In December of last year, I shared a word the Lord had dropped in my heart for 2017. I stated that this year would be a “Year of Recompense” and there would be settlements released and paid that had been stored up in heaven, gaining interest, until God saw fit to release them. Since then, some of you have written me and told me about unexpected checks coming in the mail, pay raises, backpay being released, and/or inheritances being paid. God is so faithful and it fills my heart with joy when we see the connections between His word and His actions and give Him the glory for what we receive. But here’s the thing, whether you’ve already received unexpected settlements or have not yet, now is a good time for us to revisit that word again, stir our faith to it, believe for it, and keep our eyes and ears open in full expectancy. Because guess what….It’s not over yet! There’s more to come.
The first check I received was early in the year. We were still in the winter season and honestly, I was quite surprised to be receiving the fulfillment of this word so early in the year. My heart felt such satisfaction to see the word of the Lord fulfilled so faithfully and so quickly. But then today, I received another check in the mail. This time from a wireless company we used to do business with years ago. Apparently, they were faced with a class action lawsuit (that I knew nothing about) but that resulted in them paying out settlements to their customers. Again, like the first check, this one was totally unexpected.
As I opened the envelope and read the details, I heard the Lord whisper, “It’s not over yet. There’s still more to come.” I instantly got the sense that these settlements are being spread out and disbursed over the seasons of the year. So I too, made it a point to revisit the word that the Lord had spoken to stir my faith and prepare my eyes to see it when it comes, prepare my ears to hear what God wants me to do with it, and prepare my heart to receive even more and give Him the glory when it does come.
For those of you who are believing and receiving with me, I’d like to share one other thing that I felt was very important: Ask the Lord what you are to do with what He sends your way. 2 Corinthians 9:10 reminds us, “Now He who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your seed for sowing [that is, your resources] and increase the harvest of your righteousness [which shows itself in active goodness, kindness, and love].”
Sometimes, what He releases into our hands is bread to eat. But sometimes, what He releases into our hands is seed to sow. And yet other times, He increases our resources so that we can fulfill more of the purpose for which we were created. In other words, what I’m getting at is, when those settlements do come, let us not act in presumption and assume we know what their meant for. Think mission, friends – not need – and ask the Lord what you are to do with what He sends your way.
“Not that I speak from [any personal] need, for I have learned to be content [and self-sufficient through Christ, satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or uneasy] regardless of my circumstances.” Philippians 4:11 AMP
Faithfulness and obedience positions us for more. If we “eat” or “consume” what He meant for seed, then our lives won’t yield the harvest which God intended us to yield later – at a time we cannot yet see. On the flip side, if we “sow” what God intended for us to enjoy and consume, then we won’t get the revelation of His goodness. We won’t experience the favor of a good Father smiling upon and loving on His kids, whom He loves to bestow good gifts upon.
You get the picture.
I pray God’s blessings over you this year. As of right now, we are a third of the way into the Spring season and there’s so much yet in store for 2017. If you’d like to read the initial post I wrote towards the start of the year, the links is below. You can also search “recompense” on my site for other posts related to this same topic.
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May He make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord look upon you with His favor and give you peace.
Forever in His service,
Linda G. Riddle
Linda G Riddle 