Ask for Good Gifts - The Crosswalk Devotional - March 31
The Crosswalk Devotional
Audio By Carbonatix
By Michelle S. Lazurek, Crosswalk.com
Ask for Good Gifts
By Michelle Lazurek
Bible Reading:
If you, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:11
Growing up, I worked for everything I had. Rarely did my parents give me something for free. When I reached my teen years and was old enough to get a job, I'd pay for anything I wanted out of pocket. My parents didn't just give me luxuries in life; I had to earn them. I paid out of pocket for every prom dress and every Driver's Ed course.
When I became a born-again Christian at 18, this affected how I saw God and his generosity. Because I didn't have parents who just handed me money, I often felt I had to work to gain God's approval and good gifts. In one of our first churches, we led a small group. One day, before the holidays, we discussed some of our childhood gifts that we never received but wanted. I remarked that I always wanted an Easy Bake Oven.
Although my parents were generous during Christmas time, there were some gifts I never received. The Easy Bake Oven was one of them. After we resumed the group after the holidays, the group handed me a gift. When I unwrapped it, it was the Easy Bake Oven! It made me feel incredibly loved, and I was glad my group went out of its way to present me with a gift I had always wanted. In that moment, I understood God's generosity a little bit better.
Although I work for luxuries in life, this is something I still struggle with today. I still struggle with God simply handing me something. I hesitate to ask him for the big requests in life. One day, in my quiet time, God whispered to my heart: “You wait for the other shoe to drop.” That convicted me deep down in my soul. It was true. When I received something good, I always waited for the subsequent lousy thing to happen. I never realized how much this skewed my worldview of God, but it did. I was trying to earn those good gifts in life yet again. I didn't deserve a good gift simply because of who I am, so I always waited for a bad thing to happen that I needed to endure to “earn” that gift.
The above verse speaks to God's generosity. As a parent, I love watching my kids open gifts on Christmas, or the look on their faces when we give them a gift simply because of who they are. My heart leaps with joy when I watch my children enjoy a good gift. It's the same with the Lord. He delights in giving his children good gifts. He does not expect us to earn them, as there's nothing we can do to earn God's love, approval, or salvation. God delights in watching us get something we always wanted.
God’s generosity knows no bounds. We cannot outgive God. What we give out of obedience to others, God can triple, quadruple, or even provide a hundredfold more than we can ever give. Furthermore, he already gave his ultimate sacrifice: his life for our sins. I'll never be able to match that level of generosity.
Do you try to work for the good gifts in life as well? Do you tend to minimize your prayer requests simply because you fear the other shoe dropping? Increase your faith today and trust that God wants to give you good gifts simply because you are his child. There's nothing you can do to earn those good gifts. Accept God's good gifts (including salvation), knowing that God delights in giving these good gifts to you. God delights in giving good gifts to his children. Because you are his child, you are one of his greatest gifts. God delights in you, too.
Father, allow us to accept your good gifts every day. Let us not try to earn our way to your good gifts. Let us instead accept those good gifts, knowing that you delight in giving them. Let us pay forward your generosity as we give sacrificially to others. Amen.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Do you try to earn good gifts from God?
How can you accept God’s good gifts without earning them?
Further Reading:
James 1:17
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/AnnaStills
Michelle S. Lazurek is a multi-genre award-winning author, speaker, pastor's wife, and mother. She is a literary agent for Wordwise Media Services and host of The Spritual Reset Podcast. Her new children’s book Hall of Faith encourages kids to understand God can be trusted. When not working, she enjoys sipping a Starbucks latte, collecting 80s memorabilia, and spending time with her family and her crazy dog. For more info, please visit her website www.michellelazurek.
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Welcome to this special bonus episode of the Jesus Calling Podcast, inspired by the topical themes from Sarah Young’s seasonal prayer devotional Jesus Listens: Prayers for Every Season. Today, we are featuring guests who speak to themes that all of us might be experiencing in this season of winter. As the days grow shorter and the night longer, we are offered a rare gift: permission to stop. This season can be a challenging time for many, and if you are struggling with low spirits, please know you are not alone, and help is available. This episode is an opportunity to honor your weariness, to resist the urge to rush, and to discover the profound healing that happens when we simply let ourselves rest in the stillness. If you like what you hear, be sure to follow Jesus Calling on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
