We have a running joke (but not really) at our house about having the Lord’s favor. We say it jokingly but we can’t help but notice just how much God seems to be blessing us time and time again. Every time we ask for something, somehow and some way God provides exceedingly beyond what we could have asked. I will list some examples for you:
Our house – When Matt Ruple, Seth Jr, Neil Bruinsma and I were in Haiti, we began discussing what it would look like to live together in Gainesville and how we really wanted to find a free place or somewhere super cheap. We’re all broke missionaries so we just trusted on faith that God would provide. Well, it wasn’t long after that He opened the doors to this beautiful lake house where we are only paying $100/month/person for our utilities and home repairs. Unreal.
Furniture already in the house or that we’ve received as gifts or for free –
5 Couches
1 TV
Washer
Dryer
Pantry Rack
Piano
Fully stocked cabinet with plates, silverware, glasses, everything
Refrigerator
Large Freezer
Large dining room table
Deck fire pit
Our most recent surprise was a recliner that Weston had won in a raffle in the mall when we were touring around in our ugly Christmas sweaters for our family portrait. Oddly enough, we’ve named the recliner “The Lord’s Favor”. All of these gifts have come from us asking. Seriously, it seems like every time a desire has arisen, we have asked the Lord to provide these things to our house and sure enough, it just happens. Most of these were given to us. It would be easy to overlook it as a string of good fortune, but I can see clearly that God is radically blessing us with some pretty great gifts. And the best part about it all is that it’s not because of anything we’ve done to merit it, it’s who He is. He is a giver. He lavishes his love on us in a variety of ways, this happens to be one that we see manifest itself in the physical. Which leads to me to the most mind-blowing example of them all.
As many of you know, I’ve been playing guitar for quite some time now, a little over 10 years. I’ve had the same guitar throughout that entire time and it has been such a joy to learn on and lead worship from that instrument. Throughout the years, I have grown attached to my Ibanez guitar. She’s been around the world twice with me and spent significant time in Haiti. She has been in front of larger groups and in the quiet of my room, belting out music as loud as she could. She’s been scratched and cracked. She’s popped strings, had the pick-guard fall off, and one of her tuner pegs fall out during worship. But she’s kept going. I love that instrument so much and I’m thankful for the music and the love that has poured out from her. I’m sad to say that over the past year or so, she has not been the same. She’s lost her luster and repair work would have cost more than what the guitar was actually worth. As I’ve been growing, learning, writing, and playing a lot more frequently, the desire grew to make an investment into a guitar that was of a higher quality. I began asking God once again. “Father, you have blessed me so much and you keep showering gifts on me. Thank you. You know I don’t have the money to do so right now, but I would really love a new guitar.” And that’s all I asked. I had decided that this would actually be something that I would like to save money for and make the investment. I mean, seriously, guitars can be expensive, especially ones that are better quality. And I was okay with that, I knew that I would take better care of something that actually cost me something. So I was excited.
Well, as the desire grew and the weeks went on, Thanksgiving arrived. My parents were talking to me about this decision because apparently they had heard of a sale of brand-new Martin guitars going on Thanksgiving weekend (If you know anything about guitars, Martins are top-of-the-line acoustics). They had actually gone and looked at several prior to telling me about the sale. Then they decided to take me to the store because they wanted to bless me with an early Christmas present. I was dumbfounded. Literally, one week prior I had asked God the last time for a new guitar and here I was sitting in a Music store with a beautiful Martin acoustic guitar laying across my lap. As I played and strummed the instrument, beautiful sounds filled the room and I envisioned myself in a far off place, isolated, and singing as loudly as possible. I am evidence of God being a gift-giver. He does not withhold when we ask. He knew my heart and the desire I had to please him with my music. This is a gift that I will cherish for the rest of my life.
Thank you for the evidence of your love for me shown in tangible ways. Thank you for the gift of faith to ask for things hoped for. Thank you for blowing my mind day after day after day. I pray that this encourages you to be bold in what you ask for, whether it’s something physical or not, it’s the posture of your heart. Be blessed.
