A Woman's Walk

[Judy Harder]

Week of August 14
Potential

" . . . My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."  ~Judges 6:15

How many of us have ever felt like Gideon, believing false truths about ourselves that have stunted our growth and attempted to undermine our God-given destiny?

Author Dondi Scumaci describes it well in her new book, "Designed For Success: The 10 Commandments For Women In The Workplace."  In the very first chapter she says,

"Imagine that when you were born, you were given a box.  The box is empty to begin with, but almost immediately people begin to put messages into it.  Some of the messages make you feel strong and safe and powerful; others teach you to doubt yourself and your abilities.

"Over time the box is filled with messages.  Some are duplicates.  You've received them more than once and from more than one person.  One message tells you it's important to be popular, one reminds you to always be very polite, while another tells you to wait to be recognized—because bragging is very bad.  Your messages warn you against making mistakes, rocking the boat, or being pushy—because nobody likes a bossy girl.

"Now imagine shaking the box!  The messages get all mixed up.  That makes it hard to separate the encouraging, empowering messages from the negative, limiting ones.

"You grow up and carry your box of messages to work.  As you being to use them, you discover that, for much of your life, the messages have been managing you.  Now you must learn to manage them."

This is the very place where Gideon found himself.

Gideon processed through discouraging old messages and new encouraging ones from God throughout the remainder of Judges chapter six.

Although Gideon's self-doubt was high, and his faith was low, by stepping forth into God's instructions—albeit with trepidation—he managed to overcome obstacles and reach the divine destiny God had for him.

How about you?  Is anything holding you back from reaching your God-given potential?  If so, have you asked the Holy Spirit to intervene, to reveal the issues of your heart and lead you to overcome to full victory?

God sees our potential, and He has a plan to advance us all the way.  His purpose being that He loves us, He loves nations, and He desires to use us to affect them.  God's vision is big.  It goes beyond us.  As Gideon was set free from his fears and ungodly beliefs, others were also restored.  It was a battle that was worth fighting.  And so is yours.

[Judy Harder]

Week of August 21
Capable

"The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights."  Habakkuk 3:19

Despite whatever assignment the Lord sends us on, He makes us capable to thrive amid any circumstance to fulfill His purpose.

Consider Amos.  The Bible says, "Amos was a herdsman from the small town of Tekoa; he was not a man of the court like Isaiah, or a priest like Jeremiah.  Though he lived in Judah, he was sent to announce God's judgment on the northern kingdom (Israel)."

Imagine being a simple man like Amos and being chosen by God to deliver messages of judgment to priests and kings?  How many of us would have the natural confidence to go from the prairie to the palace? (Amos 7:13)

If we are willing to receive them, God will assign us missions to carry out that are bigger than ourselves, ones that require great faith and a big God to complete.  But we must trust the power of God.

The very word "capable" means to possess the qualities needed to do a particular thing well; to have the legal competency, ability or legal power to do something.  "Capable" is from the Latin word "capere," which means "to take" or "able to take in."

When we break it down, we see that two words make up the word "capable"—"cap" and "able."  The word "able" means to be positioned to do something.  And the word "cap" means to cover, surpass and complete something.  As Christians, with God as our covering, Jesus residing in us and the Holy Spirit guiding us, we are able to complete divine missions on high levels—even ones that will change the course of nations—if we are in position to receive them.

In the case of Amos, God empowered (or made capable) Amos for the purpose of restoring social justice and righteousness to Israel.  Although Amos did not consider himself to be a seer prophet (Amos 7:14), God enabled him to see visions and prophesy.  The Bible describes Amos as a "vigorous spokesman."  Amos was "able to take in" God's visions and speak them out in citadels with great confidence.  This simple herdsman and fig farmer was fortified, covered and obedient.

Amos had great faith, which propelled him throughout his great assignment, above his usual position and beyond his usual work environment.

How is God using you?  Has He sent you out on any special assignments lately?  Would you be willing to go if He spoke to you amid your prairie existence?

The Christian life should be an adventure—full of the unknown, relying upon God to cover and complete us and His missions.  Do we have great faith?  Are we in position?  Are we capable?

[Judy Harder]

Week of August 28
Flourishing

"But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever."  ~ Psalm 52:8

The word "flourishing" in this context translates into the Hebrew word "ra`anan," which means "to be or grow luxuriant or fresh or green."

