By spending time in God's word, He speaks to, guides and transforms our hearts. Through prayer, we quietly commune with the Lord and our hearts become increasingly receptive to the Holy Spirit's leading, which then guides us towards action. Involvement in Christian community also plays a vital role, as the body of Christ equips us for the works of mercy, generosity, and service that He invites us to share with Him. 

And because God is multifaceted, the generosity of his people will be embodied in the world in countless different ways. I am privileged in my position at Wycliffe Bible Translators to come alongside individuals from all walks of life and encourage them in generosity, however that may look. 

Once, I told a woman about a group of people in Indonesia who had no Scripture in their native language. I invited her to pray about how God might encourage her to get involved with Wycliffe's Bible translation efforts. 

But she was ahead of me. She had already been in prayer, specifically asking for direction on how God might use her to be a blessing to others, before our conversation ever transpired. 

Alongside a financial commitment, she felt led to pray for the salvation of these people whom she would never meet on this side of heaven. In the years that followed, she told me about the joy she experienced through trusting the Lord with her gift. She told me about the deep connection she now felt to the people she was praying for. 

The Bible instructs us to be cheerful givers, but at times, that exhortation feels distant or unrelatable – nothing like the vibrant joy I witnessed in her life.

And I've seen firsthand again and again just how much joy comes from living out God's generous heart towards those He loves.

To cultivate a spirit of generosity, begin by reflecting on the richness of God's grace, revealed most powerfully through the sacrifice of the cross. Then, consider the gifts He has entrusted to you – time, talent and treasure – and how He may be calling you to use them in this season. 

God is extending an invitation to each one of us: to experience more of Him through our generosity to the watching world.

Lorelei Mah is the Senior Director of Philanthropy for Wycliffe Bible Translators.