I Will FightSample
DAY TWO:
Generous people are: GRATEFUL
Have you ever opened your closet and thought, “I have nothing to wear,” or opened up your fridge and said, “I have nothing to eat,” or maybe you’ve turned on the TV and thought to yourself, “there’s nothing to watch.” Most of us are naturally inclined to focus on what we lack rather than what we already have. However, when we start focusing on what we do have instead of what we don't have, we are well on our way to experiencing gratitude. There is something about a grateful spirit that can shift your entire mood. We often think that being rich might make us happy, but really, it’s grateful people that are happy!
Pastor Brian Houston has said, “the purpose of God's blessing is to enable you to be a great channel of blessing to others.” When we truly enjoy what we have and are grateful, it's natural to want others to experience it with us, so we give. A grateful spirit often inspires a generous spirit.
You see, it’s hard to be generous with what you have, unless you’re first grateful for what you have!
The Bible tells us, “every good and perfect gift is from above.” (James 1:7) This means that every good thing we have in life comes from God. He is in the business of giving gifts, bestowing blessings, and helping people to obtain an abundant life (John 10:10).
The Bible doesn’t say that, “God so loved the world that He sang a song, wrote a poem or said a prayer.” It says, He gave His Son (John 3:16). We have a relationship with a generous God. Because our God is a giver, we should be as well.
In our scripture reading today it says, “we have been treated generously, so live generously.” We believe that generosity is inspired and grows as a response to everything God has done for us. We’re not giving for the church; we’re giving because God saved our life! Billy Graham once said, “God has given us two hands, one to receive and one to give.”
When was the last time you expressed your gratitude to God or others?
Are you releasing of your time, talent and resources because of everything God has done for you?
Let’s be a grateful and generous people.
About this Plan
Whether you are a part of Hillsong East Coast or not, this devotional takes an introspective look at the generosity we’re all called to as followers of Jesus. Join us over the next seven days in this special devotional as we learn more about the qualities of a generous person. “Heart for the House” is an annual, sacrificial offering that is over and above the normal tithes and offerings at Hillsong Church. Every year, this single weekend marks a faith-filled step forward in the life of our church for the miraculous. By intentionally preparing and selflessly giving, we can extend our reach into realms that are often left overlooked. We invite you to join us for the next seven days as we prepare to take ground like never before.
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We would like to thank Hillsong NYC, Hillsong New Jersey, Hillsong Connecticut, and Hillsong Boston for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: https://hillsong.com/nyc/h4th/