Psalm 65

There is a lovely story my dad used to tell about a little boy named Johnny. One day, Johnny and his grandmother went to the grocery store. After they were done with their shopping and had paid for their items, they were getting ready to leave. The grocer behind the counter scooped up a bit of candy, put it into a sack, and handed it to Johnny. Delighted, Johnny grabbed the bag, immediately turned around and headed for the door. Johnny’s grandmother was mortified and quickly reprimanded Johnny: “What do you say, young man?!” Johnny stopped, turned around with a smile, held out his hand and said, “More, please.”

I’m not sure Johnny’s grandmother was satisfied with that response! However, when it comes to God, we can always approach Him with that sort of expectant anticipation. He always has more. Did you catch that in today’s psalm? There was abundance all over the place!

You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it. You drench its furrows and level its ridges; you soften it with showers and bless its crops. You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance. The grasslands of the wilderness overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness. The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing. (vs 9-13)

Given the current state of affairs in the world, I couldn’t help but notice the “corona” reference in verse 11: “You crown the year with your bounty.” That means, God has His own “corona virus,” and it consists of abundant giving. With God you, can always expect more. You can expect abundance! You can expect your cup to overflow!

As I was reading this today, I thought about my daughters and how much I want to share with them! I have the privilege of homeschooling both of them, and it has been such a joy to begin their elementary curriculum in the last couple of years. But as they start to soak up knowledge and get excited about learning, I can hardly wait for all that is to come in the next several years! There is so much to explore and experience together: music and cooking and nature and math and reading and all sorts of fun games. There is an abundance of things I want to give to them, and every step they take and everything they learn will open them up to discovering something new the next day.

This is the sort of abundance we can have with God.

Of course, where we sometimes get caught up is in looking for the wrong kinds of abundance. We think we know all the areas in our lives where we want God to pour out His abundance, but sometimes He has a different idea. Sometimes we overlook God’s bounty because our expectations don’t match up with what God knows is best for us.

When we want an abundance of health, God might have an abundance of peace in the midst of sickness for us instead. When we want an abundance of money, God might have an abundance of contentment in our poverty for us instead. When we want an abundance of happiness, God might have an abundance of joy in hard times for us instead. When we want an abundance of mercy, God might have… well, God always has an abundance of mercy!

So, expect God to crown your life with His bounty, but be sure to ask Him what sort of abundance He has in mind. Everything He gives us is designed to open our hearts to receive something more down the road. If you receive a great gift from Him today, it only means He has a bigger and better gift for you tomorrow. With Him, we can always say, “More, please!”