When my husband, Steve, was in high school, he worked various jobs and was notoriously frugal. His twin brother, Dan, and their best friend, Mike, were not quite as thrifty. Dan and Mike had odd jobs from time to time—flipping hamburgers at the Wild Pig being the most infamous. But their funds disappeared as quickly as they got them. Steve, on the other hand, was a saver. And they knew it.
Steve had a little brown wallet with a horse head on the front and a zipper on the top. It was his “saving wallet”, and he kept it safely tucked away in his sock drawer. Occasionally, Steve, Dan, and Mike would get together to plan an adventure, such as a weekend trip to the beach or the mountains, or just a wild night out on the town playing Putt-Putt. Dan and Mike would often say, “Let’s just pool all our money together in one big fund. Steve, go get your horse head. We’ll put all our money on the table and combine it. We won’t worry about whose is whose. “
They knew Mr. Thrifty would have about thirty dollars to match each of their one-dollar contributions. It was a great deal for them. Not so much for Steve.
When we come to Christ, it is as though Jesus says, “Just put what you have in with what I have. Let’s make one big pot. What’s mine is yours.”
The Bible says that you are a co-heir with Christ (Rom. 8:17). That means that you get what Jesus gets. You didn’t earn this inheritance. God is not giving it to you because you were particularly good. He has lavished you with blessings because it pleases him to do so (Eph. 1:7).
When will we receive this inheritance? We already have! Notice the verb tense in Ephesians 1:11: “In him we have obtained an inheritance.” We already have obtained it. It is simply up to us to know it, believe it, and act on it.
The Holy Spirit abides in all believers. You’ve already been given everything you need to live victoriously in and through all things. And yet we wonder, at least I do, Why don’t I operate in the power that I already have? Why is my love so fickle? My power so pale? Why do I cower rather than making demons flee? Why do I live in the cul-de-sac of Christianity rather than venturing out on the highways and byways of the adventurous faith?
I believe living boldly comes with practice.
First you know the truth.
Secondly, you believe the truth. I don’t mean just believe that it is true but believe that it is true for you and in you.
Thirdly, you act on it, walk in it, stomp about in the surefootedness of it.
God does not need to be stirred, prodded, or roused as if from a sound sleep. We do. We need to wake up, take hold, and live in the power that is already ours.
No matter what you are going through today or will go through tomorrow, your destiny is greater than your difficulty, greater than your dilemma, greater than your discouragement. And God has given you everything you need to get there.
John wrote: “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1). To lavish is to give freely, profusely, extravagantly, and abundantly. He doesn’t give us everything we want when we want it. No father wants spoiled children. Rather He gives us everything we need to produce well-behaved children who bear His name well.
One translation of 2 Peter 1:3 says that God has “granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness . . .” (NASB). The word granted paints the picture of transferring something from one person to another. And isn’t that exactly what God did for you?
He transferred these precious promises from His heart right into your account—not because you deserved them or earned them, but because of His magnificent grace. And notice the verb tense of the word granted. It is past tense. It has already been done. This is not something that you will receive in the future, but you have access to it right here, right now.
Heavenly Father, I don’t deserve a single blessing—not one. I am so thankful that You have given me everything I need pertaining to life and godliness. I’m thankful that You don’t give me everything I ask for. What a mess I would be. Thank You for being so good to me! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
What are 2-3 promises from God that you are taking hold of today? Click on comment and let’s share.
Today’s devotion was taken from Sharon’s book, Take Hold of the Faith you Long For: Let Go, Move Forward, Live Bold. A mediocre, mundane faith is not what you were made for! In Take Hold of the Faith You Long For, you’ll learn the most common reasons we get stuck in our Christian faith, living less than what we had hoped. You’ll also learn how to break free of all that holds you back, move forward with all that God promises, and live the adventurous faith of bold believing.
© 2022 by Sharon Jaynes. All rights reserved.
Comments 30
I needed this word on today. Thank GOD for you.
Author
I need to remind myself of it often.!
A job promotion and two vehicles one for each of my girls. Its a Yes and Amen promise.
Good
That was so good, Sharon. Thank you! I really liked the picture with the verse today too! 💗
Author
Thank you friend!!!
I have been praying for my grandson who is 18 for forever, but especially now. (He gave his life to Christ at 6 and was baptized) When he was 15, he cried in my arms and said, “Grandma, I’m attracted to men . I don’t want to be this way! I want to be normal!” I continued to embrace him and cried out to God for his deliverance from this evil stronghold. He says he says he has always felt this way. We sent him to 2 Christian counsellors who specialized in this: 1) weekly for 2 years @$150 a visit. He couldn’t relate, He then went to our church’s family counsellor who also specialized in this at no cost. He stopped. I explained that feeling attracted to the opposite sex was not a sin, but acting on it was. We must take our thoughts captive and wash our minds with God’s word daily. He did not follow my advice, and now identifies as a homosexual. He is in a destructive relationship where he is emotionally abused. I hold on to the promise of Psalm 37:4 “Delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” My only desire is that my children know the Lord and walk in His ways.” Please pray for his return to the Lord.
