Life Plan Devotion #141 [Grace abounds]

Hi, Everyone.
I just want to tell you that I love you guys. :)  Please pray for those having surgery today.

Life Plan Devotion #141 [Grace abounds]

II Corinthians 9:8 "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed" (NASB).

     We have been looking at the Kingdom principle of sowing and reaping. We have learned that our harvest is in proportion to the amount of seed we sow. We have learned that giving is truly a "matter of the heart," and must be done thoughtfully, prayerfully, and decisively.
     Verse 8 of II Corinthians chapter 9 begins a section in which God, through Paul, shows us who benefits from giving. First of all, the giver benefits. When you give, God responds!
     "God is able to make all grace abound to you" (v. 8a). Rejoice that "God is able"! The Greek word for "able" is dunatŏs (doo-nat-os’), which means "powerful or capable." What is God capable of doing (at least in this one context)? "God is able to make all grace abound to you."
     The Greek word for "grace" is charis (khar'-ece), which means "the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life:--benefit, favour, gift." The Greek word for "abound" is
pĕrissĕuō (per-is-syoo’-o), which means "to superabound (in quantity or quality), be in excess, be superfluous; to cause to superabound or excel:--make, have, be more, enough and to spare."
     If you are a giver, you will benefit by God's divine favor on your life. It's not that you "earn" that by giving, but it is how God responds. All the favor, benefits, and gifts of God are available to the giver. Even though we give, it's all still unmerited favor.
     While God blesses us in many ways, physically and spiritually, it is clear (by the context) that God blesses givers in a material way. God gives, so we can give more. We are blessed to be a blessing.

II Corinthians 8:2-5 [NIRV]
"In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord's people. And they went beyond our expectations; having given themselves first of all to the Lord, they gave themselves by the will of God also to us."

What this has to do with weight loss: I don't know about you, but when I'm in a trial, especially a weight-loss journey trial, I become very introspective and can isolate myself. It's as if I think that if I focus on the trial or problem, I'll be able to climb my way out or come up with the answer. That seldom works. If I focus on others, however, looking for ways I can bless someone else, even when I think I have very little to give, I am able to experience relief in my trial. If you are smack dab in the middle of a trial, look to God and then look for ways to bless others. God will honor that, and He will bless and help you.

Confession:
I am a giver. I am blessed to be a blessing.

Blessings,
Mary

amen to that,, in this time of econamiacal troubles we seem to forget that . i know for myself that i do need to give more and that the Lord will always supply by needs.  thanks for reminded us of that . God bless

Thanks for reading and replying. Remember, God's grace is sufficient for whatever comes your way, and all His promises are "yes and amen in Christ."
(((Blessings))),
Mary