What do you do when you find out that the thing you desire to do has been assigned to another? It can cause feelings of anger and resentment. At times, people blame the individual selected; this can result in anger and rage. How would that make you feel? David had that experience in his life. “When King David was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all the surrounding enemies, the king summoned Nathan the prophet. “Look,” David said, “I am living in a beautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of God is out there in a tent!” (2 Samuel 7:1 NLT) Nathan told him to go ahead with his plan but that night, God told Nathan that the project would be accomplished by David’s son, Solomon. In response, David prayed a prayer of thanks.
David continued to gather the supplies to build the temple, then he challenged the people, and they gave like David without restraint. 1 Chronicles 29:13 says, “Now therefore, our God, We thank You And praise Your glorious name.” So, David gave thanks. The word thank here comes from the Hebrew word Yadah. Yadah is a Hebrew word for extending the hands in thanksgiving and praise. He didn’t thank God for the blessings in his life; he thanked God for the opportunity to give because David recognized that everything he possessed came from God. Sometimes we say that with our mouths, but our hearts say something else.
This was David leading at the twilight of his reign. Despite all his earthly possessions, he recognized that it meant nothing without God. I pray that we make giving thanks to God a lifestyle; let us extend our hands and lift our voices in praise because all we have comes from God. When our giving is an opportunity to praise God then we become less concerned about how people respond. If they appreciate our giving, bless the Lord. If they don’t, bless the Lord because we didn’t give it to them, we are giving to God. Sometimes, we may find it difficult to live in the current lifestyle of ingratitude; however, if we direct our gifts to God first, we will find joy in giving even during ingratitude.
Thought for Today: Friend, give with joy.
Have a blessed day and walk in faith and victory.
Victory Walk 