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Archive for May, 2011

Trading God: Giving My Old Mind for a New Mind

May 9th, 2011

1 Kings 17: 12-16 (NKJV)

So she said, “As the LORD your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.”

This verse struck a deep emotion in me today. God showed me how I am living like this women when I keep my sight on the “here and now” and not fully turning my fears of tomorrow over to Him. God calls us to give our fears to Him, not to hold on to them and try to work things out on our own! When my sight is paralyzed on what’s happening now, today, in essence that is having no hope for tomorrow. Through the years God has graciously showed me where I lack faith and how to bring my fears to Him.

I’ve come really far, but after reading this verse I see I have more work to do:)

In verse 13 Elijah tells the women to go do as she said she was going to do, but he tells her to make a small cake to give to him first then make some for herself and her son. I reread this a few times and the Lord showed me that no matter how little we think we have, if we give to Him first (tithe, offering, serving with time, ect) because this is an act of faith…taking Him at His word! When we prove to ourselves and those watching us, that we take God at His word, I believe great things happen. He can take that “little” and bless us over and over again. No matter what God calls us to give to Him, as long as we do what we are told to do, He will not let our strength “be used up” or our joy “run dry”

“the bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry..”;

in other words, if we offer up what we have first, before using it, the Lord will take care of us. I believe some of the “firsts” we can offer to God include:

The first minutes we are awake
Before eating our meals
Before confronting someone that has offended us
Our thoughts before our words (not speaking our mind or feelings before contemplating how it will affect the person listening to us)
A portion of our income

How about you, do you suffer from the “here and now” and look to the future with little hope and a lot of fear? The Lord does care and He wants you to bring yourself to Him; that includes your fears, worries and anything else that causes you to struggle with daily living.