God's Provision: Housing

Mathew 6:25, 33 Because of this, I say to you, Do not be anxious for your life, what you should eat or what you should drink; nor for your body, what you should put on. Is not the life more than food, and the body than clothing?But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

The Lord has been faithful in taking care of my housing since the time I got married. I never imagined that I could live in a millennium metropolitan city like Gurugram where the cost of living, especially house rent, is significantly high. It has been more than twelve years now, the faithful Lord's promise of "all these things" to be added to me has been true. Sometimes, I wonder how the Lord marvelously placed me in this city and has been faithfully supplying all my needs! House rent in a posh area of a millennium city and school fees are very high for three children, and many other day to day expenses. Despite all these, I praise and worship the Lord for His timely and faithful provision.

Since all that I have are from the Lord, I also do not want to waste any of the Lord's provision. I plan wisely and consider carefully for any expense and try my best not to over expend on anything. It is such a blessing to live and limit within the Lord's supply. Whenever there is an increase in any expense, I tried my best to avoid or reduce it as much as possible.

Recently, I even wrote to the school Principal of my children to consider a concession or discounts on siblings. She was faithful to tell me that she just joined the school and since the school has no discount policy she promised to take it up to the management for consideration. To my surprise, in the new academic year, the school provides a discount of 7% for siblings. Not too sure if this was done because of my request to the school, anyway, this is how I manage the expenses.

With the turn of a new financial year, my house owner proposed an increase of 10%. I kindly requested him to keep the same rent without any further increase and expressed my feeling to him over phone call and face to face talk. Then, he reconsidered and wrote to me the reduction he made to 5%, with a calculation of 2.5% increase per annum as he did not increase the last two financial years.  When I got the proposal for increment, I really considered relocation with a lesser rent. In fact, one night I had a strong burden to pray for a permanent relief from paying house rent month by month, year by year. But to buy a house in the city of Gurugram is beyond imagination. Only if the Lord miraculously provides, that is the only possible way to own a house in this city. I simply released my burden to the Lord that if He so wills, He may provide according to what He deems best.

When this thought of relocation was filling my mind, I considered and prayed if I should go ahead. My feeling was, I did not pay any lesser rent than anyone who lives in a better house. The main reason why I am still in the same house is, the Lord placed my family here and never gave me the leading to relocate. I have tried to relocate a couple of times, but every time the Lord did not lead me to go ahead. Even this time, I seriously tried to relocate, but the Lord spoke to me clearly that "I do not have my own choice, and it is a blessing not to have my own choice." This word came as I was listening to a Life-Study Radio Broadcast with brother Ron Kangas speaking. I really did not have my own choice. I simply submit to the Lord and continue to stay in the same house with an agreement to pay an increase in house rent. I trust in the Lord's simply word, He will take care of the increment too.

On the positive side, this house has been a blessing to my family; my children have an emotional connection to this house and would not like to relocate even if it is to a better house. This house has also been useful for the church meeting especially on Lord's days when the church meeting is held on the ground floor, my house will be for children's meeting and for the saints to take rest. It is also the best option for my office work as the office is on the ground floor and my brothers can easily take care of all the office works just like taking care of a house. This is indeed the housing the Lord has provided, and I have been living here for more than ten years now. I have been learning a lot spiritually, simply by staying in this house the Lord has provided. Praise the Lord for his provision of housing! 

What a blessing to be able to live by faith and trust the Lord!