Don't hold on tightly to your possessions
Last Sunday Pastor Tim Howey's message was about holding on loosely to your possessions.
I remember trying to hold on to my house during the time the realty market fell through the bottom two years ago.
I wasn't saved during this time, and i kept thinking i have to hold on. "I can't lose my house" Finally i gave up trying to hold on because the tighter i held on, the more inevitable it was, i would lose the house.
God used this and a bunch of other compiled circumstances, to get me down on my knees, and surrender to him. I was given peace, joy, and understanding which surpassed all human understanding.
I came to a place where i no longer cared about materialistic things including my own house. I let go of my house, and surrendered it to him too. I remember telling God, "If you want my house too, you can have it"
During this time also, i learned about giving tithes. Everywhere i turned, i was getting message after message about giving. I finally did give and chose to test God. Malachi 3:8-12.
Through a series of amazing money events which took place immediately afterwards; God gave the house back to me.
I discovered this passage in Genesis 22:12 where Abraham was tested by God. He was to offer his only son for a burnt sacrifice to God. I see a parallelism here. When Abraham was willing to let go, God gave him back his son.
I guess you could say, i had a spiritual epiphany here.
Alan Ostenson
Created over 2 years ago
