Trick or Treat

“Such a person feeds on ashes; a deluded heart misleads him;
he cannot save himself, or say,
‘Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?’” – Isaiah44:19-20

Several bags of candy lurk in my house. I won’t divulge where I hid these treats from my family. The loot stash must remain secret, or I could face a dire need devoid of sweets. No one’s stealing from my Hershey haven.

I must hoard those snack-size candy bars so I can give them away later, right?

Let me clarify, I’m not shoving them in pockets to eat them myself. It’s been eight months since my last taste of candy. I reserve all treats for other people. For a future time. Just not for the people right in my home, not for me, and not now.

The pattern of hiding my sweets makes me wonder if I treat my spiritual blessings the same way.  I sometimes hide myself to prevent theft, as if sharing my heart will allow someone to rob an irreplaceable gift. If I believe I possess a resource the Lord cannot restore, the enemy has tricked me. In fact, it is in giving that I receive (see Matthew 6:4), and Christ promises abundant life for those who follow Him. He will multiply the stores of my heart when I share them in accordance with His will.

So instead of allowing the enemy to trick me, I must treat all those I encounter with uninhibited blessings, lavishing upon them every gift I can offer today. Not withholding for some future need, or a different person. Not refusing to enjoy God’s sweetness myself, either. I’ll open myself to receiving all the delicious anointing Christ wants to increase within my soul. I can hardly wait to give what He will resupply.

I’ll also uncover my stash of chocolate right now. We always seems to have leftover candy after Halloween anyway. More than we started with. Funny how that works out, huh?

Will you choose, like me,  to resist trickery and share your treats today?