A Closed Hand

Just about everyone has heard the story about the monkey with his fist stuck in a jar because he won't let go of the food and ends up being captured.  Or, how about the farmer who takes his harvest, eats it all then complains about not having seed to sow the following year.  Still another story relived in many families is of the overbearing Mother-in-law who cannot release her son to be joined to his wife but continually tries to rule his life. 

The monkey, the farmer and the Mother-in-law have something in common...a need to open their hand.  The monkey would have been able to get what he wanted by using his open hand to turn over the jar, allowing the food to fall to the ground.  The hungry farmer would have had a crop the following year had he used his hands to bag some seed for planting instead of closing his hand around a fork, overindulging himself.  And the Mother-in-law would have gained the love and respect of her daughter-in-law had she released her son. 

That is what trust is all about.  Trusting that God has a way to get that much needed food.  Trusting that when we obey His voice to give, he will not abandon us.  Trusting that when we need to release a loved one, that it opens the path for God to work.  Trusting that every good gift comes from God as we open our hand and release every area of our life, yes even our children...our money...our possessions...our past, present and future to HIM.  Believe it or not, everything belongs to Him anyway and as we apply his principles we find that an open hand and heart to God releases the law of multiplication.

Whatever we clutch to, there we will find our heart.  In these times when terror and bad news have become the new norm, don't become captured by a closed hand.  God's Kingdom is not of this world, but it rules this world we see.  If we want miraculous heavenly results, then we must do things His way.