A few weeks ago, I took my five-year-old daughter out on a daddy-daughter date. The plan was simple: have fun, spend time together, and make memories.

But about fifteen minutes in, her mind shifted. She looked up at me with bright eyes and said:

“Dad, let’s get Mom something nice.”

And just like that, the night changed.

With excitement, we began brainstorming. What would Mom love most? What flowers bring her the biggest smile? We wandered into a flower shop and spent nearly an hour searching for just the right set—the ones that would bring Mom the most joy.

In the end, the date wasn’t really about us. It was about Mom. And honestly, it was far more enjoyable that way.

Fast forward a couple weeks later. I was talking with a friend when he asked me a question that stopped me in my tracks:

“Have you ever asked Holy Spirit to help you give Jesus a gift He’s never been given?”

I blinked. Thought. And said, “No… I never have.”

As he shared his story of giving Jesus special gifts with the Spirit’s help, my mind immediately went back to that daddy-daughter date. I remembered how my little girl and I spent so much time thinking, dreaming, and planning how to delight Tara’s heart. She never asked for flowers, but we knew what she loved. And our one desire was simple: to bring her pleasure.

And we did.

So now, I’ve started asking Holy Spirit the same way:

“Spirit, show me what would make the Son smile. Show me what would bring Him pleasure. Help me give Him a gift He would love.”

God once said to David in 2 Samuel 7:7:

“I have never asked the leaders nor the shepherds, ‘Why haven’t you built me a beautiful cedar house?’”

David reminds us—the greatest form of love, even as amazing as it is, is not found in bold declarations like:

“Before You even ask, my answer is already yes.”

But even deeper is this:

“You don’t even have to ask, because I already know what You love. And I’m committed to give it.”

Friend, what if we lived like that?

What if, like my daughter that night, we said to Holy Spirit: 

“Let’s spend our time giving Jesus something special. A gift that makes His heart glad. A gift that makes His face light up. A gift that tells Him: ‘You’re always on my mind.’”

Here’s the beautiful twist:

When we are the least focused on what we can get from Jesus, and the most focused on what we can give to Jesus, we will find ourselves the most deeply satisfied.

So today, ask Holy Spirit to speak. To guide. To inspire.

And then—give Jesus what He wants most.

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