Keys to the Kingdom – Carolyn Tucker

Since spoons are more versatile, they’re used more often than forks. Last week I realized we needed more spoons — not forks or knives, just spoons. I’d mentioned this shortage to my husband, but I hadn’t come up with a good solution. Later in the same week, our daughter-in-law dropped by and surprised me with a big handful of…beautiful spoons! She had no idea I needed them, but while shopping in December at a thrift store in Idaho, she spotted my Oneida pattern and bought them for just a few bucks. Cynthia kept forgetting to give the flatware to me, but I believe God wanted her to wait until I actually needed them. I call that a God thing.

I didn’t even think to pray and ask God for spoons. But since God knows how many hairs are on my head, He certainly knew the desire of my heart. “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4 ESV). The Book of Psalms is one of my favorites because of the scriptures pertaining to playing instruments, singing, and praising the Lord. If we have breath, the Psalmist David instructs us to praise the Lord. When God gives us something, we’re supposed to thank and praise Him for it. “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 150:6 NKJV).

When you receive anything good, it is from God. His Word verifies this: “Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father….” (James 1:17 NLT). We are actually insulting God when we neglect to give Him the glory that is due Him. Good things are not coincidences — they are God things.

It’s comforting to know that my loving heavenly Father watches over me. He was aware of my spoon shortage and He cared. You may think I’m a hay bale short of a full barn loft, but I’m not and I can prove it: “Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully” (1 Peter 5:7 AMP).

It’s interesting to note that the spoons were purchased over a month before the need arose. We must remember that when it looks like God’s not doing anything in your circumstances, He is. Because He is the great I AM. He works behind the scenes, He works under the stormy ocean, and He works above the turbulent clouds. He’s not nervous, He’s not confused, and He’s never surprised.

So here’s something to consider. If you don’t thank and praise God for the little things He does for you, why should He give you the big things you’re asking for? Are you tying His hands by being ungrateful? God cannot operate against His own word. “You must not bow down to them [false gods] or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods“ (Deuteronomy 5:9 NLT). Giving credit to the god of coincidence or good luck is displeasing to God. He is deservingly possessive of the worship and praise that belong to Him. If you’re breathing, you are to give glory to the one and only true God.

The Key: God wants to give you the desires of your heart…even if it’s spoons.