Ready for MORE!
I understand that feeling of wanting and needing MORE; maybe you do too. We often struggle mightily with developing more patience with our families, more forgiveness for those who’ve hurt us, or more kindness toward our friends and coworkers. Our own souls crave more love, peace, and joy. But, where do we find that kind of more?
Certainly, none of us deserved salvation, and if God didn’t give us another thing we would spend eternity thanking Him! But, is it wrong to long for more when He’s blessed us with so much already?
As parents, we give our children food, shelter, and clothing, but our love for them would never allow that to be the end of our giving. And so it is with God. He loves us too much to leave us constantly yearning for more. Besides, it’s our yearning that allows His blessings to flow onto others! Paul says it this way: “God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” (2 Corinthians 9:8, NLT) This process creates a circle of abundance. The more God gives us, the more we’re able to share. The more we share, the more God is blessed. And God delights in giving good gifts to His children! He’s a good, good Father.
Sometimes, the world confuses us about what brand of more we need. It claims we need more money, success, possessions, or fame. I searched for MY more for a very long time, only to realize that Jesus wants to sweetly pour HIS brand of more over me. Whenever someone makes me feel less than, Jesus’ Spirit softly whispers, “You are more than enough for me.” When I feel rejected, He reassures me with “You are mine, and that’s all that matters.” When I am overwhelmed with sadness, He reminds me to rest in knowing that He stays close to the brokenhearted and saves those crushed in spirit. What I thought I wanted and needed only fed my pride. Instead of religious striving and relationship perfection, Jesus continually gives me more than I could ever ask for or imagine. He gives me peace – peace with God, peace with those around me, and, hardest of all, peace with myself.
I can identify with the woman at the well in John 4. She was going about her own business when she met Jesus, but perhaps she’d been secretly praying in the dark for deliverance from shame and rejection. She definitely needed more of something, but she didn’t have a clue what that more was, much less how to find it.
Jesus certainly piqued her interest with His “Living Water” talk. But when He got up close and personal about her five husbands and her current boyfriend, she changed the subject. She’d heard enough shaming comments about her lifestyle to last a lifetime. She didn’t need to hear any more. So, she used religion to derail the conversation. Jesus patiently answered her question, and then gently revealed Himself to be the Messiah. He gave her more than she expected so she could share her abundance with the people in the village – even the people who made her feel less than.
Jesus’ abundance fills our empty places too. When we discover that the kind of MORE we’ve been looking for is Jesus, we can make peace with God. That gives us courage to do the hard things that are necessary to finally make peace with ourselves. Only then can we accept that we are not our own worst enemy – that description belongs to Satan! After making peace with ourselves, we finally make peace with others, which makes the world a more peaceful place to live. “And the Lord – who is the Spirit – makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” (2 Corinthians 3:18b, NLT)
If you are looking for more of anything, I’d like to personally invite you to the Lean into Jesus women’s conference “MORE!” on Saturday, February 5th. Since Satan used Covid to keep this conference from happening, I’m convinced that those who attend will most certainly be introduced to the same Jesus who has become my MORE. When you receive Him, “He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you.” (Ephesians 3:20, TPT)
Until then … MORE!
Donna Jackson
Lean into Jesus Ministries
#donnajacksonblogs
Click here to purchase tickets for MORE! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/more-tickets-158020382217