A Fasting And Financial Miracle - Soul Choice Ministries

I want to encourage you with this true story. If you find yourself in a desperate financial situation—as I was years ago—this will give you hope and fill your heart with faith to believe that God wants to rescue you, and He is faithful to perform His Word.

Years ago, I was reading my Bible, as I do each day. The Holy Spirit highlighted a verse of Scripture to me. It brought me understanding and direction when I desperately needed it.

Psalm 119:130
The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.

Proverbs 6:23
For the commandment is a lamp, And the law a light.

Back in 1990, I needed a large amount of money to pay the IRS. I had paid my quarterly estimates but ended up owing a large amount in addition. I had expanded my business that year and wasn’t counting on owing an additional $45,000 in taxes.

Now, I had always paid my taxes right on time every year, but that year the IRS wrote and said that I had only two weeks to pay the amount. That was unreasonable, but they wouldn’t negotiate. I had no escrows pending at the time, no savings—so where would I get that much so quickly? Keep in mind, this was back when $45,000 was a lot of money!

So I needed money quickly. I prayed, of course. God’s Word brought the light—or understanding—which led me to a specific promise in the Bible. I felt led to do an Isaiah 58 fast.

Isaiah 58:8
Is this not the fast that I have chosen…
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him…
Then your light shall break forth like the morning…
Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’

Well, I asked Him for the money.

The first day of my three-day fast, I went and bought food and took some of my nicer clothes to the Christian mission to donate. I also gave money to the church I was attending, designating it for their homeless program. I didn’t take the poor into my home because at that time I was single and living in a studio apartment—and it’s not wise to do that today.

Later that day, I received a call from a past client who just wanted to say hello. He mentioned that he had been looking for six months to purchase a home on the ocean in Laguna Beach. I said, “Why didn’t you ask me to look for you?”

He replied, “Bill, you don’t work the oceanfront. You need to work with those who have the inside scoop, as it’s hard to get a good oceanfront home. I’ve looked for six months with the top agents in that area and have seen everything on the market—but there’s nothing good available.”

I said, “Well, if I find you something you haven’t seen, will you go with me to see it?”
He said, “Sure.”

So I went immediately to look. After a day of searching, I called him and gave him a list of all the homes I thought might be suitable. He had seen them all—except one. It was a historical landmark home, the Bette Davis Estate in Laguna Beach. No one had shown it to him because it was a historical landmark and needed a ton of work—it was built in 1929. We went and looked. As soon as we walked in the door, he loved it. He said, “I want it, and I’ll pay all cash—but I have to close escrow in two weeks. Can you do that, Bill?”

I said, “I think I can do that—sure, I can get it all done.” We closed in two weeks—the very day the IRS called me. I took the $45,000 right to their office. My commission was $54,000, which left enough to tithe and give an offering. God came through right to the day!

Now, what are the chances my client would call me on the first day of the fast, mention he was looking for a home, that he hadn’t seen the one home I found, and that he would pay all cash and want to close in two weeks? There’s no chance all that would occur by coincidence. The Holy Spirit directed me to do that particular fast.

God is so faithful! He has always provided, guided, and helped me for 55 years now. He will help you, no matter how long you’ve walked with Him. You could be a brand-new Christian, hear His voice or sense His direction, and benefit from it.

We cannot earn anything from God, as every good thing comes from Him and is a gift we don’t deserve. But at the same time, He instructs us to obey His Word. Part of obeying His Word is to tithe and give offerings, feed the poor, and share the Gospel with them. God examines our hearts and sees when we take a step to trust Him with our finances. It’s our choice—but neglecting this area results in missing out on some of His blessings.

I remember the first year I tithed—my income increased substantially. Each year, it continued to increase. As for reading the Bible, start with only 15 minutes a day. You’ll start growing spiritually and see His hand increasing upon your life. You’ll begin having favor everywhere you go. You’ll become encouraged and want to spend more time getting to know our Lord and Savior, Jesus. He is always faithful to reward those who pursue Him.

Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

God will reward you for your desire to know and obey Him—no matter who you are. And if you’ve done some terrible things, repent and ask God to forgive you. He loves you and desires to help you.

So if you’re facing a challenge, don’t just bear under the weight of it. Pray, possibly fast, and trust the Lord for answers. He is faithful. Feed on His faithfulness.