In light of the day’s reading, pause to reflect on the specific areas you long to see made new and how Jesus’s ministry calls us to join in that restoration. Let these shape your prayers today.
Jesus meets the needs of those who are hungry, sick, imprisoned, and far from the community. Jesus equips His followers with the love and strength to care for one another. So we obey Him by looking at our lives as an overflow of Christ’s goodness to share with others. We do not withhold compassion from those who are struggling now, working toward the promised end when God clothes His people in beauty and splendor and provides everything we need.
After you’ve read, spend some time in prayer, asking God to show you any areas He has equipped you to love and care for your community today. Comment/share with the community anything that stood out to you or encouraged you from the reading or your time in prayer.
Leave a Reply
53 thoughts on "A Ministry of Abundance"
He gives to us abundantly so that we may share abundantly – as the commentary says we are to be an overflow of His love!
Thank you God, you are always there for me
Wow. This passage is so good.
As followers of Christ, we must help our brothers and sister in Christ and nurture them with God’s word and love.
We must show compassion to the lost and broken.
We must show care and nurture to those sick and struggling.
We must strengthen those imprisoned and lost.
The world is so full of judgment but we have no right to judge. For we are all broken saved by Jesus sacrifice on the cross for all of our sins.
We are just trying to make it through this world like everyone else. We must use our equipment of faith and love to help the helpless.
As a follower of Jesus, I am deeply moved by His compassionate response to those in need – the hungry, sick, imprisoned, and marginalized. He not only meets their needs but also equips us, His followers, with the love and strength to care for one another.
I recognize that my life is meant to reflect the overflow of Christ’s goodness, which I am called to share with others. I understand that obedience to Him means extending compassion without reservation to those who are struggling now.
I am committed to working toward the promised end when God clothes His people in beauty and splendor, providing everything we need. In doing so, I aim to embody the love and kindness of Christ and fulfill His commandments with humility and grace.
I love this thought, of living our lives as the overflow of God’s goodness. No scarcity, only abundance. There is plenty of love to go around.
So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, it is dead.
Recently, an extended family member, with whom I spent very little time in my younger years, and really am only connected with because of FB, sent a message saying she was broke and to keep this between us. She didn’t want her step daughters (all adults in their 50’s!) to know of her troubles. Too many bills and not enough cash to pay. She asked if I would pray, which I immediately said I would. We are not necessarily in a position to be offering financial assistance as we are approaching retirement soon. After today’s readings, I wonder. Am I called to do more than pray?
We have a family member in prison and today’s reading got me. The thought entered my mind about doing something for her because visiting her isn’t an option. The reading today is prompted me to put the plan into action.
MERCY + thank you for sharing your beautiful story. I’m so impressed with your journey of self learning and transformation. You bring so much care and empathy to our SRT community.
I go through periods where I give financially or I give my time. I need to do more of both! The need dearest to my heart is rescuing dogs and cats that have been abandoned or abused. I also volunteer at church in many ways and I’m seen as someone to go to for help. But my heart is truly for lost and broken animals. I continue to work at helping people , Christians and nonbelievers. I hope God sees my heart to serve and doesn’t hold it against me that my biggest joy is finding homes for mama’s of litters and puppies and kittens needing good homes. My pups bring me so much joy and I feel that God understands my little ministry. ❤️
I would like to ask for prayer for friends who recently lost their daughter to a bad infection. They have moved to another state, so I can’t stop by and express my condolences or take them a meal.
You SRT sisters are a blessing in my life! Praying for you all.
❤️
I try to help when I can but not always able to so I hope the lord sees that I try.
I have a background in psychology, and I am a compassionate and empathetic person. I believe God has equipped me to meet the emotional and mental needs of those around me. I pray that he would give me opportunities to do that. ❤️
❣️Thank you Friend!
