Recently I finished a book by the puritan John Flavel entitled “The Mystery of Providence”. I figured, because of the amount of books I read and my desire to tell people about the great truths in them, I would start a Book Report page. Therefore I am going to kick it off with Flavel’s wonderful read.
This will not be an exhaustive review or report of the book but rather a quick summary of how it impacted my soul. My intent is that you will be led to read the book yourself and/or grow by the truths that are so beautifully described inside of it.
The Book
John walks his readers through a discourse on the definition of God’s providence and the impact that it has in our lives. I was instantly gripped by this truth. When looking back on my life I see God’s providence from the family He placed me in, to the schools I happened to attend, to the friends I have made, to the jobs I have had, up to this present moment. In each milestone, and the days in between, God was so obviously directing my life to the direction He intended (Ephesians 1:11). In the present moment we never realize that God is designing everything to fit His perfect plan. We, rather, run around worrying and thinking about a hundred possibilities for the future not realizing that God has final say in what will happen.
The first half of the book simply convinces you of the reality of God’s providence. You must take a moment and think back to the beginning of your existence and trace your steps to where you are now. Examine God’s obvious hand in your life and how He has used your every moment to fulfill His will (Isaiah 46:10-11). It ought to leave you speechless and left with nothing to do but trust in God. Which then leads to the second half of the book.
Application
Our response to the Providence of God. Once the reader is convinced of the providence of his God then they are left to follow the practical steps:
- Meditate on His Providence
- Commit your way to God (Prov 16:3)
- Trust in God (Ps 31:14)
- Fear God
- Study His Word
- Wait on God
- Bonus: Begin a notebook and record your observances of the Providence of God’
I would love to expand each point but I am afraid it will be nothing but head knowledge to you. So I would rather encourage you, if you are truly interested, to begin with step 1. It is interesting how much of a slippery slope it becomes. When you truly take time to meditate on the providence of God you automatically begin to trust, wait, study, and love Him. So do just that.