“God is able to make all grace abound toward you.” 2 Corinthians 9:8 NKJV.

Providence is the expression of His nature resulting in the supply of your need.

My thoughts and comments today are about “abiding and abounding.”

In recent days, my heart’s desire for our family, and for you and yours, has been for, “a life blessed with God’s abiding presence and overflowing with His abounding providence.” However you would express your desire for God to be gracious, I think our yearnings would be similar. I welcome God to be near not far, active not passive; I embrace God’s gracious care and generous provision.

Imagine your life, “blessed with God’s abiding presence.”God does not come and go at whim; He abides. The Psalmist quoted Moses, “Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.” See Psalm 90:1-2 NKJV. He has always been; He will always be. Theologians correctly speak of God as pre-existent (Genesis 1:1/John 1:1 NKJV) and omnipresent (Acts 17:27-28a NIV). Moses had an interesting exchange when God promised, “’My Presence will go with you’ . . then Moses said to Him, ‘If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.’” Exodus 33:14-17 NKJV. There is never a reason to continue your journey without God’s company. No one need do so.

The Incarnation of Jesus is the supreme assurance our God is ever present, “Immanuel, which is ‘God with us.’” Matthew 1:23 NKJV. See John 1:14 NKJV. God’s presence is constant and unchanging, yet you consciously enter into His presence.God does not hide from you; He waits for you. “Come before His presence with singing . . Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.” Psalm 100:2/4 NKJV. See Psalm 16:11 NKJV. Though God is ever surrounding, you must enter His presence intentionally. God is known through the study of His Word and the devotional practice of thanksgiving and worship.

Imagine your life “overflowing with God’s abounding providence.” Providence is rich in meaning, describing both God Himself, as well as His meticulous care and provision. Providence is defined as, “God, especially when directing the affairs of man with wise benevolence,” or “the foresight, care, and guidance of God for His creation.” Providence is both who God is and what He does.

Paul describes the abundance of God’s ability and attentive purpose to provide. “God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you having all sufficiency in all things may have an abundance for every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8-11 NKJV. Personalize those words, then read them until conviction of their truth grips your heart, reflecting on the extraordinary description of your Father’s overflowing providence.There is neither hesitancy in His intent nor inadequacy of His supply.

Providence is the expression of His nature resulting in the supply of your need. Listen to Paul’s testimony, “I have all and abound, I am full . . And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:18-19 NKJV. God’s abounding providence is out of His incomparable, immeasurable “riches in glory.” How can you be sure that God’s generosity extends to you? Paul’s reasoning is brilliant and inarguable, “He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up [freely] for us all, how will He not also, along with [His Son], graciously give us all things?” Romans 8:32 NIV. Having freely given Jesus to be your Savior, what would God withhold?

My prayer for you today is that you will be persuaded of the grace and generosity of God.