Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Write an INSPIRATIONAL article (11/27/14)
-
TITLE: Kingdom Economics | Previous Challenge Entry
By Mary Nagy
12/03/14 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
But now it was Sunday afternoon. That morning the pastor had delivered a sermon on tithing that seemed totally directed at her. Suddenly the peace she had about resolving her dilemma with an “IOU” to God was gone. She had been praying ever since she got home from church, asking God to give her that peace back, promising again she would tithe as soon as she got a job. But peace remained elusive, and so did the precious presence of God. Instead, a war was raging relentlessly inside her.
Miserable, she picked up her Bible, hoping to find some comfort. She turned to the powerful passage that had inspired her total surrender to God just over a month earlier. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship” (Romans 12:1 niv).
“Lord, I do want to please you”, Laura whispered. “I already promised you everything. If I hold back my tithes, then I am a liar, but I NEED that money! How can I just give it away?”
“You can trust Me.” The words came instantly into Laura’s soul, stopping cold her racing thoughts.
“Oh, thank you, Jesus, for answering. I know I can trust you, but I feel so scared. If only I knew where more money was coming from… ” Laura was quaking inside as her prayer trailed off. She was so frightened of what she knew God was telling her to do. The tithe money was going to have to go. In a small voice, uncertain she was even going to follow through, she spoke. “Ok, God, I will do this, but please give me strength, because even though my mind knows it can trust you, my inner being is terrified.”
There was a certain relief in simply having made the decision. The inner turmoil stilled, although the fear lingered.
Laura went to write the tithe check. She put it beside her keys, ready to take to the evening church service. Looking at the clock, she realized almost the entire afternoon had been spent praying and searching Scripture. She should eat but she just wasn’t hungry. Instead, she reached for her small prayer book thinking she would do her daily devotions because there wasn’t really time to do anything else.
Thumbing the pages, she reached the day’s entry and began to read. “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. (Malachi 3:10 kjv)
The rest of the page blurred in a rush of tears. Laura fell to her knees, praising and loving God as never before. “Thank you, Jesus, thank you!” she cried over and over. When it was time to leave, Laura rose and carried her tithe into God’s storehouse, with exceeding joy!
Now, dear reader, you may wonder at Laura’s overwhelmed reaction. After all, her situation remained exactly the same. Laura, however, took a step in faith, and God promised He would honor it. This very personal interaction with God was the cause of her delight. Laura was experiencing real peace now; the peace that comes from our loving Father and does not depend on external circumstances.
Did God provide for Laura later? What do you think?!
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
