βΆReceiving the gift of God’s grace to keep giving when you want to give in…βΆ

Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man have received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
1 Peter 4:9-10
Praying that you & yours overflow with God’s Grace, Love, and Mercy this Holyday season and forevermore! X0X0 π K.Joi β£οΈ
With it being this time of year where we celebrate and give thanks for the many blessings that He has given us, God laid it on my heart to do a post about giving. The bible says that God loves a cheerful giver, but let’s just be honest there are times when giving can be very difficult. There are times when things require more time, resources, and/or energy than we expected, with seemingly no return but in those times we have to remember His Grace is sufficient.
One of my favorite books of the bible is Ecclesiastes, it’s filled with simple life altering wisdom. In the 7th chapter verse 14 it says in the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider. There are days/times/seasons where things flow smoothly, on the contrary there are days quite the opposite. The word consider comes from the hebrew ra’ah meaning to see, look, inspect, to have vision. In unpleasant times perspective is everything. I often ask God to give me eyes to see what He desires me to see beyond my current struggle and the faith to grow through it, and He always does.
One definition of grace is God’s power that influences our hearts to be able to do things we can’t and wouldn’t do in our own strength. The word says that God gives grace to the humble. The more we acknowledge our need for Him and in that need seek after Him, He gives us more grace. When we do this it says God you know more, I let go and give this to you, teach me what’s right. The giving of ourselves to God is the best gift exchange EVER!
“This walk is a day to day thing so we never get to a place where God isn’t growing us. “ We should ever be learning.
Grace also means rewards, gifts, and favor. God blesses us that we would in turn be a blessing to others. When we give it shows that we trust and know God is our source. This is important to keep in our foresight during times of struggle where we feel forgotten or that our labor in love is in vain. And in times where we feel drained we can always go to God for Him to pour out what we need.
We are living during a time where being self focused is often celebrated but God teaches just the opposite. What i’ve come to find is when I make God and service my priority He takes care of me, and it benefits everyone. It truly is more blessed to give than to receive. God increases those that make giving a lifestyle. Don’t believe fear and lack that tells us we won’t have enough or that our giving is vain. We can trust obeying God in our giving.
Luke 6:38 Give and it shall be given unto you: good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye give it shall be given to you. If it’s something you feel that you lack, give it. I realized that many times the struggles that I faced give me a greater understanding for those dealing with similar things. Hence the saying your misery is often your ministry. God will give you a grace in that area which will increase you and others.
I want to end with encouragement. Know that God makes ALL things work together for Good for them that love Him and called according to His purpose. You may not see it now but one day you will look back and understand why God took you the way that He did. His ways are Higher! PEACE LOVE JOY β‘