Gratitude: Where True Giving Begins
Have you ever found yourself wanting to give, but at the same time hesitating? Maybe you saw someone in need, and your heart ached for them—but then your mind whispered, “What if I don’t have enough left for myself?”
I know that feeling. And I believe we’ve all been there. Our natural instinct is to hold tightly, to keep what’s ours, to store it away “just in case.” But the Bible speaks a different truth.
“Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.”
— 2 Corinthians 9:10
What a reminder this is: generosity doesn’t start with us—it starts with God. He is the one who supplies. He is the one who gives the seed. And when we receive from Him, our hearts are filled with gratitude. And when gratitude fills us, it naturally overflows into generosity.
The heart of giving is really the heart of gratitude. And when that gratitude shows up in everyday life, it changes the way we see even the smallest moments.
When Gratitude Turns Into Action
Just the other day, I experienced this in a small but unforgettable way. My daughter Christine and I were at National Bookstore. She was enjoying a yogurt when I noticed three children nearby. They looked like they didn’t have much. One of them had bought a yogurt, but the other two just stood there watching quietly.
At that moment, something inside me stirred. I couldn’t ignore it. I went and bought yogurts for the other two children. When I handed it to them, the joy on their faces was priceless. It wasn’t a grand act—it was small, simple. But it was Spirit-led.
The very next morning, another opportunity came. A mother from my daughter’s class shared again about her son, who hadn’t been able to go to school because of an asthma attack. I could relate so much—Christine had gone through the same thing before. I reached out, just to ask how her son was. As we exchanged messages, I realized they were also struggling to buy medicine. Again, I felt the nudge. Again, I obeyed.
These two moments may look ordinary, but they revealed something deep to me: true generosity doesn’t come from us—it comes from God. Left to myself, I know I would hold back. I’d calculate, I’d reason, I’d hesitate. But when I remember what God has given me, gratitude fills me. And when gratitude fills me, it spills over into generosity.
And that leads to something even deeper—the reason behind why we can give in the first place.
Remembering Who Really Provides
Here’s the truth I’m learning: generosity isn’t about our capacity. It’s about God’s abundance. He is the source of everything—our income, our resources, our opportunities, even our very breath.
We are not owners. We are stewards. Everything we hold in our hands is only there because God placed it there first.
And this is where gratitude comes in. Gratitude reminds us that what we have isn’t really ours—it’s a gift. And when we see life that way, giving stops being a burden. It becomes a joy, a way of saying, “Lord, thank You. I trust You.”
But here’s the challenge: we still have a choice. God may supply the seed. The Spirit may nudge us to sow it. But if we close our fists, if we silence His whisper, then generosity ends before it even begins. Obedience is where gratitude finds its expression.
So how do we live this out daily—not just in big moments, but in the rhythm of ordinary life?
Learning to Give With a Grateful Heart
If we want to grow in generosity, it has to flow out of gratitude—not pressure, not guilt. Here are some practical ways to live with a Spirit-led heart of giving:
Tips for Spirit-Led Giving
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Begin with gratitude! Before you think of giving, pause and thank God for what He’s already given. Gratitude unlocks generosity.
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Pray before you give! Let God guide you. Ask Him, “Lord, who do You want me to bless today?”
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Start with the small things! You don’t need to give big to make an impact. Sometimes, the smallest acts of obedience bear the greatest fruit.
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Keep remembering the Source! Say to yourself often: “This came from God first.” It will help you release with joy.
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Give with faith, not fear! Don’t let worry keep you from obeying. The God who gave before will give again.
These practices may look simple, but they shape our hearts over time. Gratitude deepens, generosity grows, and giving becomes not just something we do, but something we are. And because giving is spiritual at its core, it makes sense to end with prayer.
A Prayer to Keep My Heart Open
“Lord, thank You for being the source of everything I have. Teach me to live with gratitude, so my giving flows from thankfulness, not fear. When You nudge me to give, help me to obey quickly, trusting that You will always supply. Let my heart overflow with generosity as a reflection of Your own heart. Amen.”
Prayer keeps us anchored in the truth: we don’t give because we’re naturally generous, we give because God is generous. And when we turn to Him, He not only fills our hands, He softens our hearts.
Will Gratitude Move You to Give?
Friend, the heart of giving begins with gratitude. When we remember how much we’ve received from God, giving becomes the natural overflow of our hearts. And here’s the promise: when we obey His nudge, He doesn’t just supply—He multiplies.
So let me ask you this, and I pray you’ll sit with it for a while:
When God fills your hand and nudges your heart, will gratitude move you to give—or will fear keep you from obeying?