During this late spring season, I am reminded of God's promise of a summer harvest every time I tend to my vegetable garden.  When I see how my plants have flourished in such a short time since I set them out, I am awed at what God has created, and I am inspired by the fruit He produces.  The days are long here in the south, therefore the plants have an abundance of light.

Get the point?

Through God's bountiful love and His righteousness in us, we can produce much fruit, be blessed and in turn bless others.

Psalm 1:3 tells us that a righteous person "is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.  Whatever he does prospers."

It's important to remember, however, that it's not our righteousness that produces good fruit, it's God's.  Isaiah 64:6 is quick to remind us that "all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away."

But do we really trust this truth deep in our heart?

Jeremiah 17:7-8 reveals that "blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.  He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.  It does not fear when heat comes, its leaves are always green.  It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."

Interestingly, an olive tree lives for hundreds of years, producing much fruit, blessing animals and man (Ps. 1:3 note).  Imagine the many seasons it flourishes through.

Conversely, Jeremiah 17:5-6 tells us, "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord.  He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes.  He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives."

When we find ourselves in a wasteland, we can be quick to remember that God offers us forgiveness through Jesus Christ, His Son and our Redeemer when we confess and repent.  Even so, remember that the consequences of sin can last longer than we would like to tolerate.

Consistently choosing obedience to God's righteousness is the wisest choice.

Proverbs 8:19-21 encourages us that wisdom's fruit is better than fine gold; what wisdom yields surpasses choice silver.  Wisdom walks in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, bestowing wealth on those who love wisdom and making their treasuries full."

Remember that God does not set us up to fail.  He sets us up to flourish.

How green are you?  And how green would you like to become?

[Judy Harder]

Week of September 4
Harmony

"Finally, all of you should be of one mind, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds."  ~ 1Peter 3:8 (NLT)

Have you ever been part of a team of any kind and experienced discord?  People just didn't agree.  Everything felt hard, out of sync and each step of progress was painstaking.  Your team wasn't of "one mind."  You didn't have harmony.

What did your team do?  What was the ultimate outcome?  Did they meet their goal on time?  Or did they dismantle?

I believe when people come together in the right spirit, there is harmony.  When egos bow to God's purpose and when comfort zones succumb to stepping out in big faith, God is able to accomplish much through us.  We were made by Him for Him.

In Romans 12:16 (NIV), the Apostle Paul warns us to "Live in harmony with one another.  Do not be proud."  The New Living Translation states, "Don't try to act important . . . And don't think you know it all!"

This is love.  And God gives grace to the humble.  All that's required of us is to do our part.

Harmony means agreement, the Greek translation of which is Sugkatathesis, which means to put together or deposit jointly.

Even if your authority figures overrule your opinion, suggestion or idea, making a decision that you don't like or understand, know that God holds them accountable and the burden is off of you.

Romans 13:3 says, "Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority?  Then do what is right and he will commend you.  For he is God's servant to do you good."

Oftentimes, God uses joint efforts to refine us, to teach us something new, to lend His wisdom and to test our pride.  Could it be that God is preparing us for promotion?  After all, He exalts the humble.

Consider Joseph.  So many of his joint efforts bombed—in the relationship he had with his brothers and in relationships he experienced while in Egyptian captivity—yet in the end, God exalted him above all those who troubled him.  And when his brothers came to him in desperation, he extended love to them.  He chose to live in harmony once again, even though he could have chosen otherwise.  Clearly, God taught him much on the path to promotion.

What is He teaching you?

[Judy Harder]

Week of September 11
Refreshing

"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."  ~Matthew 11:28

Have you ever been so burdened by your work that you feel like the faster you work, the faster time passes and the less time you have to catch up?  As if running on a  treadmill, you fear you won't meet your goal, and you realize you're on the border of burnout?

We've all been there, if not just temporarily.  And sometimes, when we're in the midst of the fury, God schedules us for a refreshing.  It can arrive when we feel we have the least amount of time to come away.  God may expect us to simply lay down the workload and spend hours or days with Him.  Or He may pull us away for a vacation or retreat or even a simple weekend.

