"I will not place my hope in riches but in Him who richly provide."
I Timothy 6:17
I'm Done I"m currently walking in a financial valley and I have been asking God to deliver me from it for several months. In some ways He has but in other bigger ways He has not. However, he's been reminding me of some amazing truths from his Word that we talk about in MD5 that I want to share with you. Like, placing my hope in Him, alone, instead of my own efforts to produce provision or riches for myself. (I Tim. 6:17) and (Rom. 8:28, Matt.10:29-31, John 15:5, Is. 26:8-9, Ps. 23, 90, 91, James 1:5-7, Matt. 6, Jer. 32:17)) Is He All I Need? However, we recently sang an older song at Antioch, that says, "Lord, you're all I need. You're all I've ever wanted." However, I couldn't even sing it because I was under such conviction. The Holy Spirit was, in fact, revealing to me that I still wasn't completely believing this desire that He has for me, despite many months of seeking Him to align my will with His. Then, it hit me! I was more focused on my circumstances and getting God to align His will with mine rather than aligning my will with His. In fact, I had re-written this song to say, Lord, you're all I need and want until I'm in financial need! Then, I have to step in and figure it out. I'm Undone God had to convict me to repent of this sin of pride and to declare that He is The Lord, who richly provides by surrendering my will to His "good, pleasing and perfect will." Not seeing how I can fit His will into mine. (Rom. 12:2) Since I have surrendered this struggle to God, He has been faithful to provide more of Himself to me and speak and guide me in a much more vivid way than ever before. He is All I need Now I can confidently and boldly say, He is all I need! I know this is a continual walk with The Holy Spirit, but I praise Him for growing me beyond what I could "ask or imagine." (Eph. 3:20-21) Because, consistent provision or riches without a deep relationship with God does not satisfy! He is All I Want! I'm thankful for this valley, despite the painful challenges. Because, God has not left me or forsaken me, but He has strengthened me as we walk through it, together. He is proving that He is all I want, which is even better than what I need. Praise God for His faithfulness and goodness in our lives that draws us closer to Him through the valleys. My Prayer for You This is actually one of Paul's prayers for the church at Ephesus, but I desire this for all of you because the real struggle is not financial. It's a struggle with our sinful pride that doesn't want to give up control of the finer details of our lives. But the beautiful thing is, the more we surrender our control, and put it do death, the more God becomes all we need and want. "...I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." - Ephesians 3:14-21
Ryan Johnson MD5 Facilitator
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