Generous Faith

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am i a cheerful giver, can God be trusted, couple devotions, does it matter if I'm fearful, family devotions, family time, fear, God's faithfulness, God's provision, great start for the week, how can i live by faith, how to conquer fear, how to give generously, how to live by faith, living by faith, living free, one true God, religion, simple Bible story, the faithfulness of God, the widow and Elijah

In I Kings 17, we see an amazingly true story about a widow and a prophet.

Verses 1-7 tell us there is a famine in the land… and then the story really gets good.

Elijah is commanded by the Lord to go to a specific widow for provisions. When Elijah finds her and asks for help, she explains she only has a little flour and a little oil left. Her plans were to finish the food with her son and die.

I find it so interesting that Elijah’s response to her was, “Don’t be afraid…” and then, he proceeds to give her instructions. He even tells her what the results of her obedience will be.

Did she go home to a room full of flour and oil? No. In fact, verse 16 tells us, “The flour jar did not become empty, and the oil jug did not run dry, according to the word of the LORD He had spoken through Elijah.” Same flour jar. Same jug of oil. Faith conquering fear at every single meal.

She had to have faith to obey before the miracle happened.

So, what does all this mean?

For me, it’s a great reminder that fear causes me not to give, but faith causes generosity.

What do I mean?

Elijah told her to feed him first. She didn’t feed her son and then see the flour and oil miraculously replenish. She had to give first.

I think that’s why Elijah responded to her excuses by saying, “Don’t be afraid.”

He knew that fear would cause her to hang on to that flour and oil, but faith would cause her to obey.

That’s the human response whether it’s a roller coaster, money, or food in a famine.

Fear causes a tight grip. Faith results in generosity.

When I am believing God for provision… truly leaving it all in His hands… I am a cheerful giver.

When I am fearful of the future, I have a very tight grip on the checkbook. It doesn’t matter if the balance is $8, or $8,000, the result is the same.

When I am fearful, I actually have a tight grip on everything… my family, my friends, my finances, and even my dog. I get on everyone’s nerves… including myself.

Living in faith is just better for everyone!

So, let’s live by the widow’s example. Let’s replace the fear of the future with faith in our God. Faith in the one, true and living God of the universe who has control over flour, oil, finances and everything else under the sun.

Let’s choose to live in the generosity of faith.

Seeking Hearts Ministries

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No Longer an Ostrich

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all things through Christ, breath of God, denial, denying reality, encouragement for the weary, encouraging words to get you going, head in the sand, how do i stop denial, how to stop denail, living free, living in continual victory, relying on God, relying on God's strength, stopping denial, the armor of God

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the Armor of God. You know, in Ephesians 6, where God reminds us this life is an all-out war, all of the time. I avoid dwelling on that too often and it leads to more issues than if I just admit the war and deal with it. I’m like an ostrich in the sand instead of a soldier ready for war.

Ephesians 6:10-11 says, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

Yep. There it is in black and white, but I often act like an ostrich with my butt up in the air and my head in the sand instead of putting on the armor God has provided.

Peace time is much easier and that’s where I want to believe I am.

In peace time, I don’t I don’t have to wear armor. In peace time, I don’t have to live prepared. In peace time, I don’t have to think about a war.

What I’m learning though is that living like an ostrich is suffocating. I’m not designed to breathe in sand. I’m not designed to live in denial. I’m designed to fly and breathe the air in deeply. I’m really designed to soar like an eagle, not hide like an ostrich.

Isaiah 40:29-31 says, “He [God] gives strength to the weary and strengthens the powerless. Youths may faint and grow weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who trust in the LORD will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint.”

So, how do I switch from living like an ostrich to flying like an eagle?

Eph. 6:10 says that it’s about being strong in the Lord and in the power of HIS might. It’s not about my strength. It’s about His.

When I have my head in the sand, I’m focusing on the darkness surrounding me, praying no one notices me, thinking the enemy won’t think I’m worth the trouble…not being able to breathe.

When I am depending on God’s strength, He renews my energy and makes me soar…armor and all. All denial gets me is sand in my face, but depending on God’s strength gets me the pure breath of the Spirit of God.

Job 32:8 says, “But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding.”

When I am breathing in the breath of God, I have understanding of the war I’m in, the subtle nuances that would otherwise go unnoticed of the battle around me.

When I have my head in the sand, I don’t understand anything because I can’t see clearly, or breathe deeply.

The breath of God equals understanding.

Head in the sand equals denial and, dare I say… stupidity.

The choice is mine (and yours) …

Head in the sand, or head up breathing in all God has for me today?

I’m ready to get my head up, breathe in the breath of God once again and receive the strength that not only gets me to the front lines, but wins the war.

http://www.seekinghearts.org

 

 

 

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So Over It…

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being free, being free in Christ, Christ set us free, freedom, getting free, I'm sick of this song, Jesus, living free, no more chains, no more shackles, staying free, still learning, worship

I admit it, when I saw the song list for Sunday I was disappointed. Most of the songs were right on (in my opinion) except the last one…the one I have sung over and over and over again. I remember thinking, “I am so over this song.” I’ve actually even written a blog about this song before. Ironic, huh?

So, what’s the song? Got you curious, haven’t I? Don’t gasp too loudly, but it’s “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)”. I know, it’s a great song. It’s even brought traditional churches to tears, but I’ve just heard it one too many times…or, so I thought.

As I was practicing said song, God reminded me that I may know all the words, but I still wasn’t living chain free. He reminded me that I sometimes still wear shackles that He broke off of me many years ago. He knew I needed the reminder because He knew that I had replaced the freedom that His very Son gave me with panic, fear and dread this very week. He knew I was vulnerable to the Enemy’s attacks and that a few fiery darts had hit their mark. He knew I needed to be reminded that my chains truly are gone.

Galatians 5:1 teaches us that, “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”

Why did Christ set me free? Was it so I could do good works? Was it because I’m this awesome person who deserves freedom? No. Christ set me free so that I could live in freedom. That’s it. That’s the only reason. His great love, His amazing grace, His mercy that is new every morning, just wants me to be free.

If I received a letter in my mailbox this week that my mortgage was paid off, how many more payments do you think I would make? You guessed it…none. I would be completely free from that debt. Christ is telling us in Galatians that our mortgage, our debt, is gone for all time, yet we find ourselves still making payments.

Spiritually speaking, I still think I need to make a payment to stay free. That’s kind of nuts, isn’t it? But, it’s often how I live. The chains that Christ broke off of me still entice me. My mind thinks it’s better to have a freak out than to rest in Him. My brain thinks watching Netflix will be better to fall asleep to than reading His Word and praying for others as I drift off into oblivion. My body thinks that depending on comfort food instead of drawing on His strength will somehow make things better.

At times, I’m still choosing shackles instead of freedom. I may be sick of the song, but the message still needs to be heard.

…”My chains are gone. I’ve been set free…”

So, as I sing this song that I’ve heard over and over again this Sunday, I pray that it truly is a testimony of my life…not just in that moment, but when I go home as well. I pray that I’m not thinking “When is this going to be over?”, but I will truly give God glory for setting me free. I pray that the next time you see me all you see are wrists that are shackle free, ankles that are unfettered and gratefulness oozing out of every pore for the One who sets us all free.

Seeking Hearts Ministries

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