So many of your stories have provoked me to share about my self-development when in Christ. In order to serve, I realized I needed to improve my communication skills. I love this phrase that Donna said, “live in their little world”. We need to enlarge our world, let go of the “dignity” to get our hands dirty. My husband is really good at talking to strangers and gets them to open up and share their struggles. It usually takes a while for someone to open up to me. I usually questioned why that is. He told me he found me intimidating lol, type A personality, and I am thinking to myself, dang, that gotta go. That strong type A impression gotta go. Sometimes we don’t perceive ourselves well, but the world is our mirror. And that really encourages me to improve how I approach people and how I need to carry myself. I have been tuning in to podcasts on how to listen actively, how to understand what the other person is really saying, to have empathy, to show interest by probing more questions, and digging deeper. I was a very shy person, quiet and reserved. Then I listened to a series of teachings on corporate communication for workplaces, especially how to communicate effectively to bring people together, how to bring gentle correction and not offence (there’s a book about that which I am gonna read). I was surprised to know from the podcast that the marketplace will always pay more for those with communication skills to bring people together, since that’s leadership skill. That was really eye opening. I saw improvement in myself that my colleagues came and opened up to me about underlying conflicts, workplace anxiety, and I found myself counselling them back to calmness, peace. It happened without me realizing it. I was so happy with this little progress. So yes, in order to help people and our community, I need to equip myself with better skill sets, and humility is the garment to put on. Even in the role of a wife, and a mother, learning to be humble (day in day out), choosing to be kind instead of being right, learning to build up a man, while seeing the inner boy with so many childhood wounds, wounds of abandonment, rejection, mental abuse, label of feeling less than, and not stepping on him, it’s a whole level of learning and soul searching. Then to keeping a house clean, efficiently organized, budgeting, balancing finances and future savings, is another skillset that I am learning to serve our family towards victory. So serving others has embarked me on this new journey of so many many other new learnings, most importantly to develop Christ-like character, to exit my little world. And to pray for you all, to learn about you all and your struggles, that has equipped me in immense ways. I have become more compassionate, and I am excited to stretch my world “beyond the pond” (as Tina usually says). I am so enriched with our unconventional relationships, finding myself thinking about you in random moments of my day, crying and sobbing over your pain, bringing your burden to God and proclaiming God’s words over you. Those are the precious and wonderful gifts that God has given me. To love is to serve with a genuine heart. And as much as I am willing to learn, the Lord is leading me to see there’s so much more to learn lol. I thank God for you who are my daily teachers through your beautiful reflections and transparency! I love you all so much. Be blessed my dear dear sisters.
Thank you for your message.
Like so many of you I have no problem giving money to those in need, my struggle is giving my time. During the time that I had a job I held my “down time” very dearly. Now that I’ve been retired for 3 years I don’t seem to have changed my mindset a whole lot. God has been convicting me lately about volunteering at a seniors Care Home. I worked in the Home Care program for over 25 years and have a real heart for those in their senior years. I’m not quite sure what’s holding me back, I keep putting off going in and filling an application. I pray that in the coming months I will put hands and feet to the call.
What stood out to me is to remember to have compassion for those who are suffering. Not only those who we can see but those who we cannot see. Our world is huge! We have to think of people outside of us who may be going through terrible things.
@Taylor – I agree what great encouragement. I often times feel hard and bitter with my job as healthcare can be draining but remembering others needs in a time of difficulty is important to me. @SEARCHING – I agree I often times can use more then one day for each scripture. Praying for you all today! I’m getting ready to go on a trip tomorrow with the guy I’ve been seeing and his family for the weekend! While I feel so guilty asking for prayers as I am very excited and feel so grateful I am also extremely anxious and hoping that goes away and I can just have fun. I know so many long got a relationship and I am so grateful for him but I am extremely nervous as I’ve never done this before. Praying it goes well. Happy Wednesday ladies.
