...you have not because you ask not...

The Lord will not let me rest tonight. Let me see if I can put these thoughts understandably in black and white.
When gas prices originally started rising, my husband and I, trying to be good stewards, sold his V8 truck. Unfortunately, unbeknownst to me at the time, I was being prideful and insisted on another SUV 4X4 (another V6, but not exactly what God was trying get me to). Two SUV V6 4X4s later, God opened my eyes to my pride. I confessed, repented and asked forgiveness from my husband. I confessed, repented and asked forgiveness from God. I knew I had to pay a 'price' so to speak. Now we realized we needed to find something more economical than what we had, not to mention part of the price I was to pay was that that second vehicle now had mechanic integrity issues. In addition to the mechanical issues, I would pay the price of time. When David sinned with Bathesheba, he confessed, repented and was forgiven, but he still lost his son. He still suffered consequences to his disobedience. Ok, my pride didn't make me pay that steep of a price, but pride is sin and there was a consequence to that sin.
Over a year later, we were still looking. We were aiming for a vehicle that would get us at least 10 more mpg than my SUV. Upon looking at a car locally, we stumbled upon (by God's grace) a diesel car. Our eyes were being opened to a possibility of double the mpg than my SUV. WHOA! This one in particular had too many miles, but now my husband went back to the computer and did his research and within a couple of days a new posting appeared within geographical reach for us. We had a mechanic check it out, he 'blessed' it so to speak. We drove up, gave our final inspection and drove away with 45+mpg.
On our return trip home, with a daughter asleep in the back and lost in my thoughts as my husband and I caravaned home, many scripture rolled through my head. I sat down today to write them out to see what God might be trying to say to me.
Let's start with Ephesians 3:20 in the AMP version:
Now to Him who, by (in consequence) 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)---
the next thought/verse that came to me was Matthew 7:7
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
then Matthew 7:11
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
then James 1:17
Every good gift and perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
Now, James 4:2
...you do not have because you do not ask...
Finally,
Matthew 26:39; 26:42; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42
...O Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; never the less, no as I will, but as you will.
My reflective thoughts on what had happened to us with a huge blessing beyond our wildest expectations brings me to wonder....
do I limit God, because I am not bolden enough to ask? Who am I to expect more than 30mpg? Who am I to ask for more? Don't misunderstand, lets make it clear that what we ask has to be in line with God's will and His desires for us. In looking for a more economical vehicle we were exercising His command to be good stewards of what He had given us (Luke 16). My husband and I are Dave Ramsey fans, we live on a budget, we did not buy a new vehicle, we bought a 10 year old vehicle and we did not go into debt over it. Well, to answer the question and share my revelation, I am a daughter to the King of kings and He is my Father who gives good and perfect gifts to His children. I was faithful with little and He gave me much more. (Luke 16:10)

Instruction

Psalm 19:7-8
The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandments of the LORD are pure, enlightening the eyes.

So,
His instructions are:
perfect
sure
right
pure
bright
trustworthy
clear

And,
His instructions will:
restore the soul
make wise the simple
revive the soul
bring joy to the heart
give insight to living
convert the soul

Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

Praise you Lord for your word. For Your word is alive and full of power (making it active, operative, energizing and effective); it is sharper than any two edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and (the immortal) spirit, and of joints and marrow (of the deepest parts of our nature), exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of our heart. Hebrews 4:12 AMP

"Being versus Doing"

An outline of Ephesians from "Sit, Walk, Stand" by Watchman Nee is as follows:
A. Doctrinal (chapters 1-3)
1. Our position in Christ (1:1-3:21)
B. Practical (chapters 4-6)
1. Our life in the world (4:1-6:9)
2. Our attitude to the enemy (6:10-24)

I have listened to sermons by Duane Sheriffwhere he talks of the being versus doing, where we get so caught up in the doing that we forget to be. Watchman Nee breaks down Ephesians and addresses our first position in Christ as "sit". Ephesians 2:6 "and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." In John 15 we are told to abide in Christ and He will abide in us. The Greek word for abide is meno meaning to be in a state that begins and continues, yet may or may not end or stop...in Christ.

I have been known to get caught up in the 'doing' that I forget to 'be' in Christ. I find that when I relax and 'sit' at His feet daily that the 'doing' comes naturally. There is no struggle to find balance, He is my balance. There is no struggle in 'doing', He strengthens me. The key though is to 'sit' and 'abide' in Him. I have found one slip into my natural tendencies to 'do' in my own self sufficiency, my balance is thrown off, I struggle in my own strength, ....I will ultimately fall on my face. A humbling place to be, but on my face nonetheless.

Are you 'being' or 'doing' today? What could you do to change to 'being'? Is it a life-time decision, a lifestyle alteration, a daily modification to get back to the basics? Seek Him for your answer.

Faithfulness

My childhood was not lavished in lessons of money-sense. I was not taught that you pay your bills first then play. I was not taught that if you didn't have it, you didn't spend it. I was not taught budgeting. So as a young adult I learned about debt the hard way. When God brought my husband into my life, little did I realize just how much I would appreciate him and love him for the way he was taught as a child when it came to money matters.

Luke 16:10-12 (AMP)
He who is faithful in a very little (thing) is faithful also in much, and he who is dishonest and unjust in a very little (thing) is dishonest and unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the (case of) unrighteous mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions) who will entrust you the true riches? And if you have not proved faithful in that which belongs to another (whether God or man), who will give you that which is your own (that is, the true riches)?

I heard it said once, "if you can't be faithful with $10 going into savings how can you expect to be given $100 to go into savings". Poverty mentality, he called it. Good stewardship is another descriptive term.

When our first daughter was born, my husband and I were both working. When I came home with our daughter and looked at this piece of perfect art made by the Master's hands, I suddenly had no desire to go back to work. I expressed my desires to my husband through tear filled eyes. My dearly beloved, said "I don't want you to either, let's figure it out". And we did. We trimmed, cut, eliminated, and went down to bare minimum. Essentially, if it wasn't a necessity, we did away with it. We got rid of extended cable, rid of long distance and purchased a prepaid calling card, minimized our expenses, put ourselves on a budget, and sold the car that had a note and went to a one car family. I put in my notice and I have been home ever since.

Where does the faithful part come in and given much? When I quit my job, we cut our income nearly in half. At that time my husband had been at this company for ten years or so. Within three years of us having our first child, my husband got promoted two times, more than making up for my lost income. This was God's word put into practice and His promises fulfilled.



Resource:
Dave Ramsey