How Much More
“How much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask Him.”
Last week, I had a tense moment with God, and He brought me to today’s Gospel. I was praying about an upcoming trip - trying to decide if I should go or not, and I couldn’t shake a heavy feeling about going. I was pushing to “make it work,” and I wanted to “make it happen” - and my spirit could tell. Finally, I realized that God was asking me to give the gift back to Him.
I was offered a trip, and I immediately said yes without asking Him at all. And I knew I shouldn’t have. I knew I needed to give the trip to Him. So - I handed it over piecemeal until finally, with a bit of exasperation, I finally ceded the whole thing to Him. And it was only then that the Lord whispered, “Go!” with excitement and joy in His voice.
All is gift.
Sisters, I felt uneasy about my trip because I wasn’t treating my trip as a gift, but as a given. Too often, we take for granted the gifts that God is offering - thinking that they’re our right or our due. We treat the good things in our life like they’re a given, not a gift. But it’s all a gift.
Sisters, if I think I “deserve” all the good things that come my way or that I’ve earned them, I’ll either spend my life striving or I’ll walk around entitled. But if I own that every good gift comes from above (James 1:17), then I can receive the kindness of God every day. If I live in gratitude, trusting that my Father in Heaven has good gifts every single day, how much more will the Father give good things to those who ask?
Father,
Thank You. Thank You for it all. Thank You for every single gift You’ve ever given to us.
For all gifts we’ve already thanked You for - thank You. For all of the gifts we’ve never thanked You for - thank You. For all the gifts that we have yet to thank You for - thank You. For the obvious gifts - thank You. For all the gifts that don’t look like gifts - thank You.
Teach us how to be grateful. Teach us how to discern the gifts You give us. Teach us how to want You more than any gift we could receive.
God, we love You. Nothing compares to You, and we’re so grateful for You - for every gift and for all You’re doing and all You’ve done. Amen.