We hope you enjoy this re-post from October 5, 2013. Be blessed! The Today’s Quote From God Team

Now to Him Who…is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams] – Ephesians 3:20, Amplified Bible

Youth Pastor Jonas owned a 1999 Ford Ranger, King Cab pickup truck. The truck served him well for years, but it was becoming a little cramped for his growing family. He never complained about the increasingly tight fit, though, and he continued to drive the vehicle with a grateful heart.

One day another driver sideswiped Pastor Jonas’ truck, rendering the vehicle useless. Thankfully, Pastor Jonas escaped serious injury, but when his insurance company gave him only $6,000 for the wrecked Ranger, he was more than a little concerned about being able to afford a replacement truck.

After the wreck, Jonas’ senior pastor asked the church for a love offering to help out. At each service for a week, church members chipped in to help their youth pastor, and at the end of the week, Pastor Jonas called his father, weeping. Asked by his father what was going on, Pastor Jonas explained why he was crying:

Dad, the church gave me $20,500 towards a new truck!

With the combined sum of the love offering and the insurance money, Pastor Jonas was able to buy a 2013 crew cab Ford F150 – plenty of truck to serve his growing family, and a sweet ride to boot!

As the owner of a cattle on a thousand hills, God decided to surprise his faithful servant with a provision he never dreamed of, and He wants to surprise all of His faithful servants from time to time, just when they need the encouragement the most. It’s important to remember, however, that in order for God to surprise his servants with such provision, they need to be obeying God in every way they know how. This doesn’t mean that they have to be sinless. No one can meet that requirement. It does mean that they cannot expect God’s generous provision when they are actively and willfully behaving against His will.

Always be mindful of the truth of 1 Samuel 2:30 (Amplified Bible)

…For those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.

When we disobey, we effectively despise The Lord, for we treasure our own desires much more than we treasure His will. At such times we cannot expect a generous surprise from The Lord because at such times He will lightly esteem us, just as we lightly esteem Him.