Cheerful Giver

What if your Blessing is on the other side of your Giving?

Sometimes it's hard to give. But what if you had prayed to God to be more generous? It's one thing to pray about it, but then to act on it is completely different! I had prayed to God to help me bless my family member in any way that I could, since she deserved it. But when the time came and she asked to borrow money, I instinctively felt annoyed, irritated, and stingy. But this is what I prayed for! After repenting, I changed my attitude and helped her. Because God is often giving me gifts I don't deserve. One good example? Waking me up every morning! When you take a step back and really see how God has blessed you, blessing others seems like the most natural thing to do.

I've grown in my giving since then. Yesterday, a man on the street asked me for a dollar while I was entering the store. That worked out perfectly-I had just gotten paid and already had my bills set. So what did I do? I went above and beyond in my giving, because God has gone above and beyond in giving to me. And I didn't have an attitude about giving, which is crucial.

2 Corinthians 9:7 says,"Each one must gie as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." God looks at the heart always. Even if you donate a million dollars, if your heart is not in it, then it is no better than a corrupt sacrifice! Remember to do things from a humble perspective, and have a cheerful heart! This passage aslo states that whoever sows (gives) sparingly, will reap (receive) sparingly. Trust that when God tells you to give your time, money, thoughts, or words...He has in plan something even better He wants to give you!

God is more than happy to bless us. So we have to be more than happy to bless others.

-Sherry Amor