In the Arms of God

Have you ever watched a father carry a sleeping child?  It is a very sweet picture. The child is at perfect rest, all floppy and relaxed, as the father carries them in his arms.  I recently read a passage in Deuteronomy that so touched my heart with that same image of God carrying us.  Let me share that passage with you.

Deuteronomy 1: 29-33

“Then I said to you, ‘Do not be terrified, or be afraid of them. The Lord your God who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness where you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place.’ “ Yet, for all that, you did not believe the Lord your God, who went in the way before you to search out a place for you to pitch your tents, to show you the way you should go, in the fire by night and in the cloud by day.”

Isn’t that a beautiful picture of God’s love and provision for us?  It tells us that He goes before us, fights for us, carries us as a man carries his son, searches out a place for us, and shows us the way to go.  What a great provider!  That is such a powerful image of what we as parents try to do for our children.  We try with all of our might to protect and lead our children. We carry them when they cannot walk.  We can understand the love of a parent for a child.  What greater love our God has for us and how marvelous are His provisions.

I find myself, much like the Israelites, forgetting how faithful God has been to me in the past. I become terrified and afraid.  I begin to doubt that He can provide the needs that I might have.  I forget that He so lovingly carried me when I could not walk. It is good for me to take time each day to praise God for His provisions for the day.  Even on the hardest day, I can find ways that I have been blessed and can see how God has gone before me.

 For the last ten years, I make a praise list on that day’s page of my devotional book.  I list 5 things that I am thankful for that day.  Often, I am amazed that I remember something that I never even thanked God for providing.  I encourage you to take some time each day to reflect on how God has gone before you, fought for you, carried you or shown you the way you should go.  You will be amazed at how faithful our God is.

Are you aware of what God has provided for you today?  Has He carried you lately?  Has He shown you the way you should go? Have you thanked Him for the provisions in your life?  Make a list today of ways you see God providing your needs.  Take time to thank Him and praise Him for His faithfulness to you.

Psalm 92:1-2

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praises to Your name O Most High:

To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning and Your faithfulness every night.”