The first words written by Moses in the book of Genesis tell us that, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” From the start of all time, God was the architect designing living spaces! He filled his earthly development with all kinds of animals, fruit trees and vegetation. He added sunshine, water and oxygen. He crafted wings for birds to fly the skies and gills for fish to swim beneath the seas. When he’d provided a complete habitat, God needed homeowners. And so from the dust of the ground he fashioned man and woman and breathed his precious life into our souls.

Bible passages abound on the miracles of God’s provision:

• Manna, the heavenly wafer-like food that mysteriously arrived each morning and evening to satisfy the Israelites’ hunger as they roamed the desert.

• Jesus miraculously providing a bountiful lunch. Blessing two fish and five small loaves of bread, the Master fed 5,000 followers and still had 12 baskets of leftovers.

• Jesus supplying sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf and new life to Lazarus.

It’s hard to imagine this divine architect caring about our basic needs for food, water, shelter and safety, as well as needs like having a good job, enjoying robust health and being loved by a spouse. If God cares about these earthbound wants, how much more is he concerned about our eternal needs?

Above every provision to humankind, God gave his greatest gift of assurance that we could live with him forever in heaven. Being holy, perfect and sinless, God can’t be in the presence of sin. Since all of us have sinned, how can we live with God eternally? Our tender, loving Father provided us The Way – Jesus. God gave us his only begotten Son, Jesus, as a once-for-all-time sacrifice for every sin you or I would ever commit. Deceit, infidelity, theft, malice, slander, hatred and even murder are all covered by Jesus’ blood shed on Calvary’s cross. When we confess our sins, plead for God’s forgiveness and turn our lives away from these lethal evils, Jesus blots out our offenses so that his Father only sees us as pure, sinless and worthy. We receive the bottomless gift of mercy.

When we accept God’s provision through Jesus, his forgiveness is immediate but the process of changing our daily lives is ongoing. We still have the hard work of fighting our sinful desires. We still have to update the résumé and look for work when we’re unemployed. We have to take the medications and endure treatments when we’re ill. And, above all else, God commands us to love others, even the unlovable.

What else does God desire from us? Scripture tells us he desires our company. He yearns for us to take time out of each jam-packed day for a few thankful moments thinking about his love and provision. While we can’t “earn” forgiveness of our sins, we can use good deeds to bring glory to our divine provider. There are hundreds of ways, big and small, to demonstrate God’s love for us through service to others. Would you be willing to volunteer your time in some type of ministry? If financially blessed, could you write a check to help a family member or friend in need with no expectation for repayment? Would you be humble enough to forgive the person who deeply hurt you who doesn’t deserve your forgiveness? Can you initiate a friendship with an older person who lives alone or a neighbor experiencing marital problems? 

What does your heart desire? Tucked away in the 37th Psalm, the fourth verse is a day-brightener, Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Whatever immediately comes to your mind will ultimately only be found within the loving arms of our Father and Provider. Run to him. He’s waiting.