WOULD YOU EAT THE MARSHMALLOW?

“My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them.”- PROVERBS 1:10

If you don’t eat the one marshmallow now, I’ll give you two later.

My wife told our three sons this when they were seven, six, and four years old. Taylor left his marshmallow on the table and began building with Legos. Clark took the marshmallow and hid it in his room — out of sight, out of mind. Eric began to play catch with his. All three held off for fifteen minutes and cashed in on two soft sweets. They were not enticed.

Shelaine was re-enacting an experiment she had read about in college. Most of the kids resisted by distracting themselves through playing, singing, covering their eyes, and the like. But those who ate the marshmallow did so as soon as the experimenter left the room. Two decades later, the researchers discovered that the kids who had exercised self-control were now better able to cope with life, felt socially capable, and were dependable. But the people who didn’t resist as children were now indecisive, easily stressed, often enticed to do wrong, and prone to jealousy.

We use self-control every day to manage life, not only in obvious ways like not speeding or overeating but also watching our tongue, spending money wisely, and making good relationship choices. The world may want to entice us, but we must stand firm on God’s principles.

Thank God that His Spirit shows up as self-control (among other good things), and that by His strength we can knit together positive experiences by not being enticed to do hurtful or stupid ones.

Thank You God for Your Spirit of self-control, which helps me pause and consider my options before I open my mouth or act. May I lean into Your strength to make redeeming choices today. Amen.

Go Deeper — Where does lack of self-control show up in your life? Commit those areas of weakness to God and ask for His strength to make better choices instead of being enticed.

Give With Joy

To God, the giver’s heart matters more than the gift.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8

The act of giving holds a special place in God’s heart. Verse 7 of today’s passage reminds us that God cares about the way we share what we have. He delights in cheerful givers who act with a joyful heart and willing spirit.

When we give grudgingly or out of duty, we miss the delight of aligning our heart with God’s generous nature. Sharing with others should be seen as a privilege, not a burden. It’s an opportunity to participate in God’s work and to be His hands and feet by meeting the needs of those around us.

The condition of our heart—not the size of our gift—is what determines how the Lord views what we offer. Giving cheerfully reflects gratitude for His blessings and trust in His provision. It acknowledges that everything we have belongs to God and we are merely stewards. So, allow the joy of giving to fill your heart as you partner with God in blessing others. And remember, it’s not about the dollar amount but the love behind your gift.

Take a moment now to ask God where He is inviting you to generously give to others, just as He generously gave to you. Ask Him who, and then faithfully and obediently execute the what.

A Spiritual Spring

The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.

Song of Songs 2:12

The season of spring is welcome in its freshness. The long and dreary winter helps us to appreciate spring’s genial warmth, and its promise of summer enhances its present delights. After periods of spiritual depression, it is delightful to see again the light of the Sun of Righteousness. Our slumbering graces rise from their lethargy, like the crocus and the daffodil from their beds of earth; and our heart is made glad with delicious notes of gratitude, far more tuneful than the warbling of birds. The comforting assurance of peace, which is infinitely more delightful than the turtledove’s cooing, is heard within the soul.

This is the time for the soul to seek communion with her Beloved; now she must rise from her natural sordidness and come away from her old associations. If we do not hoist the sail when the breeze is favorable, we make a grave mistake: Times of refreshing should never be allowed to pass us by. When Jesus Himself visits us in tenderness and entreats us to arise, can we be so ungrateful as to refuse His request? He has risen so that He may draw us after Him. He, by His Holy Spirit, has revived us so that we may in newness of life ascend to the heavenlies and enjoy fellowship with Him. We bid farewell to the coldness and indifference of a spiritual winter when the Lord creates a spring within. Then our sap flows with vigor, and our branches blossom with high resolve.

O Lord, if it is not springtime in my chilly heart, I pray You make it so, for I am tired of living at a distance from You. When will You bring this long and dreary winter to an end? Come, Holy Spirit, and renew my soul! Quicken me, restore me, and have mercy on me! This very night I earnestly implore you, Lord, to take pity upon Your servant and send me a happy revival of spiritual life!