But do we trust God enough to obey and receive?  Do we really believe that the all-seeing, all-knowing God of the universe loves us enough to prosper us in all He assigns us?

Whatever respite God requires of us, it's important to remember that He has our best interest at heart.  He desires to help us.  He will be faithful to regenerate, renew and restore our energy.  And He will give us fresh revelation, vision and insight in the most creative ways, even through others.

In so doing, God reminds us that He is God; He is in control; we are not alone; He works on our behalf; He is committed to our success, and He is the creator of creativity.  He will show us the "obvious" that we didn't see while we were intensely focused behind a PC or otherwise at work.

In this way, we see God's artistry in perfecting and completing His work through us.  Like a painter, He uses us to come in close and step back to "see" the vision, sketch the outline, add the details, then refine the work to capture the whole.

God's perspective is unlimited and perfect.  He rewards diligence.  And obedience is the key.

So if we sense God leading us to come away with Him in the midst of our impending deadline, we must.  He does this to not only test our priorities but also to give us what we need in the intimate place.  Sometimes, it's just a nugget, a single revelation that will make all the other components come into place.  But whatever it is, it will be better than we could have derived on our own—even with our talents, gifts and training.  We'll return to work with a fresh eye and a renewed enthusiasm.

The Lord says in Jeremiah 31:25 that He "will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint."  Sometimes, the most appropriate action we can take is to let go, let God and to pray for the discernment to know when to do so.

God knows what we need.  Is He waiting for you?

[Judy Harder]

Week of September 18
Vindication

"He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.  He will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God his Savior.  Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face, O God of Jacob."  ~ Psalm 24:4-6

Have you ever experienced injustice in the workplace?  Perhaps politics played a role.  Maybe you were betrayed in some way, condemned even by those with whom you shared confidences.  Did others gossip about you.  What did you do?

Did you keep walking in upright obedience to God?  Or did you fall for the bait and react in carnal ways?  Perhaps you've done both intermittently.  None of us perfectly process circumstances all the time.

Although we may feel like we're stumbling through daily circumstances, groping at God to relieve the pain, there is hope.  If we choose honest repentance, there will come a time when God will set things right.  When we have been tested sufficiently, fired for purity's sake, and God has allowed the flames to have their complete work in us, He will move on our behalf.  Isaiah 49:8 says, "In the time of My favor I will answer you..."

Repentance leads to redemption.  And although we may feel we've been wronged and it's the other gal's fault, it's important to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to us what part, if any, we had in the issue.

I know of a married couple who discipline their children by having them sit on a "repentance bench" until they repent for their part in disputes.  As they sit side by side, they are not allowed to blame each other.  When they repent, they are relieved to resume their day.

How often do we assume the victim role and blame others?  Even if we did not instigate the event, God may be using unpleasant circumstances or behavior of others as a vice-like instrument to force issues within us to come to the surface for the purpose of inviting us to overcome the limitation.  He may be readying us for promotion by preparing us.  When things don't bother us anymore, they can't bind us, and we are free to move on.

No circumstance or person is too relentless for God's intervention.  If people do not hearken to God's directives, He has been known to release His judgment upon them.  But we must be in right standing.  Our freewill choice will determine a lot.

In God's time, He will deliver us from gossip to greatness, from misery to majesty, from devour to divine, from persecution to peace, from invasion to intimacy, from division to revision, from feuding to favor, from condemnation to compassion, from crushed to comforted, from fear to faith, from holes to wholeness, from blockage to boldness, from hatred to harmony, from sin to sweetness, from false accusations to freedom, from strongholds to life, from strangleholds to new opportunities and adventures.  The chains come off, and we are restored and vindicated.

Our decision to humble ourselves and honestly repent of our part in the journey will break the division and strangleholds in our work lives and beyond.  Though we cannot control another person, God will fight our battle on our behalf, and we will come through victorious.  We will be vindicated.  We will be honored, even publicly.  What has been out of priority will be put into place.  Our garden of safety and security will be restored.  And we will finish the race well.

Are you ready to be vindicated?  Spend some intimate time with the Lord and honestly repent each time He reveals your part in a situation.  In the time of God's favor, you will see the fruit of blessing in your life.  And you will walk in the freedom of victory again.

