Providence Guidance, Direction & Opportunity The New American Dictionary defines Providence as: 1. Care or preparation in advance; foresight. 2. The care, guardianship, and control exercised by a deity; divine direction. "And David inquired of the Lord" We learn from 2 Samuel 5:23 that David had just had a great victory over the Philistines and driven them off. The Philistines came up in great hosts, but, by the help of God , David easily put them to flight. Now they were coming at David a second time. David did not assume that because he was victorious the first time that he would be again. David knew that to be so presumptuous could lead to disaster. He knew that victory came with the guidance and direction from The Lord who said to him, "go for it"(2 Samuel 5:19). But here they come again. David enquired again and this time the answer was different, "don't attack, fall back and come up behind them. David trusted God rather than taking things into his own hands. Will we ever learn this same lesson? The Puritan once said, "As sure as ever a Christian carves for himself, he'll cut his own fingers;" Another caveat to bear in mind is, "He that goes before the cloud of God's providence, goes on a fool's errand;" Stay behind that cloud, don't be presumptuous, ask Him to lead. Ask Him and, "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye." Psalm 32:8 is God's promise to His people. Do not start the day without enquiring of the Lord. I have learned to ask God every morning when I arise to be with me and guide me through the day and provide an opportunity to tell someone about Him. I can't remember a day when He has failed to do just that. Sometimes I miss the opportunity, but that doesn't mean He has not provided. I reflect back over the events of the day, and sure enough there was the opportunity, and I just missed it. Does God get angry with me. or become disappointed in me because I blew it? Not a chance. He loves me too much for that. He knows how I am and how easily I can let an opportunity slip away. He just does it again, He is always faithful, even when I am not. We live in a retirement community and across the highway from us is a small country air port for light weight private aircraft. As I was driving by there yesterday I saw a lot of carnival like activity with lots of people swarming all around one of the hangers. Curiosity got the best of me and I pulled in to see what was going on. They were having an affair to help handicapped children. There were lots of kids in wheel chairs and lots of kids with mental problems. Tables were set up displaying all sorts of programs helping retarded and unfortunate children. As I walked out of the hanger there was a female, uniformed, police officer standing there as though on guard. I stopped and asked her what this was all about, and that's how I learned what was gong on. As I began to leave she said, "have a nice day, take care of yourself" I stopped and replied, "I don't have to worry I have somebody taking good care of me all the time." She said, "what do you mean?" There was the opportunity! She heard about Jesus and I gave her my testimony about how I was miraculously and instantly healed of terminal cancer. Tears came to her eyes and I got hugged by a cop right out in the middle of a crowd of people, what a nice reward. Would you like an opportunity? Just ask, Jesus never fails to provide.

...and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. Acts-5:12
...and Jesus walked in the Temple in Solomon’s Porch John-10:23

Auts and Pauline