I’ve mentioned before, that I feel the Lord has given me the gift of service. Sometimes it isn’t easy to say yes, to what He is asking me to do or why. My response should always be yes and I hope your there when I need clarity. Some struggle with the hands on help with those who are homeless. There are the questions or accusations of why don’t you get a job, why are you living on the streets, use a shelter. Stop the drugs and alcohol. When I see a panhandler, my response should be (it isn’t always) can I give, and not to prejudge how that money might be used. I know a pastor (I’ve mentioned before), she holds a service in the park every Saturday no matter the weather conditions. Those who attend our homeless and marginalized and many are in their own little world. Some come to hear the word and others just to get the meal that is provided every week by a restaurant or church. I have to admit when the food comes out, the number of attendees goes up. She has created this space to be judgement free, who knows who hears what she shares, but one thing that all receive is the love of those who volunteer to serve on those days. One of my days attending, I had a young man sitting next to me constantly mumbling he wasn’t loved no one cared. For some who came with me, they found him annoying and disrupting. I chose to engage as quietly as possible because the service was going on. He told me he was an addict and homeless, had a disfunctional family life. He kept saying God didn’t care about him or love him, nobody did. I just touched his arm and told him I did, he argued, I insisted, he wept. Then he smiled and thanked me for seeing him. His whole demeanor changed and he told me he had gone to church when he was younger and I told him, it was time to return. Will he? Only time and God will know, but that young man touched my life too. Sometimes we really need to step out of our comfort boxes when doing what the Lord asks. Prayers for needs and may we each look for someone to reach out to today. As the Community Service Director of my Rotary Club, I’m always looking for service projects that aren’t just about giving money, that easy, it’s about getting your “hands dirty” in your serving.
Donna – you made such a difference in the life of the man at the park service. I’m sure it moved him deeply that you reached out to touch him on the arm, and to truly listen and hear his story. I had a patient in the hospital once who told me he was homeless and shared about the difficulties and dangers of living on the street. When I got ready to leave his room, and asked if there was anything else I could do for him, he asked, “Could you give me a hug?” I think that hug was as profound for me as it was for him. To realize the vulnerability it took for him to ask for something he was sorely missing … human touch, and to know I could be the arms of Jesus by embracing him. I pray God continues to use you in this ministry to touch the “least of these.”
@Kathy what a beautiful prayer- I’m praying this over my own life today. @Jane Butler I am going to try to make “share His love today with someone” a part of my daily rhythms. Thanks for the idea! Where has God equipped me to love and care for my community? As a stay at home mom all I can think of is my kids- their school, their friends, their teachers- Lord help me to be a light for my children; help me to show Your love in and around their school (a place the world is trying to have you removed). Amen
Faith changes the way we live.
Lord, please change the way I live my life because of my faith.
Sorry for the typos in my previous comments today and recently! My Kindle has been acting weird for a week or so and won’t let me scroll to proofread/correct. Embarrassing!
CATHERINE MCVEY and GAYLE CRAIK – Praying you are recovering and back on track with your treatment plans! ❤
I live these Scriptures and the guidance they give us and the examples Jesus gave us.
I had a wonderful conversation with a Christian lady recently who is presently not connected to a church. She told me how she and her husband, a former pastor, are reaching out in our community. I read these verses last night and one particular ministry she mentioned expanded in my mind. Providing food for kids during the summer. My son is ast. principal at an elementary school so I am full aware of that need, but never thought of participating beyond the Federal programs. I have always leaned toward the suggestion to look for places God I’d working in your community and join in that work. I am prayerfully considering asking her about joining them. Also, our church has recently taken on a few ministries and it has been a blessing to be involved there.
TAYLOR – I love that! “See a need; meet a need.”
MERCY,GWINETH52, SEARCHING,TINA,TERESA DONLEY ADRIENNE, and others praying for sleep issues – thanks so much! I had a great 7 hours last night, only waking up one time and quickly back to sleep. What a difference!
TINA, SEARCHING, KELLY NEO, and others who list the prayer requests – thanks so much! I don’t use the app so I would miss so many! That’s why I usually do a blanket prayer for ALL SHES knowing God knows, but I love praying by name! Joining in your beautiful prayers for those listed. Hugs to y’all! ❤
RHONDA J – your comment was so good! ❤
SEARCHING – Great pondering! Thank you for sharing! ❤
ADRIENNE – I smelled skunk yesterday on my walk – made me stop and look around! Praying your headache lets up soon! My son gave me an eye mask for Christmas (lavender scented – and it helps! I will put more in a message on the FB page. ❤
Love, hugs, and prayers to ALL SHES!
