What does abundance mean to you? Is it having more than you need or just enough? Where do you see abundance in your life?
In our reading today, God is assuring the people that he will provide for them. They will have what they need. “For I will pour out water to quench your thirst and to irrigate your parched fields.” If you’ve ever been extremely thirsty, like after running a race or when working in the hot sun, you know that sweet sensation that water passing your lips can bring. When your thirst is quenched, you’ve probably even exclaimed, “Ahhhhh!” Am I right?
Is God only speaking of a water supply here? I don’t think so. God is our supply for whatever we need. He wants us to know that he cares, and we need not worry. “And I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your children.” Clearly, there is a bigger promise here.
John 10:10 says (Jesus speaking), “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” A rich, satisfying life. Abundance. That’s a promise we all share. Jesus brings us fullness of joy and strength for each day. 1 Timothy 1:14 says, “Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus.”
Have you ever felt like you were overflowing, almost giddy with happiness? We can feel like that every day. We are blessed to be children of God with an inheritance of eternal life with Jesus. We are blessed to be forgiven sinners protected by God’s grace and mercy. We are blessed to be alive with a sole purpose to worship God.
2 Corinthians 9:8 says, “And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” Everything we need! That’s abundance to be sure. So why do we sometimes worry or fret over what’s going on around us? Why do we let the chaos cripple us and keep us feeling stuck?
We are in control of how we think about things. We can choose. It’s only recently that I’ve started to really pay attention to that. Why do I let myself dwell on negative things? If you’re not happy with what’s happening in your life, it may be time to ask God to help you and begin to look for new ways of thinking.
When I start to feel stuck in a negative spiral, I’ve started asking myself, “is this way of thinking serving me?” The obvious answer is “no.” So the next step is to ask, “what could I be thinking instead?” Like I said, we can choose how we think about what’s happening around us. If you’re like me, you’ve heard this before but never really let it sink in. With all that’s happening in the world right now, I’ve decided it’s time to pay attention. Abundance is all around us. It’s time to focus on that.
Here are some other verses to meditate on today as you let this idea of abundance wash over you.
Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
James 1:17, “Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.”
Matthew 13:12, “To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.”
Let’s pray … Lord, my God of abundance, thank you for every blessing in my life. I come to you with a grateful heart. Forgive my selfish heart that is sometimes blind to all the miracles around me. Help me to think in ways that are helpful and affirming. Use me to help others who are having a hard time with positive thinking. Shine through me today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
