House of Glory: All Grace Abound to You

"… God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." (2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV)

As my six-year-old tried to open a package, I sat patiently waiting for him to ask me for help. It was one of those protective, hard plastic packages that some manufacturers use – you know, the kind that are nearly impossible to open short of using a small explosive.

I knew my son wouldn't be able to open the package on his own, but I make it a general rule never to grab things out of my son's hands – like one child might disrespectfully snatch something away from another. Sure, I'm bigger than him, and I could've taken it out of his hands, but I wanted him to make his own choice about whether or when he would ask me for help.

It didn't take long before he looked up at me, and I said, 'Do you want me to help you?' He said yes and handed me the package. I knew it would require more than my hands (or teeth) to open it, so I found some heavy scissors and squeezed hard to cut through the plastic.

Today, you may be holding a package in your hand, and wrapped in its hard plastic shell is something Jesus called the "abundant life." You're straining to get inside the package, using all the means and schemes you can think of to break through the abundant life.

God is patiently sitting next you you, waiting for you to abandon your independent attempts to create the abundant life, waiting for you to let him loose in your life, waiting for you to say, "I can't, but, God, you can."
In that moment, God becomes your strength, "so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." (2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV)

What you should do now?
* Let God run wild – Accept the powerful love of God in your life and allow his grace to run free in your life.
* Stop trying to open the package – Give the package to God and let him open the abundant life for you. Ask God to show you what package you're struggling to open, and when he does, hand the package to him.
* Trust God with your needs – God knows you need to open the package. What makes you think you have to open it on your own? Why do you believe that your efforts to open the package will produce a better life for you than if you allow God to open the package? (What is your behavior saying about your beliefs?)