"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly"
So, I have NEVER been one to balance my checkbook or watch my bank account or budget my money etc. However, this past summer, God really laid it on my heart to be diligent with my money - to be a good steward of what He is giving me. I planned out a budget and started tracking every cent I earned and spent, and I started checking my online account statement daily to make sure that everything was in order. He gave me the grace to do this, and I actually started enjoying it because it kept me on track. For example, once I realized how much money I was wasting on eating out, I cut back, and I saved SO MUCH MONEY by the end of the summer. This has given me money to pursue music lessons and go on retreats and give to different missions organizations, etc.
Fast forward to a few days ago: I was checking my online bank statement, and I saw a mysterious debit from a hotel. I called customer service to report an unauthorized transaction, and they told me not to worry because the hotel had issued a credit in the place of the debit - in other words, they took money from me and immediately gave it right back.
I was still kind of dazed by this event, and I prayed for God to protect my money from any futher charges. I even quoted John 10:10 as I prayed, saying that satan COULD NOT steal my money! I thanked Him for protecting my account from the hotel incident.
Fast forward to this morning: I wake up to an email from my bank asking me to call them immediately because they noticed suspicious activity on my debit card and needed me to verify my transactions. I called, and apparently there was a $150 debit from a grocery store in Florida that occured yesterday, but my card had been declined, so it couldn't go through. PRAISE GOD.
I talked to the woman and explained that I hadn't used my card at the grocery store in Florida or at the hotel a couple of days ago. She immediately froze my card, so now my account is protected from futher misuse. I'll receive a new card in the mail in a few days.
My point through all of this is that I am a victim of identity theft, but God is bigger than a little punk thief named satan who tries to kill, steal, and destroy. Jesus came to protect and restore, and He not only restored my money from the hotel charge, but He protected my money by causing my card to be declined down in Florida. I am SO THANKFUL and SO GRATEFUL to be called a child of God :)
On a side note, I have no idea how my card was compromised.. the only thing I can think of is that I must have used it somewhere online that wasn't as safe as I thought.. so everyone be careful! and trust God! He can and will look after those who are His! So don't fear :)
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