[Judy Harder]

Week of September 25
Faithfulness

". . . choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve."   ~Joshua 24:15

Joshua understood well the personal choices involved in serving God faithfully to the end.  He had seen much life and death come to his forefathers as a result of their ungodly choices.  He reminded the leaders of Israel, with great assurance, to serve God with a clean heart.  He knew that God desired to continue to bless Israel but that they would not be positioned to receive God's blessings unless they surrendered their whole heart, even in the little things.

The bar is high for leaders.  And Joshua warned them to not fall into the sins of their past.  Oh how the enemy enjoys enticing and ensnaring us by using familiar behavior patterns and people from our past to bring destruction into our present and future, to prevent God's promises, plans and purposes from coming to fruition.

Is there a god that you need to lay down?  A god that will prevent you from living out your God-given potential and destiny?  Are there any idols that lurk in your heart?

God will be faithful to us if we are faithful to Him and His ways.  Matthew 6:33 says, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

Is God truly our first love?  Are we willing to lay everything that is important and valuable to us down at the foot of the cross to serve Him?

If our answer is "yes," then we exchange our ways for His, which are much higher and which include rewards far greater than we can earn on our own.  The question then becomes, "Do we truly trust God to deliver?"

If the answer is again "yes," then we will embark on an adventure of loving and serving Him on a whole new level that will result in fresh assignments, fresh revelation, fresh opportunities for trusting Him in new areas, fresh opportunities to overcome obstacles and greater measures of blessings to receive, pressed down, shaken together and running over (Luke 6:38).  Is this not life worth living?  This is indeed God's finest for us, and it is anything but boring!

Faithfulness requires discipline in the journey, and it requires a cleansing of the heart at the outset.  Anything less will harbor a contamination that will ultimately lead us to stumble and fall and possibly to not even finish the race God has set before us.  At the very least, the journey will be rocky.

Faithfulness is obedience that builds trust in relationships.  "Now fear the Lord and serve Him with all faithfulness.  Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped . . . and serve the Lord" (Josh. 24:14).

[Judy Harder]

Week of October 2
Life

" . . . Choose life, not death! . . ."  ~ 2 Kings 18:32

I recently attended an event where the speaker said, "Drug dealers are living, but they don't have life."  What a profound statement.

Christianity is intended to be dynamic, full of challenges and opportunities for high levels of faith, obedience and love.  Consider every victorious Bible character you can think of.  Did they not live on the very edge of life and death?  How about Mary, who conceived a child out of wedlock amid a culture that stoned such women?  And what about Joshua, who fought battle after battle in the Promised Land so that an entire nation would receive their Godly inheritance?  And then there was Moses, who was called out of the wilderness to rescue a nation.  And how about Esther, who came out of her comfort zone in a big way to confront a king and save her people?   And let's not forget Jesus.

Were they all not living life to the fullest as they hearkened to their callings, all the while treading carefully in obedience, staying close to the father lest they fall to death?

Such is the essence of the Christian life.  God has called us into the world, and Jesus is our perfect example.  It is in the face of life and death that our heart is revealed, our current level of confidence and courage and gifting and expertise and training and knowledge and wisdom surfaces in our face.  How limited we are without God's intervention.  Our medal is tested, our character confronted, and we see our current level of integrity.

This is not only true for us as individuals, but also for businesses and organizations, including ministries.  One of my frequent prayers is, "God, help me to not miss it," because with all that is on my plate, I know that my natural ability offers me many opportunities to get too focused on one assignment or distraction and miss the big picture, the fresh manna, the new wine, the daily watering of the word and revelations that will bring me and this ministry new life.  I need the Holy Spirit to help me focus on God more than on what He assigns me and certainly more than the distractions with which the enemy tries to tempt me.

I want to consistently receive God's greater vision.  I know that the slice or portion of revelation God first gave to me for this ministry is just the beginning.  And when the winds of change come and God desires to move in a fresh way, I want to be in position to go with His flow.  God has so many more revelations for us, which are all intended to direct us to new life if we will just position our greater focus on Him and sit at His table and receive the fresh manna and new wine He desires to serve us.  God is dynamic.  Jesus is life.  I want to live.  How about you?

Although we all walk through dry seasons, and God allows this for a time for various purposes, His originally intended norm is not for us to barely make it or just get by.  So much depends upon the freewill choices that He allows us to exercise.  And the bottom line question is, "Will we rise up, or will we shrink back and make fear our God?"

