When God wanted his tabernacle or temple built he did not ask his people to conduct a fundraiser. He told his leaders to communicate the need, why the need was there, and how to meet that need. For the Jewish people, that project of building a facility for God was met by the generosity of the people. God’s people in that day were already tithing, but God wanted them to take up offerings above that regular giving for the sole purpose of building the temple. He commanded the tithe, but he did not command anyone to give over that amount for the building of the temple/tabernacle. He simply encouraged people to give, if their hearts, “prompted them to give.”
“and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work on the Tent of Meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments. All who were willing, men and women alike, came …” (Exodus 35:21-22)
People prayed, people exercised faith, and then people sacrificed above their giving to meet the needs of the project. Some gave out of their abundance and others gave out of their poverty, and God was the one who saw the heart of the giver. Not only did they have plenty to build what God commanded, the people who gave were blessed and grew due to their sacrifice.
Because this is not a fundraiser but a spiritual journey, we are providing you this daily prayer guide to help facilitate a focus on God as we try to hear from him. There is also an opportunity for us to seek God through fasting during these forty days as well (see next couple of pages regarding fasting).
As we take this journey together as a church family, as we seek God, as we read through this guide individually and as families, our prayer is that God will speak to us, encourage us, stretch our faith, and draw us closer and closer to him.
May God speak to you as you pray to him and seek him in your life.
In Jesus’ amazing love,
Chris Norman
