Heat And Cold

Every winter, I have struggled with a cold home. I put up plastic to break the wind blowing across my front porch, and also over the inside of leaky windows. I bought heavy liners for my window curtains. I blocked a drafty door with Styrofoam insulation. I piled on layers of clothing. But knowing that I had shelter, unlike the homeless, consoled me through long winter days and nights without adequate heat.

When my furnace quit working in the coldest part of the winter, however, I called in the repairman. After many big bills to "fix" my limping furnace, I finally gave in to necessity and bought a new one. It was installed recently, and I have never before been so happy to be warm. But best of all, God provided for the financial need before I knew I would have it. Scripture states:

Isaiah 65:24 – And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. (KJV)

In giving me my new furnace, God has also provided for me during the heat of the summer. Central air conditioning can be installed to cool my home as well as heat it. So, should that be something that is needed, God has already put in place what is necessary to accomplish that task.

Genesis 8:22 – As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease. (NIV)

We are reminded in Genesis that during the "dog days" of summer — when the temperatures soar out of sight and the asphalt bubbles in the parking lot — God gives us both heat and cold. When we suffer through the bitterly long winters when the cold bites our noses and frosts our windowpanes, God promises that temperature fluctuations will never cease, as long as the earth endures. So we are assured that it will become warm again or cool off again.

The point is this: no matter what, God is still in control, still provides, and still cares about our lives — even the little things, like furnaces and air conditioning.

Prayer: Dearest Lord, thank You for Your provision for us. Thank You that You care for us more than we can possibly imagine. Thank You that You will always know our need before we do, and will grant us what we need through Your grace in Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.

Forward this devotional     Share this devotional on Facebook     Like PresbyCan on Facebook