Several years ago I was standing
in line at the check out counter of a department store. A towhead blonde boy
was standing next to his mother and a mound of new jeans and pastel colored polo shirts. He
seemed bored of the task of getting a new wardrobe, unappreciative even. His
mother seemingly oblivious to his attitude swiped her credit card and Junior
got new clothes. I then stepped up to the counter with my 75% off and under $20
purchase. I had stood at the rack
debating over and over if the purchase was truly necessary. Was this a need or
a want? Did it fit into my budget? Did it have to be dry-cleaned? If so, I could not afford that. I was jealous of the boy who got a whole
mound of new things without any care as to who was paying for it or if it was
on sale or how it was to be laundered. He never had to open the bill in the mail and stare aghast and feel
the angst of not having enough.
Jesus said in Matthew 6:25-34
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about
your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what
you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look
at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and
yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And
which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?[a] 28 And
why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they
grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was
not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field,
which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much
more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall
we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For
the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that
you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his
righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for
tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its’ own
trouble.
He told me then and
there at the counter that the boy and I were no different and I needed to
approach the counter with no worries, no concerns and no fear. He told me that
I have the same provision as this boy, even more. He set Matthew 6 in my heart
and told me He would provide all I ever need (Philippians 4:19).
Years later I stood at
the counter in a shop in Austin, Texas and watched my friend Wanda swipe her
card as she bought me a whole new wardrobe of linen for Mozambique. I wiped
tears away in the dressing room as I heard Him confirm to me that His promises
are true. I love the way He says, "I told you so." It is always so kind and gentle.
Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as
a man thinks in his heart so is he.” As I began to figure out in life, just who
I was, I began to change. I see it all the time, daily, people walking around
defeated, making really poor choices, all because they simply have no idea who
they really are. They settle, they choose out of fear. “If that girl knew how
amazing she was, she would not be with that jerk.” Luke 12:32 tell us, “Do not
be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the
kingdom.” That revelation for me was life changing. Once I began to realize
that the kingdom was my inheritance I began to carry myself completely
differently. It wasn’t from a place of arrogance, but of honor. When I saw
myself as valued and cherished, I began to value and cherish others. I saw that
my showing up in life and being able to cheer others on was part of my destiny
on planet Earth.
All of Creation is waiting for the sons of
God to be revealed. And for me to step up and finally realize that I am a
daughter, not a pauper but a princess.
Romans 8:18 For I
consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared
with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the anxious longing of the
creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the
creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who
subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from
its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of
childbirth together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves,
having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within
ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.
“Creation itself is longing for us to have a revelation of who we are. Creation is groaning under the weight of our slavery, hoping that one day soon we will have a revelation of the glory of our Son-ship.”- Kris Vallotton
Living among the very poor and working among the rich, I
have seen how they behave. I know what their dejected spirit looks like and how
it reacts. Those with a poverty spirit feel insignificant and that pain defines
them. Whether it be money or lack of love and affirmation a pauper believes
there is not enough for them.
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By breaking the spirit of
poverty off in my own life I began to see my inheritance, full of heavenly and
worldly and lasting treasures. When I began to see myself as immensely
valuable, a daughter of the Most High, everything changed. He is more than
enough. Fear and panic and jealousy are not from Him. I reign.
Are you a pauper or a prince?
Take the test!
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