“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before..." (Phil. 3:13 KJV)

It’s easier to see after-the-fact

Many times over the years I really wanted something that I thought was right for me. But, for one reason or another, I didn’t get it. This was true concerning jobs I had applied for, things I wanted to obtain, girls I wanted to date, and even places I wanted to travel to. And, as I look back, I can clearly see that the hand of God had been at work. And, where I am today, is very different (in a positive way) than what it would have been had I gotten what I was sure I wanted back then.

God knows the future and what’s best for us

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isa. 55:8-9 ESV)

God has good plans for us

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jer. 29:11 ESV)

Therefore…

“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.” (James 4:13-16 ESV)

And, remember this…

“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” (Prov. 16:9 ESV)

“In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.” (Prov. 14:23 ESV)

God’s supply is often disguised

One day I happen to be speaking to a young man at a coffee shop who had just told me he was praying that God would meet his needs according to the promise found in Proverbs 4:19. I asked him how it was going. He said that he was still waiting patiently for God’s answer. He then asked me for my advice since he knew I wrote books about God’s promises. I told him, “Yes! God definitely does “supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:19), But, it is often disguised as work.

The diligent is greatly supplied

“The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.” (Prov. 13:4 ESV)

Work to earn your own living

“For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.” (2 Thess. 3:10-12 ESV)

The hand of the diligent will rule

“The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.” (Prov. 12:24 ESV)

Therefore…

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might…” (Eccles. 9:10 ESV)

“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” (Prov. 16:3 ESV)

“Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world…” (Phil. 2:14-15 ESV)

“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” (Prov. 16:3 ESV)

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” (3 John 1:4 NIV)

Love in deed and in truth

“Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:18 ESV)

Truth is from Jesus

“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17 ESV)

God’s Word of is truth

“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17 ESV)

The truth will set you free

“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32 ESV)

Therefore…

“Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.” (Psalm 25.5 ESV)

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” (Psalm 20:7 ESV)

My mother was a trick rider in a traveling rodeo show

One of my favorite photos of my mother is of her shooting two pistols in the air while standing on the back of a beautiful black horse while galloping full speed at the Bill Phillips Rodeo Show, sometime in the 1940’s. I grew up with horses and had my first one when I was two, a beautiful white pony named Ladybug. The Bible has a lot to say about horses.

Swifter than leopards, more fierce than wolves

“Their horses are swifter than leopards, more fierce than the evening wolves; their horsemen press proudly on. Their horsemen come from afar; they fly like an eagle swift to devour.” (Hab. 1:8 ESV)

Job describes the might of the horse

“Do you give the horse his might? Do you clothe his neck with a mane? Do you make him leap like the locust? His majestic snorting is terrifying. He paws in the valley and exults in his strength; he goes out to meet the weapons. He laughs at fear and is not dismayed; he does not turn back from the sword. Upon him rattle the quiver, the flashing spear, and the javelin. With fierceness and rage he swallows the ground; he cannot stand still at the sound of the trumpet. When the trumpet sounds, he says ‘Aha!’ He smells the battle from afar, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.” (Job 39:19-25 ESV)

Horses and chariots of fire

“Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (2 Kings 6:17 ESV)

Jesus and His mighty armies of heaven will be returning on white horses

“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. “Rev. 19:11-14 ESV)

The victory belongs to the Lord

“The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord.” (Prov. 31:21 ESV)

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12 ESV)

Call on the Lord when distressed

“Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Psalms 118:5-6 ESV)

God provides a way for you to escape

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Cor. 10:13 ESV)

We have weapons with divine power to destroy strongholds

“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ…” (1 Cor. 10:3-5 ESV)

Therefore…

“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:6-7 ESV)

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13 ESV)

“One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.” (Prov. 24:25-26 ESV)

Whoever shares his bread will be blessed

“Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.” (Prov. 22:9 ESV)

God will repay

“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.” (Prov. 19:17 ESV)

God loves a cheerful giver

“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Cor. 9:7 ESV)

Giving even a cup of water will be remembered

“And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.” (Matt. 10:42 ESV)

Therefore…

“They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.” (1 Tim. 6:18-19 ESV)

“Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.” (Prov. 11:25 ESV)

“Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” (Gen. 2:18 ESV)

Finding a wife is obtaining favor from the Lord

“He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.” (Prov. 18:22 ESV)

Two are better than one

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” (Eccles. 4:9-12 ESV)

Therefore…

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” (Gen. 2:24 Esv)

“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” (Heb. 13:4 ESV)

“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matt. 6:26 ESV)

Learn from God’s living creatures

“But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.” (Job. 12:7-10 ESV)

You are more valuable than many sparrows

“Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. (Luke 12:7 ESV)

Therefore…

“But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you…” (Matt. 6:30 ESV)

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matt. 7:7 ESV)

“And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.” (Gen. 1:29 ESV)

Food is made holy through the Word of God and prayer

“For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.” (1 Tim. 4:4-5 ESV)

Jesus is the bread of life

“Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” (James 6:35 ESV)

Therefore…

“If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land…” (Isa. 1:19 ESV)

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Cor. 10:31 ESV)