Be careful what you set your heart on, for it will surely be yours.
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

We’re settling into the new year and you are well into a nice groove. You’re now writing ‘07 instead of ‘06; you’ve organized the linen closet, scrubbed the corners of each room, and given away 12 pairs of shoes. You are fully committed and involved in that grueling exercise regime you plotted; your regular intake of dark leafy greens, fruits, whole grains, and only lean portions of protein have become your daily norm; and your doctor says you’re in the best health of your life! And just look at all the blessings you’ve collected! In the first month of 2007 alone, you have added over $1200 to your interest-bearing savings account. Big props on landing that long-term money-making-in-your-sleep account. That 6-figure house you just sold should have you sitting pretty for awhile. Congrats on getting that awesome platinum princess-cut 5-carat diamond rock placed on your finger. And didn’t you just put that last mortgage check in the mail this morning? Ain’t God good!

Wait, you did ask for these blessings, right? You did ask God to consecrate your harvest and increase your bounty, didn’t you? Okay, so maybe it hasn’t happened just yet. That’s okay; it’s still early in the year.

Remember that Sunday morning when the Spirit hit you even before you stepped into Church, and you avowed in all sincerity and dedication that beginning that day, however God chose to use you, He could certainly send you. But, when your cousin, who is phenomenal for borrowing money and forgetting to pay it back, called you with yet another request for the use of your money, did you even answer the telephone? When that family who needed a place to stay the other evening approached you about using your extra bedroom, didn’t you tell them your house was being repainted and that even you had to stay with your mama? Doesn’t your mama stay with you? And, when it was your turn - as indicated on your refrigerator calendar - to use your special recipe to make the beans for Friday night dinner at the shelter, didn’t you strategically forget to even buy the beans, but once you got to the shelter to “help” out, you ate 2 plates of the others’ food and took three plates home – one for later in the evening, one for tomorrow, and one to freeze for next week?

Wait, you did ask to be used, right? You weren’t just led by that great gospel song you heard before getting out of the car to go into Church that Sunday morning, right? It was the Word that resonated in your Spirit that made you want to go for God, right? Oh, it’s early in the year; that’s right.

Are the feelings of panic, frustration, and anger you feel at not having yet received what you asked God for the same feelings you have for not giving God what He asked you for? You asked God for all these blessings and God asked you to serve Him; to be His voice, feet, and hands; to find your joy in Him, not things. You said you would. God said He’d give you grace and the desires of your heart if you delight (serve and find joy) in Him. So do you? Hmmm, perhaps because you’ve been a little self-centered about stepping out of your comfort areas to serve is the reason those blessings you’re expecting haven’t come into fruition yet.

You asked for it – to be blessed AND to be made available to others in need. Both receiving and giving are serious business; don’t play with them. One doesn’t happen absent the other; they are dependant upon one another. When you give of yourself, blessing others, attending their needs as you can, you miraculously receive two-fold in return. All that you desire is yours as you open your heart and serve even the least of these. You must willingly and unpretentiously allow God to use you and not be selective about how He has chosen to do that. That’s how and when it all pans out.

So go on. Get used. You said you would go. God promises, you’ll get yours.

Sadiqqa © 2008