Heavenly Treasures
I was working on a blog post about Fellowship with the Spirit, when He, the Spirit, clearly moved me to switch topics to something a little closer to home; a little more current. Convicted to practice what I blog, all I could do was follow His lead and praise Him! He is good!
Where is My Heart?
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21
This week, I was led to take a serious look at where my heart is. My husband and I have been struggling through a certain situation for quite some time, and last week we celebrated the “light at the end of the tunnel.” It was a “God thing” …or so we thought. After a couple days of celebrating “victory” we realized our problem was not resolved. We had gotten excited, only to be let down.
Discouraged and disappointed, I poured out my heart to the Lord. “God, I don’t understand. I keep trying to be patient and trust You. What is Your plan in this?” Digging through Scripture, I searched for just the right verse; my objective to remind God of His promises. That’s when His Spirit brought me to Matthew chapter 6 to remind me of His promises.
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! Matthew 6:22-23
In the past, I had hurried through these two verses, not really thinking about what they meant; but, considering my current situation, they became crucial. Reflecting on these words, I examined my heart. “Do I look at my circumstances through the eyes of the world, focusing on what the world treasures, or do I look at life through the Spirit’s eyes, focusing on heavenly treasures?”
Who is My Master?
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 6:24
Living in a culture that totally ignores God’s prescription for peace and His divine purpose, life as a Christian can sometimes feel like a balancing act. Even as an alien in this temporal world system, I must live here for the time being. And living here, generally requires working and paying bills. In response to verse 24, I want to shout, “I serve God, not money!” But, if God is my Master, shouldn’t I trust Him to provide, despite the current circumstances? Shouldn’t I trust that His provision is enough?
Do I Trust God?
“Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Matthew 6:25-27
Several years ago, after completing “Believing God,” a Bible study by Beth Moore, I decided to believe Him. Up to that point, vacillating between “He loves me; He loves me not,” I had struggled to believe His faithful love and grace for me. But in that study, I was deeply convicted to get off the fence and trust Him. It made a huge difference in my life.
I am currently working through that same study again. (It’s a great study, I’m telling you!) This morning, I was faced with a similar question. Am I going to trust God and accept His current provisions as enough? Or am I going to continue to worry and feel sorry for myself?
In this Scripture, God clearly states that I am “much more valuable” than the birds of the air. He asks me to reason, that if He feeds them, I can certainly trust Him to take care of me. By worrying, I cannot control a thing. But God is greater than every worry or concern, so, I choose to trust Him!
God Will Provide What I Need
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So, do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:28-34
God’s Spirit reminded me that as I seek His kingdom and His righteousness, He will provide what I need. I want to align my expectations with the truth and reality of God’s Word, not with the world’s version of success and wealth. I don’t know how this current dilemma will work out, but I have a God who provides!
I once was lost in fear and despair. I now walk in victory. I have been given a front row seat to witness an amazing transformation of my dear husband. I have a roof over my head and food on the table. I am blessed with a wonderful church home and rich with family and friends. But it doesn’t stop there. It gets better; FAR BETTER! According to Ephesians 1:3, through Christ, I am blessed in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing:
In love, it gave God pleasure to adopt me as His daughter. Ephesians 1:4-5
He will meet all my needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
Christ resides in me; my hope of glory. Colossians 1:27
The same power that raised Christ from the dead is in me. Ephesians 1:19-20
The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives in me! Romans 8:10-11
The One who is in me is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4
His divine power has given me everything I need for life and godliness 2 Peter 1:3
I have the mind of Christ! 1 Corinthians 2:16
Nothing in all creation, will be able to separate me from God’s love. Romans 8:38-39
My citizenship is in heaven. Philippians 3:20
Through Christ, I am the righteousness of God! 2 Corinthians 5:21
Maybe you’d like to add something you are thankful for. God’s gifts of love are endless.
He is a good good Father!
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