What Do You Have?

Friday, March 24, 2023
Listen to this devotional:
Listen while you read: "Be Still My Soul"1 (Lyrics)

Matthew 6:19-21 – Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (ESV)

In 2013, my husband and I retired and bought a two-and-a-half-storey brick house in Durham, Ontario, Canada. Our seven-year-old granddaughter said, "Grandma, it looks like a haunted house." It did. But the real estate agent called it "a grand old lady in need of being grand again". The "old lady" is in her glory now, having been restored, and I love living in her. It is God's gift. A while ago, I was pondering our age and wondering how much longer we would be able to keep living here. I was talking to the Lord and was not surprised to hear a word from Him. It was a question: "What do you have now that you will not one day lose?" I was stunned! "Yes, Lord," I replied. It was a deep question, and I have been thinking about it ever since.

What do I have now that I will not one day lose? It could be a depressing answer: everything! My husband suggested faith, but I said, "When we die, we won't need faith, because we will have what we hope for. So, what, then? My relationship with God! I suddenly realized how precious that is, and I was ashamed at how little time that I had really invested in it. How amazing it is that I can lose everything and still have everything that I need, because in Him is my strength, my supply. How liberating, especially because I am in a time of loss: my mobility, my independence, my strength, and the activities that I enjoy — although I am hoping that surgery will restore most of those things. I was managing. And then, my laptop crashed with no way to recover the photos and files. So much of my life was gone in a flash. I felt crushed. It was the last straw!

Then, that word triggered a Word: "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair." (2 Corinthians 4:8 ESV). Yes! How blessed that we are to have such a loving heavenly Father Who embraces us in our struggles and comforts our sorrows. Then He reminded me about treasures: the other things that we won't lose that are stored up in heaven for us. So, I am comforted! How great is our God! The things that I have lost are trifles compared to what I have gained through Him!

If you are in a period of loss or of having to let go, may these words encourage you: Earthly things are precious but godly things are eternal. Reflect on what you have now that you will not one day lose. Have you stored up treasures in heaven? It is not too late to start, or to add to what is there. Pray with me:

Prayer: Lord God, my Father, thank You for calling me Your child and for supplying all my need. Thank You for the treasures that I have with You and in You. May I yet add to those treasures today and every day. Glory be to You, O Lord most high. Amen and Amen!

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About the author:

Nan St. Louis <nanstlouis1@gmail.com>
Durham, Ontario, Canada

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1 Comment

  • PresbyCan Feedback says:

    Amen, Nan!


    Lovely prayer.


    Thanks, Nan, for this very good devotional.


    Thanks for your writing. Enjoy God’s beauty in spring.


    Thank you, Nan. Timely advice for those of us in our “senior” years.


    Great post and words that will resonate with many, Nan. God bless!


    I pray for your improvement and thank you for sharing your thoughts.


    Thank you for sharing this encouraging devotional with us. Blessings.


    Great reminder in today’s devotional.
    Thanks and may God continue to bless you.


    I too am at the stage of losing movement due to arthritis.
    Thank you for your thoughtful words.


    You encouraged me, Nan! Thank you and praying that the surgery restores you to good health.


    Thanks for your encouraging message today. I can definitely relate to everything you have said. I’m in that same place. Blessings.


    Very good devotion and so like us all to worry about earthly things instead of eternal. Thank you for sharing. You say it so well in the words you use.


    Good morning, Nan,
    Good to see your devotional this morning and good words indeed. It sure is hard to “get rid of things,” but as you said, “godly things are eternal”.
    Blessings.


    Dear Nan,
    Thank you so much for your really excellent and inspiring devotional. We are in much the same place in many ways. Your words touched my heart.
    Blessings, Joy, peace, comfort, and Laughter.


    Thank you, Nan, for this absolutely mindful and beautiful devotional today. Yes there sure are treasured items that we keep but we know our greatest treasure still awaits us when we meet with our loving Heavenly Father. What a marvellous day that will be! Blessings for your most thoughtful writing.


    Good morning, Nan,
    A very encouraging devotional for all of us no matter “what we have” and where we are in the moment. Reminding us of what is truly important in our lives is special and we all need it because we sometimes get lost in the weeds. Thank you for sharing and may your surgery be successful. May you continue to feel God’s comfort and add to your heavenly treasures. Blessings.


    Even with declining health and energy we can still see the Lord and others – prayer.


    Nan, just today my laptop keyboard was ruined causing me to discover to that it is unusable and unrepairable. I will have to buy a new one and I’m hoping all the data can be transferred.
    It is true that we need to realize what we do have that lasts is the everlasting eternal treasures stored up in heaven. Thanks for your timely words today!


    Nan, What a wonderful testimony! Having visited several times over the past 10 years, I can testify that “the grand old lady” (ie: massive reno project) has been a means to abundant blessings for me. The Lord has been present there, emanating through your lives. With Him, you possess more than everything! May He become a richer joy – more and more.

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