Finding Hope in DarknessSample

 Be Generous 

When we feel afraid and worried about the future, our natural reaction can be to contract, to horde, and to play it safe. Instead of letting our lives and resources flow freely from God through us, we can fall into self protection and self provision. 

There is a time and place to make wise plans. Having a savings account is not a bad thing! But when you stop allowing the treasures of heaven to flow through you, you cut off your source of supply. Let's not act like that but put hope in God. As we trust Him, He will continually provide. 

This includes not only being generous with our church:

"'Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my  house. Test me in this,' says the LORD Almighty, 'and see if I will not  throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that  there will not be room enough to store it.'" ~Malachi 3:10 

But also being generous with others:

"Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice." ~Psalm 112:5 

During the spring and summer of 2020, I continued to give to my church and also set aside some resources to give above and beyond to organizations and people in need. Although giving is no guarantee of abundance: We do not give to get. We give as an act of gratitude to the Lord for all He has already given us. 

God says in His word that blessings and good will come to those who are generous--who move in the opposite spirit than the world. And in my case this year, I saw that to be true. Even in times of economic hardship, my business was like a Psalm 1 tree planted by living water. 

As you are generous financially and in other ways, you can experience the flow of heaven and increase in hope daily.

Ask God: Please show me where and how to be generous so I can accomplish Your plans and purposes on the earth and have more than enough not only for myself but also for others.