July 7, 2023 - James 1:17a

“Every gift God freely gives us is good and perfect, streaming down from the Father of lights...” James 1:17aTPT

Lord, we thank you so much for all the gifts that you give to us. We are so blessed by you. You gave us life, freedom, family, friends, a place to live, food to eat, money, value, purpose, etc. We could go on and on with the many blessings you have placed in our lives. We live very blessed and full lives. We are so grateful for your blessings and gifts.

Lord, as much as we appreciate these gifts, we ask for you to always help us hold them in open hands. Never let us look at them as a right to be clung to. We want to be willing to lay down whatever you ask of us. I think sometimes you give us things, so we have something to give back to you. If you want it, it is yours.

Let us always see our rights as something to be laid at your feet in surrender. If you want our things, they’re yours. If you want our money, it is yours. If you want us to leave the familiar to walk into the unknown, we will go. Never let us put more value on our time, preferences, comforts, desires, etc. than we do on you.

In Job 1:21, Job said, “The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!” Even when almost everything was taken from him, he still praised you. If you take it all away or ask us to surrender it, let us still run towards you with all we are. You gave up so much for us, Jesus. How can we say anything other than, “yes” to whatever you ask of us? Let there never be anything that we feel is too great of a cost. There is no “right” that is too big, even our life. It is all yours.

In Jesus name, amen.