EL SHADDAI: The God Who Is More Than Enough

This year, we are declaring war on: THE NOT ENOUGH MENTALITY.

NOT ENOUGH MENTALITY: A mindset that views life through the lens of lack. There's never enough time, money, love, help, energy, ability or opportunity.

READ: In The Soul of Money, Lynne Twist notes that for many people the first thought of the morning is some version of “I didn't get enough sleep,” and the next is “I don't have enough time.” We start the day short before our feet hit the floor. We then spend the rest of the day chasing enough, and we go to bed still counting what we didn't get.

QUOTE: The problem isn't that we don't HAVE enough. The problem is that we forget WHO IS enough.

Who Is El Shaddai?

El (Heb.) – God, the Mighty One, the Strong One.

Shaddai (Heb.) – Most often translated “Almighty.” Some scholars translate it as “The All-Sufficient One.” Others translate it as “The Nourisher” the way a mother sustains a nursing child. And others translate it as “The Mountain God” who cannot be moved.

Put it together and El Shaddai is The Almighty God who is all-sufficient, who nourishes, and who cannot be moved.

NOTE: Almost every time God is called El Shaddai in Genesis, the words FRUITFUL and MULTIPLY show up with Him (Gen. 17:1, 2; 28:3; 35:11; 48:3, 4). El Shaddai is not the God of barely enough or just enough. He is the God of MORE than enough.

QUOTE: Our “not enough” is the stage where God wants to reveal that He is MORE than enough.

Week #1 – More Than Enough

EL SHADDAI SHOWS UP AT THE END OF YOU

NOTE: Abraham didn't deny the facts. But he refused to let the facts out vote the promise.

QUOTE: God isn't intimidated by our shortage. Our shortage is His favorite workspace.

“NOT ENOUGH” THINKING PRODUCES ISHMAELS

Abram was 86 when Ishmael was born (Gen. 16:16). He was 99 when God showed up again (Gen.17:1). Thirteen years of silence followed their shortcut.

QUOTE: The Not Enough Mentality always pushes us toward striving instead of trusting.

QUOTE: Whatever we build out of fear, we’ll have to maintain with fear.

ENOUGH IS A PERSON BEFORE IT'S A PROVISION

In Genesis 17:1. God didn't say, “I will GIVE you enough.” He said, “I AM Enough – El Shaddai.”

QUOTE: Before God ever shows us His provision, He wants to first show us that He’s the Provider.

Our contentment is not supposed to be grounded in WHAT we have; but WHO we have.

CLARIFY: Contentment is not complacency. It doesn't mean you stop dreaming or growing. It means your peace isn't held hostage by your possessions. Contentment is learned. Paul wasn't born with it, and neither are we.

WHEN YOU KNOW HE'S ENOUGH, YOU WALK DIFFERENTLY

Abram means “exalted father. ”Abraham means “father of a multitude."

NOTE: This is why generosity and the Not Enough Mentality can't live in the same heart. You'll never be free to give what you're afraid to lose.