A friend on mine who was having regular chemo treatments for breast cancer told me that sitting in the treatment waiting room enabled her to meet many other patients, some of whom engaged in what they called “bargaining “ with God for their lives, their mobility , time, and other desires. One day she prayed, “Why do people try to bargain with you, Lord? Don’t they know that you’re not a bargaining God?” To her surprise she experienced the thought, “They bargain because they know from Scripture that in fact I am a bargaining God.” “But what do we have to put on the table, Lord?” she asked. “You have your heart,” was the simple reply.

I was very touched by her experience, as I think that she was, too. Since then I have heard the lyrics of a carol named I’ll Give Him My Heart thatrecalled my friend’s story to me: What can I give Him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb. If I were a wise man, I would do my part, So what can I give him? I’ll give him my heart. (The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, 2001)

Abraham bargained with God about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah: Abraham said, “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?” He said, “For twenty , I will not destroy it.” (Genesis 18:31) Abraham persevered, however, and God finally agreed not to destroy Sodom if ten men could be found who followed the Lord. (Genesis 18:32)

When God established His laws with Moses, God said, “No one is to appear before me empty handed” (Exodus 34:20)

Jacob bargained with the Lord after seeing the ladder with angels ascending and descending: Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey. . . then the Lord will be my God . . . and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.” (Genesis 28:20-22)

Abraham had given his heart to God when God promised him a son. Jacob gave his heart to God at the sight of the angels. Mary gave her heart to God at the angel Gabriel’s announcement to her. Because all these and countless more have have given their hearts to God , we can see that His word is true, but even more, we can speak openly with God when we come to Him with our brother Jesus, the one whose very birthday we are celebrating this month. He is the gift who, when found in us, touches God’s heart.

Love in Him,

Prue