I want to share a story with you about money. This story is not about someone else’s money or about your money, but it is about my money. Currently, I have $1,600 in my account for the World Race. Officially my first deadline has passed, but I have until my first day of training (Oct. 13th to get $3,500 in my account). I was praying about it and God spoke to me loud and clear. He said “Christel, give the race your money.” I said ok, I will give the race my money when I get the money from my Aunt’s trust fund in November. Then I will give that money.
I had just recently found out that in November, I will have access to a large amount of money from my wonderful, unfortunately, deceased aunt. It was an amount of money that would cover the cost of the race if needed. I was FLOORED by hearing this because it came at a time I was worried about getting money for the World Race. I took this sign from God truly as a miracle. I felt like God was reminding me that He is in charge of money. He will provide in ways that we will never realize. I still felt like I was supposed to fundraise, but God was showing me that HE was bigger than money.
Upon hearing this information, I knew that I would give the amount of money I was supposed to for the World Race. When God revealed to me in the past days that I was to give the race my money, I said “Ok!” “here is that money from my Aunt”. God quietly tugged at my heart and said “No, that will not be a sacrifice for you because you didn’t know you had that money. I want you to sacrifice for me. Trust me and let me show you what I can do”.
I want to tell you that trusting God with your finances is HARD. It is easy for me to give to my time to ministry and it is easy for me to give a consistent amount to a specific organization every year. But to give away the only money you have right now is hard.
Since I have been a volunteer for two years, I don’t have that much money left in my bank account. But recently, I have realized that I still have more in there than I NEED. That is the important thing. Do I NEED the amount of money that is in my account? Yes, I could always use it, but do I need it? The answer is no. In the last week alone, God has provided me more money than I would have thought through various babysitting jobs. I am not talking big bucks, but still MORE than I was anticipating.
As I am typing this, I really feel God telling me to give Him everything. I have been trying to bargain with Him. He isn’t buying that. He just keeps whispering “You know what the right thing is, Christel”.
And He’s right. I do know what the right thing is to do. The right thing is to give my money to Him freely without any questions. I am to be cheerful as I am giving and praise His wonderful name. I wish I could tell you that is how I am feeling. It is not. I am almost at tears right now as I am typing this because it is HARD.
I am not writing this to try to show you how great I am to be giving this money away. I am not trying to receive any praise from this. I am writing this, though, to show you how I believe in this organization and how I am willing to sacrifice myself.
How is God calling you to sacrifice for Him? Is He asking you to get up earlier Saturday mornings and volunteer at a soup kitchen? Is He asking you to come home from work earlier and play with your kids? Is He asking you to stop eating out once a month so you can give money to give to a starving child?
What is keeping from sacrificing in the way God wants you to? Is it fear like it seems to always be for me? Is it shame? Is it guilt? Is it pride? What is getting in your way?
I believe God calls all of us to sacrifice. If it doesn’t hurt to give your time, money, or energy, then you probably aren’t sacrificing. That is just a fact because sacrificing typically comes with pain and struggle.
I am physically in pain at this decision right now. The world is telling me that I will not be provided for. That I will not be able to survive. But God is the one who is telling me that I will be provided for by Him and Him alone. And that I will learn to trust in His provision more than ever.
In the next week, I will be dumping my bank account and getting a loan to pay back in November. This money will be going to the World Race to cover my first deadline.
I WILL be going training in a week. I WILL be going on the race in January. I WILL be provided for by my Father. I WILL follow the One who created me and who gives me hope every day. I WILL sacrifice for the One who made the ultimate sacrifice.
