About Me

Andrew Schwab is a notable author, journalist and lead vocalist for the rock band Project 86. He has written for magazine publications including: Relevant, AP, CCM and HM. He is a published author with 4 available books, including his latest FAME IS INFAMY, available now on the store button above!

Daily Reflections – 10/23/2011

I thought it would be cool to share some thoughts on my readings on a more consistent basis here.

Keep deception and [a]lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion, That I not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the LORD?” Or that I not be in want and steal, And profane the name of my God.

Proverbs 30:8-9 NASB

We cannot be consumed with the future because the future is not guaranteed. And even if it is, our time on earth is so, so short. We are to ask for our DAILY bread, and to focus on the now, because the future is in God’s hands. This is comforting to me because, lately, I spend so much time thinking about the variables which lie ahead – How will I be provided for ten years from now? What will I do? Where will I live?

All we can do is make a list of the ways we are blessed and provided for today. All I can do is reflect on the divine provisions I have been given right now, and it will force me to acknowledge that Jesus is real, he is here, and he cares for me.

The reason why he says give us this day our DAILY bread is because if we have enough—not too little or much, as Solomon put it in Ecclesiastes—we will neither become complacent, nor will we starve. Our only recourse is to be thankful for what we have today and rely on God for what will come in the next 24 hours. In the meantime, we commit fully to our work and seek Him with all our might.

This is a life of success, achievement, and most of all, peace.

I would love to hear your feedback below. Check back regularly for more…

October 23, 2011 · Bible Study, Other, Spiritual Living · 16 Comments

  • Vincent

    Well said Andrew. When we focus on Him, we never need worry about where our portion is coming from. I have been a follower of Christ for 11+ yrs now and there has never been one day when my family and I didn’t have all we needed. Even in those times when my flesh is going crazy in worry over this stack of bills or the car breaking down or whatever we were facing at the time. Along the way too have been plenty of times when our cup runneth over, giving us that much more to glorify Him for. Something you said also lined up with scripture that was preached in my church this morning. We glorify God by completing the work on Earth He has given us to do. That is exactly what Jesus did. Andrew I pray God continues to bless you and your family and also all those in the P86 family.

  • Cory Flasher

    Romans 12:2  Seek gods will first and foremost in life any other way of life is short and fleeting we are just a vapor in the wind! as well as I always try to keep in mind how he loves me and his thoughts for me out number the grains of sand

  • Gtr96

    Thanks Andrew.. I find myself praying for peace often, with those same variables in mind. Sounds an awful lot like the old Count Your Blessings hymn.. Very easy to forget how amazing God is and how deep his love goes. Thanks for the reminder and for your thoughts. Good stuff.

    Glenn

  • http://twitter.com/RosaFatalis Jukebox Judea

    Being a senior in college, I find it really easy to get anxious about the future and start interrogating myself [and even God, to some degree: "how will studying graphic design now help to clothe the poor and feed the hungry... while still clothing and feeding myself? how will I be able to pursue music and still be able to pay for a roof over my head?"]. Never mind that what I have now can sometimes be more than enough; never mind that God has always pulled through for me; never mind the promises that He’s made to me; never mind that He’s the Creator, the Author, and the only Constant in my life. But thank goodness for refreshing reminders [like this blog post] that God is in control, that He is the ultimate Provider, and that He gives us exactly what we need.
    Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Looking forward to future posts :)

  • Jared D.

    I think this is an interesting verse, and also a really good one.  I totally agree in that we should be only focusing on the now and on what we have.  Whether we’re rich or poor, we’re always wanting more and more.  We need to be only asking God for the right amount, no more and no less than what we need.  We are children of God and more valuable than the birds of the air (Matthew 26) so we will definitely be provided for and should get an adequate amount of what we need.  But then we need to realize that God is in control of our lives and not ask for anything more than what he gives us.

  • Rattrap

    Funny that I’m always being told that I should think about THE FUTURE. What for? What should I think about? There’s nothing much to be done by thinking about THE FUTURE. We should care and think about our eternal life, not the things here on Earth.

    The scary thing is that there’s much to be done about people’s mentalities. Yeah, they go to church etc., but there’s nothing more about it, no deeper thinking, nothing comes from it and they still worry. I have seen that there’s nothing to worry about as God always helps when we need His help. Too bad the society in general (and I mean Christian society) doesn’t see it. Don’t know if my way of thinking makes sense, but maybe there’ll be some interesting discussion here :D .

  • http://twitter.com/musicphanatic John Amos

    Good thoughts, Andrew.  It’s tough, sometimes to have a balanced perspective even as believers.  Unfortunately, many times we allow culture to influence us more than the Word of God, and that’s when we lose sight of how we ought to live, by relying on God’s grace and strength rather than worrying about what tomorrow will bring.  

