Do you ever think, “Everything is going so well…I wonder when is God going to pull the carpet out from under me?”
Or, “I don’t deserve good stuff.”
Or, “I feel guilty for accepting…”
I think this way sometimes. As if God’s given me too much and suddenly needs to put me in my place. Or as if I’m spoiled by the fact He is good. Or like He is a killjoy who is out to punish me for my happiness.
Why do I do this?
Recently, I asked God for something. It was small, but I prayed for it to “get better”. Amazingly, I immediately did, to a degree. I saw God move in incredible ways. Then, I wanted to ask him for something else, something more. I almost prayed…but then I heard:
Bad Kelly! You want too much.
Bad Kelly! You think God is there to give you everything.
Bad Kelly! You are selfish.
Bad Kelly! You know there are others who have it much harder than you.
Afraid to take too much from God, I almost missed the opportunity to see how much He really loves me. I almost stopped asking. Why? Because I counted the nature of God equivalent with the nature of man.
God gives abundantly. Many give, but then take for themselves.
God does even more than we ask or imagine. Man does and then expects something in return.
God continually pours out the best of who He is on our behalf. Man halfway gives and then gives up.
When we assign the track record of man to God, we always lose. In fact, we close down the opportunity to see the abundant nature of an abundant God. We essentially hold an arm up to God and say, “You’re a little bit good, but not that good.”
What are you believing about God today? In what ways have you held an abundant God back? How have you let the past hurts of man create a false view of God?
“I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Jo. 10:10
“For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” Jo. 6:33
Get all Purposeful Faith blog posts by email – click here.
Kelly,
This post completely resonates with where I’m at today. I just had my BIG 50th birthday on the weekend. My hubby, kids and other family treated me for the full weekend. It was overwhelming, and I struggled with feeling guilty that I was being ‘spoiled’. Then God used a card from my mother-in-law to speak to me and let me accept all the ‘celebrating’ as Him loving me through them. It changed everything. I would never want to reject His love, nor His gifts. Here’s to a year of celebrating!
Thanks for the post.
~Sherry Stahl
xoxo
This has been the story of my life….Why do we do this, is it negative self image, negative self worth? I know what scripture says, I believe it, memorize it, but there’s always a lingering of the negative. Thank you for sharing.
I just had this same conversation with myself yesterday! Timely!
I’ve had that conversation.
Kelly, the enemy isn’t very creative. He’s used the same trick on me. Whether it’s our flesh or an enemy dart it tries to steal, kill, and destroy.
Yes, so when things are going well I have a hard time fully embracing it because I am so busy bracing myself for the next thing. Great words of wisdom.
Kelly, you are so right. Our actions say, “You’re a little bit good, but not that good.” to our father who is the template for unconditional love and grace. WOW! I often do as you, fail to ask because I think I don’t deserve it yet he says I am his child and my father wants what’s best for me. He’s a good, good father!