August 17

You Can Experience Providence

It is a very powerful thing to have personally and actually experienced the intervention and providence of God.


Psalm 44
1 We have heard with our ears, O God; our fathers have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago.
2 With your hand you drove out the nations and planted our fathers; you crushed the peoples and made our fathers flourish.
3 It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them.
4 You are my King and my God, who decrees victories for Jacob.
5 Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes.
6 I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory;
7 but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame.
8 In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever. Selah

It is a very powerful thing to have personally and actually experienced the intervention and providence of God. However, the fact is that there are many who cannot point to any single place where they are convinced they have. Such people need to be encouraged to expect such things. One of my early mentors[1] once counseled me:

“Preach what you know if you can. It is always more powerful to speak out of experience. However, you must never shrink from preaching the truth you have not experienced. When you are teaching beyond your personal experience says so. Then pray for the Holy Spirit to confirm the scriptures in your experience.”

By all means the testimony of the ages encourages us. However, we note the Psalmist referenced God’s mercies in the past by also making an appeal for the same thing in his own time. He believes. He declared that it would be God who would push back his enemy. (5) He declared his willingness to act while believing God would enhance his efforts. (5-7) In his own heart he visualizes boasting in God’s goodness and help.

Are you discouraged? Take comfort in the testimony of others. Declare your expectation to see God act in your life. Move forward today in faith he will specifically show his faithfulness. In all things, praise him.

[1] I had the privilege of being counseled and taught through the audio ministry of Paris Reidhead, a gifted teacher and missionary. These were words he gave me on my first meeting with him and I knew then God was speaking. This was probably one of the most life changing counsels I ever got from any man of God because it pressed me to find my own personal ground with God in matters of faith.