The people and businesses and ministries I have the greatest respect for are those who know how to live and, with the leading of the Holy Spirit, confront perceived risk.  Consider Rick Warren, who through hearkening to a fresh move of God, was able to turn around the economics of Rwanda.  Does the Great Commission not instruct us to make disciples of all nations?  And how about Franklin Graham, who has made a lifestyle of entering into the most "dangerous" countries and conditions—those that are ravaged by disaster and are often dominated by Islam—to rescue the broken and the lost.  Is that not the heart of Jesus in action?  Is this not living life and giving life?  Look at the fruit.

As we sit in our comfortable churches and behind our cozy desks, I challenge you to not let mundane, busy (and often petty) circumstances ware you down so that you cannot get to the most important and impacting joys God has for you, like spending time with Him and making a difference in the world.  Beth Moore says it very succinctly and profoundly on the back cover of her book, Praying God's Word Day by Day: "Beloved, you will never waste time in God's Word."  Sit before God and invite Him to help you live again.  Just one revelation from Him can turn your life, business or ministry around.

Jesus came to save us from death, not only in the afterlife but during our walk on earth.  Are you living a mundane life?  Do you feel like your life is in a rut?  Is fear holding you back, binding you from living the adventure that God has for you?  Perhaps you've been deceived by buying into the world's perspective of success, and you're disillusioned.  Have you fallen into sin through disobedience and feel like it's a long journey out?  No life is too destitute for God to restore.  He has been known to accelerate our pace.  And remember, the latter can be greater than the former.  I challenge you to repent and find out what God has just for you.  Then choose to step into life with the Holy Spirit as your guide, and reach your divine destiny.

[Judy Harder]

 A Woman's Walk
     
Week of October 9
Forgiveness

"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you."  ~ Colossians 3:13 

When God assigns us to a job in a particular work environment, He has many purposes in mind besides providing for our financial needs.  He may have us there to be a light in the surrounding darkness; to minister mercy, grace and prayer to those He puts in our path; to test and purify our hearts through challenges; to prepare us for the next glory—otherwise known as a promotion; to bring excellence, influence and transformation to the organization; to be an example to others; and the obvious purpose: to simply work unto Him.

All of these purposes are disciplines.  And all of these disciplines offer opportunities to forgive others and ourselves all along the journey.             

The American Heritage Dictionary defines forgiveness as "To excuse for a fault or offense; pardon.  To stop feeling anger or resentment against.  To absolve from payment of."   

Forgiveness does not mean condoning other people's bad behavior.  It simply means that, by choice, we cancel any debt we feel others owe us due to a wrong we feel they've caused us because Jesus died to pay all sin debt.  When we choose to forgive, we extend mercy and grace to the person who wronged us, just as our Heavenly Father extends mercy and grace to us through Jesus when we have wronged Him, or sinned.  Therefore, forgiveness is a reflection of Jesus' character.  It is an expression of sacrificial obedience in that our "flesh" surrenders to God's higher ways and His divine love in the process.

Forgiveness can feel unjust to our emotions because the enemy tries to provoke and manipulate our emotions negatively.  This is one of his devices for keeping us in bondage.  He tries to cause us to focus on the offense or hurt by getting us bound up in a web of anger, woundedness and revenge that can grow every time we think or talk about the issue, or every time we feel sorry for ourselves.

We must not become victims of the enemy's plan.  Instead, our emotions must come into alignment with God's word on forgiveness.  We must be ruled by the Holy Spirit, not by our emotions.  In choosing this truth, God rewards us with divine peace and rest.  And He promotes us to a level where former offenses will not bother us, a level where He can trust us even more with more. 

We must choose to pass the test by keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus and by asking for His help. Doing so gives us the power to proactively guard our hearts, refusing to allow the enemy to embed hurt, fear and anger long-term.  Sometimes, this is a process, depending on the level and the number of hurts.   

Over the years, the Lord has taught me that forgiveness is a daily journey (Matt. 18:21-22).  It is part of the Christian love walk (I Cor. 3:15).  It often helps me to pray, "Lord, please help me see others as You do and love them as You do.  I cannot do it alone."  It also helps me to remember that no one suffered greater hurt than Jesus, who died on a cross a painful death so that we could be free of all bondage.  Indeed, Jesus understands and knows our pain.  And by His stripes, our hearts are healed (Is. 53:5).             

