Put a Cap on Your Lifestyle

One of the most powerful things you can ever do for yourself is to put a cap on your lifestyle. Decide what you need or want, then give the rest away. Live to be generous.

If not, you'll enter into the soul-sucking cycle of keeping up with the Joneses.

Even poor people fall into this trap. And the end result is lack of satisfaction because you always want more.

Every year for the past three decades, my wife Leslie and I set our five-year dreams and goals.

We base our dreams and goals around this biblical promise.

Ephesians 3:20 AMP - Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us.

- we dream big
- we set big goals
- we plan big
- we execute big

We dream and plan way beyond our capped lifestyle.

- we are content in the lean times.
- we are content in the abundant times.

Why? Because our dreams and goals aren't just about us. We ask God to bless us abundantly — so we can be a blessing to others.

If you do this, God will test you. This isn't about building up idle wealth, or going after the next shiny thing.

We set HUGE generosity goals. Kingdom goals.

For us personally, we know what we want, and we trust God to fulfill His promises.

But more importantly, God can trust us to keep our promises to Him.

The mistake so many make is to dream small, only around your personal needs. That's selfishness.

Ask God to bless you abundantly so you can be a blessing to others. Take note: God will examine your motivations and heart. And you can't fool God.

John 14:13-14 AMP - And I will do whatever you ask in My name [as My representative], this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified and celebrated in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name [as My representative], I will do it.

Take God up on His promise.

-Gerald