What is abundance? Abundance is having plenty, having more than enough such that you are in a position to give away. It is having a large quantity of something. Somebody recently commented that the reason we re blessed is that we can bless others after our own needs have been met. The book refers to blessing so you can be a blessing. You receive so that you stretch your hands out to the needy and less privileged. The word abundance doesn’t only refer to money but one could also have an abundance of joy, faith, hope, goodness, love to mention a few.
We are designed to live in abundance. It is our right but what can stop it?. We can stop it. Why you ask, ‘abundance is a choice’. We all have a free will. God will never force His will on us. Whatever man imagines he can do’. What are you imagining? What are you asking for?. Who is speaking into your life on a daily basis?. Are you giving the creator chance to speak into your life daily?.
As I pen this post I am reminded of a story in the Book about one of the prophets. Elijah the prophet declared ‘ As the Lord liveth, there shall be no dew or rain these years’ He spoke out of great confidence in the creator of the universe although sometimes when people speak like that people say it’s pride. I think here we also realise the power of declaration, according to my word. Surely according to his word, the famine lasted 3 years. Did he cause the rains to stop, no but the creator did because of his displeasure and judgement on the people for putting their trust in false gods. He had previously warned and nobody was heading the warnings.
There was a famine in the land. This is a physical manifestation of a spiritual famine. We may not believe in God or a higher power but what are the false images (gods) we’ve spiritually erected for ourselves. Anything can be god to us. Our jobs may become our god to the extent that we ignore families and other more important things like our health.
The story changed when the people Elijah challenged the four hundred false prophets of the time. ‘Let’s have a contest’ he asked. ‘Make your altar and I will make mine and let’s our God’ he continued. He expected them to withdraw but they were very confident of success. ‘Call your god and I will call mine’. They called their god but he never replied, Elijah called his and He did reply. The prophets were eventually destroyed. There are implications of listening to the wrong voice. Who is speaking into your life?
Elijah repaired the altar in 1 Kings18, and fire came down. God proved Himself as the only true and living God that answers prayers. In verse 41 the bible reads, “And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink for there is a sound of abundance of rain” How did he hear the sound? Prior to this the situation was so bad that people had resulted to cannibalism.
What really intrigued me further is the process it took for the Rain to appear and the famine to end.
He sent his servant three times to observe the weather. I learned a big lesson here. Elijah believed the promises of God in 2Chronicles 7:13, 14 ‘“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people. If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Although he had lot’s of experience walking with God, he still needed to pray to see fulfillment of his declaration. The book continues, ‘Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees. (praying). Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked. “There is nothing there,” he said. Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”
In conclusion I wondered, what would have happened if he had not continued to pray. Although a man of faith he did not just pray once and left the matter. He PUSHed (prayed until something happened). before giving Ahab the King instructions. We must never give up on our dreams. Keep hope alive and work towards your dreams. Stay far away from negativity, believing the vision will surely come to pass.
