When I received a summons to appear in court recently, I asked God, “Would you please make this go away? I really don’t want to go.” But the summons was real, and there wasn’t much chance of its going away.

I love Hezekiah’s response. First he consulted Isaiah the prophet to ask how God wanted him to respond. Next, Hezekiah physically laid out the message he had received from Sennacherib’s servants and prayed over it before God.

What a privilege we have been given to sing, praise, and make music before the Lord. He delights in our praise, whether in word or song. Do we remember to freely praise Him? If all of nature honors Him, why would we withhold our praise?

A little while later, as I was cooking dinner, I discovered a small pool of green liquid along the side of the burner of my gas stove. As I shifted pots and took a closer look, I realized a green crayon had melted around and underneath the burner. I uttered my second quick panic prayer: “Lord, please don’t let our house go up in flames!” (Disclaimer: strange things happen in the kitchen when you live with a three-year-old.)

From the beginning of history, God has shown Himself to be a generous God. But how do our gifts to God stack up against His kindness to us? How does our generosity measure up, when compared to all He does for us?