God tells believers to trust Him and surrender to Him completely. I think at times I may have thought I had surrendered, but it seems like the “completely” thing always got me. It took me several years to understand the concept of tithing, and even after I understood, it was at times difficult, but just like Malachi 3:10 says “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” Every time I tithed and was unsure of the outcome, things always worked out; even when they shouldn’t have.
I’ll be honest in saying that over the past year I have not tithed with any consistency, but over the past 3 months I have felt so compelled and convicted to do so again. The whole “surrender completely” thing and “fear” is the hardest part to overcome. I want to be in control, but if I truly say God is leading me then I have to trust Him. I’d write my check, or get the money, hold it, spend it, or put it back in my account. I’d tell myself, “I’ll do it next paycheck.” I finally wrote the check and mailed it 2 weeks ago. I was apprehensive, yet had complete faith this time. I’ll be doggoned if one week later I didn’t get a raise at work after my annual review. Then I’m figuring out finances Saturday night (including my tithe). Sunday, when I was on my way to get the Bible Study materials that I missed last week, I checked my mail that was delivered Saturday…….I received a completely unexpected check in the mail.
You can call it what you want: coincidence, luck, whatever, but I call it God’s work! He rewards faithfulness. This time it happened to be a financial reward, but I know it won’t always happen in that manner. Even though I don’t always see it, I truly believe that for every one faithful step I take, He takes about a dozen with me. He only asks us to trust Him and let Him do the rest. It’s an unending battle, but I’m in it for the long haul.
If I could send God a text or email right now, it would say, “Hey God! I guess you shut me up!”
Follow Me!