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An article on how having unforgiveness in your life can block financial blessings

Is Unforgiveness Blocking Your Finances?
by Joyce Shoemaker

When I was growing up, and as far back as I can remember, all I ever wanted to do with my life was be a homemaker who was at home raising my children and serving my family. After I was married and we had our first child, I thought that this would be the time for me to live my dream. I had truly purposed in my heart to get out of the Air Force and join in the defense of my Country by applying for and joining Civil Service, with the ultimate goal of staying home after the baby was born.

As we departed our overseas duty location, little did I realize that my husband did not share in my dream of being a homemaker. I became aware of the fact that he was not comfortable with my decision and my dream to stay home and raise our children was squashed!

This denial of my dream began a 19 year journey of unforgiveness. It eventually developed into a root of bitterness and after attending a 14-week Married for Life course, I recognized the damage my unmet dream had caused to our marriage. I purposed to forgive. But it wasn’t until several years later when we began the journey of teaching the Financial Freedom in 7 Weeks Plus Course, co-authored by Bill & Maureen Sitter, did we come to realize just how much the unforgiveness was still rooted in our marriage and how it was affecting our finances. Sure, we were tithing, but we weren’t seeing the full promise of Malachi 3:8-12, (NKJ) which says: “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, How do we rob you? In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse – the whole nation of you – because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit, says the Lord Almighty. Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land, says the Lord Almighty.”

Once I dealt with the unforgiveness and we aligned our financial picture to reflect the freewill giving of offerings (above the full 10% tithe) and the sowing of alms, for the poor did Malachi come alive in our finances. God has truly rebuked the devourer on our behalf and is pouring out a blessing. We’re giving more than we’ve ever given. We’re able to respond to the financial call for God’s Kingdom, and the more we cheerfully give, the more God blesses us! It started with unforgiveness, and it continues with forgiving and being faithful, good stewards with what God is entrusting to us for His Kingdom Glory!