God's Cycle of Sufficiency

God's Cycle of Sufficiency

Prayer   Lord God, I thank you for supplying my every need.  You know what I need before I realize  my need. I thank you for my work and the job that you have given me. Help me to be a better  steward of the time you have entrusted to me. Bless the leader of this nation, the pastor of my  church, and the leader of my home.  Give them wisdom and grace to lead in the way that is  most pleasing to you. In Jesus' name, Amen.                  God's Cycle of Sufficiency by Veronica Garrett  Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty. Malachi 3:10-12 Many people trust and believe in the workings of the lottery and the casinos much more than God's willingness to provide for his people. Years ago I was visiting a relative and while purchasing a lottery ticket the relative recommended that I buy one too. I was a freshman in college at the time and at first I lacked interest in purchasing a lottery ticket.  As the individual went on and on to say how a single dollar could change my whole life and begin to paint a picture of me winning the lottery, I must admit I reached into my pocket and pulled out several dollar bills.  I vividly recall holding the ticket in my hands and as I studied it and read it the odds were listed on the back, I was dumbfounded. If I can recall the odds were about 1.5 million  to 1.  Let's just say, after seeing how great the odds were against me I have never played the lottery again. Which would eventually be followed by my convictions. What seems to amaze me is that many Christians are very cautious about trusting God with all of their possessions. The enemy has sold us this lie that if we freely give all that we have to God he will make us impoverished.  In fact, he persuades many to use much needed money at the casino and lottery convincing them they will win "big".  In the meantime, the deceiver attempts to convince others that investing all that we are in God is not wise. Do you really want to be blessed of God?  You must learn to cooperate in God's cycle of sufficiency.  I have come to observe a group Christians who appear to get special treatment but the truth is these people know the secret of living a blessed life. It seems as if these people own nothing because they consider themselves stewards but God releases everything for their use. These are people who give until it hurts- they give of their time, talents and treasure extravagantly. The astonishing thing about it is the people that God blesses lavishly are those who have open hands, freely they give and lavishly He blesses. What I've learned is that if I close my hands when God wants me to open them He doesn't pry it open. He allows me to hold on to what I have. And yet when I release all that I have to God he gives me access to His resources in ways that my mind can barely comprehend. I knew what it was to be blessed of God before but the secret to greater access is greater availability. When what you have is at God's disposal for His purposes you have tapped into the cycle of sufficiency.