Even to this day, Most Generous Lord, I marvel at how You multiply and enlarge whatever I give to You. When I gave You my heart, You filled it with wisdom, understanding and guidance on becoming a beacon of Your light. When I made a decision to share my income with You, You prospered me and returned my gift many times over. As I’ve placed my possessions at Your feet, I’ve watched You cause them to increase before my very eyes. As I’ve put my family in Your hands, I’ve seen them become good responsible citizens of Your Kingdom, turning from the trappings of the world to live a righteous life. As I have put my country into Your loving care, I’ve watched You raise up leaders who want to turn the country away from evil and back to the principles by which You established it. I have raised up my prayers to You and You have responded with answers that are complete and helpful.
I rejoice in the fact that You give good gifts to those who ask. For You are not selfish, stingy or a begrudging giver. You know me, understand my cares and want to provide for all of my needs. That is why You’ve said “come to me all You who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” In Your wisdom, You can see how sin, life’s demands, poor decisions and double-mindedness have caused me to lose sight of You and Your Kingdom. Just as You did not come into the world to be served … Your expectation is that I will come to understand that it is better for me to give than to receive. Rather than seeking power, status and the material things of the world, I must clothe myself in humility and assume a seat at the end of Your banqueting table so that when I make an accounting for my life, You can call me up to the head place. If giving becomes the center of my life, I will surely become more like You.
I recognize more and more with each day’s passing the many gifts that You’ve bestowed on me. Freedom from sin and death … a peace that surpasses all understanding … the Holy Spirit to counsel me in all of my ways … spiritual food and water to quench my hunger and thirst for righteousness … my daily bread … and, membership into a large family of believers with which to share fellowship. I must never lose sight of the fact that You have promised to meet my daily needs and, when I run short, all I have to do is ask. Because You are a good and caring God, You will give me any good gift that I request. And, as a disciple, You expect me to give what I have to those who have real, unmet needs. I must learn that, if I treat others generously, graciously and compassionately, those things will be returned to me in full measure. That is why giving is everything. And it’s in Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN!!
Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be given to you. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.