I bargained with Life for a penny!

Words are powerful!  The words in the poem, “I bargained with Life for a penny” by Jessie Belle Rittenhouse have influenced me greatly over the past 3 decades..

In this post, I have broken the poem down paragraph by paragraph in order to insert some of the personal insights God has given me. I pray they bless you and that you will know God wants you to prosper.

“I bargained with Life for a penny,

And Life would pay no more,

However, I begged at evening

When I counted my scanty store;

This poem opens with the profound idea that we bargain with life.

Have you ever bargained with life? Many have. These are sometimes called, “foxhole prayers”. They are prayers of desperation when we are face to face with sickness or death.

“If you will help me with (sickness, problem, etc.

I promise I will (love you, serve you, and give to the poor…”

Bargaining for Derrick’s Life

I remember when I contracted measles during my first trimester of pregnancy. The prognosis the doctors gave me was grim!

There was a 50% chance I would die in childbirth.

There was a large chance the baby would be born with birth defects such as not having limbs or the brain forming outside of the skull, etc.

I was advised by the doctor to terminate the pregnancy.

For me, that was simply not an option.

I told the doctor that God created that baby in my womb and that either He would protect and heal my son or He would give me the grace to handle whatever may come. I had peace.

My husband at the time struggled intensely over the issue. Until he came to the end of himself and bargained with God…

…If God would protect the baby he would serve him forever.

A Miracle!

Derrick was born perfect.

After testing the fluid in the umbilical cord the doctor was amazed. My son had developed immunity in the womb.

This was a miracle on two counts.

First, Derrick would have had to have been severely exposed to the virus in order to develop immunity and yet not suffer damage to his body. Secondly, babies don’t normally develop immunity in the womb. God is so good!

The point is that often when we are in a jam we start bargaining with Life.

Worse than bargaining

What I find to be sadder is when we don’t bargain at all.

We just accept the circumstances. We don’t believe God wants us to prosper and we settle.

I believe that is what this paragraph is referring to.

We settle for so much less than what is available.

We doubt our abilities and do not think we are worthy.

In the end, we doubt Life!

For Life is just an employer,

He gives you what you ask,

But once you have set the wages,

Why, you must bear the task.

This paragraph contains an amazing truth!

It all begins with asking

God wants you to prosper! But we must ask. This is confirmed in many scriptures.

For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. – Matt 7:8 NLT

Stated another way- we don’t have because we don’t ask!

Until now you’ve not been bold enough to ask the Father for a single thing in my name, but now you can ask, and keep on asking him! And you can be sure that you’ll receive what you ask for, and your joy will have no limits! – John 16:24 AMP

Our words are powerful and they have consequences!

Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words. – Prov.18:21

The truth is everything we are experiencing from the computer I am writing on, the chair I am sitting in or the car I drive, they were all first created in our minds.  They began as a thought and are communicated through words.

If we don’t like the fruit we must examine what we are thinking (believing) and speaking.

The final paragraph brings the point home

I worked for a menial’s hire,

Only to learn, dismayed,

That any wage I had asked of Life,

Life would have paid.” – Jessie Belle Rittenhouse

We trudge along through life.complaining about the hand we have been dealt with. It’s easy to grumble and collaborate in our misery.

Yet infinite possibility was available the whole time!

• How and when did we come to believe in lack and limitation?
• Where did we come up with the idea that Life is miserly?

If only we could understand how powerfully God has created us!

We are created in His image! (Gen 1:27)

If only we grasped how much He loves us and wants to give to us.

So don’t ever be afraid, dearest friends! Your loving Father joyously gives you his kingdom realm with all its promises! – Luke 12:32

For years God has made this my signature verse and prayer.

Beloved, I pray you may prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers – 3 John 2

I close by offering this prayer for you.

Please don’t settle.  God has so much in you and for you. 

Praying YOU Prosper in ALL things!

Brenda

About the author

Brenda Byers is the founder of www.prosperinallthings.com and has built multi-million dollar companies and sales teams. She has mentored leaders from many walks of life. Coaching the spectrum from single moms and budding entrepreneurs to founders of corporations. Her private coaching clients increase their income exponentially while learning to live their bliss and serve their communities.  She believes God is the business partner of choice. She shares cutting edge science and spiritual wisdom that will set you free and your business soaring. Brenda is a highly sought out inspirational speaker and corporate trainer at conferences and retreats.

She recently released the Prosper by Design Coach Certification Program. A comprehensive, biblically-based, science-backed online and offline program to grow your faith, income, and influence! Develop confidence and a success mindset, hone your skills and experience lasting personal & business breakthrough. SCHEDULE with Brenda to see if coaching is right for you and take a FREE TOUR of the Prosper By Design Coaching Certification Program.