Sustain is our word of the month. It has several definitions. Sustain means to maintain, to nourish, to provide food, bear (a burden), hold up, protect, support, defend, to supply the means necessary for living.
In these difficult and trying times of inflation, high gas prices, unemployment, and financial uncertainty we often find ourselves struggling with worry, anxiety, stress, fear, and depression. Let me encourage you from the word of God. In Psalm 55:22 it says “Cast your burdens on the Lord, and He shall sustain thee; He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” Know that God will sustain you no matter what you’re going through.
The bible speaks of a situation in I Kings 17:8-16. In this passage of scripture God instructed the Man Of God to get up and go to Zarepath in Zidon where He (God) had commanded a little widow woman to take care of him during this time of famine. Out of obedience to God he went to Zarepath and found the widow there picking up sticks to make her last meal for herself and her son. The Man of God asked her to make a cake for him first and bring him some water. The woman, like so many of us, began to complain and explain her situation of barely having enough for them. He encouraged her to take care of him first. Here we can see the importance of putting God first. Putting the prophet’s needs first is symbolic of putting God first. For the scripture says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and everything that you stand in need of will be added”.
This story is good example of casting your burdens on the Lord and God coming to the rescue. Just like He did it for the widow woman and also the prophet I can testify to God’s sustaining power. The Lord told me to make this scripture part of my daily confession by reading it out aloud everyday. Because the word of God is spirit and life, God used this same portion of scripture to sustain me. The Lord prepared people who would provide for me and my family during those times of great struggle and hardship. The people that He used didn’t realize that they were on assignment from the Lord to help me, but I knew and recognized that it was the good hand of the Lord using them to be a blessing to me. God is no respecter person. If He moved for me He will move on your behalf when you give Him all your burdens and concerns. He tells us not to be anxious about anything in other word stop fretting, and stressing, and fearing the worse. Put your trust in God, believe you receive when you pray, praise Him for the answer even when it has not come to pass yet.
Spiritual Application:
Father, your word says whosoever shall say unto this mountain be thy removed and cast in the sea and doubt not in his heart, but believe that those things which he says will be done, he will have what he says. Father in Jesus name I cast down fear, anxiety, stress, worry, discouragement, and depression. I cancel every assignment against me and decree and declare that no weapon formed against me shall prosper. I declare that you are Jehovah-Jireh my provider and I have more than enough to met my every need. I pray now asking you to reveal yourself in each situation, ministering angels go forth and war on my behalf. This I ask in Jesus name. Lord bless the readers, hearers, and doers of this word. Amen
God bless you,
Pastor Betty Jamison