Life can be so hard to figure out… I have been thinking so much lately about Philippians 4:12-13:
“I know · what it is to be in want, and I know what it is to have an abundance. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret, whether I am well-fed or hungry, · have plenty or am in need. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
It’s not about what you have or don’t have – it’s about:
WHERE YOUR TRUST LIES
If your trust is in money or worldly possessions, you will ALWAYS feel dissatisfied and ALWAYS want for “one MORE thing.” There will aways feel as though something is still “out of your grasp” although there is pleasure in not having to worry about money, it is NOT the place where “the peace that passes ALL understanding” lies. Don’t get me wrong, if God brings you to a point where you aren’t worrying in your head about the bills you have to pay, if you have enough money when you stand in the line of the grocery store – you are blessed indeed. But money CANNOT buy eternal satisfaction. Money CANNOT take away the part deep inside you that is lonely, that feels empty. It is a temporary fix. For many it is an idol. It is something that mistakenly makes some feel as though “they are of a higher status than someone else.” It is FALSE security. Wealth can EASILY become your God. It becomes people’s “drug of choice” you always want it. You always go after it. You always want MORE. MORE money, MORE items, MORE possessions. More! More! More! Now, don’t get me wrong – I am NOT against having nice things! I don’t think it is a sin to have a nice home, nice car, worldly possessions – BUT I think when it BECOMES your SOLE focus. Your self-worth is found in the items that you have, or reflects in the way you view others, or becomes your SOLE purpose in life – you have put it over and in front of your need for God. It is NOT a sin to have nice things; it is a sin to idolize them. Ecclesiastes 5:10 tells us:
“He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.”
Also, Luke 12:34 and Matthew 6:21 tell us the same thing:
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
As a follower of Jesus, part of God’s “Called Remnant” it is so important for us to check ourselves and our hearts to make sure that we have God in His rightful place in our lives, in our hearts… Even if you have accepted Him already as your Savior, have you made Him LORD OVER your life? OVER your possessions? OVER your finances? OVER your money? OVER job? OVER your time? OVER your thoughts? This is something that we have to do continuously! Daily! Check ourselves, check our hearts, check our priorities. In other words:
IS GOD FIRST IN YOUR LIFE?
If we find that we have fallen short in our priorities all it takes is asking God for forgiveness. He loves you, He sees you, He IS your provider! Instead of looking at the gift of all He has allowed to come your way or provided FOR you – you need to look at the GIVER! (HIM!!!) For EVERY good and perfect thing that you have has come from Him. Maybe it is time for you to reprioritize your focus. I know I have had to! I TRULY know what it is like to have little and what it is like to have a lot – and the truth of the matter is that the MOST important thing in my life is HIM! HE is where “the peace that passes ALL understanding lies.” HE is where unexplainable joy resides. HE is the ONLY One Who can make me feel as though “my cup runneth over”. It is KNOWING that in Him I have eternal riches that go BEYOND any worldly goods! There is NOTHING that can measure up to what I have found in Christ Jesus, the ONE Who loved me enough to give up His VERY life for me! The One Who left the glories of Heaven, took on human flesh, born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life and chose to take upon your sins (and mine) as He suffered the most horrific death possible, beaten and nailed to a cross, the ONLY One righteous enough to restore us to a RIGHT relationship with the Father…. And even RIGHT at the moment that you are even reading these words, He is sitting on the RIGHT hand of the Father, interceding on YOUR (and my) behalf! And He’s coming back for those that are His! He’s coming back for you! He’s coming back for me! If you read the book of Revelations (the ONE book in the Bible that has yet to occur) Jesus IS coming back! And while the Bible tells us in Matthew 24:36:
“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.”
The point is –
ARE YOU READY FOR HIS RETURN?
Where is your focus? For where your focus is, is where your heart lies. Do you trust in money? Are you trusting in yourself? Or are you trusting to the One Who owns it ALL???? Matthew 6:19 – 6:20 advises us:
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
God doesn’t want you to lack for anything, but can I attest to you what I personally know? That when you seek the One Who loves you BEYOND anything this world could give you – wealth, status, awards, etc. He TRULY does provide for ALL you need according to His riches and glories! Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us:
“Trust in the LORD with ALL your heart, lean NOT to your OWN understanding. In ALL your ways acknowledge Him and HE will direct YOUR path.”
He doesn’t want you to worry about money or provision – He WANTS you to TRUST in Him! I speak of what I have experienced. I speak of what I know! You have a GOOD, GOOD Father Who LOVES you SOOOOOOO MUCH. But He wants you to keep your eyes on Him. He wants you to TRUST Him. He wants you to TURN to Him. He wants you to LOOK towards Him! He WILL make a way where there is NO way. He IS the Way, the Truth AND the Life.
Will you pray with me?
“Heavenly Father, I thank You so much that I am seen. I thank You that You see ALL things. You know ALL things. I thank You that I CAN trust You, for though I have failed You MANY times, You have NEVER failed me. Your forgiveness, Your grace, Your mercy, Your love, Your patience sustains me through even the darkest of times. Father, please forgive me for the times where I have made money or treasures or worldly possessions my priority and not You. Please forgive me for not making wise decisions, or for focusing on items or putting them on a pedestal instead of looking towards You and thanking You for ALL You have provided me with. I’m sorry Father. I know it is Your good and perfect will that I enjoy ALL things that You have given me, for You are NOT a Father of lack. You are generous in ALL You do. I choose THIS day to RIGHTFULLY put You back on the throne of my life. Father, please continue to provide for me. Please continue to make a way where there appears to be no way. You ARE the Way. Open doors for me financially so that I will walk in plenty and not in lack. Help me to bless others when I have “more than enough” and to rejoice in You No matter what season I find myself in… I know You will always make a way where there is no way, just as long as I keep my eyes on You. I love You SO much Father. Help me not to worry about provision but to trust You in ALL things for I am Your child and I know You see what I need and You will graciously provide ALL things. In YOU I trust. Thank You Father for hearing this prayer! Thank You for seeing me! Thank You for providing for me! Thank You for being the MOST important part of my life. In Jesus’ precious name I pray, AMEN.”
He is the One Who sustains us and keeps us as we go through this journey of life. Let’s remember to put our trust in Him, whether we are in a season of plenty or a time of lack. For He ALONE is our treasure and WE belong to HIM. \0/ \0/\0/
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