Copies of Manley Beasley: Man of Faith, Instrument of Revival are on their way to many folks who have ordered them. While Ron and I have been busy these last several weeks with the final details of the book’s release, I have found myself reflecting on Manley’s walk of faith and his influence upon me. Because we knew Manley and ministered with him in different venues over a period of years, there were many occasions to hear him speak about faith. In looking back through some personal journal entries  made several years ago, I spotted his influence especially in one entry I made. I found myself reviewing and reflecting upon what had taken place during a particular twelve month period. It had been a challenging year in many ways, and especially in terms of finances. Since many people are facing similar challenges right now, I thought I’d share some insights that helped me at that time. Here are some observations I recorded in my journal.

Principles Observed:

1st     The only way to see first hand God’s ability and willingness to provide for His children is to be put in the uncomfortable situation of having no resources of your own and no way to provide for yourself. Being put in that position will either expose your deficiency or reveal your sufficiency of trusting God by the way you think and react. It is one thing to “say” that God is faithful; it is something entirely different to believe God, to rely upon Him, and to enter into the rest that faith brings.

2nd     God best demonstrates His ability and willingness to give, by my obvious and large need. My lack is the best possible backdrop to display the sufficiency of His supply. My circumstances are under God’s control—He is not aloof or detached from what is going on around me. He has either designed or permitted what is happening now. My seeking Him must not be just for the supply of what I lack—but for light to perceive what He is saying to me, and for grace to trust Him with my circumstances.

That was the end of my journal entry. Now, however, I look back over years of living and marvel at the patience and kindness God has extended to me in “the school of faith”. I marvel too at the circumstances He orchestrated which exposed my need of learning to trust Him. Some verses of Scripture I memorized a long time ago are possibly familiar to you. Proverbs 3:5-6 says

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not upon your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.

A strong tendency in my life has been that of leaning upon my own understanding. The Lord has graciously been working to break me of that wrong thinking so that I can experience the blessedness of knowing that He is directing my path. Some of the process involved in the breaking and learning has caused me to be afraid, to get angry, to feel overwhelmed. But, oh, I am so grateful that He has not left me with just my own understanding and my own resources! Some wonderful words from the 146th Psalm sum up my final thoughts for this posting:

Blessed is he (or she) whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—the Lord, who remains faithful forever.