Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1:3
In Christ, we are blessed with spiritual blessings that we often miss. C.S. Lewis writes:
…like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory, and Other Addresses
I am far too easily pleased by mud pies for sure. My pies are comfort, dissatisfaction (complaining instead of embracing) and laziness. What are your pies?
A friend and I were playing dodgeball tag with third and fourth graders. Memories of basketball welts from “middle school dodgeball gone wild” were utmost in my mind as I struggled to hide behind something bigger than myself. I didn’t realize that I’d said aloud, “I’m way slower than I used to be.” A grinning, fiendish fourth grader poised to tag me with his ball, said, “Well, that’s a scarcity mindset!” ….I agreed.
While teaching sixth grade, I began the school year with a week of instruction in scarcity versus abundance mindset. I knew exactly what that fourth grader was saying. A person operating with a scarcity mindset focuses on the half empty glass, believing that they do not have the necessary skills, knowledge or emotional strength to accomplish their goals. They are preoccupied with the chance of failure rather than success.
As a 65 year old woman, no one would blame me for playing dodgeball with a scarcity mindset. But. Do I want to limit myself this early in the game? Even when I have an acceptable excuse to stop. Should I?
“God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6
While tired, worn down and just plain grumpy it is easy for me to feel okay about limiting God’s good work. Just surviving is realistic. AND. Giving in to exhaustion is a brilliant first step. I can’t fly like an eagle, sting like a bee. Correct. First step. Admit it. Second step: Ask for help.
The opposite of scarcity mindset is growth mindset, which is exactly what it sounds like: I may be old, slow and out of breath, but I can beat these young whippersnappers using not brawn, but brain! While I feeling weak I need to remember that God plans to use me until “Christ Jesus returns”. Which means that I have hope. BUT. I know my limitations. I can’t keep this up until Christ returns. Are you kidding me? I again return to my Savior.
I hope this is not just a “turn that frown upside-down” message. When life throws especially hard basketballs at us, and we don’t have the confidence or stamina to dodge. Instead of trying to dodge balls, it is important to go to God to ask for understanding. God is dodgeball tag’s “something big to stand behind”. Christ has dodged all the balls the world hurled at Him. He understands our weakness, is present in our weakness and is able to supply us with all spiritual blessings.
Your Assignment:
Look/pray through the list below. As you pray through the list, be honest. Do you even want this? Be real during Lent.
Pray that you will:
- understand your calling and have the confidence that God will provide skills to fulfill whatever He asks you to do.
- love patiently, kindly, and not envy, boast, or be proud. You will not be selfish, easily angered, or keep a record of wrongs. You will not delight in evil, but rejoice in the truth. Always protect, trust hope and persevere.
- abide in Christ in areas that it is easier to take over yourself.
- be prepared for spiritual battle be strong and courageous.
- bring burdens to Christ after bringing them for years, seemingly with no answers.
- bear the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
- for godly wisdom in difficult areas of your life.
- control your tongue.
- be faithful in the face of opposition.
- truly see the holiness of the Lord and your own sinfulness, and respond in confession and worship.
- pursue God with wholehearted devotion, submitting to the will of the Father, whatever that may be.
- look for those whom you can help.
Take your time. God is working even when we don’t expect it! Trust Him. Do what you can and allow Him to do the rest.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
Basis for prayer list: Life. Love. and Jesus. by Tammie. Twenty ways to pray for yourself. https://www.lifeloveandjesus.com/20-ways-to-pray-for-yourself/
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