He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land

With the land looking so parched and dry, drought, hosepipe bans, wild fires and worries about food shortages, this reading from Isaiah seemed particularly apt:

Isiah 58:10 - 11 (NIV)

10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry

and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,

then your light will rise in the darkness,

and your night will become like the noonday.

11 The Lord will guide you always;

he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land

and will strengthen your frame.

You will be like a well-watered garden,

like a spring whose waters never fail.

We should take better care and respect for the beauty and plenty of the world that God has created. There is plenty for everyone if we steward well and share the blessings that we have from God with others. And this doesn't just apply to physical gifts and resources, but to the spiritual gifts, time and talents that we have from God. If we care for those who have less than us, who are hungry and oppressed and can help satisfy their needs, than we will be abundantly satisfied with the good gifts of God, however parched and sun-scorched the land.

John 4: 13 - 14 (NIV)

13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Many of our Ely and District CAP clients struggle to put food on the table or prioritise food for their families rather than themselves. Many feel oppressed by debt, excluded from society, isolated and alone. As part of the Ely and District CAP team we can help bring the spring that never fails to our clients, provide practical help and spiritual love and care. And this is not something that we do alone, we can point clients to food banks and community pantries, social groups and coffee mornings, addiction support or help with technology. The whole community of God works together to support those in need, we do not need to struggle as individuals but know that we are part of the Body of Christ and supported to do our own part in the bigger plan to build His Kingdom here and now.

Prayer

Please pray for all our Ely and District CAP clients, for those struggling to find food for the next meal or doing without so that they can care for others. Pray that the relief of debt freedom would help ease these burdens and the knowledge of the love of Jesus in their lives would be with them to support, strengthn and uphold them into the future.

Please pray for the team, for the love and support that they bring to our clients alongside the practicalities of the journey out of debt.

Please pray that we would be strengthened and inspired by Jesus' love for the poor, needy, marginalised and oppressed to be better able to share the resources that we have from God, whether material, spiritual, time or talents to help play our part in building His Kingdom.