This reminded me of my mom. She would always invite someone to dinner who might be down on their luck(this is what she called it.). She would always say ,”We can put another tater in the pot!” I pray I can be just like her! I’ve also heard ,”We need to put feet to our prayers.” Just praying for someone isn’t always enough. Lord help me to be Your hands and feet today and everyday! We are here on purpose for a purpose!
Mia, praying for your granddaughter!
@Danielle B- Lehua K (she pops on here occasionally) sent me the verse of the day and I found it fitting with our study, as well! ❤️
^ It reminds me of Genesis 15:1, where the Lord tells Abraham that He is his “exceedingly great reward” – I am trying to keep that in mind. The work we do is for Christ, He is the reward. “He rewards those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6
Let us work unto the Lord…
@Traci G- praying that Linda’s heart softens and is able to receive the Lord in fullness. ❤️
@Kimberly Z – ❤️
I love our little kindergartners! How can you not? They’re SO cute! And I love them all 99.9% of the time! I thought most loved being around them, but found out quickly that some are not equipped to be around little ones and that’s OK because we are all wonderfully and fearfully made and can be used by God where HE has called us.
So we obey Him by looking at our lives as an overflow of Christ’s goodness to share with others.
It’s easy to share with the agreeable. It is the difficult that I struggle with. I need to learn patience with them. To ask questions like, “how did you come to that conclusion?” or “how can we come to a common ground?”
Helping people in need is not hard, but what is hard is when they are abusing the system. How do you handle that? Does God want us to turn our heads and help anyway?
Last night I was at a board meeting dinner with my husband. I was sitting next to a wife that has never attended these dinners before. Her son overdosed several years ago. She is a mess. She is theologically smart, but I don’t think she really knows Jesus. Her name is Linda. Can I ask for prayers that she will find comfort in Jesus. She is in a Bible study, but by what she said she’s not there yet.
Wow, these scriptures are convicting. I am so bent toward living in my own little space, not wanting to get dirty with other people’s messes, not wanting to get involved with other people because it may require something of me that I don’t want to give. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I give money to different organizations that help people; I support a recovery home in my town, I support a little girl over seas, I give to different causes. But it’s easy to write a check and not get involved in the mess of people’s lives. Father, I need to have Your heart toward people, I need to have my heart changed so that I do the work You have called me to do.
❤
Praying to be His hands and feet. I long for others to see His light in me. There are times when words cannot be spoken (times, space, etc.), so actions speak for us. Praying mine speak volumes.
Thank your prayers for our granddaughter (mental illness) and our family. Pray for her salvation and that God will fill her with His light, thereby ridding her of the darkness that has her so tightly bound.
GM
Beautiful scriptures this morning and all week. I feel like they are the ones we most learn as Christians, yet all struggle with and we don’t see the church living them out. I am guilty. But the Lord has really been working on me, my desire to serve, but not just as works, but the joy I have giving and receiving, in turn bringing me closer to Jesus! Lately, I feel God is nudging me to help those that have sudden health issues that leave the family in need. Those without church families could really use a neighborly hand. I like to help people…as long as it suits me, lol. I would rather hand someone money, or supply what they need, rather than having to actually give up My time or be put out of MY routine. I am still about myself rather than my Father’s business. But God..he continues to love me and work on me!
Arienne, hope your headache goes away! My head really hurt last week when I was sick.
These study days covering different aspects of ministry – I could use more than one day for each as there is so much packed into the Scriptures for each topic.
A ministry of abundance – identifying needs and showing kindness, compassion and generosity. Can I show these to people that are different than me while standing firm in my faith? Or that I think are different or that I don’t agree with? Does it or should it matter if they are different? Are they different or am I? Can I stand firm in my faith without being judgmental, or being perceived as judgmental, overbearing or superior? And without getting drawn into things that aren’t of God? It’s complicated for sure. Praying for the wisdom and guidance needed each day.
TAYLOR – good encouragement with see and meet, thank you.
K C – I have seen the ungratefulness you shared and confirm that for me, it does lead to feeling less generous. I look for other avenues to be generous that in some ways shield me from the in-your-face ungratefulness. Praying for you in your daily work.
