LIVING THE GOD-GIVEN LIFE AS Citizens in God’s Homeland and Children in God’s Family

WHY SHOULD YOU READ THIS ARTICLE?

The Bible begins with God breathing LIFE into the first humans.  God’s speaking brings The rest of creation into existence, but for people, he gave his intimate breath, which is more deeply alive than the rest of creation.  Humans are granted a Holy Spirit-breathed eternal life in God’s image.

When Jesus came, He stated His mission as defeating Satan, who seeks to kill, steal, and destroy and to supply a life more abundant than any life offered. ARE YOU IN THIRSTY TO DRINK IN THE JESUS LIFE IN 2025? I am sharing what I am learning so we can experience what Jesus offers.

Displaying God’s life draws attention to Him like beautiful music honors the composer.

What is this article all about?

 In other words, this article is about positioning our hearts in humility before God and others.

Humility allows us to receive life and give it away to others. This article makes these two actions practical and a constant way of life.

In other places, I have written about God-created rhythms critical to living out our design. If we want to run our lives as well as possible, we must follow the directions! In the creation poems found in Genesis 1 and 2, one rhythm is a constant daily rhythm of receiving and giving. The second rhythm is a weekly rhythm of six days to produce and one day to restore.

These two rhythms shape how we breathe, sleep, eat, exercise, learn, work and include other aspects of life—physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual. Get in rhythm and experience a good life.

1. RECEIVING IS INCREASED BY LIVING EXPECTANTLY WITH ANTICIPATION.

• Be childlike and see around every corner your path covered with gifts to unwrap that were delivered just for you. 
• Pray with expectancy
• Anticipate receiving gifts from a good Father who loves to see you smile and dance when you receive a blessing from Him.
• Walking in trusting His heart for you is best, even when the gift includes painful thorns.
• Live in the hope that endurance and strength come with the gifts that challenge and stretch.
• God includes something of Himself in many of the gifts He offers us. The presence of a close companion who never abandons warms us and wraps us in His hugs.

Sometimes, the gifts we request or expect don’t arrive on time. Delayed gifts are still good, though; they may be given to others to unwrap instead of the one who asks.

I was named after my Granddaddy Riley.  One day, as we walked among his roses, he told me he was praying for me and that he knew I would be a preacher.  Inside, I laughed.  It would be a year later before I came to know Jesus, and then later in that same year, another heart attack took him home.  It was another year later before Grandaddy’s prayer was answered in my life, and I knew God was assigning me to teach God’s Word. I then remembered the conversation with my Grandaddy.

Isn’t it almost as much fun as getting a gift for yourself to prepare a gift for others?  We can delight that God promises that His children’s prayers coming under the authority of Jesus may be answered even after we die.

Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.  Romans 15:4 NLT

“But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning, I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress.”  Psalms 59:16 NLT

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT

“Listen to my voice in the morning. Lord, Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly”. PS 5:3

2. GIVING IS WHEN WE MOST LOOK LIKE OUR GOD.

Giving is as rich a part of life as receiving.  Raising children is sacrificial giving.  Don’t their needs change as they mature, yet they never outgrow their need to receive from their parents?

My son collects vinyl LPs, and in recent years, for his Christmas and birthday, I shop in used record shops for albums to add to his shelf below his turntable. I often have difficulty waiting for the correct time to give him a gift. I want to see his face when he opens the package, and giving him a gift delights my heart. My son’s delight is a reward to me.  

When Jesus was hanging on the cross, he looked out over the people who had made Him the enemy to destroy, the threat to exterminate. Yet Jesus never had an enemy. He loved those who declared him unworthy of life and prayed for their forgiveness. Giving is not just for those who are easy to bless; it is for all God allows to come under my influence. 

In every encounter, email, and phone call, a good question is, “What gift can I give this person today?”

“See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.”  1 Thess 5:15 NLT

“May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus.” Romans 15:5 NLT

“Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.”  2 Cor 9:6

Acts of giving are a double blessing.  Both the receiver and the giver are blessed.

3. DECIDE YOUR NEXT STEPS TO BE A RECEIVER OF LIFE AND A GIVER OF THE LIFE.  
   1. How will I intentionally RECEIVE LIFE – daily, from God and through the Bible and others?

2. How can I ACTIVATE A COMPASSIONATE HEART?  In the passage below, look for how Jesus experienced and trained His companions to pause as they move through their day to let God’s Spirit stir and motivate them from compassion. 

”Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. [36] When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. [37] He told his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. [38] So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” Matthew 9:35-38 NLT

3. How will I give with a GENEROUS OPEN-HANDED spirit with all God has entrusted me?

I encourage you to set aside thirty minutes every few months or so to reflect on these five questions:

1. What are you thankful for? (Identify at least 10 things)

Action Step: Write or say a prayer of thanksgiving.

“Lord, I want to thank you for…”

2. Who has blessed, served, or encouraged you?

Action Step: Express thanks/encouragement through a note, call, flowers, etc.

3. What’s been hard, disappointing, or a struggle?

Action Step: Share your grief with God by writing or praying.

“Lord, these are some things that have been hard so far this year…”

4. What needs to change for the second half of the year?

Action Step: Identify key priorities, essential rhythms, supports, and/or mindsets that will make a difference.

5. What or whom do you need to entrust to the Lord?

Action Step: This prayer of response can be helpful—

“God, I can’t carry ________________. Instead, I choose to entrust ________________ to you and your good care.”