Allowance & Inheritance

Image Credit:Chris Titze

al·low·ance

/əˈlouəns/

noun

• the amount of something that is permitted, especially within a set of regulations or for a specified purpose  
• a share or portion allotted or granted
• amount permitted, provided, and available

As a believer, I know I'm a coheir with Christ (Romans 8:16-17 and elsewhere in the Word), that God has promised a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11-13) and that as the Bride of Christ, I'm destined for Heaven's beauty and bounty.  It's beyond my comprehension; and yet, it's somehow easier for me to accept that truth than to allow myself to enjoy fully the abundant life Jesus desires for me (John 10:10) and paid an exceedingly high price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) for that liberty and luxury of knowing Him intimately and sharing life with Him through the Holy Spirit.  

Why is it that my (right now, here on Earth) allowance as a daughter of the King harder for me to allow myself than the (promised and unseen, beyond imagining) inheritance I look forward to as a daughter of the King?  

We have an upper limit to accepting good in our lives based on our self-image, our personal history, and our perception of society's approval or lack thereof.  This theory is discussed in Gay Hendricks' book, The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level.  I've heard the notion hinted here and there; but it hit home this morning during some work I was doing in my home - the second home I've bought since my husband died, and yes, it took this long for application to my situation. 

It's been long known (since Freudian philosophy at least) that women tend to suffer guilt for faring better than their mothers.  Allowing myself to have my dream of writing and publishing, allowing myself to have a valid voice worth hearing, allowing myself to have a home that is luxurious compared to that of anything I'd ever experienced or seen family members enjoy - especially "just for me."  Hanging onto weight to ground oneself, self-destructive behaviors of any kind, even depression can be keys this form of guilt and/or Hendricks' upper limit problem.

Yes, I'm a daughter of paupers here on this planet.  Yes, I've lived in want and in plenty.  Yes, I'm generally content with my life in all aspects...but I'm not allowing myself to enjoy this abundant allowance as a daughter of the King whose Heavenly Father elected to bless in this life as well as the next.  Can you relate?

Jotting with Johnna

Are you sabotaging your wellness when life is good (or less bad)?  How does that show up for you, if so?  What can you do to take those thoughts captive and subject them to Christ instead of scoring points for the enemy whose aim is to "steal, kill, and destroy?"

Remember:  you are so very worthy of anything and everything and all God gives you, just as you are, right now - not because of you, because of Christ and His payment for your adoption into His family!  You and I have been ransomed and set free; but it is still our choice to live in liberty or in chains, squandering the allowance Jesus gives us daily.

Stay tuned.  Stay focused.  Stay well.