I have struggled with Finances a great deal, trusting the Lord in so many other areas of my life but sadly very little in this area... Until I read Chapter 4 – Give it Away. I believe the change in my struggles in the area of Finances started here.
After reading this chapter, Chapter 9 "Give" in Finding your Abundant Lifebthat's when the renewing of my mind started. I still struggle, I am not at the place of truly surrendering my finances but I believe that my mindset is starting to change and that when I am done with this chapter aptly titled “Give” I will be another step closer to overcoming my struggles of being tight-fisted.
Dear Brides, no matter how much you are struggling, whether it be in your finances or time or strength. Trust Him and His precious word that says that you will receive, pressed down, shaken together and running over.
"Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure— pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return." —Luke 6:38
Finding your Abundant Life has been a really great book. The writer has taken some key verses from the Bible and used it in very practical ways to tell us how much the Lord wants to bless us, have an intimate relationship with us and take care of us. How He wants to heal us emotionally, physically and in every area of our lives where we have lacked, so that He can give us the Abundant Life!
"Don’t be scared to give, you will receive, it is guaranteed, when you give you will receive in greater measure. There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, and there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want. The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered” (Proverbs 11:24–25)
When you see a need, don’t withhold what you have to give, even though it may be very little or even the last. Not giving will result in you becoming even more needier. When you are generous and you give you will prosper.
“So when He heard that he [Lazarus] was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was . . . So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days” (John 11:6,17)
At first I wondered at the writer using this particular verse in relation to finances and giving but now typing I realise it is a good means of us realising that even when we have absolutely nothing and we see absolutely no evidence of being able to give, that just like Lazarus the Lord is able to bless us out of what we have to give no matter how bad our circumstances look.
“Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb; yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform” (Romans 4:19–21)
No matter how bad things look, God can turn it around if we practice faith!
How I previously thought about finances? Even last night I was teased by a very close family member that said I was tight-fisted. Reading this chapter has been great because it has helped me to come to terms with that and change my way of thinking which I feel stems a great deal from my upbringing.
I am sure that there are many women out there who like me grew up poor. Accustomed to making food and money stretch to the time when you will have again - or to the next payday. But we have been given the opportunity to give and by giving we thereby are learning to trust and believe what our Beloved is telling us. That as we give we can trust Him to take care of us and not only that – He will give us in abundance! Pressed down, shaken together and running over!
By not being scared to give when I see a need. By asking Him for His leading and direction to show me where He wants me to give. I will live out this principle by not being scared what goes out of my bank account or even scared reading the SMS messages I receive regarding what is leaving my bank account.
Wow, Love, You have brought me quite far. I remember the days I used to have sleepless nights worrying about how the rent and all the other expenses were going to be paid. You have brought us so far, first by teaching me to submit to my EH. By giving up the control of the finances to Him and giving back to my EH the role of provider according to Your word.
You blessed me and gave me the Abundant Life!
Continue to teach me through this Course what it is You want me to know so that I can continue to grow in knowledge about being a Giver and not just in finances but in the other areas of my life in which I need to be a Giver.
Dear Brides, Chapter 9 is a great chapter to read in conjunction with Chapter 4 – Give it Away." I would say that this chapter is great as a follow up to Chap 4 as it teaches you about the necessary faith we require to become givers.
Lord, I pray for your precious Bride reading this that you will give her and me an extra measure of faith to believe that as we give we can trust you as our HH to look after us. That as we give we will receive in even greater measure as your Brides. Provide us with the opportunities to give.
“Better for Me Then, than Now”
Marriage Evaluation Team Minister