In Straight Paths
Page 24
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When my first son started to Bible school, I wondered how we could ever afford to pay school bills as we had several more children at home and much expense. I went to prayer and told God that I didn't want to worry about school bills all the time and would He give me a promise concerning the school bills. As I waited before Him, He gave me this promise, "I will give thee ... hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am ... God ... " Isaiah 45:3. Amen! That was good enough for me. God was promising me that He would give me hidden riches of secret places to pay the school bills. I stood on that promise all the years my children attended Bible school, and though we had as many as four at one time enrolled in Bible school, when the school year was completed, the bill was paid.
I remember one particular incident that I would like to share. We were a little behind in the school bills and I was determined, by God's help, to catch up, realizing that the school had their obligations that must be kept up also. Well, when my husband got paid and we made the bank deposit, I wrote out the needed amount for the school along with other checks for other obligations. After totaling it all up making sure our tithes were paid, there was only five dollars left in the bank out of my husband's check, and it would be two weeks before he got paid again. We needed groceries plus other things, but I just looked up to God and said, "Well, Father, we are paid up through today." I then walked into the living room and picked up the Bible. It opened to the book of Matthew and my eyes fell on these words, Matthew 6:33 and 34, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take no thought for the morrow; for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."
The Blessed Holy Spirit settled down and talked to my heart in a wonderful way. He showed me afresh and anew that we were seeking first the kingdom of God by sending the children to Bible school, and He was well able to take care of us. He said, "You have the bills paid up for today, don't worry about tomorrow." Then He talked to me about the fowls of the air, how they sowed not, neither reaped nor gathered into barns, and yet He took care of them. Then I read about the lilies, how they toil not, nor spin and yet how well God clothed them. God spoke so plainly to my heart in words like this: "My child, if I take care of the birds and grass that are of such short duration, can't you trust Me to take care of your needs?" Well, I had read that Scripture many, many times but God blessed it afresh and anew to me that memorable morning. I had even been tempted to try to find work for myself, but God showed me so plainly that morning that the fowls of the air did not work, and the lilies did not work and yet He took care of them. He brought the Scripture to my mind about women being keepers at home and said, "You obey the Word and I'll do the rest." Oh, how I rejoiced in Him that morning. It was a fresh revelation that He would continue to supply our needs and He did not need my little puny help. I think it was the same day that I went to the mailbox and there was a check for fifty dollars for some work my husband had done and we were expecting twenty-five for it. I was rejoicing so much until I didn't check the other mail for awhile. When I did, I found another check for twenty-six dollars from an insurance company. They had underpaid us on a recent insurance settlement. Well, Glory! God just sent these two checks to us to strengthen my faith. Over and over again, He has sent in little extra amounts from "secret places" to meet our needs. It is wonderful to trust the One who is all-sufficient. Praise His Name!