Generosity: Triggering God

Give freely and spontaneously. Don’t have a sting y heart. The way you handle matters like this triggers GOD, your God’s, blessing in everything you do, all your work and ventures. — Deuteronomy 15:10 MSG

Psychology has helped us understand that even a subtle gesture or the tone of someone’s voice can trigger a memory or a reaction. Some memories are good, such as times with a loved one, an especially fun vacation, or a time when God’s presence was very real. Sometimes, though, painful memories or feelings of anger can be triggered. At times those triggers blindside us. Suddenly we’re dealing with intense emotions we didn’t anticipate.

Today’s verse from The Message says that God has triggers and gives us a specific example.

How we treat people — whether we lead generous, giving lives or cold, stingy lives — triggers God.

When His children give spontaneously without regard for the cost, He is triggered to bless them. He will give peace to those of us who freely give to others in all we do.

Are you living in a way that triggers God’s blessings?

God, enable me to me to live openly and give generously, not for Your blessing but to honor You with my life. Amen.

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Given to Be Used

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. — 2 Timothy 1:7 NIV

Imagine if merely receiving the gift of an exercise bike meant automatically experiencing its health and fitness benefits. Gifts don’t work that way, though. We need to use the exercise bike: we need to rely on discipline, hard work, and sweat to experience any beneficial results from that gift.

The gift of flowers placed in a closet is not a gift we enjoy. A blender placed on the counter but never used is a gift of little worth. Good gifts are the gifts we use.

God gives the best and most appropriate gifts. For instance, He knew that as a young preacher, Timothy needed gifts that would counter his natural timidity and fear. So God gave him power, love, and self-discipline.

What gifts do you need? If you ask for and receive them, will you use them as Timothy did? God knows what you need, so ask Him for those gifts, and then be ready to use them to serve Him and others.

God, please give me the gifts of power, love, and self-discipline. Help me to use the gifts you’ve given me wisely and well. Amen.

Excerpted with permission from 365 Devotions for Peace by Cheri Cowell, copyright Zondervan.

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Your Turn

Have you ever realized that you can trigger God’s abundant blessing by being open-handedly generous? Our hearts and what flows out of them matter to Him. God blesses us in order that we may be a blessing to others! How can you show free and joyous generosity today to honor God? We’d love to hear from you! Join the conversation on our blog! ~ Devotionals Daily