2 Corinthians 9:7-8 – “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things, at all times, having all you need, you will bound in every good work.
I loved my knitted yellow bag that was handcrafted by a friend. Made in my favorite color, it was the perfect size for carrying my Bible and journal to church.
Recently a young girl sitting behind me complimented me on it during our church’s greeting time. After sitting down to listen to the sermon, I tried ignoring the LORD’s gentle nudges concerning relinquishing ownership of my beloved yellow bag. Admittedly, I initially was not behaving like a cheerful giver, but instead I kept telling myself I was not hearing the LORD correctly.
However, by the end of church, I obeyed and turned around and handed the young girl the bag. The look of joy on her face and her heartfelt expression of gratitude quickly dissolved all hesitancy I had concerning giving away the bag.
I have found throughout my life that when I am obedient concerning my giving, the LORD brings me blessings. Sometimes it is through the experience of seeing how a generous act is so graciously received by a recipient or by experiencing peace knowing I was obedient. At other times, it may be through experiencing His abundance in a myriad of ways – as was the case in this situation. A couple of weeks later, another friend gave me a lovely bag with twice the storage space of my original bag. Following that, the young girl approached me at church handing me a bright yellow bracelet and ring she had crafted to express her appreciation. Although I still am very much a work in progress to consistently be a cheerful giver, I am continually reminded that LORD steadfastly remains my provider.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your patience when we are hesitant to obey you concerning stewarding what you have blessed us with. Help us to continually grow in our trust of You so we can give immediately upon your prompting. In the Strong Name of Jesus, Amen
- Phyliss Hooten
