I have shared a little about my financial situation as I step out in obedience to God and start LIFE Single Mom Ministry. I had a full-time job for 8 years and I was miserable. I knew that I was called to do more, but I lived in fear of failing. I had more fear than I had faith. In May of 2019, I left my job and moved to Georgia to live with my daughter, Kiowa, for 10 months. Although, God brought me back to Terre Haute, Indiana the move was necessary. It was a time of discomfort and pruning, but it was also a time of a deepening of my relationship with God and a growing of my faith. It has been just over two years since I left my job and I have not run out of money as I have worked on establishing LIFE Single Mom Ministry. I have lived frugally and I have/am living on the kindness of others. I give and I contribute as God leads. I also pay for all of my own personal needs. In two years I have not been under $1,200.00. God provides as I step out in faith.
I do NOT have an income as I step into the role of full-time ministry leader. I have at times allowed the negative comments of the naysayers to plant a seed of doubt in my mind. Words like, “You can’t live like this” or “It isn’t Biblical” or “You are just lazy” and “You need to get a job and contribute”. In those times, I have to trust in what God tells me and NOT in what those around me say.
In my study of 2 Corinthians chapter 9 this morning, God blessed me with this promise:
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 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. 8 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.
If we give generously, remembering that ALL THINGS belong to God, then the promise is that God is able to bless us abundantly, so that in ALL things at ALL times, having ALL that we need, we will abound in every good work. This is the promise that I hang onto.
The other promise that I hang onto is Philippians 4:19
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
And Malachi 3:10
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.
And Matthew 6:25-34
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
And 1 Peter 5:6-7
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
And Philippians 4:6-7
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
And John 15:7
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
I obey God, not man.
I live for God, not man.
I seek God, not the approval of man.
I trust in the promises of God, not in the words of man.
This is my testimony. I will step out in faith and obedience to the one and only God, trusting Him alone.
We can ALWAYS put our trust in the promises of God. Seek God’s Word and know that He will never lie to you!
Patti Burris 