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Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat today in our Women’s Chatroom at 10:30 am EDT.

“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:11, NIV).

Perspiration streaked my freckled face as I picked strawberries to earn money for college. By afternoon my back ached, berry juice stained my hands, and my throat felt parched. Then I heard, “Hello, Lydia” and looked into my father’s smiling face. He had stopped by to surprise me with chilled watermelon. The sweet juicy melon refreshed me. My father enjoyed giving me good gifts.

I, too, delight in surprising my children with gifts–large or small. When our adult son faced surgery with substantial medical costs not covered by insurance, we invited him to come for breakfast.  We placed a comforting Bible verse and a check by his plate. Eyes wide, he said, “That’s a lot of money!”

“Just something to help out,” we replied amidst hugs. We love to give our children good gifts.

Much more so, our heavenly Father lavishes us, his children, with good gifts. It’s as if he has a big treasure chest full of presents waiting for us. We only have to ask, seek, and knock (Matthew 7:7, NIV).  I’ve been overwhelmed by God’s generous answers to prayer.

Sometimes the answers were far beyond what I expected–such as two large scholarships for our son’s college education and the specific teaching job our daughter wanted. Other times, the answers did not seem like good gifts from my perspective. That’s when I had to trust my heavenly Father, who would never give me a snake or stone if I asked for fish or bread.   I’m reassured to know that even more than earthly parents, God loves to give good gifts to his children.

Thank you, heavenly Father, for blessing me with many good things. Give me a grateful heart and the faith to trust you more. Help me remember to ask, seek, and knock.  Amen.

Questions: How do you view your God? What is your attitude when your prayers are not answered the way you had thought that they would/should be?

About the Author Lydia Harris