The Joy of Giving - Your Nightly Prayer - December 12th

The Joy of Giving
Your Nightly Prayer
By Angie Grant

TONIGHT'S SCRIPTURE

"And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”- Acts 20:35

SOMETHING TO PONDER

I've heard this verse all my life: "It is more blessed to give than to receive,”. Acts 20:35. As a child, I really saw it as a nice moral lesson, something that parents said to encourage good manners or to be generous and kind. But only as an adult have I truly come to understand the depth it holds and the truth it carries. 

As a child, "receiving" feels like the goal! You know, the prize! It is also tangible —it's a gift, attention, reward, and even affection. Giving, on the other hand, often feels like a sacrifice- almost like losing something. But over time, life has a way of changing the way we think about giving. Through relationships, hardships, parenting, ministry opportunities, and being there for others, we begin to see that giving isn't a loss at all; it's multiplication. 

Giving helps us to spread joy, purpose, and connection. It shifts our thinking from ourselves to those around us- something greater than ourselves. When we give, we reflect the heart of God. We illuminate his nature and his character. It's in moments of giving that we reflect his image most clearly this side of heaven. Receiving is necessary, and it teaches us humility and gratitude. 

But giving, especially when there is sacrifice involved — you know, the kind that costs you something — it transforms us. It stretches us in ways that align us with the way Jesus lived when he walked this earth —others-focused. What I've learned most in a life of giving is that the more we give, the more we discover how blessed we really are. The joy of our giving long outlasts the pleasure of receiving because it has eternity in mind. That kind of love never runs out. 

So now, when I hear those words, "It is better to give than to receive," they aren't just a lesson of the day —they're a lived truth. Giving has become not just kindness lived out, but becoming like the greatest giver who ever lived. 

YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER

Dear Jesus,
It truly is better to give than to receive. Everything I have been given has been because of you. Please help me never forget that. May my life reflect you, the greatest giver of all time. I want to walk in humility, sacrificial giving, and a life that pleases you. In Jesus' Name,
Amen

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE ON

1. Does my life reflect this verse?
2. Am I sacrificing things that cost me something in the life I lead?
3. What can I do this week to reach out to those around me?

Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.

Photo Credit: Unsplash/David Beale

Angie Grant is passionate about helping others become the best versions of themselves—whether in family life, ministry leadership, or in supporting schools and educators. She’s all in! Her greatest joys—besides Jesus and her husband, Stan—are the four who call her “Mom” (three biological and one through the gift of adoption). An even sweeter title? “Lolli” to her five grandkids.

Angie holds a degree in Child and Family Studies and currently serves on the staff at Cloverhill Church, where she and her husband have been leading for over 25 years. She is the Executive Director of Cloverhill Christian Academy, located in Midlothian, Virginia. Angie is a dedicated advocate for foster children and families, and also serves as a Trust-Based Relational Intervention Practitioner, offering support in her community and beyond. In addition to her roles in church and education, Angie contributes her insight and leadership as a board member for Families First and the Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Department of Social Services.

How does she do it all? With purpose and passion—as a coach in family life, ministry, and schools, Angie brings experience, empathy, and a heart for helping others thrive.

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