The Gift Exchange You Can’t Refuse

And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split.

Matthew 27:50-51 (NIV)

One commandment I have no problem keeping is the third component of Philippians 4:6. This verse instructs us to 

1. Not worry about anything

2. Pray about everything. 

3. Tell God what we need

4. Thank Him for all He has done

Personally, I do not find it difficult to be honest with God or tell Him what I need. I’d say it’s one of my strengths, though I should probably work on the other aspects of this verse as well. 

It is not uncommon for me to ask God to show me where He is or ask Him to give me a sign that He sees me and is working in my life. 

Still, it is not something I necessarily pray for daily since some days I can actually see Him clearly. 

Thus, when I cry out to Him in this way, it is usually because I am really needing some clarity and encouragement. 

This week was one of those weeks, and He delivered !!!I 

Most often, He answers this prayer of mine through people and conversations or through dropping a piece of Scripture on my heart. 

This particular week, after I prayed, God downloaded the phrase “and He gave up His spirit” onto my heart. 

I thought this was interesting, and it reminded me of some advice my mom had given me earlier this summer. 

In discussing a particular struggle, she told me that, although God had the power to take it from me, He wanted me to give it to Him. 

With time, I started to believe that this was actually an extremely kind gesture of God. 

I mean think about the difference between someone coming into your home and taking your belongings versus you putting together a gift for them. 

Which is more special? 

Definitely the latter. Even if both yield the same results, there is no doubt that GIVING someone something is so much more meaningful than an individual TAKING something from you. 

This is because you have a choice in the latter. It’s a different heart posture that involves intentionality and generosity instead of obligation. 

Matthew 27:50-51 tells us that even Jesus had to give up His spirit. 

He was not forced, but He instead willingly gave up His life as an atonement for our sins!

-----------

Later in the week, my sister and I caught up with one of our friends. During our time together,  she shared that she sometimes struggles with giving things to God and then not picking them back up again. 

As she described her experience, the Holy Spirit expounded on the verse that was dropped on my heart earlier in the week. 

It was one of those God-wink moments, as she was describing a struggle I knew all too well. 

Hearing her describe the struggle reminded me that I was not the only one who knew this pain- the pain of wanting to pick back up what you have already put down. 

I think many of us have come to Jesus and asked for grace from the same broken place more times than we’d like to admit. 

How, then, do we fight this struggle? 

I think the answer lies in continuing to remind ourselves of the Truth. 

We cannot forget what we’ve left with God. 

Because unfortunately, even if our external circumstances change, a negative mindset likes to stick around. 

When our anger isn’t leaving us, we must leave it. 

When our jealousy isn’t leaving us, we must leave it. 

When our pride isn’t leaving us, we must leave it.

When our eating disorder isn’t leaving us, we must leave it. 

When our shame isn’t leaving us, we must leave it. 

I believe this is part of our free will. God didn’t make us as robots. We have a choice in whether or not + to what extent we pursue Him and embrace the life He has given us. 

And perhaps even better than remembering what we’ve given to Him is remembering all that He’s given us. 

And what has He given us? 

A life full of free will, freedom, and marked by the hope of heaven. 

And the promise that, whether we like it or not, His goodness and faithfulness are bound to follow us all the days of our life. 

May this be the filter that we use when deciding what we keep and what we decide to give to God. 

Spoiler alert, He wants everything!! 

This week, wrap up your worries and gift them to God. 

If you're tempted to retrieve them, remind yourself of all that He’s given you. 

If it takes making a verse your lock screen, writing a reminder on your wrist, setting reminders on your phone, or placing sticky notes around your space, so be it. 

Because this is a gift exchange you can’t refuse. 

Thank you for spending July with me! 

Love, Bailee Chavez

Verses on What God Has Given Us

Titus 2:14 

Jesus gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

James 1:17

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

2 Timothy 1:7

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

James 1:5

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

Psalm 37:4

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

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.

listen to bailee read this blog post on our podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2qV9p5fuL61cj23OEB4tnS?si=m2xJq6XJQKmGYFJI9NW8EA