Take today’s next step: Learn more grace. Take this lesson on freedom.

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”  (Ephesians 2:8-9, NLT)

Do you have difficulty releasing guilt? Do you find it hard to forgive yourself for past mistakes? Do you feel a deep-seated need to punish yourself for wrongs that you have committed?

I don’t know about you, but I definitely struggle in the area of self-forgiveness. I look back at the regrets of my past and just can’t seem to let them go. Thoughts such as these keep running through my head: If only I would have listened. If only I had made a different choice. How could I have been so stupid?

Mistakes I have made become evident to me, and I mentally beat myself up over them; my self-talk is then relentless and harsh: What kind of an idiot are you? What were you thinking? Did you think at all? You are so impulsive! Why can’t you have more self-control? You don’t deserve to be forgiven!

I long for the guilt and sorrow to go away, but it never quite does. There is something that whispers deep within me, “You need to pay the price for what you have done.”

From the time of man’s Fall in the Garden of Eden, this has been humanity’s solution to the sin problem: work and strive to pay off the debt for our wrongs. Yet, who can ever repay such an insurmountable debt?  How can one say it is ever enough?

Listen to what God’s word says about our innate need to pay for our sin: “We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.” (Isaiah 64:6, NLT; emphasis mine)

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”  (Romans 6:23, NLT; emphasis mine)

But God stepped in . . .

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”  (Ephesians 2:8-9, NLT; emphasis mine)

In our heart-of-hearts, this free gift seems too good to be true. How can our sin be so simply forgiven?

That’s the kicker; it wasn’t simple or easy! A monumental price was paid for our sin: Christ’s agonizing torture and death on the cross, followed by His powerful resurrection from the dead. This amazing gift of salvation is free for the taking, and it is available to all of us.

A long time ago, I took God up on His offer of free grace. Yet, I still find myself struggling with the need to pay penance for my sin. I fight to let go of the guilt and battle to forgive myself for what I’ve done.

However, I’ve come to realize that, in clinging to my guilt and punishing myself, I am once again falling into the age-old trap used by humanity to solve the sin-problem. Furthermore, I am failing to receive and embrace the Lord’s amazing grace for me and all mankind.

When Christ died on the cross, it was finished! Everyone’s sin in the world, including my own, was totally paid in full, and there is nothing that I, or anybody else, can ever do to make it more complete; it is done, and it has been done perfectly!

The sobering fact is that, when I refuse to forgive myself and try to pay the penalty for my sin, I’m actually declaring that what Christ did on the cross was not enough for my sin. I’m saying that He needs my help to pay the debt. In other words, my sin is too big, too great for His death to cover.

“Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:10-12)

Today, O Lord, I relinquish not only my sin, but the guilt I have been carrying, as well. I know that Your death on the cross covers it all, and I refuse to hold onto condemnation any longer. Teach me to live and walk in Your grace. I ask these things in Your mighty name, Lord Jesus, Amen.

Questions: Are you holding onto feelings of regret and guilt for past mistakes? Does understanding that Jesus fully paid the price for your sins help you to release them and walk in freedom from condemnation?

Take today’s next step:

“And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had spoken. For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.” (Genesis 21:1-2, NKJV)

God is always faithful to His promises. His word is absolute truth. We can be assured that God will not see His word return void when He sends it out to achieve important purposes in our lives.

“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10-11)

Have you given up hope in a promise that God has made to you because you have not yet seen its fulfillment? Abraham waited over thirteen years from the time the LORD his God first promised him that he would have a son to his wife Sarah until the birth of that son, Isaac. Most would not believe this was possible for them in their advanced age; in truth, both Sarah and her husband laughed when God told Abraham that He would later return to them and Sarah would bear them a son.

However, the LORD God does not lie, nor can He do so; for it is not in His character to be dishonest. Almighty God not only tells the truth, He is the truth: “If we are faithless [do not believe and are untrue to Him], He remains true (faithful to His Word and His righteous character), for He cannot deny Himself.” (2 Timothy 2:13, Amplified Bible)

Again, this is revealed to be so in John 3:33: “Whoever receives His testimony has set his seal of approval to this: God is true. [That man has definitely certified, acknowledged, declared once and for all, and is himself assured that it is divine truth that God cannot lie].” (Amplified Bible)

We can always count on God’s word to be completely pure and trustworthy, no matter how long it may take to see His promises fulfilled in our lives. What is most important for us to realize is that the timing of the LORD never fails to be perfect. In addition, because He is omniscient and can see infinitely far into the future – and we, obviously, cannot – we are wise to place our trust in Him, knowing that His ability to judge what is best for us is so much better than our own.

