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14/06/2023 - 15/06/2023 All day

You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35).

Although giving is not among the gifts the Apostle Paul listed in I Cor 12: 4-12; it is quite clear there are those of us who find it easier to give than being stringent. Whenever a call is made to contribute to any cause, they are quick to dig into their sparse resources and freely share.

Now by the way, lest we are confused, the givers often do not have much more than others. If one thinks that giving is a matter of how much one has, why do a majority of billionaires die with their billions all intact, hardly ever having given a penny to charity! Try fundraising from certain country clubs and you will get an idea! Actually, for some people, the more they have, the more stringent they become.

What we all need to know those who are “givers’ among us are bound to experience more of God’s blessings in ways that outrival the rest of us. Luke 6:36 says, “Give and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” The implication here that wherever we give we are also depositing into a heavenly account from which we draw a multiplicity of blessings.

This is why, we are challenged, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly… and whoever sows generously will also reap generously” ( 2 Cor 9:6). Giving it must be remembered is a matter of heart and not how big one’s pockets are. Once Jesus compared the giving of some rich people to that of a poor widow. He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on” (Mark 12:43-44).

The people with big hearts tend not only to be more blessed but are far happier. If there is a gift any of us should pray for, just in case, then it should be giving. “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” ( 2 Cor 9:7-8).

Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, from you who gave your life for our salvation, we learn the value of giving, and today I pray that you bless me with  the gifting of giving knowing the multiple blessings of those who give, this I pray in Jesus’s name.

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  • 17/05/2024 - 18/05/2024 All day

    “And I in righteousness I shall see your face; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with seeing your likeness” (Psalm 17:15)

    One of the defining aspects we see in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ is that He began the day with prayer. “Very early in the morning while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35). As he was always surrounded by crowds and after such a busy day before of preaching and engaging the Pharisees in debates this must have been a therapeutic moment for Christ when he would have some good time to himself.

    But there was also more. For Jesus being away in a secluded place would also mean a chance to pour out His heart to God, meditate in quietness, plan for the day ahead and listen to the Father. Jesus must have looked up to this moment every day knowing its benefits. Conversations with His Father must have been real and intimate, bringing a certain soothing and uplifting of His spirit. You do not wake up and stick to something on a daily basis that is a drag – this must have been his best time of the day!

    Martin Luther the leader of the protestant reformation is reputed to once have said, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” Here is the point. In the olden days before the arrival of locomotive transport those who were setting out for a long journey on foot had to start early with the first cock crow before the punishing sun came out. One of the things they had to start with also was a good meal, which was fuel needed to give them energy through the long walk to their destiny.

    There are no rules about waking up to pray as first thing- or even saying prayer at a defined hour of the day. God is everywhere and ever with us. He is accessible at any time of the day. But there is something special about prioritizing our lives that the first thing we do is to talk to God. Just like the early traveller we need fuel, for the long day ahead!

    Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a joy and privilege to make time at the start of any day, talk and hear from you, for the power I need through the day, this I pray in Jesus’ name!

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