He gave His ALL to reconcile us to Himself and abide in us by His Spirit, so His blood is mine now and I am His child. That means that all He is is what I am too. Generosity is "in my blood". So is mercy, love, joy, peace, hope, freedom, victory, discipling. We may think we dont look much like Him in the earth but take a look. Today when you saw your neighbor with a crutch your heart was moved for her because you know you have authority in the heavenlies to restore wholeness to it, so you went over and loved her that way -- as well as in giving affection to her dogs. Today when you were alone your mind wandered to truth about Jesus and your heart meditated on it. Today when you went to work you worked diligently at your job, as though it were your first day on the job, even though no one was around to see whether you did or not. Today when faced with a frightened mom's texts about her child, you didnt get defensive, you were patient and kind and honest and gracious. Today when you were short-changed on your paycheck and you really needed the full amount, you didnt raise hell, you raised heaven! You didnt say a word, were thankful for what you got, trusted the oversight would get sorted out in due time, and that your needs would be met by the One who knows them all. Today when you took inventory of your sparse pantry and fridge you found yourself rejoicing in enough. Today you spoke life and identity to your friends. Today you celebrated in prayer the living testimonies of faithful brothers and sisters around the world. That looks a lot like Jesus, it looks a lot like WHO YOU WERE [re]BORN AS; it looks like Love, on earth as it is in heaven.
You know what else looks like Him? Your mindset on provision. Youve been trained by the world (that doesnt know Him as Hope) to account for all that you will owe and to make enough to cover it all. When asked if you have enough for your needs your natural way of thinking would go, "do I have enough for all the upcoming needs?" All the planning ahead for the future, the storing up or saving, arent stable ground for placing hope in though. No one can see what tomorrow will bring. Just as likely an unforeseen expense will arise and that one little thing will totally shatter the hope we thought we had built so strong in our material wealth and resources. Daddy God is teaching me the natural way of my new nature, my in-Him nature; the way of real hope. I have a job that does cover all my needs, and then some. I ought to have enough for all the days to come. He provided both the things I pay for monthly as well as the job to pay them but its not those things that I hope in, its the One whose hand they come from. Give me that Hand and take all the rest away and Im still secure and satisfied. That is a real Hope! And its yours for the taking!
Because I look like my Daddy God, and generosity is in my blood, when Im face-to-face with another's need I give generously of all thats been given to me -- even if its money that was "meant" to cover a bill in three days. Each week that this happens I say, "Daddy, should I really give this time?" "Do you want to, baby girl?" "I do! But I should pay my bills." "Do what Ive created you to do; give. I will take care of your needs." So I give. And I hold my breath out of fear's habit -- as though, if I were to be let down and left without help, holding my breath would brace me enough for the fall. And then I marvel each day as a need arises and He meets it, over and over, day after day, until a whole month is complete and no matter how much was earned or given or required, I had enough.
He's teaching me this way. One day at a time. And tonight I had a revelation of why. If I have it so firmly rooted in me that I will have enough for all that I need TODAY, and I live that way everyday, then I can say with assurance from today that I WILL have enough for all that I need TOMORROW.
Let your character [your moral essence, your inner nature] be free from the love of money [shun greed—be financially ethical], being content with what you have; for He has said, “I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you[assuredly not]!” So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently say,“The Lord is my Helper [in time of need], I will not be afraid.
What will man do to me?”
// Hebrews 13:5-6 AMP
So when I hold my breath now, its going to be in hopeful expectation of Daddy showing His glory all over again in my life, not in a bracing for being let down. He never fails. And He doesnt mind the time its taken to get there for me, to renew my mind in truth, because He wants this abundant life EXPERIENCED by us, not just known about. Taste and see, friend!
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