TERESA DONLEY, CEE GEE, GWINETH52 and others – praying for peaceful sleep each night <3
TINA – love your breakdown on 1 Corinthians 13 <3
KRIS – thank you for lots of food for thought yesterday
DONNA WOLCOTT – I did chuckle, thanks!
CINDY HANNA – thank you for sharing the "moment of growth" :)
RACHEL – praise the Lord for the amazing recovery of your friend's daughter
PRAYING FOR:
EMMA RAGETH – marriage and infertility
ROXANNE RICHARDSON – your brother's salvation and family conflict
MIA FAITH – your granddaughter, healing of the mental illness, the love and light of Christ in her life
TRACI GENDRON – the relationship with your stepdaughter, for a fresh start this weekend.
SHARON JERSEY GIRL – full time employment for Arian, praise the Lord for the lease she was able to get!
ADRIENNE – relief from your headache, and that skunk issues resolve on their own.
DEANNA RASCH… amen!
TERESA DONLEY… on it, sister!
ADRIANNE… are you in the FB group? I want to see the sister that has a closeness to my name… Do you pronounce your name AdriANNE or AdriENNE (like me)? Where do you live? I didn’t grow up sharing my name with others, but there are about five in my local community. I am Adrienne Noles Kimball on Facebook Messenger if you are so inclined to send me a message.
My dog was outside barking early this morning, and now I smell skunk. Ugh!
And I woke up with a headache. (I did yesterday too, and I went to bed with rhat same headache! Something in my neck is messed up.) Prayers, please?
But I digress…
The passage from Matthew makes me think of all the poor, misguided people that think doing good to others will get them to heaven. There are so many others that need to be shown how to have faith AND works. (Like DEANNA RASCH said…. I struggle sometimes!) Let’s show others both, sweet She’s!
Ask and you shall receive was all I could think of after reading today’s scripture.
I remember at my Christian high school we had a speaker whose message was “See a need, meet a need.” It encouraged us to have open eyes to see the needs of those around us, and willing hearts to meet those needs. I pray I would have eyes to see the needs around me and the willing hands to meet those needs in whatever way I can. I hope everyone has a blessed day <3
This passage is so challenging. I work with folks who are in great need but the nature of my job is not such that I can truly help them. In many ways, I am asked to push them into avenues that they will not benefit from. I also struggle because this population, when they do receive help, particularly financially, are angry that there is not more. It is very challenging to me to see the brokenness in society on a daily basis and the ungratefulness that accompanies it. That is not my problem to fix and that is between those individuals and God, but I do feel it does lead people to want to be less generous. It is such a conundrum and I often wonder if this is how people reacted during biblical times. Has it always been this bad? How do we help people who are truly in need but also demanding, rather than humble?
I really appreciate your thoughtful struggle with questions that do not have simple applications! It’s true: anytime I ask dive into the world where people are living in their “messes,” I find myself struggling. Erwerb the tension of frustration (maybe even anger)
Lord, whatever You would have me to do, in whatever capacity, I pray that I would do that. Give me a heart after Yours…I want to love like You do!
I need to do more for my community. God give me the means, energy and courage to do more. My love and desire is to be your follower.
Community – since the Covid lockdown I have avoided church. I pray that I will find comfort there again.
Father open my eyes to those I am missing to serve. In Jesus name, Amen
Abundance comes from paying attention and giving our best. God will multiple our little acts of service to bring about great provision. Praying for each of us to have the courage to offer when God puts a need before us.
The theme of caring for others and being the hands and feet continue. Today’s verse of the day on another devotional app I use was Hebrew’s 6:10. For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. Doing it to honor and show His love makes caring for others feel different. It’s out of love, honor and devotion to the one who deserves it all rather a pressure of feeling like a have to. I do also appreciate the reminder @Kathy that God supplies what we need to show His love others.
I love that quote, how relevant that is! These are all things need to work on too !
Do I have faith? Yes! Do my works always reflect that faith? Nope. Not even close. Praying that my works align well with my faith.
