MFM MOUNTAIN TOP LIFE DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR SEPTEMBER 29, 2022 (THE DISCIPLINE OF GIVING)

TOPIC: THE DISCIPLINE OF GIVING

Fire Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:1-15

Memory Verse
2 Corinthians 8:5 “And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.”

Motivational Quote
God loves a cheerful giver.

Prophetic Word
Your offerings shall be blessed and acceptable unto the Lord, in the name of Jesus.

OUTLINES

We must understand that God’s grace in our lives demands discipline. This is why the great Apostle Paul says, “Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.” Before you can have any outward discipline of giving, there must be an understanding of giving. To begin with, the act of giving should be accompanied by offering oneself to the Lord, just like the Macedonians who first gave themselves to the Lord (2 Corinthians 8:5).

First, you must bear in mind that giving is act of worship, a faith and obedience. Similarly, giving will bring you blessings (Luke 6:38). Correspondingly, Paul said, “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6). These blessings are not only spiritual but also, physical.

Secondly, you must keep in mind that giving which pleases God should be generous and sacrificial. As we have seen, the Macedonians gave out of their deep poverty. We can also profitably reflect on what Jesus said about the poor widow, who humbly gave all she had: “Verily I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury” (Mark 12:43).

Thirdly, you must understand that what you give is between you and God. Giving should never be decided casually or flippantly, but through serious prayer, asking God what He wants you to give. With a firm conviction on giving, you will be ready to give all the time. Apostle Paul knew that regular and systematic giving would help the people to meet their regular obligations and mostly, emergencies (1 Corinthians 16:2).

When we discipline ourselves to give regularly, we engage the spirit of giving and it becomes an act of joy (2 Corinthians 9:7).

PRAYER POINTS 
MORNING
1. Thank You, Lord, for giving me the spirit of giving, in the name of Jesus.
2. All my blessings trapped in the cauldron of my father’s house, come out and locate me, in the name of Jesus.
3. O God, arise and bless me, in the name of Jesus.

EVENING
4. O Lord, enlighten my spirit to understand the discipline of giving, in the name of Jesus.
5. Holy Spirit, please help me never to see giving as a burden, in the name of Jesus.
6. Father, teach me to please You with my giving, in the name of Jesus.
7. I will not give myself and my resources to the devil. Rather I will give myself and resources to the Lord, in the name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Matthew 3; Mark 1; Luke 3

MFM Devotional for 29 September 2022 Thursday | The Discipline of Giving