Double Coupon Days!!!

Do you ever cut coupons? You know those tempting little pieces of paper that offer you 50 cents off something you already wanted? Or something you wanted to try? Or something you will try just because you are going to save 50 cents so why not? And hey, if it is double coupon days, all the better! That same 50 cents just became a dollar!

But, you know how it goes for most of us—we are thumbing through the Sunday paper, we see something that interests us, there is a coupon and we tear it out. When we get to the store we forget we have it—usually until it is expired. So, even though we see “value“ in these little pieces of paper we don’t really value them.

Not everyone feels that way. Some people are considered “extreme couponers”. They are probably “extreme” in a lot of areas of their lives but this one is a mission, a religion of sorts. They post on Facebook about how much they saved, how much they got for how little money, etc. They sell their excess in garage sales, flea markets, on Craig’s list and Ebay and so on. They are proud of their accomplishments, and they should be. If they are good at it they can make a decent living at couponing. They have to be good at math; they have to be able to hold a LOT of information in their heads. They have to network, they have to befriend store managers, district managers, clerks. They have to know the community value of what they are buying—what sells and for what amount as well as what doesn’t. They have to know how much to give away and what to give away without becoming ‘god’ to someone, without becoming their source. They have to have thick skin so the insults and prejudices of people who think what they do and what they give is of no value will roll off their backs. They have to remain humble in the midst of praise by their fellow couponers.

These traits are valued in society. We admire people who “beat the system”.  People who “make good” in unusual ways. People who “go for it” (whatever ‘it’ is). But when it comes to God we disdain all of those things. We put on our little religious attitudes and make stinginess the main personality of God. Not my God.

The first time I heard read and understood what Job 42:10 meant I JUMPED for joy. I whooped. I hollered. I was over the top. I pray a LOT! Here was a promise to Job—the Job who went through horrible circumstances—the Job who had the most negative friends ever (I could do a whole teaching on philosophical, intellectual, negative friends but I will save that for another day)—the Job who gave us the example to pray for our friends, no matter what has gone on. God so honored that attitude that he gave Job double for everything he had lost. He also gave him a full life plus 20.

I know my Father. He is a generous God. He loves me. I would do anything for my kids. It is a shadow compared to how he loves me. I started praying that scripture. I have been met with scorn, disdain, and doubt. I have been accused of pride. Scoffed at. Laughed at. Challenged scripturally. None of that matters. I know God. I know his heart towards me and I know His heart towards the people he lays on my heart. He is not a stingy God.

Sometimes when you are interceding you have to go against the flow. You have to know the heart of God. You have to know the Word. You have to hear from God. You have to get His battle plan. You have to pray His heart. You have to store up the word in your heart. You have to know what to pray. You have to have a storehouse to draw on.

God likes doubles. When interceding, praise for the answers needs to be in your mouth while you are doing the warfare.

Psalms 149:6 May the praise of God be in their mouths

                        And a double edged sword in their hands.

Intercession needs to be accurate—succinct. Use the word.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double edged sword it penetrates even to the dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Are you interceding for someone in distress? Hannah was barren. Her husband gave her double because of her broken heart. I Samuel 1:5.

Are you interceding for someone who is faithful? Do you know someone who has suffered loss?

II Kings 2:9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”

“Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.

Are you hitting a brick wall when praying? Leviathan has a double coat of armor are you getting through both layers? Job 41:13

Praying for a pastor? A worker in the church who takes care of details? Leadership? Preaches? Teaches?

I Timothy 5:17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.

The Bible is full of doubles. Are you using them or are they like your coupons? Lost in what you have read? Unused until they are forgotten? Lost in the bottom of your purse? Or, are you an extreme couponer using every scripture you can find to pray over those you intercede for? Storing up treasures in heaven for them and for you?

Personally, I never use a coupon. I am that person who loses them, forgets she cut them, lets them expire BUT I am an extreme couponer in the Spirit.

Get into the word—it is Double Coupon Days everyday!