CHAPTER 19: PRAYING FOR WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE
I always wanted something different, or I want more, or a change, ultimately contentment feels like I’m stagnant. Well, that’s the way it used to be, I’m not like that all the time, sometimes sure, and I have to keep myself in check. However, now days I welcome the status quo, to be able to look in how things are going, shore up my areas so to speak, observe God’s work in my life and be grateful and secure in His hand. The office, clients, balance sheet, equipment, my health, family outings, pick up my little girl from school on days when possible. I’ve learned, more, is more trouble, especially when you don’t need it, it is the devil’s tool to waste my time and possibly instill nervousness and unrest in those around me. Do you think your job is to push for the moon? I assure you it is not. The moon has been there long before you and is not there because of you, nor will it be wondering where you are after you pass through this world. Contentment is a gift. Finding takes some doing, especially when you don’t believe God has got you, and that He will always keep you in good shape. Believe me, God has given you just enough to keep you safe and productive. Taking care of the people, places and things He has given to me is a full time job. Taking care of what I have right now — is more than enough. Taking on more or making major changes for the sake of change, is dangerous, for the sake of ego is dangerous, many say for the sake of growth — be careful, you may be kidding yourself. Growth can only happen when you take care of today, and growth happens all by itself, correctly, especially when I’m taking care of today. Decisions of growth and change should be held in deep prayer —and in discussed inside conversations with those who have much more experience in such areas. Tend to what you have, check the growth in each area. You don’t need to replant a rose every five minutes, you’ll kill this beautiful thing tending to it too much, just water it, add good dirt, let it be in the sun, enjoy the beauty of what God has made in the flower. Hence, praying for what I already have. Minor adjustments, 2 degrees I call it. Like a compass — watch the heading and direction carefully and make slight adjustments so you don’t get lost. Use hiking as an example. On your adventure stay the course, check the map, take your vitamins, keep your backpack in order, mend the tent, rest and most importantly, keep the troops calm and in order — let them love the path all of you are traveling, too much change is nerve racking for everybody and as I’ve said so many times, more is not better, change for change sake not healthy, as Shakespeare said, much to do about nothing. Let’s start there — enjoy the path, as it is, make your way, careful, lead, teach and inspire on the adventure God has made for today.
1 Timothy 6:6-10
New King James Version
6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, [a]and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
You see the big take away with staying the course is what? This was a big lightbulb for me. My job, with God — takes care of itself. If I let that happen, guess what I have time to do? Ministry. I have time to do God’s work, which is a major part of His plan with me. Without God, my job suddenly takes over my life, no time for ministry, no time for enjoyment, no time for God, no time for family and the list goes on until I crack.
Matthew 6:33-34
New King James Version
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
What do I already have? Health, life, a job, children, another chance at doing better every morning, Faith, Eternal Salvation in Christ Jesus, the Word, you are never alone – The Holy Spirit, people, places and things given to me by Him. Church work, community — fellowship, discipleship, raising young people up, raising old people up — sharing what God has given me. Scripture that tells me He has a plan, so I don’t have to overthink the future.
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
I now understand to keep order is better than multiple false starts. If the devil can’t make you sin, he will waste your time I always tell myself. I’d rather work thoroughly on what I refer to as The “Original BluePrint” of Me. Something God surely had planned for me long before time was born. As Jeremiah so perfectly wrote, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you.” Big concept the Word brought to my attention. God planned for you and me before time itself.
Proverbs 8:22-23
New King James Version
“The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old,
I have been established from everlasting, From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.
All this is truth, it is in the Word, I am in the Word, you are in the Word, God is in the Word. The Original BluePrint of you, already in place, all I gotta do is claim it.., claim it in the blood of Christ, my inalienable right, your inalienable right to a future with God, in Him, with Him, the best you, very best, all yours, for the earning. Oh yes, the earning. The Original BluePrint of you requires a learning.., work, believe in the work, the training He gives, a commitment of your all, all in — no matter how long it takes — in the direction of the Holy Spirit — teach me, Lord, to be me, the me you have designed before time itself. Teach me to let go of me and grab hold of You.
Proverbs 3:5-6
New King James Version
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall [a]direct your paths.
What helps me identify the Original BluePrint of me? A study guides or two I use, I call ‘em both “The Treasure Chest” and “The Coin.”
