1 Chronicles 29:13,14
“Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.”
Never outgrow being grateful! David’s humble heart-response to being able to give to the LORD is a beautiful reminder of how we are to live. David knows that everything comes from God and belongs to God and should be given back to God in humble reverence and a love relationship with our Creator. David and the people of Israel had just poured out many gifts to the LORD; they had abundantly worshiped their God not just in word but in deed as well. After all this, David thanks God for allowing him and his people to honor and worship God in this way.
Imagine if the Body of Christ responded that way today. Instead of asking, “How much does it cost me”? if we would say, “How much can I give?” The Bible tells us that we can’t out-give God. We could try all our lives and still come up short of out-giving Him. David knows this, and he knows that it’s only by God’s merciful provision that he is even in a place to give like this and won’t be denied the chance to worship his God in this way. Do we feel like this? Is it a hassle or a chore to give to God, or is it something we do cheerfully and out of deep gratitude for all He has given us?
Remember that God just hasn’t blessed us financially but, more importantly, spiritually and eternally! True riches are not of gold and silver but of an eternal love relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit! We can invest ourselves and our treasures in a lot of different things, but David invested himself into the only One Who’s value never changes or diminishes. He will remain forever! Will we do the same?
1 Chronicles 29:17,18- “I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. LORD, the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep these desires and thoughts in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you.”
God bless! I love you all, but His love invested greatly in us that day on the cross! Glory, honor, and praise now and forever to Papa God, Jesus Christ our King, and the Holy Spirit!
1 Chronicles 29:18
“LORD, the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep these desires and thoughts in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you.”
Are you praying honest prayers? This part of David’s prayer speaks to me about the vulnerability and tendency of people to forget God and turn to other things.
Why would David have to ask God to keep their hearts loyal unless he knew that they were predisposed to sway or change?
Often, I have judged prayer life by the words I have spoken more than the heart behind it, and I believe the Lord does the exact opposite. I believe to Him, it’s the heart behind it more than the lofty words I may use. That being said, I do believe that as we grow and evolve in the Lord, our prayer life should also!
Do you pray what’s honestly on your heart, or what you think He wants to hear? When you’re scared, do you tell Him? When you’re angry, do you vent and ask for peace? When you’re sad, do you ask why and ask Him to please help? Or do we gloss over it and skip the heart of the issue?
**Spoiler Alert** God already knows what you’re feeling and thinking, so you might as well tell Him and allow Him to walk you through it!
You might ask, “If God already knows all, then why do I need to tell Him?” I believe the answer is because He loves you and wants you to know it! Imagine how if every time your child told you about some new discovery in their lives, like how to count to 5, and every time you were like, “Yeah, I already know that”. Eventually, they would stop coming to you, but if you listen intently and are as excited as them, then that makes them want to share more! I feel like this can be applied to our prayer lives with our Perfect Loving Father!
One of the most honest powerful prayers I ever heard was in a prayer group in prison. It went something like this: “ Dear God, I don’t know how to do this, but I know I need You!” The humble honest cry of a sinner’s heart in desperate need of the Savior!
I love you all. God bless! Glory, Honor, and Praise now and forever to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit!
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