"It's in the bank."

When I anticipate a big expense I like to set aside money to meet it so that when the bill arrives, I know that the resource needed is 'in the bank.' When there are more expenses than there are resources, real stress develops. What needs and challenges face you at this time? As you evaluate and prepare your response to the demands of life are you including all of your resources?

As you know from a TFTD last week, my 50th birthday was 7/7/2005. I was not thrilled at reaching this milestone. Did growing older mean that I was facing diminished productivity? It felt like that to me, until yesterday, in a time of tribute at the church, when my friend Phil made a statement about God's resources that keeps echoing in my head. "Jerry, you have never been better prepared to do what God has planned for you to do than you are today!" He is right. God has given me a large store of resources for serving Him; equipping me with experience, knowledge, a great place of ministry, a good team of partners, etc. that enables me to meet the demands of ministry with confidence. Everything I need to fulfill His purpose is "in the bank." If I am faithful receive and use God's gifts, these next years have the potential to be the richest I've ever known!

Peter reminds all of us that "As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life. He has called us to receive his own glory and goodness!" (2 Peter 1:3, NLT) The Message paraphrases it this way - "Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God." (2 Peter 1:3, The Message) All that you need to do His will, to please Him today is "in the bank." God is about abundance: overflowing grace, overwhelming mercy, powerful spiritual gifts, and amazing love. In response to His abundance, two questions beg our answer.

a. Will we receive, by faith, what He has provided to us to meet the demands of this day?
b. Will we be good stewards, passing the blessings along to the needs of every kind that come our way?

The Scripture teaches us that a primary reason we lack resources is that we fail to ask God to provide. (James 4.2) Jesus told us to simply ask God for what we need each day.

Of course, our requests need to be matched with good stewardship. God never promised us that He would give us everything we wanted to enable us to live selfishly. In fact, James also says that one of the reasons we don't get what we ask for is "because your whole motive is wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure." (James 4.3) God will not pour resources into us simply to make us fat and happy! He blesses us with every spiritual blessing in order that we will be a blessing to the world around us.

So, today, when you're reviewing your needs, the demands of life that are presented to you, accept God's resources. Let Him equip you to do exceedingly more than you ever thought possible from His abundant store in Heaven.
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He Giveth More Grace

He giveth more grace,
When the burden grows greater.
He sendeth more strength,
When the labors increase.
To added affliction,
He addeth His mercy.
To multiplied trials,
His multiplied peace.

His love has no limit,
His grace has no measure.
His pow'r has no boundary,
Known to men.
For out of His infinite
Riches in Jesus,
He giveth and giveth,
And giveth again.

When we have exhausted,
Our store of endurance.
When our strength has failed,
Ere the day is half done.
When we reach the end,
Of our hoarded resources.
Our Father's full giving
Is only begun.

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