God's Economy

The beginning of a new year is typically a time for reflecting upon the past year and making plans for the future. It is also a season many of us associate with tax return preparation and financial planning. Last night I finished plugging in all of my ministry sales and expenses for the year and realized that once again I was looking at a deficit; this one was almost twice the size of the one last year! Regardless of the frequency of speaking events or number of book sales generated, my ministry never even comes close to realizing a profit. Does it surprise you to learn that despite this poor financial performance, I feel like a raging success? Let me explain why.

My ministry work for the Lord could produce a profit if I approached it in those terms but I don't because my driving motivation is to share the wonder of living in His presence with others. Quite often, I must spend money rather than make money to take advantage of those opportunities. As I sat reviewing my profit and loss report last night, I realized by all secular standards my ministry is an absolute failure. Everything that flows in, flows right back out and then some! This violates every business principle I have ever learned. However, as I considered the thousands of lives that have been touched, the hearts that have come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and the desperate who have told me they found a reason to cling to Jesus through my testimony of God’s grace, I began to experience the warm glow of success; not worldly success that breeds pride but rather the matchless gift of basking in His approval and the certainty that He is using me to make an eternal difference for Him!

My heart's desire is share with others His awesome power to overcome the debilitating forces of rejection and loneliness with a love that can never be lost; His supernatural ability to replace anxiety and depression with a peaceful joy that exists independent of circumstances; His matchless sensitivity to reach into the secret recesses of our hearts and transform the darkness into the radiant unquenchable light of hope; and His amazing grace that promises redemption to even the most heinous of sinners. When someone experiences the liberating power of His touch in the most secret places of the heart, it becomes quickly apparent that the love of Jesus is truly irresistable! Jesus is the only answer to this restless yearning that causes us to feel that something vital is missing from our lives. I know this because I have personally experienced the transformations described above! We were created by Him and for Him (Colossians 1:16) and until we recognize this immutable truth and surrender to His purpose for our lives, true happiness will forever evade our grasp.

Satan would much prefer that we allow this inner restlessness to drive us toward passions and addictions that he can then use to destroy us. Searching for answers in all of the wrong places will always produce tragic consequences which are easily observable in the broken lives of those around us. My gratitude that God allows someone like to me to stand in the gap and bring His life saving message to others knows no bounds!

As I drifted off to sleep last night, I told Him, “Lord, your economy is certainly upside down from everything I have been taught about success but I am committed to following you and so grateful you provide me with the means to do so.”
This morning as I prepared to start the day, I silently asked my Lord to lead me to a place of encouragement in His Word that would underscore what He has taught me about His economy. (I didn't feel any reservations about the path He has chosen for me but absolutely love to receive His affirmations!) I decided to begin my private devotion time with Him this morning by checking to see what my "Verse for Today" was on my website. It was such a clear and powerful confirmation, I decided to share His message with you! Here it is:
Matthew 6:19-21 (New International Version)
Treasures in Heaven
19"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Once again, my God is faithful to encourage and guide me as I commit my heart to seek His face and walk in obedience to His will. I know my God is real and can do everything He says He can do because I talked to Him this morning. And...He talked back to me! I KNOW HIM! May you realize the full power of walking with Him today and everyday! Praise His Holy name!