the Covid-19 economic mess has made it extremely difficult for me to find a job. Even looking for a job is more difficult now for us older folks. In my youth, you went to the place you wanted to work at, filled out the application, talked with the manager (many times before you left) and you at least left with an interview set up. 

Now, companies get offended if you look for a job that way. "Can't you go to our website and apply like everyone else? We don't do applications in house." So, we're left with the cold, and impersonal cyber world. We go to the job sites, linked in, and company websites. But, usually, we don't even get a "thank you for applying" email. 

It's very frustrating and disheartening.

Other enemies include the devil (who hates all Christians) and even some brothers and sisters in the Lord who do not like the way that we live or believe. 

These folks actively send curses our way (not from God) by praying for us to fall flat on our faces. Supposedly, in their minds, if we fail, then it negates the scriptures that we live by and they are not responsible to line up with God's word in that department. 

But, "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over." (Psalms 23:5)

Take heart! 

God says that when we are surrounded by enemies because we are his child, he will provide for us! He'll even give us a glorious picnic for us to eat while our enemy is kept at bay. All they can do is sit back and watch us eat it! 

Hallelujah!!!

Also, in the process, the Lord will refresh our anointing and fill us to the point of running over again! 

I'm not there quite yet, but he is providing for us. I know the refreshing is coming though- because he said so.

The enemy of our souls whispers, "you're going to lose everything. All is lost. You're God has abandoned you. You're going down this time." He tries to fill our minds with images of our pets and children starving, and we're homeless- having no way or place to go. 

But, just like when Abraham was asked to sacrifice Isaac, if we will willingly say, "thy will be done," the long trek up the mountain will be worth it all. The Lord will make a way where there seems to be no way. 

Abraham and Isaac climbed that mountain. Isaac was willing to be strapped onto the altar of sacrifice. Abraham was willing to strap him in and lift the knife. 

Then God spoke.

There will come a time when God will look at our willingly offered sacrifice and speak deliverance into both my situations and yours. 

When he does, we, like Abraham, will once again call him, Jehovah-Jireh- The Lord my provider.

Until then, let's just hold on to him and enjoy our picnic. Let the enemy watch us eat every bite. Because one day, victory will be ours because the Lord will free us!

When Jesus tells us, "I'll be there in a minute, just..." More lessens from our dogs

This afternoon I heard my daughter talking to her dogs.

They were in her room. She was in the kitchen doing something.

They wanted her attention and her presence. She was busy doing something.

They started whining. She was busy doing something.

They started yapping, she yelled out to them from the kitchen, "I'll be there in a minute."

They started whining and yapping. She responded, "I'll be there in a minute."

Finally, they started barking and whining and yapping. She marched up to the doorway and said, "I'll be there in a minute. Let me finish what I'm doing."

It sounds like a familiar conversation to me.

When we are stuck in a situation in our lives that we have no control over. And we realize we cannot do anything about it. So, from the area we are stuck in, we cry out, "Lord, I need a little help here!"

The Lord responds, "I'll be there soon."

That's not the answer we want to hear, So we start crying out louder, "Lord, I really need you to move in the situation now!"

The Lord responds, "I said, I'll be there soon. I'm working on something."

Again, in our lack of patience, we really start bawling and squalling, "Lord, you said you'd never leave me nor forsake me. I'm really stuck in this problem and I can't get out. Can you please move now!"

So, the Lord, in His mercy moves into the doorway of our situation and speaks across the trouble that makes us feel like we're divided from him: "I will be there in a minute. Let me finish what I'm doing. When I finish what I'm working on, you won't be stuck, you won't be separated anymore."

The first time we cry out, Jesus is essentially telling us:

Revelation 22:7

"Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book."

In other words, "Trust in me and my promises. I'll do what I said I would do. Just hold on."

The second time we cry out, Jesus is telling us: 

Revelation 3:11

"Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown."

In other words, "I'm still working. Don't lose faith. Your deliverance is closer than it was before."

The third time, in his mercy, he moves closer to us. His presence is in our vicinity. We can hear his voice clearly:

Revelation 22:12

"And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be."

In other words, "You've remained faithful to me. Just a little longer and I will fulfill the desires of your heart. My purpose will be accomplished even though you think it may never happen. Just hold on." 

All of this put another way: 

Matthew 7:7-8 King James Version (KJV)

7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

So, brethren and sisters. Whatever you may be facing. Whatever you may be going through. Hold on. Keep crying out. God will finish the work and accomplish his purpose for our good and his glory. 

The word "quickly" actually means "suddenly" in the Greek. It may take some time for God to work situations and people into the order and places they need to be. It may seem to us like our dilemma is going to last forever, our trial will never end. All the while, the situation, and the enemy whispers, "All will be lost."

But, Jesus says, 

"I'm working on it to accomplish what I mean this situation to accomplish in your life. I'm taking some bad stuff out of you and putting good stuff into you. And when it is time, I will suddenly move in and set you free!"

All will not be lost. As long as we stick with Jesus, HE will win in the end- and us with him.