Forty Days of Proclamation: Abundance
Friday' November 27
Forty Days of Proclamation
Abundance
Amanda Thompson
Some years, God delivers my word in quiet prayer and other years, he delivers everywhere and in everything I see, hear, and do. For me, my 2020 word was the latter, roaring in loudly and clear. ABUNDANCE.
Like the majority of the words that God has given me, ABUNDANCE felt like a bit of an odd choice. It felt odd to me because in general, I tend to see ABUNDANCE in all areas of my life. Contrary to the words God had given to me in past, ABUNDANCE, seemed kind of like a “gimmie” word, one that was easy, and seemed like a great way to ring in a new decade.
In roared 2020 and in with it, ABUNDANCE; in ways we never anticipated.
For me, my first lesson in ABUNDANCE would arrive in mid-March, 80 nautical miles off the coast of the Dominican Republic in the Silver Bank. The Silver Bank is a protected sanctuary for Atlantic Humpback whales, where they migrate to mate and to give birth; and the only place in the world a human can have a soft water encounter with them in the water. From the breathtaking sunsets, to the vastness of the ocean, to the massive elegance of the whales; God’s majesty is evident everywhere. ABUNDANCE.
Three days into a ten-day trip, the Dominican Republic announced they would close their borders, all hotels, all restaurants and cease air transport within 24 hours. We were mid-ocean with no Internet and no phone. Yet somehow through God’s guiding grace our crew knew someone, who knew someone, who would reserve us a private flight to get back Stateside; for $3000 per person. We were the last flight that left the Dominican Republic before the full shut down and it felt as if the earth we knew would melt away beneath the wings as we lifted off towards home.
Many would return to the States to jobs that would be downsized, businesses they would need to close, and the unexpected cost of a private jet ride home. Yet, each of us were full of gratitude to touch our feet on home soil, for our crew with connections to secure us a private flight, and the funds to afford us all the opportunity to do so. ABUNDANCE.
It was on that flight home, when the clarity of God’s word for me for the year was apparent and that it was certainly not a “gimmie” word. It was his message to tell me that he would provide, if I would listen, obey, and allow.
Listen, obey and allow I did. OBEDIENCE.
Following that trip to the Dominican Republic, he took me from a job I liked but required me to travel 95% of the time to a job that was not designed for me. Discouraged and frustrated, I continued to trust the move was for a reason and he brought me a new executive ownership position with a clean beauty company doing exactly what I love to do and that would offer me more time at home with my family. ABUNDANCE.
He brought me a move from my home state of Colorado to Florida; where he brought me my sweet little house, warmer weather, the beach, and mosquitoes. ABUNDANCE.
Above all, he continues to give me food by the plenty, water at the ready, a warm cozy bed at night, and my health; of which I give gratitude and thanks for daily. ABUNDANCE.
You see, this year has been a bit #extra for all of us and for many of us, the path has been hard, unexpected, and strange. It can be hard sometimes to think despite hard times, moments of tension, uncertainty, and unrest to believe in ABUNDANCE, yet God continues to show us his majesty and his unfailing love. He often shows this to us through the quiet time in prayer or through passages and in other times it is loud and clear. He always shows us that there is enough in him. ABUNDANCE.