A God who provides

I read a story recently that I thought I would share with you all:

 “Shortly after Dallas Theological Seminary was founded in 1924, it almost came to the point of bankruptcy. All the creditors were going to foreclose at noon on a particular day. That morning key leaders met in the president’s office with Dr. Chafer for prayer. They asked specifically for God to provide the needs. In that prayer meeting was a man by the name of Harry Ironside. When it was his turn to pray, he prayed in his characteristic manner: “Lord, we know that the cattle on a thousand hills are Thine. Please sell some of them and send us the money.”

While they were praying a tall Texan with boots on and an open collar stepped up to the business office and said, “I just sold two carloads of cattle in Ft. Worth. I’ve been trying to make a business deal but it fell through, and I feel compelled to give the money to the seminary. I don’t know if you need it or not, but here’s the check!”

A secretary took the check and, knowing how critical things were financially , went to the door of the prayer meeting and timidly tapped. When she finally got a response, Dr. Chafer took the check out of her hand. It was exactly the amount of the debt! When he looked at the name, he recognized the cattleman in Ft. Worth, and turning to Dr. Ironside said, “Harry, God sold the cattle!” (James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited, p. 419)

If we ask, God will provide. Specifically. That is so cool. I love this story because there was nothing the men could do but pray. I love this story because God does own the cattle on a thousand hills and he does want to provide for us and he tells us if we ask, it will be given to us. And I love this story because the cowboy followed through on what he felt compelled to do. He could of just as easily said “These thoughts are crazy, I need to provide for my family. I’ve got kids that I have to feed, clothe, and eventually send to college!” I love this story because I’ve been there. A place where there is nothing I can do but pray and ask God to come and meet this need. For our wedding. For our college loans. When I didn’t have a job for two months. Each time, he showed up in a specific way to meet our needs. And finally, I love this story because it’s about Texas.