I'm going to go ahead and apologize in advance if I hurt your feelings in this article. I can also assure you that I most definitely hurt my own feelings while writing this.
How many of us are eagerly anticipating a blessing from God? I can't see if you raised your hands or said "yes," but I'm going to assume that the majority of you agreed.
Now, have you actually made room for and prepared for that blessing?
This is the part where I may start stepping on your toes a bit. So many of us, myself included, ask God to provide for and bless us, but then we don't make room for everything He wants to give us.
For instance, if you're in need of new clothes, you need to get rid of all of the old, ragged, moth-eaten jeans that are occupying all of that space in your closet first. Otherwise, you won't have room for the new clothes you're wanting.
Another question we may need to ask ourselves is this: how are we supposed to reap a harvest of blessing if we're not sowing any seed?
"Now [remember] this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to others] will also reap generously [and be blessed]." II Corinthians 9:6 AMP
We can't anticipate all of these great and marvelous things from God if we are only providing mediocre things to others. Just like how we can't sow one apple seed and expect to get an entire orchard. Some of us are even guilty of desperately clinging to an apple seed (metaphorically), too afraid to plant it. We don't realize that by sowing that seed we will, in time, get a strong, fruit-producing tree. And a tree is much more beneficial than a small, little seed.
Essentially, two of the biggest things we need to remember is this:
1.)if we want a blessing, we need to make room for a blessing, and
2.) Blessings are never really about what God can give to you. It's about what God can give to others through you.
In all actuality, material items mean nothing to God, but people--His children--mean everything. God will always make sure you have all you need; however, when He blesses you, keep in mind that a lot of times, those blessings are meant to help others and not just give you more things to have and to hold. Sometimes, God blesses us with seeds, which are things we are not meant to keep but are instead meant to sow. It is then our choice to either plant those seeds and patiently wait for the harvest to arrive, or grasp it tightly in our hand and never reap the benefits of whatever that seed was meant to produce.
Don't cling to the seeds thinking that was what God meant for you to have, and always be sure that you have room and are prepared for your harvest to arrive. God will always provide you with more than you could ever imagine, but don't become a pack rat and hold onto a bunch of little things that you don't need or may have completely worn out over time. How many of the items in your household are items that you don't need? It is very possible that those items are seeds you need to plant in others lives, and who knows how much fruit those seeds will produce?
Get out of that "pack rat" mentality and take on the lifestyle of a generous giver. Never be afraid to give to others and always keep in mind that God will always give you so much more than you could ever anticipate.
"Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]- To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it)." Ephesians 3:20-21 AMPC
