Joshua 2:4-7 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, "Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, the men left. I don't know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them." (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut.
I love the providence of God and I have to say that every day is an adventure when you know that the God of heaven and earth is guiding and leading you. As I rise each morning I'm filled with anticipation as to where He will send me, who He will bring me in contact with or how He will want to use me. I can share countless stories of how my days were rearranged to follow the Lord's will or succumb to the Lord's ways but lately one situation in particular stands out above the rest.
We had been looking for an illustrator for a children's book we are publishing because we hadn't been pleased with anything we were finding. The publishing process had been put on hold waiting for God to give us some direction. Out of the blue an acquaintance posted paintings on Facebook which her mother had drawn. They were realistic portraits and were just what we were looking for. Through a matter of texts and phone calls I was able to contact this precious lady from Florida and she has just finished the illustrations. Never in a million years would I have ever found this lady on my own as she lives states away and doesn't advertise her work. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God brought her paintings to my eye and orchestrated the whole situation, definitely a Godincidence.
As I was reading Joshua 2:4-7 this morning, I was marveling at the providence of God in the lives of the spies that Joshua had commissioned to view the city of Jericho. These men had no idea where they were going to go or where they were going to stay but God had gone before them and prepared for them to meet up with a woman named Rahab. She wasn't just a humble Believer, scholars believe she was a prostitute. God had been pursuing her so these men were led to a heart that was ripe for harvest. He had purposed long before for her to be in the line of David and He was executing His plan. Again, this woman probably wasn't anyone they would have necessarily sought out themselves but God in His wisdom had plans for her and them as well.
We should always be open and looking for the things God intends for us to be a part of or for the direction He wants us to go. His ways are perfect and His plans never fail. He goes before us and prepares hearts and minds for the encounters He is assembling so we should be asking, "Who do You want me to talk to? Where do You want me to go? What do you want me to do?"
Have you prepared your heart to be led by the Lord? If so, hold on! If you are willing, you never know what God has in store for those that love Him. (1 Corinthian 2;9)
_______________________________________
Personalize this prayer.
Dear Lord,
You are my King. You are the Everlasting Lord of Lords. Your ways are perfect and your thoughts are worth finding out. There is absolutely no one that can compare to the promises that I have in You. You, alone, are my Redeemer and yet, my friend and I can't imagine my life without You. I owe my life to You and I want to make myself available to use whenever and however You desire. I am willing, Lord. I pray that You would sharpen my senses so that when Your Holy Spirit is leading, I will recognize it and immediately respond. Prepare my heart and mind for whatever lies ahead.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
#TheProvidenceofGod #Providence #Joshua #woman #everyday #advenure #Godofheaven #earth #guiding #leading #morning #anticipation #sendme #bringmeincontactwith #wanttouseme #share #stories #howmydayswererearranged #followtheLordswill #succumbtotheLordsways #standsoutabovetherest #looking #illustrator #childrensbookpublishing #hadntbeenpleased #finding #publishingprocessonhold #waitingforGod #giveussomedirectionoutoftheblue #acquaintance #paintings #Facebook #realisticportraits #justwhatwewerelookingfor #texts #phonecalls #contact #preciousladyfromFloria #finished #neverinamillionyears #found #states #doesntadvertisebeyondashadowofadoubt #orchestrated #wholesituation #Joshua247 #marveling #spies #commissioned #cityofJericho #noidea #going #stay #Godhadgonebeforethem #prepared #tomeetupwith #Rahab #believer #scholars #prostitue #pursuing #heartthatwasripeforharvest #southyout #inHiswisdom #plansforher #openandlooking #Godintends #Hiswaysareperfect #Hisplansneverfail #Hegoesbeforeus #preparesheartsandminds #encounters #directionHewantsustogo #talk #preparedyourheart #ledbytheLord #holdon #youneverknowwhatGodhasinstore