⁶ 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. ⁷ You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” ⁸ And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. ⁹ As the Scriptures say,

“They share freely and give generously to the poor.
    Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”

¹⁰ For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.

2 Corinthians 9:6-10

Dear God, our nonprofit is having a board retreat this coming Saturday, and we will be looking at what to do with the resources you’ve given to us. We will be planning, as best as we can in our ignorance, for the future. We need you to guide us. We need you to encourage us. Push us. Push me. Push me out of my comfort zone. You’ve given us resources. You’ve given us employees, volunteers, donations, and even new facilities. You’ve given us a lot of seeds. Help us to sow them generously. Help us to know what generously looks like.

As for my personal life, you’ve given me a lot of seeds to plant as well. I’ve been given much. I have w lovely wife who supports and loves me. She encourages me. You’ve given me good friends who share their lives with me and invite me to share mine with them. You’ve given me good work to do through not only my vocation, but through volunteer activities. You’v given me money to give away.

Father, my cup runneth over. Help me to know how to take that excess, and even some of my need, and give it away to others. Help me to sow generously. Help me to not only count my blessings, but to see how they can be given away for your glory and my own health since it is bad for me to keep them to myself. To really experience the life you have for me, I must give it away. Give me the courage to put my faith in you and make you my God, thereby putting behind me all of the idols I tend to want to cling to.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen