Generous.

SCRIPTURE:  You take care of the earth and water it, making it rich and fertile. The river of God has plenty of water; it provides a bountiful harvest of grain, for you have ordered it so. You drench the plowed ground with rain, melting the clods and leveling the ridges. You soften the earth with showers and bless its abundant crops. Psalm 65:9-10 NLT

THOUGHT: God doesn’t necessarily operate on a strict cause and effect scientific model, and, gratefully, that’s something that sets him apart. In many ways, if he did, he could train us to be good like mice, couldn’t he? We go against his will; we get punished without grace; we behave better. That sounds a lot like the worst Communist government in the world.

Sometimes we’d like a predictable God; one we can pin down; one whose next move we can foresee; one we can get out ahead of because we know the way. Well – not gonna happen. God is predictable in his goodness and mercy but not in his inscrutable ways (Rom. 11:33).

The God of Scripture gives rain and sunshine liberally to both the just and unjust (Mt. 5:45), and supplies seed to the sower generously (2 Cor. 9:10). He has ordered it so, says the Psalmist. His hope is that we won’t just shrug it all off or explain it away, but fall on our knees in gratitude, trusting that he is a faithful provider – even when the rain doesn’t fall and the crops don’t grow.

PRAYER: Oh God, you are generous in ways we often take for granted. Today I’m so grateful for the beauty of the earth around me – the budding and blooming of another spring. The liberal sunshine and rain that falls whether I’ve been perfect or not. Melt the clods and level the own ridges in my own life with your constant grace.