GuideStone® was originally established in 1918 to provide financial support and assistance for retired pastors and widows. Today, we continue to carry out that mission through the ministry of Mission:Dignity®. Here’s an encouraging devotional from one of our recipients:
God Provides for His OwnPsalm 37:25 (KJV)
Randall Ingram authored this issue’s devotional. He served the Lord alongside his wife, Pattie, for 41 years.
In my first church, Anderson Baptist Church, in Blue Springs, Alabama, we drove 60 miles to the church one way and then back. I don’t remember what they paid me. It was something like $60 or $75 a week — not much.
One week, we paid our tithe at church, bought what we could buy for groceries and gas to get back and forth, and had only $1 left, one dollar bill. So, we just prayed and asked the Lord to help that dollar get us through the week. When we got home from church, sitting on our step was a box with a ham in it and several other food items. That ham lasted all week. God provided for us, and I’ve never forgotten it.
Psalm 37:25 (KJV) says, “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken.” My wife, Pattie, and I have had to be resilient through the years. We’ve done without a lot of things because we knew we couldn’t afford them, but we’ve always had what we needed through God’s blessings. God’s always provided through church people, churches or through organizations like Mission:Dignity. We haven’t missed many meals, as shown by our photo. And he’s blessed us when we’ve needed something specific. We may not always get the top of the line, but we’ve always got what we need. God provides for his own. Give praise to God today for providing for you.
Want more devotionals? Our 40-day devotional book written by our Mission:Dignity recipients is available to order here.
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Commentary
• Feb 3, 2026 