Author
I’m so sorry. That is such a heartbreaking and prevalent situation. Don’t stop praying!!! If God can change water into wine, He can certainly change the feelings of your grandson.
Amen!
Prayed for him now.
Lord-let me continue to strive to be BOLD! You are with me EVERY STEP, so please let me remember that!!! Always!!!
Author
Amen Jean!
Thank you for the simple reminder and battle cry to walk in boldness. I’ve found that offering to pray right then for anyone’s need has been a great exercise in boldness and allows God’s spirit into a situation, even if the other person doesn’t know Him yet. I was so discouraged last night reading of Christian colleges caving to social pressures, long-time Christian friends promoting socialist agendas, changing the heart of the gospel about being dead to sin and alive to Christ, even to the support of murdering innocents. So many good hearts so horribly misguided by media and “kindness like Jesus”. It’s like they don’t even read the Bible anymore, just make up stuff because of how nice they know Jesus is/was. Satan has really made his last stand in the temporary battle he’s about to lose and taking as many as he can with him. I’m standing boldly for the whole counsel of God, for God’s kindness that leads to the repentance of many who are looking for Truth, one heart at a time, and praying for the Holy Spirit to woo us all back to God’s heart and the simplicity of His good news and our transformation from death to life.
Author
Standing with you my friend.
So we’ll said, Jan. My heart aches with you as we see Satan frivolously throwing his sinful ideas into the fray and mixing them with sweet-sounding half-truths. Lord, held us be so bold and so kind that your light might shine through us.
This was such a needed read today! Thank you so very much, I’m extremely grateful for this start to my day; and boost for my current certification! 💗
We didn’t earn this inheritance. He lavished us with blessings because it pleases him! I love that! It brings to mind my 4 month old grandson. Before he was even born and I saw him, I loved him and lavished him with gifts.😍
Marriage restoration!
Going to share this with my SS class! Thank you!
Sharon, I found your husband’s story so amusing—maybe because I can somehow relate. You see, being the good steward that I have learned to be, I don’t like to be wasteful with anything—not even my time. I used to go out with friends after work a few years ago and soon stopped. First, I didn’t enjoy all the gossip and the flirting, and second, when it came time to pay, they would all want to split the check evenly between all four or five of us. I always thought that was so unfair because I don’t drink, and I don’t usually overindulge in food and decadent desserts. So, having to pay $50 for a small appetizer or a $15 meal just wasn’t right for me! But, how refreshing it is to know that in His great love and kindness, God has made us partakers “of everything pertaining to life and godliness.” There truly isn’t anyone that I rather “hang out” with than He. It’s always a win-win with my BFF; my Lord Jesus.
Author
Amen sister. My husband got me a thrifty car rental shirt one year. It just says Thrifty across the front:)
His promise of the children returning to the land with new building, laughter and restoration! Yes I will lift you high and praise You for what You have and will do because You are a good, good Father!
I learned that when you pour out your heart to God, God will hear and answer like he did to Elijah and Jesus for the sake of others.
Also, that when you have little and don’t know what to do, God multiplies what little you have to more than what you asked for.
He loves us and cares for us so much. Even at our weakest points, He cares enough to make sure we have more than we need.
So God knows our needs before we ask for it. In Christ All things are possible. He tells us not to worry but to cast our burdens upon Him.
With this illness,Progressive Multiple Sclerosis, I actually gave up on the Lord! I could not understand where He was, I could not understand why He gave this to me. I am blind from earlier MS, I was diagnosed in 2007, but the neurologists believe I had it in 1992 when I went blind. But anyways THANK YOU SHARON!!!!! This article along with the rest of them I got from you have helped me alot! I must say thank you again!
Praying for a baby!
You are my king, O God, command victories for Jacob. Psalm 44:4.
Am presenting my papers for job application today and praying for God’s favour to locate me on the same in Jesus name.
I pray that I will take hold of God’s promise that His grace is sufficient for me, that His power is made perfect in my weakness. I am tired of striving and just want freedom to know and walk in His truth that I am clothed in the righteousness of Christ, & He has finished the work. May He empower me by His Spirit to take hold of His promises in humble submission to Him because I have been deeply struggling with this for far longer than I care to admit. I just feel overwhelmed, not good enough, that I don’t love and surrender myself to Him enough. May His truth set me free and may I walk in His love, joy, & peace according to His holy will in Jesus Christ.
Thank you Sharon & to God be the glory for the timely messages you share with us from Him. 🤍
Am healed, prosperous and blessed as written in 3John2
I’m taking hold of the promise that I’m to live peacefully in God’s Will versus the fear, anxiety, and chaos that the world can require of us. I’m standing on the promise that God can turn every bad circumstance into an opportunity to blow me away with his goodness. I take hold of the promise of sweet sweet rest as he is my great shepherd and I his sheep (he leads me beside still waters and makes me lie down in pastures is the picture- Psalms 23 I see when I receive this promise).
He will never leave me or forsake me.