What You Really Need Has Already Been Provided

What You Really Need Has Already Been Provided

Remember how quickly kids learn the word “mine”? And how it rarely has anything to do with what is truly theirs? At almost three our youngest grandchild is constantly saying things like “my phone”, “my ds” (game system for those who don’t know) and now even “my ipad”! With the technology of today it’s no longer things like dolls or bicycles or other toys. Kids learn to be wanters of other people’s things. That’s a polite way of comparison desire. They see someone with something and automatically it should be theirs.

We must admit in our heart of hearts we occasionally do the same thing. We comparison desire. We see where others are and wonder why we can’t be there. We hear what others are doing and we want to do that. We see the flash of success and the bling of cliques and wonder why we can’t have that too. Things we love get jerked from our hands and hearts and we cry out “mine!” Can you relate?

God wants us to know beloved, that we are His. He wants us to know that because we belong to Him He has the only right to say “Mine”. And because we are His everything we need, every single thing, is ours. We don’t have to wish for more, hope for something else, or grab something that isn’t meant for us. We don’t have to fume or envy or get angry or throw a tantrum – spiritual or physical. We can also trust Him when things go awry – when people walk away – when ministry is thwarted – or when love grows cold. It’s all His to give and take away as He alone chooses.

God also wants you to know that only in laying down your wants will you find rest and peace and joy. Don’t look around for He is always attending to your every need. Don’t cry over lost opportunity or lost love or lost income. He has your back beloved, and when God has your back, everything is more than good. He promises His abundance in our want. He promises that as we release our envy and frustrations, He will replace them with His overflow. You do have a ministry and it is being fulfilled even when you see nothing in your hand – for it is from Him, for Him and to Him. His glory alone is what you should see, His power alone is what you need and His will is what you should grab for – with all your heart and mind and soul.

Oh beloved, you are loved, you are cared for you, you are lacking nothing. God is not GOING to fulfill your needs, He already has! You just need to walk in Him and leave the choices in His hands. Oh what a life you will have and oh what a blessing you will be as you live completely in the Light of His Word.

“Lord we want to trust You. But we want to cry out “mine”! Help us to leave the choices to you, knowing that You have our very best in mind and Your purpose for us will be completely fulfilled. Forgive us for complaining and grabbing. Make us more like You and give us a grateful servant’s heart.”

Isaiah 66:2 My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are Mine. I, the Lord, have spoken!” I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at My word.

Matthew 6:33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Psalm 16:5 Lord, You alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine.

Psalm 68:10 There Your people finally settled, and with a bountiful harvest, O God, You provided for Your needy people.

Colossians 2:10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

Dreaming of More?

As we were driving from Fayetteville to Rogers on old 71 highway I saw a huge sign, “Selling dreams since 1972”. That really caught my eye and I couldn’t wait for us to get close enough for me to see what it was. As we drove past I looked and saw it was a weed filled empty lot with a gate and the sign. I realized it was an old mobile home sales lot. 

Actually they marketed their wares as selling dreams but there were no longer any dreams being sold there. Those dreams had not lasted. All that was left was the shell of what once was.

Dreams are for sale everywhere you look. If you can pay the price you can achieve your dream. But will it last? And is it worth it? Some dreams exact incredible prices. And yet even when the price is paid, the dream doesn’t last. It’s often a façade of what someone is really looking for – a cheap imitation and illusion.

There are dreams that will last. They will stand the test of time and give great and lasting pleasure.

There is the dream for purpose. That can be found at the feet of Jesus. As we bow our heads and hearts to Him, He gives us so much in return. Ever dream of having purpose? You do, when your heart belongs to Jesus. You never function at greater heights than when you live in His light and fall in line with His will.

There’s the dream for significance. Everyone wants to find meaning to their life and feel they are part of something greater than themselves.  This is found at the throne of grace.  As you pledge your allegiance to the King of Kings, He crowns you with His significance. You can live beyond self as you find your worth in Him.