The LORD our God will never let us down. Yet, sometimes we ask for things that are not in our best interests; or, we make a request that, if it were to be granted at that specific time, would be hurtful to us or to someone else. So the LORD, in His infinite love and wisdom, says, “No,” or He tells us we must wait. Unfortunately, when we do not trust in Him, we can interpret this response, this failure to meet our desire for immediate gratification, as a sign that God does not care for us. In our disappointment, we falsely believe that Jesus does not love us, or that He has abandoned us.

However, if we are willing to align our faith with the Bible instead of running with our emotions and impatiently demanding to have our own way, we will soon become grounded in the truth of the Father’s faithful love in Christ Jesus and His devotion to never leave us or forsake us.

Let’s listen with all our hearts to the following verses and drink deeply of our Father’s tender loving-care for us:

“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yes, they may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have indelibly imprinted (tattooed a picture of) you on the palm of each of My hands.” (Isaiah 49:15-16, Amplified Bible)

“‘For though the mountains should depart and the hills be shaken or removed, yet My love and kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace and completeness be removed,’ says the Lord, Who has compassion on you.” (Isaiah 54:10, Amplified Bible)

And, lastly,

“He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]” (Hebrews 13:5, Amplified Bible)

May we respond with gratitude, hope, and deep-seated faith to these promises from our merciful and gracious God, declaring in agreement with Hebrews 13:6, “So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, ‘The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?’” (Amplified Bible)

Lord Jesus, we come before You, asking that You grant us confidence and immovable hope in the promises You give us in Your word of truth. May we be assured that You never can and never will lie to us, and that You desire only the best for us, O God. When we do see painful things happen in and around us, O LORD, may we have the bold faith to state with assurance the words given to the apostle Paul by inspiration of the Holy Spirit in Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” We thank You, Lord Jesus, that we have been called according to Your good purpose, and we declare our love for You, even as we thank You for Your amazing love for us. We pray these things in Your holy name, Christ Jesus, amen.

Questions: Do you have difficulty believing that God will fulfill His promises in your life? Why or why not? Which of His promises have you seen God faithfully bring to fruition? What biblical promises are you claiming for yourself or a loved one at this time?

Take today’s next step:

“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.”  (John 10:9)

A few weeks ago I was annoyed to wake up sick with a nasty head cold.  I wanted nothing more than to curl up under some warm blankets, drink chicken noodle soup, and heal up away from the cares of the world.  I’m a busy stay-at-home mom of three young children with one of them still in diapers. That just wasn’t going to happen.

The truth is, our lives are not usually easy.  Maybe you are a teacher whose students are depending on you, or a daughter who cares for her elderly parent. Maybe you are a mother of little ones, like me.  Even though it is usually not an option to wish away the cares of the world when you are not on top of your game, we do have a lovely promise from Jesus in these times.  He invites us in so He can care for us, allows us to graze on His words of life, nourishes us, and sends us back out into the world, so we can make His world a better place.

What might this mean for you today?  When I had this annoying but truly minor cold, I laid down my own ideas for the day, and took everything to the Lord in prayer. I realized that He would care for me even though I still had work to do.  I never did find the peace and quiet to indulge in my nineteenth century, chick-lit cozy world, but my children were happy to stay at home and rest.

We were able to cuddle and read cute kid’s books. I drank chicken noodle soup, got some really good conversation in, and found true nourishment from those things.  Jesus has promised that if you stay close to His word, you will find pasture, or good food, from Him, as well as freedom to engage with your world, using the gifts you have.

Whatever your story, let God be the door of life to you.  As you plan your next move, consider what strengths you bring to our world today, and allow God to direct you in using them.  As we are reminded in Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” Since you are working for Him, don’t forget to accept His nourishment also.

God, You see what today holds for me. Help to walk out into it in the peace that comes from knowing that You have me in the palm of Your hand. Thank you for Your nourishment, Your wisdom, and Your grace. In Your name I pray, Amen

Question: How does God feed you in your times of need?

