I would like to share with you how this message talked to me today.
The Powerful Principle of Tithing
It made me see that it is not only about GIVING money but about giving HIM our idols (greatest desires), how many women simply turn away when HE asks them to GIVE HIM their husbands and marriages? It's not about how HE wants us to live in poverty (material or emotional), it's about our heart!!!
Yes, I also felt fear of not receiving what my heart longed for, fear of the unknown, because I was still in the process of knowing the Lord as Husband and provider. But I decided to trust in His word. Dear brides, I sincerely do NOT regret giving up what I wanted, because I received much more than I expected. All He wanted was to change my heart to NEVER again be exposed to the immense pain that idolizing my husband caused me. Today my heart is hidden in His, I have never felt more loved and in love than now that I know and enjoy his love and care for him daily.
“For I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your borders. . . You will bring the first fruits of your land to the house of the Lord your God. . . .” (Exodus 34:24 and 26)
🥳 I celebrate this promise fulfilled in my life!! I praise my precious Heavenly Husband who expelled nations before me and expanded my heart with His love!! Right now I remember that this happened once I decided to put HIM first in EVERYTHING, first in my day, first in my decisions, first in my thinking, first in knowing how I feel and what I think, first when I pay my bills, first when I wanted to watch something on television, first when I wanted to listen to music,... first at all times!! I even just remembered that I went above and beyond to “tithe” my time, giving HIM at least 10% of my day. He is faithful to bless us when we obey Him from the heart.
I can say that He blessed me by bringing me closer to Him. Once I began to dedicate 10% of my time, my desire for Him increased and I began to spend more and more time with Him until it became my greatest need during the day. Isn't this what we want to put aside the pain that idolatry causes us? This is the powerful principle of tithing!!
Thank you for sharing precious Anastasia, yes yes we do want to put aside the pain that idolatry causes us. In my own life it cause me so much pain, my idolatry of have a restored marriage no matter what even became an addiction to me and it was life changing to let go of that idolatry and to learn the Lord as my Heavenly Husband and when that happens you just want to give Him first of everything.
I also idolized my marriage Janine, but like you I experienced a lot of peace and love when I released him into His hands and gave Him space to be my Husband, waiting patiently on His promises so that He would meet my every need.
Thank you Anastasia, tithing is about so much more than just giving 10% of your income, it is about surrendering and trusting Him. It is about obedience and putting Him first. It is about letting your idols go and giving your hearts desires to Him.
It is scary at first, but once you see how it changes everything, it becomes second nature!
“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.” Malachi 3:10
Yes Adina, tithing is a step to die to the idol of money, which means stop trusting in your own strength to make wealth and your income to meet your needs and look to Him to be the one who meets your needs no matter how. your bank account is visible.
Dear Anatasia, it is true that my marriage did not end because of the adultery of my former earthly husband, but because of my own stubbornness and pride. The pain I felt after reading the book How God Can and Will Restore Your Marriage was incredible. All this time I had thought that my earthly husband was more to blame for my unhappy time together than mine. Oh how wrong I was. How painful that realization was.
After I made the choice to trade my pain for His grace and love, the pain and fear began to go away.
I completely agree with you that financial tithing is the first step in showing who you choose to have in your heart. Many things will follow next in the change that will radiate only love, joy and happiness.
Paying attention to Him first when you wake up, involving Him first in a decision you have to make. Always having Him first in your mind in everything in your life follows most certainly from drawing closer to Him.
The pain I once felt from rejection, from making very big mistakes is gone. I can say with certainty that He is the Rewarder for those who seek Him with all their heart. We have found the best Man that every woman wants to find. Is not that great.
I like the phrase you used “financial tithing is the first step in showing who you choose to have in your heart.” I have realized that to receive you must always give first, we are even in the process of sowing love (which does not expect anything in return like the one we have received from our Heavenly Husband) for a future harvest of love. The same thing happens with the tithe, He asks us to give to change our hearts for a more tender one and so that we can be blessed.
You gave me much food for thought when l read this Anastasia 🤔 l never thought of tithing as giving 10% of my time… And GIVING Him my greatest desires… I love that you say your heart is hidden in HIS, that is so beautiful and where l want my hearts fesire to be as well🙏 idol. Yes idolatry does cause us so much pain when we lose our focus and take our eyes off HIM.
Yes, Atarah, neither do I, before He taught me it this way. The tithe is like a seed, if you give your seed you could be expected for a harvest. I remember that every principle is useful for every area in our lives, so if we spend our time with Him we could expect a harvest in our transformation and healing soul.