In the last few days, at different times my heart has been stirred. Stirred to obey God is sowing seed or to obey God in doing a faith act in some way. This has caused me to think about the widow woman with the two mites in the New Testament.
Looking up, [Jesus] saw the rich people putting their gifts into the treasury. And He saw also a poor widow putting in two mites (copper coins). And He said, Truly I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; For they all gave out of their abundance (their surplus); but she has contributed out of her lack and her want, putting in all that she had on which to live. (Luke 21:1-4 AMP)
It wasn’t her tithe; it was her offering.
She wasn’t giving because she had more than enough – no, she was giving out of lack. What does that mean? It means she didn’t have it to give. Those precious copper coins that dropped down into the bucket was the money she had to live on. Jesus said it was all she had to live on. If it was all she had to live on, why then did she give it?
I think I found the answer to that in Exodus 35:21.
Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the Lord’s offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments.
The word, stirred, is defined as agitated or put into action. While digging into the words in this scripture I found it is the Holy Spirit who stirs us to action by breathing upon us…by putting the desire to give in our hearts.
I have felt that many times before, haven’t you?
I have been in church services and even in Walmart when the Holy Spirit would breathe on me and compel me to give to someone. I couldn’t explain it at the time, but I had an urge, an intense desire to give into the person or situation. I knew it was God and I gave. Just like the widow woman that day.
The Holy Spirit apparently breathed on her, and she gave – even though it was all she had left to live on. She walked in with lack and walked out blessed. So much so that Jesus, Himself, took notice and then showed all the disciples.
Let’s look at another time the Bible talks about being stirred.
For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. (John 5:4)
When things are stirred by the Spirit of God, something happens – every single time. Just a few weeks ago my heart was stirred to add something to my prayer board. It had to do with the restoration of a relationship. I obeyed quickly. Less than two weeks later, that relationship was completely restored. I’m telling you, when God stirs hearts it is because He has something wonderful planned.
Today I want to encourage you. If your heart is stirred to give – obey. Do it. Know that it is God stirring you through the power of the Holy Spirit. If God stirs you to call and encourage someone, don’t hesitate. If He encourages you to jump up and dance, just do it! Know that when something is stirred, and YOU STEP INTO IT something happens. God blesses those who obey the stirrings. May we all quickly obey the stirrings of the Lord, no matter what they may be.
Kim Potter
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