Jesus: Ready, Willing, and Able
Do you feel like you’re running on empty? Stock up on the fruit of the spirit.
“The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” (Psalm 23)
Do you remember the nursery rhyme about Old Mother Hubbard? “Old Mother Hubbard went to the cupboard to give the poor dog a bone./ But when she came there the cupboard was bare and so the poor dog had none.” Old Mother Hubbard obviously failed to restock supplies for Mutzie. How about you and me? Is our spiritual cupboard as bare as Bowzer’s Bone Bin?
Maybe we don’t lack the basics of food, water and warmth but do we have enough spiritual provision to get through life with grace and peace? Did our supply of love get used up long ago? Are we limping along, angry, wounded, depressed, frustrated, fearful, needy, and broken?
Daily crises and challenges relentlessly empty the shelves of our lives, rendering us helpless and woefully inadequate until we locate the cupboard marked “love, grace and peace”. That cupboard is Jesus Christ. He is Supply and Supplier; He is Provision and Provider. His treasure stores, marked with our individual names, always exceed our wildest expectations and our greatest needs.
In Psalm 23 the Lord promises to feed, guide, shield, lead, refresh, restore, free, protect, comfort, and love us all the days of our lives. In Him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden for us, according to Colossians 2:3. Why, then, are we curled up in the corner, like Old Mother Hubbard’s dog, sad and forlorn? Why do we feel forsaken when we can run to Christ and help ourselves to grace and love that meets our need and lifts us into joyful living again? Dogs trust their masters for provision. Why can’t we trust Christ? He never disappoints. His overflowing resources are promised to us.
Do we fail to trust because Christ’s provision rarely looks like what we asked for in prayer? Is it that He shines his spotlight on our selfish emotional wants and ministers to our true spiritual need instead? Is it that if we receive His provision we must quit groaning and grow up into maturity? Probably.
We ask Christ to lift our burden; instead He gives grace. We ask for release from the problem. He promises to carry it for us if we’ll stay yoked to Him. We complain that no one loves us and He says we’re wrong, He does, and that He’s enough. If you’re looking to be babied, don’t come to this Provider. Christ won’t let us live in protracted infancy. He says, “Let Me heal your wounds. There. Done. Now come back to the battle, that’s the only place I can give you victory.”
And so, the question becomes: Am I willing to pay the price to restock my spiritual cupboard with Christ Himself? Jesus never disappoints as Old Mother Hubbard did. But I must:
- Acknowledge my true need to the Lord.
- Be willing to repent and empty supplies from self’s shelf to make room for Him.
- Claim Him as my perfect provision, then grow/go on to share Him with others.
Our Prayer: Jesus, loving provider, Help me run to You when I am broken and used up. Cause me to come to Your waiting arms when I feel abandoned and lonely. I choose Your unlimited provision of love and grace and peace that Your sacrificial death provides for me. Thank You. Amen.
Question: Are you willing to pay the price to restock your spiritual cupboard with Christ?
4 Responses to “Jesus: Ready, Willing, and Able”
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Barbara, you make a wonderful point: if we do not keep our own spiritual cupboards stocked, we will run dry and not have anything to offer others. We definitely need to take care of ourselves, and we are free to do so without any guilt or condemnation. It is also extremely important to lead others into personal relationship with Christ Jesus so they are getting stocked at the Primary Source of Provision, rather than trying to live off of another’s faith. Thank you, Barbara, for shining the spotlight on how important it is that we do not enable another in an unhealthy way, but instead, teach them to go to the Provider of all that is good and healthy and true themselves.
NJ, I am grateful that you were also blessed by this devotional and that you have found our site. You may also enjoy the chats on our devotionals. To check these out NJ, please to to the following link for our chat schedule:
http://powertochange.com/experience/chat/
May you enjoy many wonderful, fulfilling hours here, and may God richly bless you as navigate your way around Power to Change. Amen.
La Von, Thank you for this “WONDERFUL” devotional. It made me realize that I have to re-stock my “spiritual cupboard”. Been aiding others and lately I have been feeling worn down. This has made me realize that they need to fill their own spiritual needs than depending on me to keep filling them up. The next few days I am heading to the arms of Christ so that He can re-stock my spiritual cupboards….then I will be equipped to go and help others again. This is a devotional that is worth printing and going back to time and time again! Thanks again La Von for allowing God to use you in such an awesome way to minister to others.
Lord,my heart pants for you always. I receive Grace to remain for you no matter the situation in Jesus name. Amen.
Thank you Jesus for connecting me to this site,bless & increace your Grace opon the workers in Jesus name. Amen.
Thanks Petey Prater for this.God bless you.
Thank you so much for this tremendous devotional! I have had to let go of much self-centred thinking and many selfish ways to stock my cupboards with the provisions of Jesus’ peace, grace, and love, and I still have a long way to go. However, every bit that I take to the Lord and surrender is worth having His compassionate, merciful wings sheltering me and guiding me every step of my journey. God bless you, La Von!