"And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” Genesis 22:14
There have been countless times in my life where I have not known what was going to come next in regard to making ends meet. There was never a true sense of financial stability in my home growing up. My mother was a homemaker and my dad the breadwinner. The rockiness of stability didn’t come due to lack of income but rather if the household took precedent over the cost of addictions. Fast forward to my first marriage. I married a hard-working young man and I thought to myself, “Yes! Finally, I have nothing to fear here,” but the reality was that didn’t secure anything at all. We had no financial peace as we continued to live paycheck to paycheck. Was this due to a lack of income? No, it was due to us not living within our means and not having the blessing over our house. We were never faithful to tithe.
I didn’t grow up in a household of faith or knowledge of Christ but when I married, I married a PK, a preachers kid. These faith principles were being revealed slowly to me but I didn’t grasp the full concept until…well, you may have guessed it, I was in dire need! As time would go on and the revelation of what it meant to have the first ten percent of my income offered to the Lord, so my 90 percent remaining would be blessed, I could only then, see the blessing and covering of protection over my household. [Malachi 3:6-11]
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. – Malachi 3:10-11
Can I tell you that there now have been countless times since, of God providing for me in my time of need miraculously! Time and time again has He shown Himself faithful to me in my time of need. Not only financially but just being there as my comforter, my shelter, my healer! This blessing is all encompassing!
There was a time, during my separation from my first husband that he was withholding all household funds and refused to contribute any further as he wanted the divorce.
A little backstory, I was not working at the time due to a severe car accident I had been involved in a week after our separation, yep, when it rained it poured! Our account was joint, and he "handled" all the funds while I was in the hospital, and while I continued giving him access to all what I did have coming in, I thought that he would ensure the household would be maintained. Unfortunately, that wad wrong of me to think that.
During my recovery time, I sought the Lord intensely, more than ever before, and God met me. In my literal physical brokenness in the hospital and recovery, as well as my broken heartedness.
I was later at home in recovery, unable to walk, let alone drive, so I spent my time worshiping the Lord. Later, when I was told that there would be no more financial contributions by my still then husband, I confidently said, “God is my provider, and I‘m not going to worry about it.” That was a shock to them as there was a definite confidence in my statement.
I was now down to my last dollars in my account, and a little anxious, as there was not enough for anything really. It was less than a hundred dollars and my mortgage payment was going to be due in a few days.
Gods’ faithfulness…It was a Friday morning and a beautiful day; I was watching a word being given by prophetess Juanita Bynum on TBN – Trinity Broadcasting Network. I felt it in my spirit to give it all and so I did. I prayed and said something like this to the Lord, “Father, I can’t do anything with what I have, and you are my provider. I give you all that I have because I know you can make it enough. But Lord, I just don’t want enough to cover my bills because You are a more than enough God. I want there to be funds in reserve.” I picked up the phone, called in my offering with my debit card and went about my weekend.
I went to church early that Sunday morning and sat in the sanctuary with only a few members trickling in as there were Sunday school classes going on. My first greeting was a Holy Handshake! Do you know what that is? It’s where someone shakes your hand and there is a tangible financial blessing within it. One of sisters from the church shook my hand saying that the Lord put it upon her heart to bless me that morning. I cried! It was a crisp hundred-dollar bill. I thanked God for His faithfulness and made my way to a pew. I sat there quietly and then another member tapped me on my shoulder to greet me. This one was different though. I had never really engaged in conversation with this brother, but he knew roughly what I was going through. You see, I had a purple cast on my right leg from foot to knee and a hot pink cast on my left arm from wrist to elbow. He proceeded to hand me a grocery bag with several items in it. He told me he was praying for me and wanted to bless me with a few things. He told me there were two cards in there for me and to make sure I didn’t throw them away. I thanked him and began to cry again. Thanking the Lord for His faithfulness and looking through the bag. I chuckled because it had honey buns in it and strawberry hard candies. You know, the ones that the wrapper makes them look like strawberries. Those are my favorite! I opened one of the cards and read the sweet sentiment and began to reach for the other envelope. This one was thick! I was a bank teller at the time before the car accident, so I was familiar with what I was about to open. This envelope was full of cash! I ugly cried!! I thumbed through the bills and saw that there was more than enough to cover all my bills and then some!
WON’T HE DO IT!!! And He continues to do so till this day!
Now unto him, that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. Ephesians 3:20
God is able to do more than we can even begin to ask or think according to the power that works within us. That’s the caveat! I believed that He would and could, and so He did on my behalf!
What are you in need of today? Are you storehouses under the blessing of the tithe? Do you have full and confident faith that God is going to move on your behalf? Be encouraged. If He can do it for me, He can surely do it for you. Let’s pray.
Father, we thank you for being a good, good father to us all. Your word says that we being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! So, we are asking you today Lord, for our hearts to line up with yours. Your will to be done in and over our lives. Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, here on earth as it is in heaven. Let our faith arise and grow bolder for all that you have in store for us. If I have a mansion in heaven, I should have one here on earth too! Lead us to become better stewards of the provision you have given us and let us not steal from you the tithe that belongs to you. It all belongs to You! You are Jehovah Jireh, our provider! In Jesus name we pray, Amen!
Your little pearl – Perlita