We’ve heard of Christmas in July. But Black Friday in July?
This was something new to me when I first saw the department store circular delivered to my door earlier this week.
Black Friday sales officially begin today (with a couple of pre-sale days added).
Yes, right now!
Who doesn’t like free shipping and deeply discount prices?
But like all other activities (or habits), shopping needs to be done in submission to Christ.
For me, among other things, this meant not purchasing any more “seconds.” The Lord had spoken to me about this months ago.
What’s the big deal? I thought at first. I’ve been doing this for decades.
After all, there were only a couple of items I had consistently purchased as “second” quality over the years: paperback books with nary a mark or crease that would probably get more messed up anyway, and holiday china from my favorite outlet with only the tiniest of imperfections, usually on the bottom, that would, perhaps get broken over the years anyway.
At first thought, books and dishes seemed like small things to me.
But not to God.
Books and dishes were just His beginning for me in this area.
When I asked Him for understanding, He helped me realize it’s about a new mindset He desires to establish in me: The expectation of first-rate, top-quality, best, flawless, heirloom, legacy—His character outwardly reflected as manifestations of my inward inheritance.
God has fine stuff that He desires to give.
But old mindsets can feel like self-entitlement.
Still, it has to go to receive God’s best.
Galatians 5:16 (TPT) encourages us, “As you yield freely and fully to the dynamic life and power of the Holy Spirit, you will abandon the cravings of your self-life.”
So what are you expecting?
First-rate or second-best?
God’s best strategy is to release seconds to Him and advance to first-rate manifestations.
When we have the mind of Christ, victory can happen like lightning in God’s promised land. We need only to see clearly, having the blinders of our way removed.
Black Friday in July sale?
Doorbusters galore?
Free shipping?
1 John 2:16 (TPT) warns us, “For all that the world can offer us—the gratification of our flesh, the allurement of the things of the world, and the obsession with status and importance—none of these things come from the Father but from the world.”
For me, it’s not about status.
It’s about beauty.
I’m drawn to beautiful things.
I’ve learned He is the most beautiful thing.
And everything else is just second.
“Your pleasant path leads me to pleasant places. I’m overwhelmed by the privileges that come with following you, for you have given me the best!” (Ps. 16:6, TPT).
“For the Lord sees not as man sees. For man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7b, MEV). {eoa}
Margaret D. Mitchell is the founder of God’s Love at Work, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that champions Christian women and their outreach in the world with the love of Jesus Christ. Follow her revelatory writings at godsloveatwork.com and margaretdmitchell.com. Find her on Facebook at facebook.com/margaret.d.mitchell and facebook.com/godsloveatwork/.
This article originally appeared at margaretdmitchell.com.
