‪@evangelinediaries‬
‘True abundance isn’t based on our net worth, it’s based on our self-worth.’ (Gabrielle Bernstein) And when our self-worth comes from God, then how can we lack anything?

Lk 6:1-5

Reflection:
One of the many powerful names of God is Jehovah Jireh. This name first appears in Genesis 22 when God put Abraham to the test; and at the final moment He provided a ram for Abraham to sacrifice instead of his only son Isaac. ‘So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”’ (Gen 22:14) This name points to the awesome fact that our Almighty God always sees and always provides for our every need. And when He provides, He provides in abundance!

In our humanness, we tend to limit ourselves and adopt a narrow outlook to life. We focus on our flaws and deficiencies, burdens of our past, ongoing struggles and future uncertainties. We talk about what we don’t have and what we cannot do, we call ourselves poor, undeserving, and unworthy. We thus live with a victim mentality or what is called a scarcity mindset. In other words, we create and cling to broken pots or cisterns. ‘My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.’ (Jer 2:13) Our loving God offers us overflowing life-giving streams of fresh living water but we are stuck with our broken pots of stale water. All of this is part of the evil one’s strategy to distract us, keep us busy and wear us out, and to thereby plunge us into feelings of despair, dejection and depression. We forget what Jesus said, ‘The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.’ (Jn 10:10)

The Pharisees in today’s Gospel too were caught up in their limited interpretation of the law when they pulled up the disciples for having picked and eaten a few grains on the Sabbath. Being Lord of the Sabbath, Jesus urged them to broaden their understanding of the purpose for which the law was created, not to find fault but to be human and to live with love.

So how can we shift our focus to a life of abundance and manifest His overflowing grace? By acknowledging that we serve a living God, a victorious God who conquered death and arose to life, and a God for whom impossible spells out as ‘I-AM-possible’! (Lk 1:37) Therefore, being children of God, we must seek to live a life of victory, courage, joy and everlasting hope. ‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.’ (Rom 15:13)

Scripture is in fact filled with verses that testify to the overflowing grace of God.

• ‘In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us.’ (Eph 1:7-8) In order to secure our salvation, Jesus held nothing back; our Saviour gave His everything for us on the cross thereby lavishing His grace upon us, that’s an unending downpour of pure grace.

• ‘You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.’ (Ps 23:5) When our Almighty God himself prepares a table for us, is there ever going to be a shortage? Absolutely not! Even in the most challenging situations, when we trust Him and seek His will, He ensures that our resources overflow.

• ‘Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.’ (Eph 3:20-21) Our prayers may be restricted to our human limitations, but our amazing God who created the entire Universe out of nothing has the power and ability to do much more than we can ever ask or imagine.

• ‘Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. …God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.’ (2 Cor 9:6-8) God showers us with His abundance, provides for all our needs and makes whatever task we undertake in faith flourish. So being His children, He encourages us to be generous too, with the assurance that we will never lack for anything under His care.

God’s provision is never confined to just our material needs, He takes care of everything. All He desires is that we put Him first and trust Him completely. ‘Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.’ (Mat 6:33)

So today let’s cancel any kind of scarcity or inadequacy that exists in our thinking. With joy and confidence, let’s adopt an abundant mindset, and live our life immersed in His overflowing grace.

Audio Credit: Ms. Anita Lewis