And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 4:19 ESV)
Recognizing a Good Gift I Received
On a sunny afternoon, I biked down a trail for post-work exercise. It was as close to a perfect day as you could get, in terms of weather. The sun warmed my whole body, and the breeze made the heat pleasant. After climbing a little hill, I looked down as I pedaled.
My parents bought me these shoes. As a matter of fact, my brother bought me my socks. My mom sent me these shorts. I found this shirt on sale—I guess that’s a gift too! My dad bought my bike. My brother installed all the accessories on it. My friend bought me the mileage counter and other accessories. Wow! This whole ride was given to me!
I would not have this precise experience, and this present moment of bliss if I’m honest, if it were not for the gifts of these sweet people.
Then James 1:17 came to mind: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (ESV).
As I pedaled on in perfect peace, I felt loved. God gave me everything I need to be on this pleasant bike ride right now, and more!
God Has Promised to Give Us Everything We Need
I thought about how abundant God had been in providing for this simple bike ride. Yes, he gave me a bike through my dad. But then, he added accessories to my bike and even had bike shorts arrive on my doorstep that I really enjoyed and was happy to be wearing! I wondered, Why would God provide so abundantly in this seemingly niche area of my life?
Then another verse came to mind. “And my God will supply every need of yours, according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19 ESV, emphasis added).
God had supplied me richly with all I needed to go on a pleasant bike ride. Based on what that verse tells me, he must know I needed this, I thought, because he richly supplied me with everything I needed for it. He knew I needed this joy, this physical refreshment, and the help to my mental health that comes through physical exercise. And maybe he knew I needed it for reasons unknown to me still.
As I pedaled on, I pondered. I thought of something—and then a few things—that God has not supplied me with, though I have asked that he would.
I must not need it, I thought.
Here’s a principle I learned that day from the promise God gives us in Philippians 4:19. If I don’t have it today, I must not need it today. If I do need it, God will give it to me, for he promises to richly provide for all my needs.
God Will Supply Your Every Need
Take a moment today to look around (or down like I did). What has God richly supplied you with that meets a particular need in your life?
Praise him for it! Revel in God’s particular kindness toward you.
There are plenty of things we believe we need, or that we desperately want. As those things come to mind, hear God’s promise to you who know and belong to Jesus:
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19 ESV, emphasis added)
If you need it, he will give it. If he hasn’t given it to you today, then you don’t need it today.
Together, let’s choose to set our minds on what we have, rather than what we don’t have, and so experience God’s love toward us expressed in the gifts he has given.