I am going to give a testimony today of my experience recently with God’s grace and love. Since I moved out on my own, my savings account has taken hits… because I want to make my house my own. I want to make it perfect for me to live in. Now. I just don’t have the funds at this time. So, I’ve been stressing about money, and I remembered this week I have to pay my property taxes. In other words, another chunk of my savings had to be taken out.
Yesterday when I got home from work, I checked the mail, and I saw a letter from my mortgage company (it was in a bigger envelope than usual) and thought something was wrong. I opened it, and found a check, claiming to be a refund. I checked it to make sure it was legit… and then found a very detailed transaction history on the back of the statement. Including some categorized as “County Tax.” That’s when it clicked. My mortgage company is paying my property tax for me. Then I asked my mom about it, and she said it was normal for that to happen since the government doesn’t trust homeowners to do it on their own.
It felt like a huge weight had been lifted off of my shoulders. Not only did I not have to send in a check, but I had a decent refund to put back into my savings. I started to cry and thanked God immediately. I have already started to implement my budget, but haven’t figured out all the details for it yet. But I know that God is by my side and I know He loves me.
But speaking of love… my church started a young adult ministry (for anyone between the ages of 18-30) a couple months ago, and we just met last night. The leader read aloud 1st Corinthians 13:4-8. He said that God is love, and as His followers, we should reflect His love. If God is love, then we should be love too. So the leader said to read the verses again, putting your name instead of love. And then ask yourself, “What do I struggle with?”
You all don’t know my personal details on my family, etc. But my answers were that I struggled with patience sometimes, but that I also need to let go. To not keep records of wrongs. I am in the process of letting go of the anger that I feel for someone who has been in my life for a long time, because they hurt me and my family. But I am also extremely hard on myself when I make mistakes. I am my own worst critic. So, I need to let go, forgive, and move on to show God’s love to others. And learn to love myself.
What do you struggle with from the verse?
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8