Never run dry!

“The LORD is my shepherd. I will always have everything I need.”
Psalm 23:1 (ERV)

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
Psalm 23:1 (ESV)
 
In a world with limited resources, you don’t have to lack anything – because the Lord is your Shepherd. God is your source and He is limitless. This means that you have a limitless supply. – we should never run dry! Sometimes we don’t experience this provision, but it’s never God who is withholding it from us. He is a good Father, and like any good father, He doesn’t want to see His children suffer. God can provide for you better than you can provide for you. The problem is that we tend to trust in ourselves rather than in Him.
 
One of the reasons we sometimes don’t see provision is because we’re not allowing the Lord to be our Shepherd. If we follow His lead, we will always end up in provision. It’s when we try and lead our own lives and make decisions independent of God that we start experiencing lack.
 
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”
Psalm 23:4-5 (ESV)
 
Another reason that we sometimes experience lack isbecause of natural circumstances. But Scripture shows us that it doesn’t have to be like that! God is not cutting back on anything because of tough economic times. He is not subject to the world’s economic system, which means that your source is not limited by the world’s economic system. He’ll provide for you through the world’s economy but God’s provision is not based on or limited by the world’s wealth and resources.
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:19 (ESV)
 
God’s supply isn’t based on the world’s economy but on Heaven’s economy. Even if we’re going through “the valley of the shadow of death”, God’s provision is available. In the middle of that place of difficulty and attack, God “prepares a table before you”. The Message Bible says, “You serve me a six-course dinner.” Now that’s abundant provision! Even in tough economic times, if we’re allowing the Lord to be our Shepherd, then we will lack nothing. The Apostle Paul was in prison for being a Christian – now that is a circumstance which would prevent provision. But Paul writes the book of Philippians from prison to thank the church for their generosity towards him. God used the generosity of believers to provide for Paul (Philippians 4:10).
 
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”
2 Corinthians 8:9 (ESV)
 
God wants you to prosper! Through Jesus’ finished work on the cross you’re blessed (Ephesians 1:3) and you have access to an endless supply of provision. The word “rich” in this scripture means “to be (or become) wealthy (literally or figuratively)” (Strong’s Concordance).
 
 
“Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.”
Psalm 35:27 (KJV)
 
God delights in seeing you prosper! When we are talking about “prosperity” we aren’t just talking about having stuff. According to 2 Corinthians 9:8, God’s definition of prosperity is that we always have all sufficiency in all things (no lack) so that we can “abound unto every good work.” God wants you to be blessed so that you can be a blessing and help expand God’s Kingdom through your generosity.
 
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
Psalm 23:1 (ESV)
 
The Hebrew word “CHACER,” which was translated “I shall not want” here, was also translated “abated” in Genesis 8:3 and 5 when talking about the flood waters decreasing. And so we could say that “the Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not decrease.” God is a God of increase and fruitfulness.

“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit…”
John 15:8a (ESV)

The Lord is your Shepherd; therefore you lack nothing and shall not decrease. God is a God of increase and fruitfulness. He is your source and provider; therefore you have a limitless supply. You never have to run dry! You can just trust Him and rest in the knowledge that He is both willing and able to care for and look after you, His beloved child.