IDOK DEVOTION FOR WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2010
Praise Reports, Prayer Requests and Updates:
We are asked to pray for Brittany Mothershed. She was hospitalized today with a chronic condition complicated by pneumonia. Ours prayers are needed and appreciated.
2 Corinthians 9:6Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
In this Text a gift has been promised and Paul is speaking to the Corinthians about the gift and he says that familiar phrase: God loves a cheerful giver. Does that mean that God does not love the grouchy giver? Of course not! Another familiar truth is God is love; He loves everyone. So why would Paul pen God loves a cheerful giver? Because He does. Because our cheerful giving brings pleasure to God. It blesses Him. Here’s the picture I received today while thinking about this passage of Scripture.
Imagine giving a gift to someone you dearly love; a gift that you have prayed over, even sacrificed to obtain, and so even just the thought of presenting it to your friend makes you happy. The day comes and you give the gift. Immediately she loves it and as you sit and chat about the ins and outs of it, the fellowship is so sweet for the both of you. To me that’s an inkling of what ABBA means when He says He loves a cheerful giver. Of course, He loves the giver! But there’s more to it — He loves the fellowship we have with Him when we give as the woman in our illustration. Do you see it?
Now lets alter that illustration a tad. Lets say we bring a gift; we don’t really want to and it’s not the best we can do either, not a sacrifice at all. But we bring it anyway and she accepts, she’s even gracious about it but she knows. She knows your heart about it. So tell me, how’s the fellowship? Now, think GOD. Think of our gifts to Him. How’s the fellowship?
Are we cheerful givers? How is our sowing? Is it sparingly or bountifully? And how’s the harvest? If we want a harvest to cheer about – well we are gonna have to be cheerful when we are planting those seeds; don’t you think?
How many of your remember the old hymn Bringing In the Sheaves? Click here and take a listen.
To review the list of names for prayer, please click here.
Another day nearly complete, that is the hours have about clicked away; nothing I can do now about how well or not so well I have invested or squandered this day; can only put it under the BLOOD and trust You, ABBA, to love, forgive, reward, renew and empower to go again once we have rested for the night. I am glad You have given us this lesson and I pray we will take it to heart and stretch ourselves happily to give more; more of ourselves, more resources, whatever it takes to accomplish Your will for each of us.
We pray now for Brittany, asking that You heal her; that she be able to go home soon and again tend to her family. We pray for practical helps for her and for peace for Chad and the children and other family members and friends. I pray too for others on our list and ask that You tend and minister as You know they need. Thank You for Andrew’s job and I pray for another who desires a job too and ask that You provide it and until You do I pray for peace. We pray for VBS teachers to rest well and be refreshed to again minister to young hearts and minds. We pray that young ones will be saved this week. And we pray for our IDOK Troops. Please keep them safe and protected. We pray for Israel for peace and safety and for wisdom to maneuver present waters. ABBA, I am so sorry for the decisions and the attitudes of leaders and people toward Israel. Please have mercy and help them repent I pray. And I am reminded of decisions church leaders are making and we pray they will hear You and obey You. And these things we ask You now in JESUS Name. Amen and amen.
