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And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 2 Corinthians 9:8
Have you ever been in a situation where you had an opportunity to give but just didn’t do it? You were asked to donate to a worthy cause and while you could afford it, just didn’t do it?
You were asked to help with a church or community event and even though you had the time, the invitation of your couch and TV was more compelling
A group of friends invite you to a cookout but your grass needed mowing (which you never got around to doing anyway).
In 2 Corinthians 9:8, the Apostle Paul is writing regarding a financial gift the Corinthian church had committed to. He reminds them that while giving financially can be hard at times, the reward of knowing you are helping the Kingdom of God and the Body of Christ is not without reward.
While Paul is talking money here, there is a valuable principle we can sure in other areas of life. The more we give of our time, our gifts and yes, our money, the more we can see God work.
I’m not talking prosperity gospel here, I’m not saying give (out of duty) and you’ll get an unexpected check in the mail. I’ve found that the more I give of my time, the more time I tend to have. The more I use my gifts, the more enjoyment I get from seeing others encouraged.
I’ve started a practice lately that may seem rather odd or even self-serving. When time allows, I do much of my writing/studying at a local coffee shop. More often than not, someone I know will ‘stop by’ my table and chat. I’ve been able to minister and encourage in ways that I never could have sitting in my home office.
We have more than we need to accomplish God’s will for our lives. A will that we are told in Romans and elsewhere is good, pleasing and perfect. Sometimes it’s the little things we can do that make a big difference.
Use the overabundance of resources God has freely given you to give freely to others.
Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. Psalms 19:2
I love the mountains. A few years ago we took a trip from our midwest, relatively flat area to the mountains. Driving through one pass in particular, the mountains on either side of us nearly blocked the sky. They were huge.
One of the things I thought of as I gazed at these immense rocks is how they had withstood the passage of time, endured the changing elements and had been unaffected by disease, political change, or any other environmental issue.
They were the same in hot weather and cold, dry weather or wet, in the brightness of the day and the darkness of night.
The Psalmist writes of the stability and order of God’s creation. Here, in verse two he writes of creation enduring through time. Like the mountains I looked on with awe, God stands tall.
Night after night, season after season, He stands immovable and impenetrable regardless of what is going on around Him.
It’s so hard, in our frail humanity to fathom how God stands unaffected by anything going on around us. We are affected physically, emotionally and spiritually by weather, illness, social and political climate, relational differences and much more.
Yet our God isn’t moved. Mountains don’t speak words, but they speak lessons. They speak reminders of God’s immensity. They speak reminders of God’s resilience. They speak reminders that whatever is bothering you today; whatever fear you are dealing with; whatever worry is attacking you,
God stands strong. When we live in the power and shelter of his spirit, we can stand strong too.
In your mind, right now, picture the grandeur of the mountains and remember, your God stands strong through whatever you are going through.
The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Psalms 19:1
David paints a vivid picture of the majesty and wonder of how creation shows the beauty of God’s handiwork. One need only look at the stars in the sky and be reminded of the power and creativity of our Creator.
In the midst of the uncertainty and challenges of life, the heavens stand as a constant testimony to God’s faithfulness and provision. Each star in the sky, each cloud crossing the horizon, speaks of a divine order and purpose woven into the fabric of existence.
They remind us that we are not alone, but rather, we are part of a grand and glorious symphony orchestrated by the loving hands of God.
In a world filled with chaos and turmoil, the beauty of creation offers us hope. It reminds us that even in the darkest of nights, there is light to guide our way. Just as the sun rises faithfully each morning, God’s love, mercy and grace are new, offering us hope for the day ahead.
When you feel overwhelmed by Your circumstances, lift your eyes to the heavens and be reminded of God’s enduring love.
The same God who set the stars in place also holds you in the palm of His hand. In Him, we find our refuge and our strength, our rock and our salvation. In Him and Him alone is our hope. A hope that transcends all understanding, a hope that never disappoints, a hope that we can be reminded of every time we look at the awesome beauty of a starry night.
Great is the Lord, and worthy of our praise!
Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. Psalms 1:1-2
Where to you seek answers to the things that are troubling you? Our lives abound with adversity that rob us of the joy of life.
We struggle with fear of failure so we procrastinate. We struggle with doubt, so we don’t take steps God has been nudging us towards. We worry even though God has proven over and over again that he will provide. We make promises to ourselves that we don’t keep such as I’m going to eat better and get some exercise…tomorrow.
During those times when you seek answers who do you call on. Advice for many is just a social media account away. The anonymity of the internet has made many ‘experts’, most of whom conflict with each other and some are just plain evil.
The result is more confusion and fewer answers. Those who have true purpose in life are often filled with joy because in spite of the conflicting messages of society, they are secure in who they are and why they are heard. Confidence in those two things (Identity and purpose) lead to joy.
True joy comes as a result of our allegiance to and meditation upon God’s Word, the prayerful advice of godly friends and reliance on the moving of the Holy Spirit.
The enemy screams at us through social media, physical disaster, global conflict and disease. Our Father speaks softly and confidently through His Word, His church (Godly individuals, not the organization) and His Holy Spirit.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 