This morning I sat at my kitchen table with my sister’s in Christ for our Mom’s in Prayer group. Before we got started, my friend and I were commiserating over our to-do lists and the many things that need to get done before Christmas. I won’t deny feeling overwhelmed and stressed. As we directed our attention to our prayer sheet, we read the attribute of God that we were focusing on today, God is generous. The definition of generous is: one who bestows abundant blessings and provision; one who is liberal in giving. Our scripture reading time was next. Deuteronomy 2:7 The Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. Romans 8:32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

What has my stress and my overwhelm done? I’ll tell you. It has had me focused on me, myself, and I. God doesn’t bring stress, He brings peace. And as I have been trying to check everything off of my list, I have been trying to do it all in my own strength and in my own power, instead of resting on the one who provides for all of my needs. He is indeed a generous God. He has given me good gifts, the best gift in fact, His son, Jesus. Why? Because He loves me.

In fact God is so generous, that He used our prayer time this morning to remind me to focus on Him. He used that time and those scriptures, in the presence of those dear women to humble me before Him. Of course I want to be productive and of course I want to be all Christmas ready, but am I ready to receive Him and all He has for me? Because that is infinitely more important than my shopping list. God is generous indeed.