Becky Crenshaw

Jesus & Joe: A Coffee Devotional

“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 splendor 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 into 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, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you, as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.  Matthew 6:25-34

Back to school is expensive.  Tax free weekend or not, cash registers have chimed often on my account the past week.  Expense after expense ensuring my boys have all they need for the first day of school.

And each cha-ching of the register, has made a cha-sting  in our bank account.  I am trusting that many of you can attest to the same cha-sting.

So Saturday morning, I poured a cup of coffee and stared head on at our online banking.  

Immediately, anxiety reared its head.  Number crunching led me to type a quick text to my mentor, asking for prayer as I felt my blood pressure rise and the number seemed to fall.

My fast, furious and careless fingers made a typo – that wasn’t a typo at all.

My text read:

“This is a busy week for us leading into school.  Lots to do.  Money is tight.  Lots of expense.”

“Praying now,” she replied.

While typing the words “Money is tight”  I actually hit R.  Making my text read “Money is right.”

I changed the message, of course, and hit send, launching my virtual prayer request across town.

I set down my phone and focused my attention back to the screen.  

Taking a sip of flavored coffee, I sensed the Lord reiterate my typo-ed text.

“Money is right.”  He whispered to my soul. “Money is right.”

My text wasn’t a typo.  It was a reminder.  Yes, money is tight.  Yes, expenses are high.  Yes, we’ve had to spend more than normal this month preparing for school, but our tight monetary needs are a right opportunity for me to seek first God’s kingdom, and his righteousness, and all of the rest will be given me, as well.  Money being tight gives me the opportunity to rely and trust in a Holy God whose Word says that he has met all of my needs according to His glorious riches.  

To be anxious about our finances demonstrates in me a lack of trust in God, who promises that he cares for “all these things.”

Even back to school shopping.

So today, sip your coffee and take a breath.  For even if money is tight that doesn’t mean its wrong.  A tight bank account gives us a right opportunity to trust in a Savior who instructs us to cast our cares on Him and to not be worry about our lives.

Oh taste and see that the Lord is good!  Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!  Of, fear the Lord, you His saints, for those who fear Him have no lack!  Psalm 34:8-9