Gifts for Our Heavenly Father (What God Truly Wants)

It has been said that it is better to give than to receive. We experience joy when we give, but what does it mean to give gifts to our Heavenly Father? What gifts can we offer God, not in an earthly sense, but offerings of the heart that have eternal value? 

This devotional explores how Scripture helps us understand the “gifts” God delights in, not in material form but spiritual devotion and obedience.

A Lifelong Lesson from a Gift

I will never forget the first Christmas of my teaching career, over 30 years ago! Several of my students brought me gifts, but one boy had nothing to give.  As he watched the other students give me their gifts, he also wanted to give me something.

I still have the gift he found at the bottom of his backpack, and it is precious to me! Some of the students’ gifts from the past 30 years I may not remember, but I remember the little soda can opener, because it was given with his heart.

I have thought about this many times over the years. It always makes me think of a time when we will be casting crowns at the feet of our Lord. Some will have many crowns to give, and others will only have a few. However, we will not have a backpack to rummage through to come up with gifts for our Heavenly Father.

The Joy of Giving

There is definitely joy in giving. Can you imagine the joy we will have when we have gifts for our Heavenly Father and are able to cast them at His feet?

My mom and I have talked about this many times. She sometimes feels like she hasn’t done anything to earn crowns to give back to the Lord. I think it is just the opposite; she will have many! I think she feels that way because she enjoys serving and does everything with a pure and humble heart. That is crown-worthy!

I am not there yet, but I aspire to be like that – having a servant’s heart that is pure and humble.  Just like her, I don’t want to be empty handed while others are giving their gifts.  I want to have many crowns to give to the Lord Who has given me so much! I want to have gifts for our Heavenly Father!

“…each one’s work will become obvious, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work.  If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward.” I Corinthians 3:13-14

So that makes me wonder…

What Gifts does God Truly Desire?

1. Worship: Giving the Lord First Place

Revelation 4:10 reminds us that our sincere worship is the best gift we can give Him.

“…the 24 elders fall down before the One seated on the throne, worship the One Who lives forever and ever, cast their crowns before the throne…” Rev. 4:10

True worship means putting God first in every area of life, not just on Sunday mornings.

I think it is important to ask ourselves if there is anything we are putting before the Lord each day. Is it our:

• Schedule
• Work
• Comfort
• Goals
• Family
• Recreation

It is something to think about.

2. Obedience: Hearts that say, “Yes!”

Scripture teaches us that God desires obedience more than just rituals. Remember the story of Abraham and his son Isaac? That story shows us very clearly that obedience is true sacrifice. It is something God honors.

Read Genesis chapter 22 to get the full story.

Here are a few practical ways to give to the Lord through our obedience:

• Saying yes to Him when He leads us in a certain direction, even when it is hard
• Letting His Word guide our choices and actions every day
• Turning away from sin in our lives
• Staying quiet when we want to speak out of turn (That is a hard one!)

What are others that come to mind?

3. Faith: Trusting the Lord with Our Lives

Hebrews tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God. Our faith is a gift back to Him as we live it out daily.  

So it seems that we need to grow our faith. Our faith tends to grow when we trust the Lord:

• In the hard times
• In the waiting
• When we are dealing with the unknown
• When things don’t make sense

4. Love: The Greatest Gift of All

If God is love and we are to mirror His characteristics, we also must love! He wants us to love His children.

I try to think about it like this: When people were kind and loving to my children, I was pleased. However, if I ever thought they were being mistreated, another side could come out! 😬

The Lord created us all. When we treat others with love, it is a gift to Him.

Loving God means we love others, just as He commanded us to do.

5. Service: A Servant’s Heart

When I think back to the gift my student gave me all of those years ago, it reminds me that the value of our gifts is really about the heart in which we give them.

This can be a difficult area to examine. Let us ask ourselves how we are serving others and pray for a servant’s heart toward our:

• Family
• Church
• Neighbors
• Coworkers
• Community

Eternal Perspective: Gifts that Last

The Bible reminds believers that our works will be tested by fire, and what remains will be like treasure laid up for eternity.

“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal.” Matthew 6:20

It is pretty amazing when you think about it – what we offer God now: Our Worship, Obedience, Faith, Love, and Service – matters forever!

Join Me

As we learn to offer our hearts, obedience, and faith to the Lord each day, we’re not just growing closer to Him, we’re building a legacy that outlives us. If you long to pass down a faith that’s personal and lived out, I’d love for you to join me in my Bible legacy journey, where we read, reflect, and leave behind spiritual treasures for the ones we love most.

I have come across this little gift that was found at the bottom of a backpack so many times over the years.

This small but sincere gift continues to remind me of something much deeper. It is a reminder that our material gifts or grand gestures are not what the Lord truly wants; it is our offerings from the heart that hold eternal value! Those are the eternal gifts for our Heavenly Father.

Favorite Bible Study Resources

See my favorite Bible study resources here.

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“When I am filled with cares, Your comfort brings me joy.” Psalms 94:19