Do I Show Him I Am Ready to Receive?

       A few years ago, I walked away from much familiarity and into a place unknown to me - outside my comfort zone. From that moment began a journey initially encompassing doubt, fear, and pain but has now yielded an abundance of love, joy, peace, wholeness, and the list goes on. I had no clue how that one decision was not only a springboard that catapulted me even deeper into God’s word, but landed me right smack in my purpose for living. Although it was the most challenging time of my life thus far, it has ironically produced the most rewarding and exciting time thus far. As I reflect on my “daily dose,” found in Psalms 84:11 which reads: “For the Lord God is a sun and shield, The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly,” I completely see without blinders why certain things I thought I was ready for did not come. I had to delve deeper into this scripture that reveals who God longs to be which is “a sun and shield.” When I break down this meaning of “sun” and shield,” this means God longs to be a radiant light, an object of worship in addition to being a barrier and protection to me. When I choose to not dwell and live a life in Him, I cannot reflect His light, let alone even see it. Additionally, we tend to also forget that His grace is sufficient for our every weakness so when I struggle, his grace and glory longs to clothe me if I am willing to wear it. Lastly (and here’s where the light bulb really came on), when something is truly I mean genuinely good for me, He will not withhold it as long as I walk UPRIGHTLY. When I first read this scripture, I assumed it dealt solely and completely with being just and displaying rectitude. However, the Hebrew usage of this word in this passage translates as “what is complete or entirely in accord with truth; whole, entire, sound.” When we are broken or incomplete in Christ, He cannot entirely release all that we ask for even when it is good for us because we are not in the right place or position to receive it. If God gave you such a financial increase, yet you are not displaying consistent stewardship over the money you have now, how can He release more into your hands? How can he give you the new career you long for if you are not completing what He asks of you in the position you are in now? How can He release the person you desire to you if you are not whole or complete in a way that is sound and in accord with His truth? For me, this spoke rivers. I understand how in essence, God protected me from myself by withholding some of my deepest desires because I would not do them justice to the capacity I know I want to and what He wants me to as well. So we must reflect on what we are asking God to give and whether we are ready to receive.