It may surprise you to know that healing ministries have found that long-term unforgiveness is a leading root cause of disease.  Simply put, unattended wounds glorify the enemy by tormenting us inwardly (eating us alive) and persecuting others outwardly (hurting people hurt others).  We must choose which master we will serve.   

Unforgiveness is also a form of disobedience, selfishness, idolatry and pride.  It is haughtiness that rises up and says, "I'm entitled to process this my way because they hurt me."  Truth be told, this is a victim mentality.  By choosing unforgiveness, we remain controlled by the person who hurt us, claiming this hurt as our portion (a lie from the enemy), and we choose our self and our hurt over God.   This choice, this sin, opens the door for the enemy to gain strongholds in our hearts and destroy us, making us an instrument of destruction.  Again, we must choose which master we will serve.   

Jesus prayed, "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors" (Matt. 6:12).  Therefore, if we forgive others, we will be forgiven.  But if we do not, God will not forgive us (Matt. 6:14-15).  This is a powerful and loving precept that sets us free.  God holds us accountable for what we hold in our heart, even if others have hurt us.  When we do our part, He deals with the situation and the person who wronged us for us.  Hebrews 10:30-31 says, "'VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.' And again, 'THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.'  It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God."  Let us have faith in God's word, His truth.

If you struggle with unforgiveness, I encourage you to let the hurt go with God's help.  Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you who you need to forgive.  Confess having walked in the sin of unforgiveness.  Ask the Lord to heal and purify your heart and convict the other person's heart concerning the wrong.  Then sincerely intercede for that person, blessing them, speaking healing and deliverance over them (just as Jesus would do).  Then release them to the Lord.  Rest assured, the faithful and almighty God we serve will take this burden off your heart and handle it in His higher way for you.

[Judy Harder]

Week of October 16
Abundance

"Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift from God."  ~ Ecclesiastes 5:19

Divine abundance is a wonderful gift from God.  Thankfully, divine abundance is not defined by or limited to material possessions.  Rather, it encompasses much more.  In The Parable of the Rich Fool (Lk. 12:15) Jesus says, "a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

What Jesus is saying is that there is more to our purpose and identity than material things and that we must first "be rich toward God" in our hearts, our spirits and our minds by receiving all of Him and walking in His ways, guarding our hearts against greed and mammon in order to have a right attitude toward abundance (Lk.12:21).  In other words, we must first have God's character in abundance before we can sustain His blessings in abundance.  And we cannot accomplish this alone.

It is only through the abundant grace and love of our Heavenly Father that He gave His son, Jesus Christ, as our savior—who is the essence of abundance, who modeled The Father's finest principles and who also intercedes for us now at the right hand of the Father—to help us receive all of His gifts and rewards, many of which are not material.  It is through Jesus that divine joy, love, grace, favor and mercy overflow to us.  James 1:17 says that every good and perfect gift comes from above.  For this alone, we owe an abundance of thanksgiving to God.

Receiving divine abundance is also linked with our faith and actions concerning giving.  Malachi 3:10 says, "'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.'"

Receiving divine abundance is also linked with how we treat others.  Luke 6:38 says, "Give, and it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.  For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."  Remember, motives count.  If we just give for the sake of getting, this principle won't work.  God looks at the heart and sees all things and knows all things.

Both tithing and loving others fit into God's greatest commandments for us, which is to love Him with all our hearts, souls and minds and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matt. 22:37-39).  This mature level of loving involves walking in obedience to God and forgiveness toward others no matter what the circumstances.  Obedience brings divine favor and rewards that are material and immaterial.

Psalm 65:11 says, "You crown the year with Your bounty and goodness . . ."  So let us ask the Holy Spirit to search our hearts and reveal privately any matters that do not please God, the very issues that would prevent us from receiving Our Father's greatest abundance.  Let us repent and ask Him to fill our hearts with a fresh love for our Heavenly Father and others so that we may have a right attitude of divine priority.  And let us give Him praise for and celebrate that which He has already given us and that which is to come.  Only then will we be positioned to receive His accelerated abundance that He longs to give us during this season.