Just Enough.

In my life, there have been times when I’ve had plenty and others that I’ve been penniless. Through both kinds of seasons and all of the in-betweens, I’ve come to realize a most powerful, freeing prayer in Scripture.

Proverbs 30:7-9, which reads:

Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

See that second one? Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with food convenient for me. Not more, not less. Just enough.

Too many times in life, our thinking (worrying?) might extend beyond tomorrow into months in advance.

When we learn to pray in Luke 11:3, we ask for daily bread, not an annual supply.

Just Enough.

Note: For more reading on this, I highly recommend Will Davis‘ book, Enough: Finding More by Living With Less. A humbling and freeing read.

I get afraid sometimes. Of what others might do. To me.

Part of that fear is remembering the things that have been done to me in the past. And it magnifies the fear. A big lurking shadow grows larger the longer I consider it.

And the fear, if I let it fester and grow, will slow me down to a full stop. It’s a trap, set by the enemy. When fear starts creeping in, I do my best to put all my focus and trust in God.

The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe. – Prov 29:25

It’s not about proving myself. To me, rather than prove I have strength to overcome, I’d rather prove God’s strength and power.

Hey, there can’t be a shadow without a Light (Psa 23:4), right?

Besides all that, there are these:

• The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? – Psa 118:6
• If God be for us, who can be against us? – Rom 8:31
• The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. – Heb 13:6

The name of the Lord. A Strong Tower of Safety.

Fear?  Don’t give in. It’s a trap. And – It’s Only a Shadow

Confidence or Conceit?

Whenever I’ve thought too highly of myself, I’ve been proven wrong by humbling circumstances.

Rather than a ‘Look what I can do’ attitude (Isa 5:21), things work out better when I carry on with the belief that ‘I can do all things through Christ.’ (Php 4:13).

When it’s going good – It’s not because of me, it’s because of Him.

If I find myself getting offended (Psa 119:165), I soon realize I’m being filled with my own pride.

In Prov 28:11, we read:

The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.

Are we filled with confidence or conceit?

Even if I get a pat on the back (from someone else, not myself), I try to reflect the credit up (so as not to reject it altogether).

Through Jesus, I can be securely confident. On my own accord, I am foolishly conceited.

Which would you prefer? Would you tell your dear friend the truth – or hope someone else does it?

It could be as simple as a zipper falling or as complex as a bad behavior pattern. Would you do the telling?

If you don’t tell them, do you really love them?

Open rebuke is better than secret love. (Prov 27:5)

Matthew Henry’s commentary of this passage reads:

The physician’s care is to cure the patient’s disease, not to please his palate

So it goes with love. Reveal, rather than conceal, truths to those you love.

On the other side, receive such words from one who loves you, knowing the intent. I wish I would’ve in so many cases of loving rebuke. While it may not have seemed so then, I am grateful to those who loved me so much to tell me the truth.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. (Prov 27:6)

Faithful are the wounds of a friend. With loving intent and risk, telling truths with love.