Take today’s next step:

“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.”  (John 10:9)

A few weeks ago I was annoyed to wake up sick with a nasty head cold.  I wanted nothing more than to curl up under some warm blankets, drink chicken noodle soup, and heal up away from the cares of the world.  I’m a busy stay-at-home mom of three young children with one of them still in diapers. That just wasn’t going to happen.

The truth is, our lives are not usually easy.  Maybe you are a teacher whose students are depending on you, or a daughter who cares for her elderly parent. Maybe you are a mother of little ones, like me.  Even though it is usually not an option to wish away the cares of the world when you are not on top of your game, we do have a lovely promise from Jesus in these times.  He invites us in so He can care for us, allows us to graze on His words of life, nourishes us, and sends us back out into the world, so we can make His world a better place.

What might this mean for you today?  When I had this annoying but truly minor cold, I laid down my own ideas for the day, and took everything to the Lord in prayer. I realized that He would care for me even though I still had work to do.  I never did find the peace and quiet to indulge in my nineteenth century, chick-lit cozy world, but my children were happy to stay at home and rest.

We were able to cuddle and read cute kid’s books. I drank chicken noodle soup, got some really good conversation in, and found true nourishment from those things.  Jesus has promised that if you stay close to His word, you will find pasture, or good food, from Him, as well as freedom to engage with your world, using the gifts you have.

Whatever your story, let God be the door of life to you.  As you plan your next move, consider what strengths you bring to our world today, and allow God to direct you in using them.  As we are reminded in Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” Since you are working for Him, don’t forget to accept His nourishment also.

God, You see what today holds for me. Help to walk out into it in the peace that comes from knowing that You have me in the palm of Your hand. Thank you for Your nourishment, Your wisdom, and Your grace. In Your name I pray, Amen

Question: How does God feed you in your times of need?

Take today’s next step:

“Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20)

In 1973, Chip and I had just gotten married and were living in Florida. In the fall of that year I got the call that my dad had suffered a very serious heart attack.  His condition was so critical that I was advised not to go home to Ohio because the shock of seeing me could have actually made it worse.  There was nothing to do but pray.

At the time I was working as a Speech Therapist in a clinic that was about an hour away from our apartment, so my surroundings were somewhat unfamiliar.  But on this particular day I was compelled to search for a church over my lunch hour to pray on Dad’s behalf.

I started driving through the streets of Melbourne. Eventually, I spotted a church and made my way up to the front door, not really expecting it to be unlocked.  Even back in 1973 not many churches left their doors unlocked. But to my grateful surprise, it was open!  That in itself began to stimulate my faith.

As I knelt before the altar in that little chapel, not knowing whether Dad would live or die, I found the assurance that it was God’s will for him to be saved.  So, I prayed, “Father, I believe You are speaking to me that You want to save my dad, so I’m asking in faith that You spare his life until he finds You.”  That was my only point of faith—believing God wanted my dad to be saved. I planted that seed in faith.

Well, my father recovered from the heart attack.  It would be another seventeen years before he accepted Christ, but from that day on, in my mind it was a done deal.  At 65 years old my dad accepted Jesus, and experienced one of the most dramatic conversions I have ever witnessed. Although my dad recently passed away, that seed of faith stood like a mighty oak for over twenty years.

Thank you Lord for giving us each a measure of faith. Thank you for supplying seeds of faith for us to plant. We ask that the seeds we have planted would break through the soil and begin to bud. Let there be an abundant harvest from our planting. In your name we pray, Amen

Question: How have you seen God bring a harvest from the seeds you have planted? Do you find it hard to wait for God’s timing?

Take today’s next step:

“Then he [Jesus] said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’” (John 20:27-29, ESV)

May is a time for spring flowers. It also brings a song to our hearts and uplifts our moods, as well as reminding us that we, too, can be renewed. A friend sent me a poem by Gaines Glass, which reads as follows:

God surely knew that Springtime –

Red bud, green leaf,

blue sky –

Would sweep with song

the hushed heart,

And doubt again would die.

What doubts have been lurking in the winter of your heart? Do you have misgivings buried within that are cold and hard, uncertainties that you try to hide away and avoid facing?