The “TREASURE CHEST” being filled with all that is me. God’s gifts, direction, Holy Spirit, discernment, talent, wisdom, prayer and shortcomings as well. Why my shortcomings? I’ve learned that I can’t change my shortcomings. If I can’t change them, what can I do? LEARN TO WALK AROUND THEM! Quit walking right into them, employing, deploying and following through with bad behavior. Choose to walk around your character flaws. Stay away from seduction — things that are bad for you. Remember, however, you can’t change your flaws, I learn from mine. “A thorn,” as Paul says. Paul talks about sin and shortcomings like this.
2 Corinthians 12:7-9
New International Version
Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Those things in my personality that keep me humble. I know I am a sinner, and I know what bothers me, dogs me, comes after me late at night, early morning, anytime, all the time. Now that I know, I go to the treasure chest, and my shortcomings make me stronger as long as I’m reporting into the Lord. In the treasure chest there are other things besides my flaws, (that make me better if I choose to learn from them). In my treasure chest I have many other things — talent, fatherhood, family, life, health, job, fellowship, service — all these things in my treasure chest — things I can use in the Lord’s work, things that the Lord can use, things I can pray for — to be used in His good work. Some of it challenging, some of it more challenging, but all designed for me by Him. My job, my talents, awesome gifts from God, must for me. You know what you have been given, pray specifically He use that today — start with just one gift, pick one, ask Him to show you how to use just one of the tools in your treasure chest, and then when He does that, try again, pray for Him to use another and another of the tools in your treasure chest. Those miracles and blessings that He designed just for you, challenges included, short comings, thorn in your side, all of it. Watch Him work through you, with you, for the good of all things. A Devine God gave you Devine gifts, probably best you ask Him how to use what He gave you since you and I are not Devine, we will probably need a little help, that He freely loves to give.
Romans 8:28
New King James Version
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Next study tool: “THE COIN”
Consider yourself a silver dollar. You have a top and a bottom. Without a top and a bottom I am a worthless coin. The top of the coin represents administration, responsibilities, chores, things that can be done in a linear time period, in a work day for instance. Without administration our lives would fall apart. The top of the coin would represent chores to be done daily. Most people just stay on the top of the coin, not knowing that a person can turbo charge the top of the coin with the bottom of the coin. True, most people just look at the top of a coin to see what it is worth. A quarter, dime, penny, dollar even. However, without the bottom of the coin, say for instance if the bottom of the coin is rubbed away or scratched off, the coin is worthless, no matter what the top says. Same with our lives. If all we do is the top of the coin, the administration, and refuse to deal with the bottom of the coin — our coin will ultimately worthless. What is the bottom of my metaphor of “the coin?” The top is administration, the bottom is wisdom. Things unseen. Powerful things. God. Love. Grace. Mercy and the all powerful “faith.” The top rests on the power of Faith, the bottom of the coin, the basis of everything.
Hebrews 11:1 King James
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
People of the world have no idea of “the coin.” You, the shiny silver dollar, working diligently to shine up the “top administration” and “the bottom, the floor, the structure” that holds it all up. This is creativity, knowledge, wisdom, learning – God. When I used this antidote to help focus my mind, it took years to find the right scripture and today after all those years I’ve chosen, with the help of the Holy Spirit the following. This scripture describes for me “the coin.” Did you ever look at a silver dollar? Dig it, faith, God and administration are all over it, America, we pray, should remind itself of these things.
Proverbs 4:6-7
New International Version
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get[a] wisdom.
Though it cost all you have,[b] get understanding.
The coin as I call it. Praying for what I already have and asking for the knowledge of how to use it, thus giving me the administration of what needs to be done in the day to accomplish the goal. I have an answer to my questions every day. What needs to be done, how to do it and when.
How could I ask for more when all this I have. It is much more appropriate for me to pray thanks for these things given to me, asking that I make them better. Ask to teach me the tools in my treasure chest and give thanks for the rare and infinite coin He has made of me. A Treasure Chest, all for me, powerful and made from a Devine God, Devine gifts, Devine understanding, all for me to use for Him. “Treasure Chest” and “The Coin,” helpful study guides.
Mark 11:24
Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe
that you have received it and it will be yours.
Pray for wisdom in what He’s given you. Overachieve at projects, be in wonderment of things learned, study, share your life, prepare always for God’s tomorrow in you. Take care of today. Do all these things you “get to do.” Let the future be in God’s hands. Walk with Him through the menagerie of His inheritance given to you, specifically for you.
Revelation 3:8-15
New King James Version
8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, [a]and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept [b]My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 [c]Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.13 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’
Chapter 19 – Pray for what you have. Be assured, you have more than you can handle. Amen.
