In God We Trust

In God We Trust
by Sherri Bergmann

Many of us start the new year making a list of goals. The most popular goals typically sum up wanting to be richer, debt-free, healthier, happier, stress-free, and have a happy family.

By the end of the year, some may reach their goals, but many will only reach some, or none of their goals, or be worse off than they were before.

There are countless resources to help guide you to achieving your goals, but God promises you can have all of the above, plus a whole lot more. Try Him first.

God’s promises for a better new year:

1. Seek Him.

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV

Satan is bent on destroying our lives spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically. He lures people with illusions that will ultimately ensnare and destroy them, their relationships inside the home, and outside the home. Evil will promise you one thing but deliver another. For example, you were promised easy and safe money, but landed in jail for fraud. You needed a quick mental escape, but became addicted to drugs. You were enticed with a relationship outside of your marriage, then received a broken home.

For a brighter year and life, first Seek God. Repent, then he will forgive you and heal your land (your family, your employment, what you possess). In following Him, you will gain a better future. Even when tragedy hits, with God first, He gives you true comfort, peace, and the power to not only endure, but to grow.

Here is another conditional promise of God that based on what YOU do, HE will do.

2. Give generously!

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38 NIV

Hence, the more you give, the more you get. Notice the next verse starts out with Remember this – so memorize this.

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 NIV

“You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.” Deuteronomy 15:10 ESV

God promises if you give without reluctance, you will be blessed and prosper.

Giving is important to God because giving is an act of love; His two greatest commandments are to love Him first, and love others.

Loving God first leads to His next promise for even more prosperity and blessings in your life. It is the one area God wants you to test Him in.

3. Tithe God with the first part of your income.

“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 3:10-12

“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” Proverbs 3:9-10 NIV

A tithe means a tenth. Give Him a tenth of your income – before you pay the bills, monthly spending, and set aside for savings. He promises if you trust Him first with what you have, you will be overflowing with blessings and have more than you need.

According to Deuteronomy 14:23, the purpose of tithing is to teach you to place God first in your life.

4. Giving will make you happier.

“A generous man will prosper and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” Proverbs 11:25 NIV

5. Not giving can make you unhappy and poor.

“It is possible to give away and become richer! It is also possible to hold on too tightly and lose everything.” Proverbs 11:24 TLB

“Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.” Proverbs 28:27 NIV

That last verse should make one shudder to ignore those in need. We are to be good stewards of what He has given us, and what He has created – and He created people. Christ had compassion on everyone regardless of their status or religion, and He even had compassion for His enemies.

There are many verses in the Bible about giving, and all tell the same thing: you will be blessed and God will multiply what you give.

Giving is not just about money, tithing is where God says to test him. He also says we are to trust Him. Giving includes your time, your talents, your energy, what you do for others and God.

Your life will prosper, your happiness will increase, your needs plus more will be met and you’ll have countless blessings. What you tend to will flourish. This includes your home, your marriage, your family, your job, and all that you invest yourself in. Giving is loving, and things thrive and grow with love.

God’s promises are trustworthy. Your financial counselor can’t promise you anything. On each U.S. currency – whether a bill or a coin, is printed, “In God We Trust.” You can bank your life on His Word.

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