My oldest daughter, Lanie Beth, shared a scripture with me that is really really powerful. The passage is Psalm 27:13. In the New International Version it reads, “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”

Translation, “I will see” the goodness of the Lord in the “here and now”

So many people go to church all their lives and only expect to see God’s hand and his goodness when they die. This passage says that I will see it, meaning while I am alive in the here and now.

In Psalms 23, it says in verse 5 that “he will prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” Well, your enemies are not in heaven rather they are right here on earth in the living. Get the image of the Lord preparing a table/feast for only you in front of the people that mean you harm while they have to watch. Your enemies will know that God is with you.

In Malachi 3:10 &11, says “If you are a tither, he will rebuke the devourer for your sakes.” This means if you are a tither, God will have your back and rebuke and handle those people who try to bring you harm.

I heard a Wall Street portfolio fund manager say during an interview that tithing was the best investment you will ever make. I believe this is true. The bible speaks to people that make money and lose money as though they had holes in their pockets. I believe tithing is the umbrella of God that will cover you over a life span. It doesn’t mean you will always make the right decision and never make a mistake, rather it means that in your later years you will look back on your life and see that God was with you and your decisions more times than not and that he protected and insulated you.

All three of these passage speaks to God being involved in our lives in the here and now and not just when we get to heaven. He loves you as a father and wants the best for you and your family but he will not force himself into your life, rather he will wait for you to call on him. KT