I Have Everything I Need

By Sarah Brooks

I grabbed a warm blanket with my cup of tea and settled into the corner of my couch, relieved to finally rest. I opened that fun little app with all the pretty squares and videos. Within seconds, I was flooded by porches and living rooms decked heavily in fall decor. I scrolled past beautiful homes being remodeled in ways that I could only dream. My thumb stopped on women in cute winter fashion with links to purchase, families at pumpkin patches, and I read the caption of a post from a friend telling us all about the built-in playground IN her house. 

I shut Instagram down and threw my phone across the couch. I closed my eyes and took a breath because I could feel the flood of emotions circling my heart. 

Sadness – because we told our kids we were not going to a festival this year and are “saving money”… a phrase that they’ve been hearing a lot lately. 

Jealousy – that I don’t get to decorate my porch with mums to welcome guests or have the kids' basement of our dreams because again, it’s not in the budget right now.

Self-consciousness – about my “old” clothes and “basic” shoes.

Within minutes I had countless thoughts about what we have, what we don’t have, what we need, and what we wish we could have.

We are surrounded by a world of stuff (and really pretty stuff I might add) with links to buy. New kitchens, new fashion, new gadgets to make life “easier” with the latest and best. 

I mean, these things aren’t bad. Having pretty things and beautiful homes is fun! But when we are constantly bombarded with stuff, it’s easy to get into a mentality of “I don’t have enough” or even worse, “When I have…then I know I will be happy.”

The ads and influencers are doing their job-–the first key to marketing is for the company to show you your need, to put your fears and worries right in your face, to outline that empty gap in your life in thick black permanent marker. They want you to feel unfulfilled, afraid, sad, and worried. 

And it works. We see our fears and problems within two seconds. And then we are given an Amazon link that is ready to “fix it.” The real sad news is that THING we purchased didn’t really actually make us more happy. 

We then wonder why depression and anxiety are so rampant? 

Comparison is not only the thief of happiness, it is sin.

Envying my Instagram friend’s stuff isn’t just a time suck, it’s not God’s best for me, therefore it is a life suck.

Seeking contentment in anything but GOD doesn’t ever lead to joy, but leads to destruction. 

On our journey to financial peace, and learning to live more freely with palms up as we care for our family of seven, there’s something that I turn to over and over again. Whether I’m debating if we need a new vacuum or that cute top that’s on sale, my go to right now—for my joy, for my family, for my true contentment and surrender, is this breath prayer: “I HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED.”

Do you recognize it? YES. Psalm 23. “The Lord is my Shepherd. I have everything I need.” So good.

King David, the writer, goes on to say “He lets me rest in green meadows.” Not eat…REST. “He leads me beside quiet waters.” (v2) 

It is one of the ultimate verses on gratitude because it’s declaring God’s goodness and provision “even though I walk in the darkest valley.” (v4)

“You prepare a table before me.” (v5)

“I have everything I need.” So rich right? And I need it on the daily in my life.

This breath prayer has helped me jump off the comparison train and delete the items from my cart. It shifts my heart posture and to count the many blessings I DO possess. It is a prayer of gratitude to God for ALWAYS providing. It reminds me that what I have is MORE than enough. 

Choosing gratitude transforms my heart because it is a personal experience and interaction with God. It is praise. It is worship. 

But even more so, when we choose gratitude, it leaves more room for generosity to dance. 

I read somewhere that America spends close to $930 billion on Christmas alone. And to think, according to Google, it would only take about $25 billion to end hunger in America. Don’t get me wrong. I deck the halls and I love Christmas, but also…WHAT? 

So my question is this:

What would happen to our souls, our hearts, our families, our finances, our homes, our communities, our cities, our nation, our WORLD… if we gave less attention to the influencers, the stuff and the extra, and turned to gratitude for what we already have? 

I can’t change the world, but I can allow the Lord to do a work in me by choosing gratitude.

“I have everything I need.”

A psalm of David - Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

He refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk

through the darkest valley,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely your goodness and love will follow me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord

Forever.

Sarah is a mom of 5 and wife to her hubby Joe for 16 years! She loves Jesus and is passionate about championing others in their faith. Sarah has led and mentored women in their health and fitness for 10 years, and is always looking for a way to be active with others. She loves quality time and adventures with her family, concerts, and gathering around the table with good food and friends. Don't ask her to choose between the mountains or the beach. Just give her a good historical fiction book, and take her on vacay!