ARE YOU PREPARED FOR WHAT IS TO COME?

Jonelle Maxwell

A few days ago, while doing laundry, I started to think to myself, “When things begin to happen, are we truly ready?”

For years the Lord has been taking me through periods of strict preparation of what it means to buy exactly what I need and not what I want so to speak. I know what it means to have an abundance of things. Also, I know what it means to live off $20.00 a week to eat and survive.

You may be saying this is not God’s will for us to be in lack. However, the truth is, what we think is lack is not really lack. It is a mindset we have adapted because we have been taught that if we don’t have a lot of something then we are living in lack. Unfortunately, many of us as Believers have not been delivered from the poverty mindset. Abundance does not consist in the abundance of things.

We think when we can’t eat out at the finest restaurants, buy the finest clothes, drive the best cars, and live in the biggest house we are in lack.

In these last 2 years, the Lord has taught me to totally rely on Him for everything! When I moved from Virginia to California as an act of faith and ministry, the Lord instructed me to take only two pair of pants, 2 shirts, 2 sweaters,, some personal items, my journal, $36.00 in my pocket, and the shoes that were on my feet.

When I arrived in California, I had to trust God to make a way for me and I still watch God to do just that.

In August of last year, I needed some personal things. So, I told the Lord what I needed. I was sitting at the park when an older gentleman walked over and asked if I wanted some water. This is normal in my community. I began to tell him my testimony after finding out he is a born again believer as well. The Holy Spirit told me it was okay to talk to him. After our conversation, he said he had something to give me the next time and asked me if I was going to be in the same area? I told him yes.

The following week, he came by and sat down. He said it felt good to help another person. He had been healed from cancer a few years prior and did not view life the same as he does today.

He reached in his pocket and handed me a sealed envelope. When he walked away, I opened the envelope and it was $2100. I sat for a short period of time just thanking the Lord.

Another time, a lady walked over to me, once again at the park and asked if I dropped some money. Again, this was another time I prayed and told the Lord what I needed. I told her I did not drop any money. So, she sternly asked if I wanted it. I told her yes and she handed me the money. She then walked away with her dog.

Another time, I was walking to the store while approached by a man that asked if I had any money on me. I told him no because here there are a lot of homeless that are drug addicts. He reached in his pocket and said, “Well, now you do.” Another man that was with him offered to give me some money as well.

During my journey, the Lord has definitely been taking care of me. I learned how to trust Him with everything. I watched Him even use people in my community to be a blessing to me. Truth is, what I thought was lack really wasn’t lack at all.

The Lord was and yet teaching me abundance is not always in the abundance of things but in the abundance of Him. HE IS SOURCE!

When we see God as our source, there is nothing He will withhold from us. He will change our perspective in how we see Him.

Now, take a moment to think, what if there was a collapse in the ecomonic system? Would you be able to trust God through it all?

Can you make it with what you need and not what you want all the time, which could very well be lust and not a healthy desire?

These are the things we must consider. I believe God is teaching some of us these things right now. Just know, He has you and will provide all you need and then some. Stay faithful, stay focused, and watch Him bring you into the place that you will have more than enough to help others when the economy collapses because it is coming.

The question is…DO YOU TRUST GOD?

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be contentious whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.”

Philippians 4:11-13 NIV

And constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to finiancial gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing in this world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

I Timothy 6:5-10 NIV

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his slender was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown in the fire, will he not much more clothe you, you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the pagans run after all these things, andy our heavenly Father knows what you need. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Matthew 6:25-33 NIV