Giving can be an attack on greed. Anytime you find yourself feeling envious of those who seem to be richer than you, pick out someone to give to. Greed and hoarding lose their footing in the heart of a giver. They fall away and become weak.
The giver must be wise with what they have, but being wise isn’t the same as keeping whatever you have to yourself. Keep a roof over your head and food in your belly, but give away some of your “extra” money.
If you pay for things with paper bills and keep the coins (the change) in a special container, the coins will add up to a surprising amount faster than you think. If you put aside a generosity jar and fill it with your change, you can take it to the bank and exchange it for bills to be used for a specific donation.
Today’s goal is: Begin keeping change in a large container in your home. Write a note on the jar that describes where the money is going when the jar is filled.
If every time you see that jar you thank God for meeting your needs, your motivation to meet someone else’s needs may rise. And the joy of giving builds.
If you don’t know which family or charity to give the donation to, just ask God to direct you to the recipient He chooses. And keep your eyes open.
Apply the Medicine
Many Americans have a Bible. Some actually read it. And then there are those who do what it says.
If you had a wound and asked a doctor to give you medicine for it, would you go home and read the label of the medicine bottle – and not take the medicine?
That’s what people are doing when they read what God wants us to do, and then not act on it. When we read the Bible and understand God’s instructions, it is to our benefit to act on it. We must be determined to apply the word.
Joshua 1:8 (NIV) Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Think on the word so that you can do it.
James 1:22 (NASB) But prove yourselves doers of the word and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
Today’s goal is: As you read slowly through the Bible with ears perked to hear the lesson God wants you to apply to your life, find the lesson that opens your understanding and act on it.
Joshua 1:8 says we should” be careful to do everything”. When doing everything written in the Bible seems too huge to even consider, take a small piece of scripture and meditate on the lesson in it. Apply it to your life. Act on it.
Some medicines need to be applied continually over many days. Don’t give up.
If you had a wound and asked a doctor to give you medicine for it, would you go home and read the label of the medicine bottle – and not take the medicine?
That’s what people are doing when they read what God wants us to do, and then not act on it. When we read the Bible and understand God’s instructions, it is to our benefit to act on it. We must be determined to apply the word.
Joshua 1:8 (NIV) Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Think on the word so that you can do it.
James 1:22 (NASB) But prove yourselves doers of the word and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
Today’s goal is: As you read slowly through the Bible with ears perked to hear the lesson God wants you to apply to your life, find the lesson that opens your understanding and act on it.
Joshua 1:8 says we should” be careful to do everything”. When doing everything written in the Bible seems too huge to even consider, take a small piece of scripture and meditate on the lesson in it. Apply it to your life. Act on it.
Some medicines need to be applied continually over many days. Don’t give up.
Dare to Pray
Everyone has a few moments in their life when they need someone to pray with them. I’ve needed prayers, and I’m sure you have too.
My dad prayed with me for healing when I was young. My mom prayed for me when I was on vacation. My friends prayed for me during pregnancies.
The prayer time you give to another shows how much you care.
Whenever my kids and I are slowly passing through the merging traffic at the scene of an accident on the highway, I ask them to pray for those involved. I pray for the comfort of all those involved and for the healing of those in pain. I’ve been in a car wreck before, so I know to pray for the insurance paperwork to go smoothly.
We often see strangers going through stressful times. We can pray without them knowing it. But if we’ll take the time to tell someone, “I’m praying for you,” that may strengthen them for the rest of the day. God may be able to use our words to them as well as our prayer for them.
Today’s goal is: Ask someone if they’d like you to pray for them.
How many times has someone asked you to pray for them and “I will” was your response? Do you think it would anger them if you stopped what you were doing and prayed out loud right there with them? Probably not.
I sometimes have to pray right at the moment when I think of it, or I won’t think of it again.
And there are those who won’t ask for prayer, but you can see that those people need and want God to intervene in their lives. Think of the joy they'll feel when you show them just how much you care.
My dad prayed with me for healing when I was young. My mom prayed for me when I was on vacation. My friends prayed for me during pregnancies.
The prayer time you give to another shows how much you care.
Whenever my kids and I are slowly passing through the merging traffic at the scene of an accident on the highway, I ask them to pray for those involved. I pray for the comfort of all those involved and for the healing of those in pain. I’ve been in a car wreck before, so I know to pray for the insurance paperwork to go smoothly.
We often see strangers going through stressful times. We can pray without them knowing it. But if we’ll take the time to tell someone, “I’m praying for you,” that may strengthen them for the rest of the day. God may be able to use our words to them as well as our prayer for them.
Today’s goal is: Ask someone if they’d like you to pray for them.
How many times has someone asked you to pray for them and “I will” was your response? Do you think it would anger them if you stopped what you were doing and prayed out loud right there with them? Probably not.
I sometimes have to pray right at the moment when I think of it, or I won’t think of it again.
And there are those who won’t ask for prayer, but you can see that those people need and want God to intervene in their lives. Think of the joy they'll feel when you show them just how much you care.
Hospital Visits
Like millions of others, I have spent the night in a hospital. And during my overnight stays, I enjoyed having visitors. They brought encouragement, smiles, and warm feelings. I’m sure I healed more quickly because of their love.
I also have visited others in hospitals for various reasons. I cheered up my mother-in-law with pictures of her grandchildren. I brought flowers to a woman who had just had a baby. I sang Christmas carols with a youth group. And I brought a sack of snack food to a family whose dad was having heart surgery.
I received plenty of verbal thanks, but that’s not why I did it. I know what I felt like during my hospital stays, so if I can comfort others in a similar situation, I’ll do it.
Today’s goal is: Visit someone in a hospital.
Your church may have a list of members who are in the hospital and would enjoy visitors. Churches usually have a prayer list which includes several people in the hospital.
I’ve heard of the family of a new bride bringing wedding flower arrangements to hospitals after the wedding and putting them in the rooms of those who don’t get many visitors.
Even if you don’t bring anything but conversation, there are those who are lonely and would love to have a visit – from anyone. That caring conversation will bless their day and bring an added bonus of healing.
I also have visited others in hospitals for various reasons. I cheered up my mother-in-law with pictures of her grandchildren. I brought flowers to a woman who had just had a baby. I sang Christmas carols with a youth group. And I brought a sack of snack food to a family whose dad was having heart surgery.
I received plenty of verbal thanks, but that’s not why I did it. I know what I felt like during my hospital stays, so if I can comfort others in a similar situation, I’ll do it.
Today’s goal is: Visit someone in a hospital.
Your church may have a list of members who are in the hospital and would enjoy visitors. Churches usually have a prayer list which includes several people in the hospital.
I’ve heard of the family of a new bride bringing wedding flower arrangements to hospitals after the wedding and putting them in the rooms of those who don’t get many visitors.
Even if you don’t bring anything but conversation, there are those who are lonely and would love to have a visit – from anyone. That caring conversation will bless their day and bring an added bonus of healing.
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