We are still in the Easter season, that time period when the resurrected Christ once again walked and ate and preached to His followers, dispelling their doubts that His seemingly untimely and gruesome death had stirred. Thoughts of “no-way” changed into contemplations of “may-be” and were then transformed into resounding shouts of “yes!”  Even the famous doubting Thomas was brought to his knees with the realization that his Savior lived:

“Then he [Jesus] said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’” (John 20:27-29, ESV)

Thomas’ faith, once severely withered, was restored and began to blossom. In fact, church history states that he traveled extensively throughout the Roman Empire, spreading the Gospel all the way to the shores of India. Many miracles were attributed to him. In addition, he preached to all the castes in India, even those considered by those in the caste system to be “untouchables,” leading tens of thousands to convert to faith in the risen Christ. In Medieval times, stone crosses marked the path Thomas traveled, and pious followers would pilgrim to India to follow in his footsteps. Perhaps these hundreds of thousands began to believe, “though they had not seen,” as the result of following Thomas’ story and missionary work.

You do not have to see to believe. Take this new life of springtime and let it seep deeply into your heart, mind, and soul. Look at the once-dormant trees as they blossom forth. God is in the renewing business. If you’ve already accepted Christ into your life, then you have that tiniest bud sprouting and assuring you that Jesus truly cares and that He really is there with you, right now! Allow that faith to grow; nurture it and dispel your doubts. Now is the time for exciting newness of life; it is the season to let faith burst through the hardened soil of uncertainty and transform your “may-be” into a resounding “YES!”

Today, let the Son shine His light into the darkness of your doubts. Allow a renewed faith to bud in that area of your heart where you have harbored any reservations about God truly loving and desiring the very best for you. This is, after all, the month of May— not the month of it cannot be!

Dear Lord, let our faith burst forth like the new leaves on the trees so it may attract others and shade them from doubt. Help us to believe, even though we cannot see. Grant us a deep trust that You love us, died for us, and are preparing a place for us in Your Kingdom. Pour into our hearts the fullness of Your Holy Spirit that we may, with complete certainty, know You are God with us – Emanuel. We ask these things in the holy and precious name of Jesus, amen.

Questions: Are there doubts that you have been holding deep within your heart? Will you let go of those uncertainties today and bring them before the Lord Jesus in prayer?

I don’t believe there is a God…

I don’t have anyone else to talk to…

If you don’t write me back, I won’t believe that God exists…

People are searching and we need your help to make sure someone is there to provide answers and ultimately to share the hope of Christ.

$20/month will equip a mentor to provide help, share the gospel, and disciple someone who is searching.

How many mentors are you ready to mobilize?

Take today’s next step:  

“O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people Israel.” (Nehemiah 1:5-6a)

In these verses Nehemiah’s heart breaks over the state of his beloved people and homeland. In the first chapter of this book, we hear his heartfelt prayer; his words teach us about prayer.

In the verses above, Nehemiah acknowledges God’s greatness and asks for His help. Let’s listen to the rest of his prayer: “I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.” (Nehemiah 1:6b-7)

After acknowledging God’s greatness, he confesses the sins of the people, including his own. Rather than pointing a finger at others, Nehemiah admits his personal responsibility in not living according to the Lord’s commands.

“Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’” (Nehemiah 1:8-9)

Nehemiah recalls the specific promise God made to the people of Israel. Then, he emphasizes God’s involvement with them: “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand.” (Nehemiah 1:10; emphasis mine)

Last, he asks the Lord to answer, not because the Israelites deserve it, but because of God’s relationship with them and His character: “O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.” (Nehemiah 1:11)

I want to pray like Nehemiah. I want to be one of God’s servants who delight in revering His name.

Heavenly Father, thank you for Nehemiah’s prayer. You are great and awesome and worthy to be praised! Help me to humble myself before You. May I focus on who You are, rather than on my own needs. Teach me to revere Your name. I ask these things in the holy and mighty name of Jesus, Amen.

Questions: What do you learn from Nehemiah’s prayer? What is the importance of focusing on God and His character in our prayer?

Take today’s next step:

 “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace…” (1 Corinthians 14:33)

In this chapter of the Bible the Apostle Paul is addressing the church about orderly worship. In the midst of his dialogue on worship he makes this statement: “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace”. This statement about God can help us, not only in understanding how to worship together, but also in every circumstance right where we walk.

Whenever you find yourself in the middle of disorder today stop … and invite God’s peace to come into that situation through you.

Disorder exists all around us. Perhaps it’s as simple as a disorderly home or papers that are in disarray. Invite God into the mess and ask for His help in creating order. Or it may be in relationships at home or at work where drama is accepted as the norm and creates disorder of many kinds. Stop and invite God to help bring His peace through you.

