Today’s Bible verse – 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NKJV)
“So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Devotional Thought For Today
You’ve probably felt it—that silent tug when someone asks for help, but your heart isn’t in it. Maybe it’s the offering plate. A GoFundMe. A friend’s need. And the tension rises: Do I give? Do I have to? Will I feel guilty if I don’t?
But guilt is a terrible motivator, and obligation is a joy-killer. That’s not how God gives—and it’s not how He wants you to give, either.
In 2 Corinthians 9:7, Paul isn’t fundraising. He’s soul-shaping. He’s pointing you to a deeper truth: Giving isn’t a transaction. It’s a reflection. A mirror of God’s own heart.
God doesn’t just love a giver—He loves a cheerful giver. One who doesn’t flinch at the cost because their eyes are fixed on the why. One who doesn’t calculate value by what leaves their hands, but by what it releases in heaven.
Giving isn’t just about money. It’s about your posture. Your time, your attention, your patience with that difficult person, your willingness to forgive—these are gifts, too. And when you offer them from a heart that’s free, not forced, it smells like worship.
Maybe today you’re tapped out, worn down, or afraid there won’t be enough. Hear this: God never asks you to give what you don’t have. He asks you to give what He’s stirred in your heart—and to trust Him to refill what you pour.
Because giving with joy isn’t a loss. It’s an act of faith. And it makes you look a lot like Jesus.
Prayer for May 31, 2025
Lord, help me give not from guilt or pressure, but from a heart alive with Your generosity. Remind me that every gift I release in love draws me closer to Your heart. Free me from fear and stinginess. Teach me the joy of open hands. Amen.
