This is something that happened last year and profoundly changed the way I think about everything I have coming from God:
\nIn the past, I received a job that I didn’t even apply for, and I considered it a gift from God. I was able to keep a lot of money in savings I had thought I would have to spend, so I decided that I should give a thank offering of an extra 10% of my annual earnings on top of my regular tithe.
\nHowever, I decided to wait until the end of a year to do so. During that year, I applied to several graduate programs, but the one I wanted to go to was not forthcoming about funding information. I agonized about whether to plan on going to the program whether or not I received funding, using up my savings and taking out loans. I remembered my earlier decision to give an extra 10%, and after awhile I decided that, because I had received the first job as a gift, I should give the thank offering before finding out about whether I would get funding, so that I would truly be relying on God for the future. About an hour after I put a check in the mail for my thank offering, I received an email about the funding and tuition waiver I was offered from the program I wanted to attend. After being in the program, I realize that there was probably little question of me receiving funding once having been accepted. Because of this, I in no way think that I got my funding because of my thank offering. Instead, I think that I was profoundly blessed that God so clearly showed me that all good things come from Him, and the best thing I can do is trust in Him to take care of me. This continues to bring me peace on a daily basis, and I worry about the future a lot less than I used to.<\/p>\n