WHEN THE FIRE FADES
Deep Dive 8/31/2025
WE CAN’T DO ANYTHING FOR GOD IF WE AREN’T PREPARED FIRST
Philippians 4:19
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
God knows exactly what we need and when we will need it. Our needs are not just physical, but emotional, spiritual, relational … God knows and provides for them all. Just as God saw that Adam needed a helper and made Eve, He also sees and knows each of our needs and will meet them in His perfect timing. BUT… it is up to us to trust His provision and His timing. Just as God sent Elijah exactly what he needed in the wilderness, He will send us what we need…even if we do not realize that we need it.
Psalm 34:10
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
Jehovah Jireh – God is our provider! David knew that it was in seeking God that his needs would be met. This does not mean that we are given all that we want. Remember there is a difference between needs and wants. God sees our future. He knows what is good for us and what is not. We can trust that as we seek Him, we truly will “lack no good thing.” He will prepare us for the work that He is calling us to do.
Psalm 84:11-12
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does he withhold
from those who walk uprightly.
12 O Lord of hosts,
blessed is the one who trusts in you!
The Lord bestows favor and honor – He wants nothing more than to abundantly bless His children (You & Me) and provide what we need to prepare us for the work He has called us to do. This is again where trust enters the picture. We must trust Him to provide. If God takes us to it, He WILL see us through it! We only have to believe.
WHAT CURRENT SITUATION THAT GOD HAS BROUGHT YOU TO HAS YOU DOUBTING HIS ABILITY TO PREPARE YOU AND SEE YOU THROUGH? ASK HIM TODAY FOR FRESH EYES TO SEE HOW HE IS BESTOWING HIS FAVOR AND HONOR UPON YOU IN THIS SEASON.
John 15:7-11
7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
The key to preparation and fruitfulness is found in abiding in Christ. God has given us what we need to prepare us to bear fruit. Jesus is the true vine, and we must remain connected to Him so that we can be fruitful. God is glorified by the fruit that we bear, so we can trust Him to provide what we need to be prepared to bear fruit. God provides, but it is up to us to do our part to learn and grow in our faith.
2 Timothy 3:14-17
14 But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you.15 You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
Paul reminds Timothy and all believers that God calls us to remain faithful to what we have been taught. God has given us wisdom in Scripture that we can use to recognize the lies that the world is trying to sell us. Spending time learning God’s Word, the Bible, is the best preparation we can do as believers, to equip us for the plans He has for our lives.
PUTTING THIS INTO PRACTICE
What is one thing God has called you to do in this season?
Read Psalm 34.
What are some of the ways that David says God provided for him and helped him overcome his fears?
Are you struggling with fear in what God has called you to do? What changes can you make to defeat the spirit of fear and walk in boldness, trusting that God is preparing and equipping you for all He is calling you to do?
How are you practicing the discipline of abiding today? List two different ways.
Read 1 John 2:15-17.
What do you think John means when he says, “for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you?”
Find another passage in Scripture that speaks about abiding in Christ. Write it out as a reminder of how we as believers cannot be fruitful when we do not abide in Christ.
Do you need a perspective shift today? Are you like Elijah…hungry, angry, lonely or tired?
Take 5 minutes to write out at least 20 things that you are grateful for today. Share five of them with a friend or in your small group.
Read Psalm 34 in a different version. What verse stands out to you the most? Write it down and put it where you can see it. Maybe even consider memorizing all of Psalm 34 to encourage you that God does provide.
Take time today to journal a prayer to God praising Him for all the ways He has provided for you throughout your life. As you go through this next week, try to focus on remembering all He has done, instead of wishing for what you want Him to do. If you need help – re-read Psalms 34 & 84 each day.
