I am continuing to write about gifts God gives. In my first post on this subject I explained where good gifts come from. Once we know that good gifts come from God. I think there can be two categories of responses.
- We begin to realize that God has gifts that He desires to give us and we begin to realize that He is inviting us to receive from Him and so these gifts actually lead to deepening of our relationship.
- We begin to realize that God has gifts that He desires to give us and we begin to grasp for the these “things” rather than enjoying our experience with Him. This is sometimes described as seeking the gift instead of the giver. This actually hurts our relationship.
As you can see, both of these responses impact the relationship – one for the better and one for the worse. Can’t we relate to this in our own lives? I know as a parent I have experienced both of these approaches from my kids. Can you remember a time when you were a child and became over-focused on the gift and really didn’t care about the giver? Can you remember a time when a gift was given that deepened your understanding of the giver’s love for you? I certainly can.
Another possible response, and sadly I think this has been my more common response in recent years, is to refuse the gift and insist on earning it on your own. That response also impacts the relationship. So as we continue to see gifts that God gives as stated in the Bible, I want to encourage you to examine yourself and see how often you have tried to earn these things rather than accepting them as gifts from your loving heavenly Father.
Things God gives – Peace, Perseverance, Encouragement
“Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful.” John 14:27
“Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another, according to Christ Jesus,” Romans 15:5
“The glory which You have given Me I also have given to them, so that they may be one, just as We are one;” John 17:22
Things God gives – all things
“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” Romans 8:32
Things God gives – the victory
“but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57
Things God gives – wisdom
“that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.” Ephesians 1:17
“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5
Things God gives – understanding
“Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” 2 Timothy 2:7
Things God gives – not fear, but power, love, sound mind
“For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7
Things God gives – love
“See how great a love the Father has given us, that we would be called children of God; and in fact we are. For this reason the world does not know us: because it did not know Him.” 1 John 3:1
Wow, that was a whole lot of scripture about things God gives or has given. Were there any that surprised you? Let me recap with a quick list:
- Peace, Perseverance, Encouragement
- All Things
- The Victory
- Wisdom
- Understanding
- Power, Love, Sound Mind (not fear)
- Love
May I encourage you in the days ahead that you look at your own life and see which if these gifts seems to be the most lacking. Then don’t just go to God and ask for it/them, thereby making the gift the focus, but instead that you’d go to God and acknowledge that He has these gifts and repent of looking elsewhere for them. Then within that relationship ask and receive the gifts.
The prayer can be something like this:
Heavenly Father, You are a good Father and I am so thankful to be your child. I see in your Word that you desire to give me peace, perseverance, and encouragement. I am so sorry I have looked to others for these things. I willingly receive the peace, perseverance, and encouragement you are offering as a gift to me and I thank you for them. In Jesus’ name.
For more writings on Gifts God Gives, see the following posts: