Providence is… The perception of the wisdom, care, and guidance beleived to be provided by God and His caring force guiding mankind.

The best Puritan treatment of providence comes from John Flavel (Click here and here {The Book}).  I’ve been reading about Mr. Flavel’s thoughts from the book, “The Devoted Life: An Invitation To The Puritan Classics.”  Offered below are his thoughts on how to meditate upon God’s providence…

Work hard at remembering and exploring the providence of God toward you.

Trace the connection between the providences of God in your life and the promises of God in His Word.

Look beyond the events and circumstances of providence to God Himself as author and provider.

Respond to each providence in an appropriate way.

Q: What are we to do when God’s providence does not seem to agree with His promises?

Learn how to resist discouragement.

Learn not to assume you fully and clearly understand God’s ways and purposes.

Q: What are we to do when we find it difficult to discern God’s will?

Get the true fear of God upon your heart, be really afraid of offending Him…

Study the Word more, and the concerns and worries of the world less…

Reduce what you know into practice, and you shall know what is your duty to practice…

Pray for illumination and direction in the way you should go; beg the Lord to guide you… that He would not allow you to fall into sin…

And this being done, follow providence as far as it agrees with the word, and no further.

Flavel’s reflections on God’s providence:

God is in control of His universe…

God is working out His perfect purposes…

God is not my servant…

God’s ways are far more mysterious and wonderful than I can understand…

God is good — all the time, I can trust Him — all the time…

God’s timetalbe is not the same as mine…

God is far more interested in what I become than what I do…

Freedom from suffering is no part of the Christian Gospel…

Suffering is an integral part of the Christian life…

God works through suffering to fulfill His purposes in me…

God’s purposes, not mine, are what will bring Him glory…

God guides me by enabling me to read His providences through the lenses of His Word… and…

I have few greater pleasures than to read His providences than tracing the wonders of God’s ways.

Now meditate on these things…