🕊️ DOMINION DAILY DEVOTION ~ DAY 251 DATE: 8TH SEPTEMBER 2026 TOPIC: THE HEART OF GIVING_2 ANCHOR SCRIPTURE:2 CORINTHIANS 8:5 (NLT) They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do. Devotional message: Yesterday, we began discussing the subject of the heart of giving, and we established that God looks at the sincerity and condition of the heart before He looks at the gift itself. Our giving must come from a willing heart, because God is more interested in who is giving than merely what is being given. You will notice that although God is interested in our giving, He is interested in us first. This is why the church in Macedonia gave themselves to the Lord first, and then gave their gifts. Their giving flowed from a surrendered relationship with God. They did not simply offer something to God; they first offered themselves to Him. This teaches us that God accepts the person before the gift. Before God receives what is in your hands, He desires your heart. Your offering can never become a substitute for your relationship with God. We see this principle clearly in Isaiah. The Israelites were offering sacrifices to God, yet their lives were characterized by rebellion and wickedness. God called them to repentance and instructed them to turn away from evil and learn to do good. Their sacrifices could not compensate for a life that was deliberately walking contrary to Him. This shows us that we cannot use our gifts to bribe God while continuing to live in sin. We cannot offer money, serve in ministry, sing, preach, give offerings, or perform religious activities while deliberately refusing to surrender our lives to God and expect our sacrifices to replace obedience. God is not looking for gifts that are used to cover disobedience. He is looking for hearts that belong to Him. Therefore, our greatest desire should not simply be, “What can I give God?” but first, “Does my life belong to God?” We must yearn to live right, walk in obedience, and maintain a genuine relationship with Him. When the heart is right with God, our giving, service, worship, and sacrifices become expressions of that relationship. Child of God, before you place something on the altar, make sure your heart is on the altar first. Give yourself to the Lord, and then let everything you have flow from that surrender. When the person belongs to God, the gift becomes an expression of love, worship, gratitude, and obedience—and our sacrifices become pleasing to Him. God wants the giver before the gift. Therefore, give yourself to the Lord first, live right before Him, and let your giving flow from a sincere, surrendered, and obedient heart. PRAYER Lord, I give myself to You before I give anything into Your hands.May my life and my sacrifices be pleasing and acceptable before You. In Jesus' name, Amen. DAILY BIBLE READING Isa 1:10–20,1 Sam 15:22,Ps 51:16–17,Rom 12:1–2 Author : Alfred Wabuko Manyasi Contact : Email : Dominionvoicesminisrty@gmail.com Facebook : Alfred Wabuko Manyasi 🌐 Dominion Daily Devotion, 2026 © Dominion Voices Ministry