KATHY – amen and amen
What I tend to forget about living a life that reflects Jesus to the world around me is that it is not in my power to do it. As Peter tells us, “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence” 2 Peter 1:3.
Praying for your requests.
RACHEL – thankful for the good report of God’s kindness to your friend’s daughter.
Father God, thank you for the abundant resources You have given me. Help me to hold them loosely. Give me a heart for the last, the least, and the lost. Amen
❤️
EMMA RAGETH.. praying alongside you on this journey. Prayerful you will stay the course, hold fast to God. Hold His hand. Stay close to Him. He is near and with you..❤
ROXANNE RICHARDSON.. A brother is a brother. Praying your heart is changed and resolved in loving, and having patience with your brother. What would Jesus do? Be the light for him, it may take time… BUT GOD..❤
CEE GEE..❤
ADRIENNE.. Love CAN lend so many hearts! I love it!❤
KRIS.. Indeed, what do I look like ? Prayerful I reflect God in the way I love others.❤
DONNA WOLCOTT.. WOW! Nearly 50 years! I’m still hopeful to have 50 days! LOL. Beautiful. May God continue to be the third cord, to make your core of 3 strands.. Every blessing covered in love.❤
MERCY.. GOD is live. Amen!❤
MIA FAUTH.. Praying, dear sister. Praying.❤
GWINETH52.. Prayerful you have slept well!❤
TRACI GENDRON..Letting go is easier said than done.. These things, in our economy take time.. It will be well.❤
FOSTER MAMA..HELLO! Praying with you for your goddaughter and her Mama. For the peace of God that surpasses ALL understanding to fall in them and fill them with a hope that brings new insight.❤
VICTORIA E. Praying your heart is knowing peace and in that peace you are finding God in a real and tangible way.. The Footprints poem came to mind, specifically, the last part.. “When you have seen only one set of footprints, My (child) VICTORIA, it is then, that I carried you.. He carries you, lean into Him.❤
KIMBERLEY Z. Hopeful your dad is well.❤
MICHELLE PATIRE. How awesome is it that one day, we will know His heart fully.( Hugging my heart) .❤
RACHEL. what wonderful news, we your friends daughter..praising with you! God is good, so so so good.❤
RHONDA J.Hugs and love, singing their way across the pond..❤
SHARON JERSEY GIRL..Praising with you.. Thank you God for your favour over SHARON s sister..❤
SEARCHING..❤
GRAMSIESUE, continued prayers wrapped in love and hugs.❤
CATHERINE MCVEY. Praying you recover swiftly from the covid, so your stem cell treatment can begin. God be with you.❤
KELLY NEO..” In my brokenness , selfless lifestyle never happen! What truth! Amen!❤
SARAH D.. Praying for your heart, desires hopes and dreams. Prayerful you know peace of heart to be able to see what is in front of you, Jesus, Hope, Love..!
It is well.❤
KRISTINE LOUGHMAN. You SHINE BRIGHT! ❤
ERIN K. Mother Theresa, said once, .. “One person at a time..” We cannot do it all , for sure, and absolutely not in our strength.. BUT GOD..❤
JENNIFER ANAPOL. Our hearts can only be healed THROUGH Jesus. Beautiful TRUTH.❤
ANNIE.. adding your dad to my prayers, praying for his medication, and healing. Also, holding you in prayer for you daughter heart to know peace and to continue to trust God.. He is near.❤
Praying for all, covering you in love and hugs from across the pond.❤
I love hearing if we care for the sick, needy, hungry, thirsty, strangers and prisoners, we are caring for Jesus. What a wonderful privilege to serve anyone in the name of Jesus, knowing that as I do, I do it for Jesus. May I be aware of this daily, and be open to seeing those to whom I can minister.
I seem to be having a terrible time sleeping. Kind of like a baby with its days and nights mixed up, I find myself staying up all night and sleeping half the day. Then I get mad at myself that I only have half a day to do several things I want to get done. Please keep me in prayer, that I’ll be able to sleep at night and wake at a normal time in the morning. I’m also praying for my SRT sisters who have recently shared their struggles with insomnia. I pray for each request as I read them every day.