God the Father gave the ultimate gift that defines my infinite worth to him by giving up his son Jesus; a truly infinite cost, totally free. Now I long to show Jesus how much I love him in return? I want to give him something but why should I give him what cost me nothing? What can I give him that costs. Well, I really only have one thing to give, myself and my time and my life. I often want to give him anything but that, wanting to hang on to some ownership and control, so I suppose that my very reluctance establishes that it costs me to let go of myself and when I become a living sacrifice it is good to know that it is acceptable unto God.2 Samuel 24:24

And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing.Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. HOW TO INVEST COST INTO YOUR GIFT OF SELF TO THE GOD YOU ADORE: 1.Invest time, not just quality ie. when alert and energetic, but also lots of it ie. pray without ceasing. 2.Risk the negative opinions and attacks of others, for we are not ashamed, I will not fear what man may do to me. 3. Give him your sleep time by priming your sleep center to rest in him and to awaken you to praising him. Psalms4:8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.5:1 Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation.² Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.³ My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. 4.Be a chatterbox, share every thought and feeling and plan with him. How else to take every thought into captivity? The number one gift my wife wants from all the work of raising our children is to be kept in the loop of what they are doing. 5.Overcome shyness. I am one of the shyest people on planet earth. I once considered being a pathologist so as to avoid dealing with people. Now I offer the pain of the shyness as part of my gift of talking to everyone always about my Lord and his brilliant ways.

So, instead of feeling as though you are a poor friend and lover because your gifts often come with cost and do not just bounce out of you, OFFER THE STRUGGLE AS THE KEY PART OF THE GIFT. I think the cost is more thrilling to him than the actual action taken.Hebrews 13:16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.