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Today is our last instalment of the Faith & Provision Bible Study. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed studying and presenting it to you! As you’ll see way down the page (if you read that far) God brought my husband and I though a trial this year. Unexpectedly things got tough, but the funny thing is that I was smack dab in the middle of writing this study when the trial began. All of these stories about faith & provision were freshly placed in my heart and all I wanted to do was rejoice at the thought that God was working behind the scenes on our behalf.

We serve an incredible God Who rewards those who faithfully serve Him. That doesn’t mean we’ll be rich or powerful by any means, but it does mean we’ll be blessed, taken care of, and loved by an almighty, all knowing and all powerful God!

I’ll be taking a bit of the summer off to enjoy the holidays with my family, celebrate the upcoming birth of our first grandchild, and start working on our next Bible study.

I pray that you will have an incredible and faith-filled adventure this summer as you put God first in all that you do.

You are loved by an almighty God,

Darlene Schacht
The Time-Warp Wife

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Week 4 Conclusion

This week’s study was a beautiful reflection of the glory of God. Reading through the scriptures, we saw miracle upon miracle as people put their trust in Him. Faith doesn’t come easy. It takes courage, and it calls us to sacrifice and obedience.

Those who put their trust in God are wise to remember that He’s at work in their lives whether they understand it or not. A difficult situation is an opportunity to connect with Him in ways that would otherwise be missed. It opens a door to our deliverance, it opens a door to His glory and power, it opens a door to His grace.

Are you courageous enough to let go of the worry? Are you brave enough to let go of discouragement and move forward in faith?

The same God that’s been faithful to you in the past will be just as faithful to you in the future. Amen? Hang onto that truth and carry it with you into the darkness.

If you are in a place of discouragement trust God with your future. If your back is up against the Red Sea, trust in the power of His goodness and grace.

He didn’t bring you here to leave you standing alone. He brought you here so that through you He might be glorified.

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. – Ephesians 3:20-21, KJV

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Elisha and the Shunammite Woman – 2 Kings 4:8-37

We’re told that faith without works is dead, but the work of our faith is illustrated in numerous ways. By faith we understand that God created all things. By faith we offer our best to the Lord. By faith we live to please God, and without faith it’s impossible to please Him. By faith we walk in obedience whether we understand God’s plan or we don’t. By faith we believe the impossible is made possible by the work of God’s hands. By faith we’re willing to sacrifice when and if it’s required of us. We withstand disgrace for the sake of our Lord. By faith we store up our treasure in heaven as we let go of this earth.

The Shunammite woman walked by faith, giving her best to the Lord. We’re told that she urged Elisha to stay for a meal and continued to feed him anytime he came by. Opening her heart wider yet, she prepared a room on her roof where Elisha would stay.

Faith is conviction of the truth, and when we’re truly convicted that Jesus is Lord, that faith is at work in our lives—moving, serving, and pleasing Him with all that we do.

Just as Abraham, Rahab, Hannah, and Sarah were all rewarded for their faith, so was the Shunammite woman. God gave her a son. Being her only son, we can imagine how precious this boy was to his mother. And yet, he fell sick and died.

Before she even leaves home to seek out Elisha, we know this woman had faith. How? By her works. She was faithful to God with all that she had.

Leaving quickly to go get Elisha was yet another way that she lived out her faith.

Her example reminds me that there are so many ways to exercise faith. That faith is more than a way of thinking, it’s a way of living that brings glory to God.

Her story is a wonderful reminder that God blesses the faithful in ways we could never imagine. It teaches us that He has the power to resurrect life.

In circumstances that we deem as hopeless, may we all be reminded that God holds the power of life in His hands. That He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, and that He rewards those who ernestly seek Him.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. – Hebrews 11:6

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1 Kings 17:8-24 “Elijah and the Widow” 

If we stop to consider that this woman was a widow, she was in the midst of a famine, and she had a dependant to feed, we might begin to understand how greatly she was tested. Just when she was at the end of her rope, God sent her a house guest to feed. In addition to that, she’s in the middle of a three-year drought. A drought so severe that according to verse 7, the brook had completely dried up.  

Now let’s remember that back then, they didn’t have running water. Most towns had a community well, or a river that the people went to each day to draw water. With a drought that severe it’s likely that her portions were limited if she was able to draw water at all.

What is the first thing that Elijah asks of this woman? “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?”

As I read this, I’m reminded of The Rich Young Ruler in Mark Chapter 10. He was willing to follow all of the commandments, but there was one thing he lacked: his treasure on earth was more important to him than his treasure in heaven.

Unlike the Rich Young Ruler, this woman was willing to give her best to the Lord. All that she had was a handful of flour and a small amount of oil, but she stepped out in faith believing the promise that God would supply her with food. And we see that He did, “For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.” (verse 16)

It parallels our walk with Christ. A believer must be willing to deny himself for the sake of his faith.

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23, KJV

Finally, just as we’ve seen God pour out His blessing to others, He pours out His blessings to this faithful widow by healing her son.

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Parting of the Red Sea – Exodus 14:1-29

In this chapter, we see God’s hand at work, orchestrating every detail from the hardening of Pharoah’s heart to sending His people to a penned-in location.

What they deemed as an impossible situation was an opportunity for God to not only bless them with the gift of deliverance, but to also reveal His glory to the world.

When God directs our steps, it won’t necessarily make sense to us, in fact it might be daunting, overwhelming, and stressful at times. And so, it’s important for us to remember that we’re right where God wants us to be. We must keep in mind that nothing is impossible to God. He excels man in wisdom and power.

Think about that next time you’re hemmed in with your back against the wall while an impossible situation is looming before you. Remember that nothing is impossible to God. Keep in mind that the same God who created this universe and everything in it has the power to change things in miraculous ways. I personally experienced a trial like this a few months ago. I won’t go into detail about it, but I will say that I was stunned at how quickly and miraculously God took care of our problem. I just stood there and cried with the phone in my hand knowing that this outcome was nothing short of a miracle.

Those who put their trust in Him are wise to remember that He’s at work in their lives whether they understand it or not. A difficult situation is an opportunity to connect with God in ways that would otherwise be missed. It opens a door to deliverance, it opens a door to His glory and power, it opens a door to His grace.

How often do I miss those opportunities? How often do I grumble and complain when I don’t understand?

Does that mean that the outcome will always be pleasant? Not necessarily. Hebrews 11 tells us, “Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection.” Do you see that? They chose to be tortured for the sake of their faith knowing that their reward lies in Heaven. Regardless of what comes our way—whether it be easy or tough, our will or God’s—we must always remember where the real treasure lies: with our Lord in Heaven, who’s preparing our home.

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Concluding Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You that You’re in control of my life. For all of the situations around me that may seem impossible at the time, I know that all things are in the palm of Your hand.

When Moses and the Israelites had their back against the sea, You parted the waters and led them through safely. By Your mighty power and strength, the sick are made whole, a blind man can see, the hungry are fed, and the dead come to life.

Your unfailing grace has shown us Your sovereign power again and again. How You’re able to rescue us from our sorrow, and that all things are possible to those who believe.

And so, I’m asking that you help me remember this, Lord. The next time the enemy is in pursuit, remind me of the God I am serving. Give me the courage to stand strong whatever may come.

In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Maybe you’d like to weigh in? I’d love to hear your thoughts. 🙂

Subscribers, visit my blog at TimeWarpWife.com to leave a comment.

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That’s all for today. Have a great summer! I’ll talk to you soon.

You are loved by an almighty God,

Darlene Schacht
The Time-Warp Wife

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