Generosity as Freedom From Being Overwhelmed
OPENING PRAYER:
Father, allow your words to change our hearts so that we are more generous and relieve our burdens.
“This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is his name: ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ Jeremiah 33:2-3 NIV
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7 NIV
REFLECT:
Sometimes I look around at all that is broken in the world. There are some big, big problems out there. I am just one small person among the multitudes. At times, it can be easier to just focus on the things in front of me that I can control. It is as though I have forgotten that my God created the earth and everything in it. I have forgotten that he can do more than I could ever ask or imagine. I have forgotten what he can do through me.
If the God who created the entire earth is offering to show me great things beyond my wildest dreams (Jeremiah 33:2–3), I want to be courageous enough to accept that invitation. If he who created the earth also has a plan to restore it, that plan could include each of us... What if he created each of us with a special way to interact with that plan – a special way to see the world and special gifts to offer it? That would mean it requires me to be brave enough to ask him to show me the great and amazing things, and to show me how I can take part.
When I am brave enough to call out and ask God to reveal these things to me, I see I am drawn to issues that I may not have even known existed and a passion rises up within me – a drive to do something about it. As I continue to seek him in prayer, he reveals to me what I have to offer. Generosity isn’t stale or stagnant. Far from it. It is a journey that births creativity. Creativity releases possibility, and possibility leads to new life.
APPLY:
Remind yourself of Jesus’ promise in Matthew 7:7: ‘Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.’ Perhaps you could spend some time prayer journaling with God today, asking him about the deeper passions and purposes he has for your life.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Father, we ask you to show us the way to be courageous to accept your invitation and be brave to call upon you to help us to be generous.