Wherever you experience disorder today ask God to remind you to use it as a call to prayer. Stop and quietly ask Him to give you wisdom in the moment and to bring His peace and calm into the situation. Don’t buy into the drama or the disorder but instead respond in the opposite spirit by inviting God’s spirit of peace to come through you. He will defuse the turmoil in your own heart and mind so you can respond in ways that help foster peace.

Lord God,

Thank you that You are a God of peace. Thank you for reminding me that disorder does not come from You. Today, when I encounter drama and disorder please help me to respond in Your Spirit of peace. Keep my heart in order and bring peace to me and through me. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Question: How has God demonstrated His peace to you?

Take today’s next step:

“Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”  (Luke 6:38, NLT)

Every year, as we begin a new ministry season, we ask the following question of ourselves and of our leaders: “In what area of your life do you believe God most desires to work?”

This year, as I contemplated this question, one word came to mind: generosity. I have struggled for most of my life with generosity, specifically in regard to money. I confess I am stingy, and I don’t like it!  When God brought that word to mind, my prayer went something like this: Again, Lord? I feel like I’ve been working on this generosity thing for quite some time. Do you really want me to repeat it as my focus this year? Aren’t there more pressing issues you want me to explore? 

Much begging, pleading, and petitioning went on before I finally gave in and agreed: Okay! Alright! I surrender this ugly part of my heart to You. Lord, make me sensitive to Your leading in this area of my life. Please open doors and make it clear to me when you are calling me to be generous with Your good gifts. I really do love You, Lord, and I want to demonstate my love by being generous with others. I ask these things in Your holy name, Lord Jesus, Amen.

In the weeks that followed my commitment to God, the word “generosity” kept floating through my thoughts. I wondered what God had in store for me.

One busy afternoon, I was standing in line at the grocery store; there was a woman in front of me who was trying to use her bridge card, which is a government-issued card to help with expenses. Every time this lady entered her password to activate the card, the machine refused to recognize it as valid. Becoming increasingly frustrated, she finally told the cashier that she would have to set her groceries aside and call the government.

My heart went out to her; how embarrassing all this must be! Then I felt that still, small voice in my heart say, “Why don’t you pay for her groceries?”

“What? Well, you know, Lord, if they were only $20, I would pay for them; but they are more than double that amount! I just can’t do that!”

“Why don’t you pay for her groceries?” that voice prodded once again.

“I don’t know what my husband would say if I did that. I don’t think I should without his permission.”

“Why don’t you pay for her groceries?” He was relentless!

I couldn’t get the thought out of my head, and I continued to argue with God as the cashier rang up my bill. Shaking inside, I asked myself,  “Should I do this? I don’t know. Yes, you do! Quit fighting; isn’t this what you prayed for? Okay, okay! I give in!  I’ve got it! I’ll do it!”

I turned to the cashier and asked, “Would it be okay if I paid for that woman’s groceries?”

The cashier was a little taken aback as she said, “You do realize that it’s fifty dollars?”

“Yes, I know, and I’m fine with that; would it be alright?” I replied, as if it was easy for me to hand over fifty dollars!

The transaction took just a moment of our time, and she looked at me and asked, “Do you want to tell her?”

I knew what the Lord wanted me to do.

“No, I think you should tell her,” I responded, and I walked out of the store. No – I actually floated! I could not believe what I was feeling; this incredible joy filled my soul as I walked out in wonder and amazement that God would give me such an incredible gift!

Oh, how selfish my heart has been, and what joy I have missed by allowing stinginess to invade my soul. What is wrong with me? Why do I wrestle with God when He knows best? Why do I quibble over a measly fifty dollars when my heavenly Father has given me a gift that all the words in the world cannot describe?

Jesus said, “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”  (Luke 6:38, NLT)

How true I found this to be in my own life when I finally obeyed the promptings of God. That’s the miracle of generosity: when we give with a pure heart, not expecting anything in return, God gives us so much more than we can ever ask or imagine!

Lord, I confess that I have desired to cling to possessions and live like there is nothing more to life. Open my heart, my wallet, and my will to do whatever you call me to do. Enable me to see the needs of others, and grant me a passion to meet those needs with a generous and cheerful spirit. I ask these things in Your holy and precious name, Lord Jesus, Amen.

Questions: Do you find yourself clinging to your money or possessions, as I had been? In what areas of your life is God calling you to be generous?