  • Dylan

    Very insightful thoughts. I myself have wondered the same thing as you have for example on where I will be in 10 years or what I will be doing. Even though I am in college right now to become an electrician for all I know I could be serving sandwiches at the local restaurant.

    And on the part where you were talking about giving thanks for our daily bread, I really have never thought about it enough to really see the meaning that you put behind it. When I was growing up I always thought it w just to give thanks to the lord for the food on our plate. So really I think it could be for both givings thanks for our food and our day to day lives that the lord give us.

    I have truly enjoyed reading this Andrew. It has been a long time since I have read Proverbs, but after reading this I might just pick up the bible and read a few verses a night so I can think and ponder about what teachings our God has for us. Thanks and God bless!

  • Patriciar.Shrike@Y!

    I really like this insight but I don’t think that it should be treated as such a curse to be blessed or denied such worldly things. For me, that I should be blessed with the love of those around me is enough for myself. And the inner desire to be a positive presence in the lives of my neighbors, family and friends I believe makes great strides toward suppressing temptation to claim this victory as our own. In the work I do, I often work with people after great personal trials: tragic losses, fearful moments and times of trauma. Those I encounter are sometimes experiencing a devastating financial loss – like the burning of their home. And other times it is the loss of a wife, a mother, a friend, a son…..these losses also leave us in a deficit of our daily needs. In a pit, some are quick to curse a God who would take away what he has given… But most, in the genuine quality of a heart truly aching and in need of his presence are more open than ever to the blessing of those friends and strangers who seek to guide, heal, or simply be a caring presence. And those that have opened themselves up to receive these broken hearts are blessed as well. God can bless those with nothing, those with enough and those with excess. we just need to open ourselves to his presence – whether it be in sustaining us, in blessing us greatly, or even in the taking of what is in our hands… So they are free to receive it in a different form.

  • Wishin

    Very encouraging especially in the current economic landscape. Living with a thankful heart in the moment is a great reminder.

  • Joshua Muzyka

    That’s one of my favorite verses. Thank you for posting it and sharing your insight bro. We definitely need to learn to be satisfied with what we’re given and above all to keep Him first.

  • Sondancer

    Great thoughts! I just heard a teaching a few days ago from a Messianic Jewish man, and he was teaching about Shabat and manna in the desert. (He was sharing with us about why the Jews celebrate Friday, the evening before their Sabbath with two loaves of bread at their table) God only allowed His people, in the desert, to collect what they needed for that day. If they tried to collect more and store it up, it turned rancid by the next morning. The only exception was when it came time for the Sabbath, when they were allowed to gather a double portion of manna, to provide for that day and the following day, so that they could rest on the Sabbath. Not only does He provide for us daily, but He also provides us with extra, not so that we can hoard it, but so that we can find time to rest! I think that is beautiful! 

  • Dave

    You’ve got it exactly right! And I’ve been thinking about this sort of thing recently because I’ve been looking for a job for a couple months now, and it’s just a matter of relying on God day by day, trusting that He has something in store for me. Thank you for reafferming this for me, and for sharing your thoughts!

  • Butneverdestroyed

    I have to remind myself of this more and more as, day-by-day, I get older and have more of my future to look forward to; where’s my money going to come from?  How am I going to learn to do all these things that other adults do ever day?  What problems that I’m living with now are going to follow me into my marriage?  How am I going to help my kids and keep open communication with them when they’re growing up?  This part of Proverbs is one of the comforts I have to crawl to once the ‘what-ifs’ bring me to my knees.  

    Can I suggest, as a supplement, the book of Ecclesiastes?  The voice of the author is refreshing after a couple months of studying Proverbs, and the focus is a little different.  It helps to re-direction your attention to the important part of living, defined by God as opposed to the mouths of mortals who train us. 

    Honestly, any amount of time spent in the Word helps to obliterate world-based worry, because pure Truth (whether it directly relates to your bills or your vices or the little green men) casts out any sort of lies that the devil spins in your ear.  What was that verse? 

    “The Light shone in the darkness and the darkness comprehended it not.”

  • Levi

    I have not really thought of coming complacent with his blessings. He knows exactly what we need when we really don’t know ourselves.

  • Rusty_D

    This is exactly what I needed to hear when I needed to hear it. Lately I’ve become obsessed with what the future holds but I need to remember all God said in His word about the future… “Don’t worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will bring enough troubles on it’s own.”, “Pick up your cross daily and follow me”, etc. I guess it goes to show the only day we have is today. Tomorrow isn’t promised and we can’t relive yesterday. Thanks man! Keep sharing! ;}