Day 16 - Tuesday - January 25, 2022
Malachi 3:10 (NLT)
“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!”
When I was younger my mom taught us the truth about tithing. Her matter of fact living was tithing was simply “not stealing.” Anyone can be scared into something, but those who are led into it will stay. My mom wanted us to experience God’s blessing in our finances but she didn’t force us to tithe; she encouraged us to try it and see.
So I did. When I was 17 during a fast - much like this - tithing hit me in a real way. I gave my last dollar in the Speed the Light offering at youth group (if you don’t know what Speed the Light is, check it out { https://youth.ag.org/participate/speed-the-light/ }… but in short, youth groups raise money to fund vehicles for missionaries). I asked God to come true on His promise. I had been tithing faithfully with little “windows of heaven” showing up. After I gave this last dollar I sarcastically asked God for a hundred fold blessing ($100). I laughed internally and went about my business.
On the way home from youth group I stopped by my place of employment to check my upcoming scheduled hours. While there a manager came up and told me to come to the front office because there were some checks waiting for me. As a 17 year old, with a car, and a social life- I never missed picking up a paycheck. I was a little taken aback and was thinking they were playing a trick on me. I went to the office and waited for the “Just kidding” followed by laughter from the manager, but it never came. Instead she handed me 3 checks. I opened them up and they totaled $90. I was like, “Ok God. I see You, but that’s not $100.” So arrogant and naïve.
When I got home my dad asked to speak to me. He said he had been praying for me and the Lord told him to bless me with $20 for gas. To understand this you might need to know that my dad had a spreadsheet titled “Cody owes Dad account.” This account was well in the red. However, on this night he was simply giving me a gift of $20. If you are tracking that is a total of $110.
I gave my last dollar at around 8pm and by 9:20pm I had $110 in my pocket. I have never doubted God’s ability to bless obedience (even sarcastic). He is faithful to His word. When we trust Him with that tithe, He opens the windows of heaven. My prayer for you is to experience this great blessing.
Today’s Promise: God will bless your finances when you walk in obedience to His word.