In my early 20s, I attended a ministry school and part of our training included taking a preaching class.
Our topic for the year?
Tithes & Offerings.
Every time any student preached, he/she had to create a 5-7 minute message on this topic. No exceptions.
Needless to say, I researched (and heard) a lot of Scripture on Biblical finances. I also studied multiple versions of the Bible throughout the course, but was particularly fond of the Amplified version.
Partway through the year, I stumbled on a passage that changed my relationship with giving, forever:
“Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves… (and is unwilling to abandon or do without) a cheerful (joyous, ‘prompt to do it’) giver [whose heart is in his giving].” – 2 Corinthians 9:7, AMPC (emphasis mine)
Cue my ‘ah ha’ moment.
This wasn’t about a guilt trip, a means of keeping God happy, or of warding off a curse (iykyk).
It was an invitation—one grounded in delight, not fear. Joy, not dread of punishment.
Rather than “What should I give?”the question became, “Where do I want to give?”
And with this revelation, the trajectory of how I viewed generosity and giving took off to new levels.
I stopped giving because I “had to,” and started giving from a place of desire—to causes, people, and organizations that excited me and aligned with what God was doing in my heart.
I started giving from a place of overflow, not obligation.
What’s more, if my heart wasn’t in it, I didn’t give. If I felt coerced, manipulated, or forced, I didn’t give. If I felt like God was guiding me to give somewhere I wasn’t sure about, I started leaning into conversation with Him rather than just rote obedience in order to allow my heart to come into alignment with His.
I cannot overstate how much of an impact this single insight has had on my life. While I’d always considered myself a generous person, feeling permission to give in ways that truly lit me up—and knowing God was all about my cheerfulness in the process, took my desire to bless to new heights.
I felt so. much. permission. And I felt like I got a sneak peak into how the kingdom of heaven actually works.
Want to reflect more on your own relationship with giving?
Here’s three journal prompts to sit with this week:
“Where in my giving do I feel joy—and where do I feel pressure?”
“What causes, people, ministries, or businesses do I feel deeply drawn to support—and why?”
“What does cheerful, heartfelt, Spirit-led giving look like in this season of my life?”
No shame. No shoulds. Just space to hear your own heart—and God’s.
With joy and freedom,

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