Have you ever noticed that often times when the Holy Spirit is correcting us, He usually does not just flat out say something like, "Don't do that!" Instead, He usually simply asks you a question, at least this is what seems to happen in my experience.

I will be zooming merrily along, doing my thing and suddenly out of nowhere, I hear a question which causes me to slam on the brakes and . I usually hem and haw a bit but God is very patient. He is willing to wait until I get around to answering His question.

Just yesterday, I was telling someone about how last winter, God had asked me to give more than what I had planned to give. I decided to be obedient and almost immediately, my car reacted by suddenly needing not one major repair but two within a two week period. The total bill was more than $1,000.00

After my car was repaired for the second time, I started to moan and groan about it to God. Interestingly enough, He did not scold me for complaining or give me a spiritual spanking, though I probably deserved one. Instead, the Holy Spirit asked me a question.

"Is your car fixed?"

That stopped me in my tracks. Well, yes it was fixed but...

"How did you pay for it?"

I shifted uncomfortably for a moment before replying that I wrote a check... sigh... for the full amount.

"Did you have to use a credit card or borrow money to do so?"

I hesitated for a moment before replying that no, I didn't. The money was in my "emergency fund". As you can see, things were starting to get a bit awkward. I could see where this was going and I didn't want to go there.

"So, let me get this straight. You had an "emergency" so you paid to fix the emergency by withdrawing money from your emergency fund which is set aside for... emergencies such as this, right?"

I hung my head and slowly nodded. I knew exactly where this was going.

"Currently what your monthly income is supposed to be, is far less than what your expenses are, correct?"

I nodded and wished the ground would open and swallow me.

"So how were you able to put aside money for "emergencies"?

It was deadly quiet for a moment. The tears which had risen up in my eyes were now starting to spill over. "From you!" I cried. "You are the one takes the little we have and stretches it so that there is more than enough. There is even enough to put some away... for emergencies such as this!"

I threw myself at His feet, not daring to look up. How could I have been so ungrateful for what God had done for me?

Gently, I was told to "look up" and when I did, I was not met with condemnation but with love... and forgiveness!

Blessings!

K

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