Reflect

Wow, you’ve made it to day 40. I’m sure some of you have been waiting for 40acts to come back for quite a while; others have stumbled across it, and got the generosity bug.

You’ve embarked on 40 days of generosity. First, WELL DONE! But the fun doesn’t have to stop here, take some of these ideas from the last 40 days, and start to implement them into your daily routine. Surprise your neighbour, work colleague, or the person you struggle to converse with. Whoever it may be, you have the opportunity to love them like Jesus does. You never know, it could lead them to a life with Jesus one day!

The Jesus lifestyle is a simple one. He says, come follow me. It’s a simply wonderful command. Where’s the instruction manual? What are the next steps? What should I do and how should I do it? Well, I hope the last 40 days have given you a taste of the Jesus lifestyle and how to carry it out. One where people on the outskirts of society now feel a little more love and connection. Your work colleagues feel more valued. And you? Well, you feel the pure joy of giving. I hope you love it as much as I do. It’s truly contagious, and people will soon start to ask questions as to why you’re doing it. This has led to brilliant conversations for me.

One that stands out is when I lived in Belgium playing professional field hockey. I explained to them that I was a Christian and was doing a generosity challenge during Lent (while speaking French) and that was why each of them was receiving a Milka chocolate bar. Each person as they received the small gift of chocolate was incredibly grateful. It was amazing. This simple act led to dozens of conversations about generosity and the ‘why’ behind it. It opened the door for conversations about Jesus. So, the next time you’re compelled to be generous, just go for it.

Prayer:

Pray for the journey of generosity to continue beyond these 40 days, becoming a natural part of your daily life. Ask God to open your eyes to opportunities to share His love in simple and meaningful ways, bringing joy and connection to those around you. Pray for the courage to step out in acts of kindness, even when it feels uncomfortable, and for the wisdom to see how these small gestures can lead to deeper conversations about faith.

Take a 40acts challenge today:

1. Offer to help someone facing a practical challenge by giving your time or resources.
2. Contribute anonymously to a fundraiser or need in your community, no matter how small.
3. Identify someone who could benefit from a shared resource, like a lift in your car or the loan of an item, and offer it generously.