Wednesday: Every Perfect Gift
Read: Luke 11:1–13; James 1:17
SOAP: James 1:17
“All generous giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or the slightest hint of change.”
Devotion:
In our reading today, both Jesus and James encourage us to go before God with our deepest needs, believing that He will respond with good and perfect gifts because God is good, and His character does not change when our circumstances change.
The early Christian church that James was writing to had been scattered because of persecution. In his letter, he reminded them that clinging tightly to their faith through all kinds of trials would produce in them endurance. For those who asked God for wisdom, they were to ask with confidence, with faith that did not waver or doubt.
In Luke we read that Jesus’ disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray. Jesus not only offers a model of prayer, but a glimpse into the nature and character of God. Jesus told us to “ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you” (Luke 11:9). Our Father God loves His children and, although He already knows everything about us, wants us to come into His presence and ask for gifts that align with His will and will advance His kingdom.
If your prayers haven’t been answered the way you wanted, trust and believe that our God can only give gifts that align with His character—and He is good. He wants the best for you. James calls God “the Father of lights,” and in this Advent season may each Christmas light you see remind you that God’s ways are better than your ways, He is unchanging, and He loves you so much that He cannot give you anything but the best—even when it’s not what you expected.
Prayer:
Father God, thank You for inviting me to come to You in prayer with the deepest desires of my heart, the places I feel weak and powerless and in need of Your provision. As I hang Christmas lights or see them on my neighbor’s homes, may I be reminded that all good and perfect gifts come from You, and that You love me. Amen.