I want to write a follow up to the message about God not being obligated to pay for our unauthorized charges. We have to operate according to our current season, and if we don't understand what the season is we can make some big mistakes. When you were in your season of abounding it was good that you were extremely generous and gave people financial gifts in addition to your tithes and offerings. But while you're in your season of abasing you can't keep living like you used to live. Instead of treating others maybe now it's time to learn how to receive from others. That's also good to keep our pride in check; we should know how to both give and receive, without resenting anyone.

I think if you don't recognize that the season has changed you'll keep trying to do what you did before and become frustrated when it doesn't work. You may reason, well if I give more than God will give me more, when maybe He's trying to teach you how to receive. The generosity you sowed in your season of abounding you can now reap during your season of abasing. I think we also need to realize that we can be abounding in certain areas of our lives but abasing in others. We don't need to get upset about the disparity; we just need to trust God is stretching us in those areas where we need to be stretched and pruning what needs to be pruned. I pray you will understand your seasons and trust your Good Shepherd to skillfully and lovingly guide you through them all.