Life Plan Devotion #139 [Guidelines for Giving, 2 of 3]

II Corinthians 9:7 "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" (NIV).

Last time, we looked at the first of three guidelines for giving, as outlined in II Corinthians 9:7. The first guideline for godly giving is that the giver should prayerfully decide the amount to give and the place to give it.
Godly giving takes resolve, and that's the second guideline. If there is no decision, there will be no resolve. Giving is not a matter to be decided lightly or out of impulse. If you give because someone has "played on your emotions," like a telethon pledge, you may find that you regret it later, or, worse yet, do not follow through on your pledge.
If you prayerfully make a decision to give, you will not fall prey to the opposite giving outcome, which is "grudgingly" (KJV), "reluctantly or under compulsion" (ESV), you "feel sorry that you must give...feel that you are forced to give" (CEV), "sad when you give" (NCV), give "out of regret or out of necessity" (HCSB), "give [when] you don't want to" (NIRV), "give, wishing [you] could keep it" (NLV).
The Message Version of II Corinthians 9:7 says it this way: "I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting..." Prayerfully consider and decide the amount to give and where to give it, then be resolved to follow through, no matter what.

Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 [NIV]
"When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it... It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it."

What this has to do with weight loss: How many promises have you made, in connection with your weight-loss journey? How many times have you promised your spouse, yourself, and/or God that you will exercise regularly (whether you feel like it or not), eat fewer carbs (or whatever will serve your body well, causing it to release more weight), or not make your family suffer for your weight-loss journey woes? God sees a promise as a vow. He takes it seriously, and so should you. Seriously consider any promise before you make it, planning carefully how you will fulfill it, and follow through. Do you have to be perfect at it? No, but God expects a perfect try. He will help you do what you cannot, as long as you have done all you can.

Confession:
I give thoughtfully, prayerfully, and with the resolve to follow through, no matter what.