Maybe you dream of being more…. More beautiful, more important, more loved, more joyful, more successful…when you put all your hope in the Lord, you become all that you’ve ever dreamed of being. God says you are fearfully and wonderfully made – you are beautiful in His sight. You are so wonderful and so loved that the Lord gave His life for you. You have been redeemed, ransomed, restored and renewed. You are a success simply by being God’s beloved child. You are loved for God is Love and God is your Father. 

You never have to succumb to depression or discouragement, for the Lord has given you a spirit of power and might and a sound mind.

The world will sell you a bill of goods. It will tell you it can sell you dreams that will be fulfilling but when you pay that price and take that dream home you find it oh so empty. You have to pay and perform and keep paying and keep performing. But with Jesus, every dream you could ever imagine and so much more is achieved! Every blessing is signed in the Blood of the Lamb and it is signed sealed and delivered for you! 

Oh beloved, run to the greatest message you’ll ever read: The Word of God. Every single promise, every single hope, every single truth is all about you and your relationship with Him! Jesus made the way for you to find more fulfillment than you could ever imagine. He even promises that if you will find your delight in Him He will give you the desires of your heart.  Keep reading, keep taking it to heart, keep soaking in God’s Truth and you will find everything you ever dreamed of.

God loves you and He’s for you and that’s where your dreams all come true.

Psalm 105:19 Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character.

Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.

Matthew 6:21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Psalm 37:4 Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desires.

Psalm 146:5 But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God.

 

What's Your Heart's Desire?

I have this dream cabin idea.  I’ve been planning it for years. I know the style, the layout, the windows, the deck, the porches and more. I know what kind of furnishings I want and even the wall colors and flooring ideas. It’s wonderful. I have pinned ideas on pinterest, bought books about it and scoured the internet for ideas and accessories. It is fully planned in my mind.

Although it’s been in my mind for years, other things have come up that keep this dream in the background. Most of us, if truth be told, have a hidden dream that we’d like to have become a reality. Generally for most folks it’s a dream that’s above and beyond normal living.  After all, I have a lovely home and plenty of “stuff” already!  Many times it’s just plain living that roots out dreams or puts them on the back burner. Sometimes we don’t want the dream bad enough to sacrifice for it. We just dream about it and somehow think that’s enough.

Have you been dreaming about being an awesome Christian with a closer walk with God? Are you hoping that one day you’ll feel secure in your faith and willing to step out on the water? Are you wondering if it’s possible for ordinary people to actually experience extraordinary living? Maybe you’ve dreamed you could have faith to move mountains, but the mountain remains. You dream about speaking oracles of God, but you just give up and give in. Life is tough and the going gets tougher all the time. But when we base our dreams upon the sure foundation of God’s Word, then He will give the feet to our dreams! Don’t worry if it seems to take time, for time is what you need: time to pray, time to plan and time to grow.

God loves to plant dreams in your heart. You may hear Him speaking to you this morning, telling you things about yourself that you just can’t imagine in your wildest dreams. He says to you to quit dreaming and start living in His light! Everything you need, beloved, is found in Him. Everything you can only hope for is found in the reality of walking in Christ.  He has given you heaven to dream of but He wants you to be securely set in the reality of all He is. Dreaming of being right with God? That truth is found in Christ. Dreaming of doing things the right way instead of failing over and over? That truth is found in the Word of God. Dreaming of being more than a conqueror, free from fear, overcoming your emotions? It’s all True – when we live in the light of His Word.

Oh beloved, run to His Word this morning and take it in, digest it and live it out, for that’s where dreams truly become reality! He loves you and He’s for you and that’s the TRUTH He wants you to experience!

Psalm 37:3-4 Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires.

Matthew 6:21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

2 Peter 1:4 And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

Psalm 73:25 Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire You more than anything on earth.

Isaiah 26:8 Lord, we show our trust in You by obeying Your laws; our heart’s desire is to glorify Your name.

Jeremiah 32:40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good for them. I will put a desire in their hearts to worship Me, and they will never leave Me.

Philippians 2:13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.