“But then I recall all you have done, O Lord;
I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago. They are constantly in my thoughts.
I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.
O God, your ways are holy.
Is there any god as mighty as you? You are the God of great wonders!…”…When I went in for my annual physical, I was not charged a co-pay OR for either of the allergy tests I had done. (Insurance was supposed to charge $5 per allergy test and I have always paid co-pays for my annual physicals.)
When I had to go back to the doctor the following week to review the lab results, I just so happened to get sick the day before and was able to combine the purposes of my office visit meaning I was only responsible for one co-pay!
The test results came back positive for the flu, but I also had a bacterial infection. It just so happened that I was allergic to the first prescription of choice so the alternative happened to be one that Publix offers for FREE.
When I took my car in for an overdue oil change, it just so happened that this was the every other visit in which I was also supposed to get my tires rotated. The cost to do so was not in the budget, but God gave me favor with the mechanic and they waived the fee for the tire rotation.
There is a medicine I need to take daily, unless God miraculously heals what is not working properly. My doctor gave me a new prescription to try before I leave so I know if this will be a good fit for while I’m away. I was told the way the script was written, it could cost me around $70 for a 3-month supply, but hopefully I would be given the generic which shouldn’t be more than $14 for a 3-month supply. I received my medication but was never charged. I checked my insurance claims and the cost of the medicine was $204, but the cost to the patient (me) was $0.00!
A few weeks ago, I had the inclination to scroll through the blogs of current World Racers. (This is not something I do frequently.) I came across a couple’s blog and I immediately knew I was supposed to give financially to support this couple. A number popped into my head before I could even think about it so I gave that amount. When I was first accepted to do The World Race, I did the math to see how much money I needed to survive and pay all my bills BEFORE the race. Not including my financial responsibilities while I’m on the race, the cost of the race itself, supplies or all the miscellaneous fees such as travel to and from Training Camp, travel to and from our departure and re-entry destinations, vaccines, money for toiletries, etc., I was already $1,000 short. After doing my taxes, my refund is ALMOST EXACTLY the amount of the $1000 needed to survive BEFORE the race plus the amount I gave to this couple so they would be able to continue in their journey on The World Race.
Just today I saw insurance did not cover all the claims on my most recent doctor’s visit. I asked God to give me favor with the billing department before I gave them a call. Without any hassle, they looked at my account and said I was charged that way because of the way it was billed to insurance, but she would adjust my account and CLEAR THE EXTRA CHARGES! Praise God!
(Psalm 77:11-14+)
I have been so worried about what God expects of me during this time before the World Race and what part I am supposed to play especially in the finances aspect of things. I have been worried that maybe God won’t provide for me. Maybe I am not doing something I am supposed to be doing and as a result I will not be cared for. Obeying what I believe the Lord to be saying seems so culturally unacceptable and I often fear other people’s opinions of me.
Why do I worry? Jesus said,
"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
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?….
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”(Matthew 6:25-33)
But, the struggle is real. In between the promise and the fulfillment is the testing of our faith. I am often discouraged and doubt. So many details in my life right now are uncertain, but this much I know for sure:
God IS GOOD. He loves us deeply and He IS taking care of me. All of these blessings I have recalled are from THIS YEAR ALONE! We are barely one month into this new year! I have not seen the provision in full, but I have seen it in part and that is enough to encourage me to hang on to my hope in the Lord. If God has blessed me so much in a matter of weeks, what will He do throughout the remainder of this year?!
This is not a list to prove how much God loves me; it is a testament to prove how much God LOVES and how faithful He is. Praise God for His care and provision in my life! I pray that our eyes will be open to all of God’s blessings in each of our lives and that you, too, can praise God for His care and provision in your life!
If the Lord is leading you to do something that seems unreasonable or something you cannot logically work out the details, DO IT! If He is asking you to give until it hurts, GIVE! If He is asking you to serve beyond your perceived strength and energy, SERVE! If He is asking you to speak the truth in love, SPEAK BOLDLY! If He is asking you to go, by all means GO! For it is the Lord Who goes before you; He will give you the words to speak, the energy and strength to serve and the means to give. His peace will sustain you and His love will carry you. How do I know? He IS DOING these very things for me.
In the words of Rich Mullins,
“I will seek You in the morning
And I will learn to walk in Your ways
And step by step You’ll lead me
And I will follow You all of my days”
Yes, step by step He leads us. I do not know what is ahead. I do not know how I will go. I do not know much of anything, but the Lord has not abandoned me thus far, so I will follow Him all of my days.
