Remember this and consider; recall it to mind, you transgressors; remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like me, declaring the outcome from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, “My purpose shall stand, and I will fulfill my intention,” Isaiah 46:8-10
“God’s providence is greatly to be observed; but we are not to make it the rule of our actions: “Whoso is wise will
observe these things.” It is good to observe providence, but we must not make it our rule to walk by: providence should be to the Christian as his diary, but not his Bible.”
Thomas Watson in Puritan Gems; or, Wise and Holy Saying of the Rev. Thomas Watson, Anglican Minister. edited and arranged by the Rev. John Adey (London: Snow and Ward, 1850) 116.
Having returned home from Pakistan and pondering the many ways I saw God work – protecting, supplying, guiding, and providing – I have providence on my mind. Today’s post helps us rightly understand it.
Providence is what we notice or observe between God and us. It gives confidence to our generous living for sure. God provided a little snow last night as his creation needs moisture here. I see this when I look outside.
Maybe for you, where you live, you see sun grow crops, or rain water fields. It’s God’s generous providence.
And Watson makes a keen distinction between the terms ‘diary’ and ‘Bible’ in today’s reading. We can recount in a diary what we see God do. We can read in the Bible who God is and how He promises to work.
Do you have a diary such as this. Get one. Maybe start that during Lent. I have a diary that I started when GTP started. I put prayers relying on God’s promises and I post moments when I have witnessed God’s providence.
Generous giving flows our trust in God’s promises and our observations of God’s providence. I pray you rely on the former and recount the latter to help you grow in the grace of giving.