Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt

One Sunday morning I was in the lobby of our church. I was chatting with people from the congregation prior to the start of our service.  A particular gentleman shared that he had just lost his job and asked if I would stand with him in prayer for where God would lead him next in his livelihood. I told him absolutely and then suggested he contact a mutual friend that might need his skills. I told him I’d contact him if I heard anything about any job openings. I wanted to pray with him right then, but the music to our church service had started, and so we abruptly went into the sanctuary.

The music and worship were beautiful, and I was drawn into the presence of God. As I was worshipping the Lord, suddenly the gentleman I wanted to pray for came to mind. I quickly asked the Lord to lead him to his new job and his family’s provision. I wanted to stay focused on worshipping the Lord, but it seemed like my mind was suddenly preoccupied with figuring out where he could find a job. I had thought of about three possibilities when suddenly the Lord spoke to me. He said You’re trying to solve a problem that belongs to me. Can’t you see how limited your thinking is? There are no limitations for me, and you don’t know the work I am doing in His life. Turn this over to me and come back to worship! 

This was a very sobering experience. I am a very conscientious person—maybe too much so and often do want to help people with their situations to the degree that I can. But, God has had to repeatedly teach me the truth of what Isaiah said in Isaiah 55:9 (NIV) “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

What we know and can figure out is so minuscule compared to what God knows. There is simply no comparison of His help vs. ours! That should be so blatantly obvious yet, through the years, God has had to remind me over and over again. This is the revelation to be had from Ephesians 3:20 (NIV), “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…”

I’ve had a phrase I’ve said to my leadership teams over the years: We’ve got a plan, but God has got a better plan. Although we will think things through the best we can, we must look to Him as the one who has no limitations and knows everything! We must simply learn to be faithful to God’s instruction in Philippians 4:6. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

After God had spoken to me, I repented immediately and turned this situation over to Him. I was able to instantly return back to my intimate place of worship.

Following the service, I found my friend—the gentleman who had lost his job. I told him about my experience with the Lord and that I wanted to pray for him in faith and expectation for God to lead him into his place of provision and work. I reminded him that God already knows what that is and will lead him in it as he diligently seeks the Lord and pursues it!

No matter what your need is, lean on the Lord for His help. He is your Heavenly Father. He loves you. He wants you to give the care of your situations over to Him so that He can bring you back into a place of peace and faith, and so that He can do exceedingly abundantly beyond what you could ask or think. He’s got it! Trust Him!

Psalms 54:4 (NKJV) “Behold, God is my helper; The Lord is with those who uphold my life.”

In His love,
Pastor Tim Burt

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