A national credit card issuer has a television commercial with a memorable catch phrase. "What's in your wallet?" has a sing-songy appeal that manages to stay with you long after its thirty seconds of airspace has evaporated. That is the great thing about catch phrases or jingles. For years, America has learned "There's always room for JELLO", "Don't leave home without it", and "It's everywhere you want to be". Burger King said in the seventies, "Have it your way!" and America can remember it thirty years later.
Catch phrases, slogans and jingles are a vital part of commercial life because they serve to burn permanent communication onto our memories. They in essence, write their words upon our hearts. Isn't it amazing that once again, the natural world looks to spiritual principles to accomplish life altering purposes in the heart of man.
Actually, my reason for bringing this up reaches farther than the obvious - that we should be as quick to let the word of God become the life-changing catch phrases of our hearts. There is also an element of God that comes forth as Rhema word to mankind. Occasionally, the Holy Spirit will teach you a biblical principle, and then give you a creative thought to help you activate that principle in your life. He will give you a catch phrase to keep you in remembrance of that principle.
For example, there was a certain season when I have found myself praying for God to bring financial increase, to our church but also to my household. Both arenas have a specific kingdom vision and purpose. The major slowdown to that purpose is a simple matter of finances. I am at that place where money answers all things. I actually began to complain to God about the fact that He placed this huge vision in my heart. He has given me all sorts of direction on what I am to accomplish and also what this church is to accomplish. He just hasn't seen fit to finance the project at his point. I even allowed myself a moment of comforting solace in the catch phrase,
"Where God guides, God provides".
After all, when God told Noah to build the Ark, He provided for the animals to gather together at the launching point. That makes it easy. I can rest in the comfort of knowing that when God is ready for me to do something, He'll make the way! AAAHHHH!!!
The question is, "Did God make the way, already?" Throughout two decades of full time ministry, my wife and I have experience the hand of God at work in our financial provision. He has brought forth many miracles in our life. We have learned to trust Him with to provide for that which He asked us to do. This fact frustrated me when all of the sudden I began to notice a decline in our usual financial position. Such a decline has often proven to be the result of a missed or an ignored instruction from God. I always look at such declines as a test at first. They often prove to be just that. However, when they continue, I begin to backtrack and determine whether or not I “missed the mark”. I began to pray and ask God, "Where is the provision?" His answer surprised me. The Holy Spirit asked me a simple question. "What's in your hand?" In my head-strong state, I came back with a quick reply. "Nothing! You're God! Couldn't you have noticed that fact? It is actually the reason I am having this conversation with you!"
I am so glad that God is love. He gently chastened me and informed me that although it is the reason I think I was having that conversation, He had created a much stronger reason. He was looking at what was in my hand when I would not see what was in my hand. He took me back to the place where the financial changes took place. Looking back at that moment, He had led me into a specific opportunity - a business opportunity that I acted upon. Shortly after I acted upon it, I encountered a distraction in another area of business. In my frustration, I laid this opportunity down. In the simple phrase, "What's in your hand?", God let me know that He had already answered a prayer for me but I ignored the answer and did not lay my hand upon the provision of that answer. It opened the door for bitterness to enter my life.
How could that happen? One of the most frustrating things that can happen to a kingdom citizen is to see and have purpose but have no way to approach that purpose and fulfill it. God continued to open every door that He wanted me to walk through, but the provision to walk through those doors was hidden. It was most frustrating to me. I even felt like I was somehow failing God because I was not fully activating the ministry He had written in my heart. Imagine how sheepish I felt when I realized that the hidden provision was actually hiding in my own desk drawer!
God is also an encourager. He sent someone to shine a light on that hidden place. In my absence, He even allowed that opportunity a little growing room - just enough fruit to open my eyes to the provision He had provided for that simply needed tending and cultivating.
In this day and age of Christian life, there are many who are waiting for God to bring the supernatural provision He has promised. They have sown seeds believing for harvest. They look to God to "bring the Boaz" into their life and provide for them. They forget that Boaz was attracted to Ruth because she was willing to take every step that was necessary to release that provision into her life. He first observed her gleaning in the field. He watched her fulfill every instruction given to her by her (get this) mother-in-law.
God's provision was released when Noah went looking for gopher wood. It was released when Ruth went to work in the field. Even when God provides a garden, He expects man to work it. Man has come to believe that God just pours it out. He does…on those who He knows will work with what He gives to them.
To end the story, I pulled this opportunity out and dusted it off. I repented to God and to my family and even to the one who initially presented me with this opportunity. I asked God to bless it. Within a week, the opportunity produced a harvest. Amazingly, in addition to that harvest, I found other favor. Two families whose lives we have touched, one of which is a half a continent away, contacted us and released financial seed and blessing into our lives. The blessing was again released and Cindy and I can move forward with the plan of God!
When the provision stops, you can often track it to your last place of disobedience. Correcting that releases the blessing back into your life. Financially, you can look at what you were supposed to do. Work a particular job - let go of a former dream that does not fit the vision - sow a seed that you did not sow - For God to put something in your \hand often requires you to release what is in your hand, whether its money or labor…or pride. If you are at the point of continually asking God for provision and you are not yet seeing it, ask yourself the question, "What's in your hand?"
