“And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.”- Ezekiel 36:26 (NLT)
We have just completed our Annual Conference gatherings as Methodists and there’s a moment in every journey with God when something clicks, when the old way of doing things no longer satisfies, and you sense that this time, it’s different. That moment is a gift of grace. It’s God saying, “I’m doing something new in you.” That’s especially true when it comes to stewardship.
Maybe in the past, your giving was sporadic. Maybe you saw your resources as yours to manage for your benefit, and giving to others or the church felt like an obligation or an afterthought. But now, something feels different. You’re sensing a shift from guilt toward grace. You don’t want to give to get, you want to give because you’ve been given so much. That’s not just generosity instead it’s transformation.
Stewardship is about managing everything God has entrusted to us—time, talents, finances, even relationships—for His glory. And the truth is, we can’t steward well unless God gives us a new heart. Ezekiel 36:26 reminds us that He will do just that: “I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you.” When God gives you that tender, responsive heart, your approach to stewardship changes from duty to delight.
This time, it’s different but not because your income changed, or you discovered the perfect budget but because your heart has changed. You’re beginning to see that everything you have is a gift, and that God is the true owner. You’re just managing it on His behalf. And that’s not a burden, it’s an honor.
So, don’t beat yourself up over how you’ve handled things in the past. Instead, lean into what God is doing now. If He’s stirring something new in your heart, trust it. Let His Spirit guide your choices, your spending, and your giving. You may still need to plan, budget, and be wise, but now you’re doing it with a heart that’s responsive to God.
Journeying Together,
John
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