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Jeremiah 33:3 – Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. (NIV)
"I need this thing …". So begins the customer's request upon arrival at the hardware store. My husband, the employee, must next discern what is needed. "They don't always know what it's called," he said to me. "They don't know what's available; they may not even know what to do with it." COVID-19 restrictions partly explain this. With extra time, people are launching into the unfamiliar territory of do-it-yourself projects. They don't have experience, but they try — and they seek help. That's a good start!
That's also true spiritually. Our God owns a giant storehouse abundantly stocked with everything that we need for life. We don't necessarily know what's available or what specifically to request. Thus, our best starting request may be, "Lord, I need a guided tour!"
Psalm 119:18 – "Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law." (NIV) [in other words, "on the shelves of Your vast storehouse"]
Today, I invite you to join me as I walk in my imagination through the aisles of God's warehouse — with the aid of Scripture, of course. Scripture provides a wide array of picture words to help me to see what God makes available. For example, I see an aisle labelled "Military Gear", stocked with all that we need for our battle against evil forces. There's an aisle called "Racing Supplies" with provisions for running the race of faith. I enter a glittering aisle called "Royal Treasures", replete with great riches for us as children adopted by the King: luxurious garments to replace our sin-stained rags, a crown of glory to cover our shame, and fellowship forever with our Father.
As I stroll along, my path is lit by the lamp of God's Spirit dispelling the hazy darkness ahead. More and more aisles become visible. I see shelves stocked with provisions for gaining understanding, experience, delight, comfort, and so forth. I see an aisle called "Hall of Mirrors" for helping me see myself more honestly.
I enter an aisle called "God's Thoughts". As I linger here, I realize that I need not be restrained by such door-closers as "We just can't know God's purposes." That's rubbish! Scripture is replete with words about God's purposes. I realize that we'll never reach the edge of His infinite storehouse of truth, but we can gain insight:
Matthew 7:7 – Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. (NIV)
Recently, I applied this storehouse imagery to an old list of memory verses. I found myself praying, That's what I want, Lord. I want that, too, and that … yes, I want Your unfathomable peace … . Oh yes, I want to know more of Your thoughts of me … and I want that for my friend — the experience of Your merciful love.
That's a small order so far, but enough to remind me that God's storehouse is never in lockdown. We need not stay on the perimeter, limiting ourselves to hazy praying, like "I need this thing …".
Prayer: Lord, give us an insatiable yearning for Your two pinnacle provisions: Your Spirit and Your Word, through which we may discover great and unsearchable things never imagined before. Amen.
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Thursday, October 10, 2024 – In France — We were blessed with a team from Canada. They were an enormous encouragement to us, doing street evangelism, passing out 1500+ invitations, and praying with many as we shared the Gospel. The Lord is raising a new church in France with a dozen of us meeting every Sunday; faithful believers who desire to grow in the Word of God and in fellowship.
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A good perspective, Diane.
What a wonderful word picture. Thank you so much.
Reminded me of 40 + years ago – great old memories.
That’s really neat, I love the images.
Thank you.
Good morning,
Thanks for your creative illustration of God’s storehouse.
I really enjoyed your devotion today. Great analogy and good food for thought. Blessings and stay safe.
Diane,
Very nice reflection. Thanks for writing it.
(CA)
Thank you, Diane for a lovely concept that each of us can add to with our own needs and understanding. It works!
I will go shopping today. There are probably many items that can ease one’s hurts. Thank you for this wonderful message.
Really enjoyed your post, Diane. Makes one really think about all the ways we can help others and ourselves. God bless!
Dear Diane
Thank you for this today, I really enjoyed it and will refer to it again.
God bless.
Dear Diane,
What an inspiring, uplifting, and beautifully written Devotional! I feel blessed by it!
Thank you!
Hi Diane,
What a wonderful thought; “God’s storehouse is never in lockdown.” Thanks for your encouraging message today!
Thank you, Diane. Your thoughts are powerful and helpful. May God continue to give you unfathomable peace and the gift of writing devotionals.
(ON)
Oh Diane, what an awesome devotional you’ve shared with us! I loved walking the aisles with you, visualizing each of the picture words of what He provides for us!
Thank you so much for blessing me and I’m sure many others.
Hello Diane,
Thank you for another of your very meaningful and mindful devotionals. Yes, our Lord sure supplies us with the very best storehouse of “things”.
Blessings for writing.
Diane,
Once more you have used your skill as a writer to lead us through the devotional this morning.
Thank you,
(Texas)
I loved the visualization of this devotion. Thanks so much for sharing.
And tell your husband that I’ve gone to the store many times and said those exact words. Have a wonderful day.
(Texas)
Dear Diane,
I had never thought of going inside to see what was in God’s “storehouse” only held the perspective that he would bestow on us from his storehouse. Thank you for presenting this new and exciting way to look at it.
Excellent meditation and evocative images as you guided us through God’s storehouse! Thanks so much for this inspiring devotional, especially with its emphasis on searching and memorizing the scriptures!
Bless you Diane, you’ve got me up and ready to run God’s errands today!
(BC)
Thank you. A wonderful meditation this morning. I totally enjoyed reading it, even for the third time. What a great way to start the day, just taking that tour with you.
I am going down a “different” road right now as the husband that used to do “most” financial things is now depending on me to do most of them.
He had a small stroke and while we are fortunate and thank God every day that he is as well as he is, he has lost some of his “brain” power and has terrible days of depression. Being in this stay-at-home period has been difficult for him.
Your message today really made me stop and think and realize that I have been able to step up and help him is only because of God’s help and guidance.
Thank you and congratulations on all of your meditations I have read on the Daily. Many of them have touch so close to our situation and provided an encouragement.
Blessings.
Thanks Diane, for today’s message. I very much like the imagery you have used, comparing God’s Storehouse to the hardware store.
First of all, it makes everything so much clearer and memorable when we can use a familiar image.
Secondly, my parents owned/operated a Hardware store, and my teen years were spent working in it. With a typical teenage attitude, I sure did not see the store aisles as God’s Storehouse but, with a dust cloth in hand, rather as work and drudgery.
Today, I fondly recall my time in the store, remembering the many beautiful pieces of giftware I dusted, as well as all the other items the customers could purchase. More importantly, as I walk those aisles in my memory, I recall the many friendly customers who shopped within the premises.
Again, my thanks for your continued lessons in life.
Too soon we get too old, and too late we get too smart!
Blessings!
(ON.)
What came to mind as I read this is, we may not know what we want or need from God’s storehouse, but the Spirit can pray on our behalf.
Love the concept!
Dear Diane,
You have definitely given me something to think about today. What do I do with this warehouse that God has provided. I have never thought about this so it will take me sometime to really understand if I limit myself or make use of what is available. Thank you for a different perspective and how to apply it. May you enjoy this lovely day God has provided and reach into his warehouse for more wisdom.
Dear Diane,
I loved this devotional! I shared it with my sister-in-law today, and we enjoyed reminiscing about our personal experiences in running errands to the hardware store to get something for our husbands. In my case, the errand could unfold in one of several ways. I might take a sample screw, for example, to ask for “more like this one.” I might take a broken item to ask for a “new one of these.” I might take a “note from home” with written instructions for the clerk. I might call my husband at home and hand the phone to the clerk for further explanation. I loved our small, local hardware and my own opportunity to get acquainted with the staff as well as building my own store of knowledge along the way.
Your illustration then of God’s warehouse full of everything we could possibly need was apropos. It’s intriguing, too, that not only does God have so much available to us, there is also so much available that we don’t even know exists! I’ve had lots to think about!
Blessings to you.