GOOD GIFTS
December 01, 2022

Prayer: Heavenly Father, may we know that You only give us good gifts and may we receive them with grateful hearts. Amen

Scripture: If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! Matt 7:11 NAS

I watched our youth pastor, Terren, call his three year old son, Jayden, over to where he was sitting one Sunday morning. Terren held out his clenched fist and Jayden ran over with a shout of joy. I had no idea what was in Terren’s hand and neither did Jayden, but Jayden knew his dad and his character. He knew there was something good being offered because his dad is good, because he had received good things from Terren before and because Terren called him to receive it.

“Do you want some?” Terren asked, still not revealing what was in his hand.

Jayden jumped up and down with excitement, “Yes, Yes!” he shouted.

Terren opened his hand just enough to give Jayden a peek at a corner of a wrapper. “Are you sure you want some?” Terren asked again.

“Please!” was Jayden’s reply.

Terren opened his fist to reveal a small snack-size package of Skittles. Jayden snuggled up beside Terren and held out his hand, waiting for his Dad to pour some into it. Jayden did not grab it, he did not complain that it was only a snack-size instead of a king-size. With great joy, he sat and ate the handful of Skittles that Terren gave him, one at a time, expressing his enjoyment as he ate each one.

I want to respond to God in every circumstance like Jayden did to his dad. I know my Heavenly Father; I know He loves me and only acts through His love for me. I know that He knows what is best, and I should know that I will be blessed by whatever He is holding out for me to receive. I want to respond in joy and excitement. I want to be grateful through the whole process. I want to come to Him with a humble “Please,” not an entitled “Give me.” I want to be content with my portion and stay close to Him while I partake of it.

When you pray for blessings, opportunities, increase, prosperity, and such, do you find yourself thinking or even telling God exactly what that blessing should look like? Have you ever been so definite about your plans that you became defiant when God has shown up with a different plan? Have you ever gone through what seemed like the worst time in your life, only to get to the end and see it as a great gift? If you ask Him for something and then you suffer a loss, do you trust Him enough to give you something greater? When Jesus said, “Come follow me” did He lay out His three year plan and list the pros and cons of the journey or did His disciples immediately follow Him? Why do we find it so hard to obey and follow Him on this side of the cross? Where does real hope and security come from? Where do our greatest gifts and blessings come from? They come from God of course! Spend some time today remembering the sweetness of a surprise gift that God gave to you, a blessing in what first seemed like a trial, and an answered prayer. Express joyful gratefulness to God as Jayden did to Terren.

My prayer for you is that you would know that your Heavenly Father only gives good gifts.

Copyright Kathy Branzell.  To connect with the author, email info@christianeducators.org

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