A 2005 Ford Focus sedan is not what most young men returning from college would dream of driving. I certainly was not. The Focus’s only redeeming feature seemed to be the five-speed manual transmission. With a manual, it might not feel as slow as it really was. I was far more interested in an American V8 powered short-bed 4x4 pickup truck.

However, since I was just returning home after graduating from Herbert W. Armstrong College, I had more important priorities to consider than just the better looks and sound of the pickup. I needed to be saving in earnest to get established and find a place to live. I was also looking forward to marriage counseling and supporting my future wife. In addition to that, I was also beginning a third-tithe year. All these factors made it even more critical that I find a reliable, affordable vehicle.

I prayed for wisdom in looking for the right car. My father and I test-drove and inspected several candidates–each one clearly needed to be ruled out. Then we came to the 2005 Ford Focus. It was plain. It had roll up windows, a small engine and a stick shift. But it did not have any damage, leaks or obvious signs of looming problems. Later I would learn it was the perfect vehicle to remind me of God’s power to answer prayers.

Shortly after purchasing the Focus, I remember one very specific prayer for its longevity. Going into a third-tithe year, it was clear I would not have a lot of money for repairs if anything were to break down. I asked God to keep it driving with no major repairs as there simply would not be money to fix it. I knew God’s promise in Malachi 3:10; “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”

I asked God to prevent any major malfunctions during this period. Over the coming months, the little Ford Focus kept driving. Admittedly, as I came closer to the end of that third-tithe year, I had all but forgotten about making that request in prayer to God. The Focus never gave me any problems. No break downs. No strange noises. No issues at all.

My third-tithe year would come to an end after the Feast of Tabernacles. A week or two before the Feast, I noticed steam coming out from under the hood as I parked at work one morning. Overheating engines are never a good or inexpensive sign. My heart started beating with more force. An uncomfortable gut feeling began to spread. How much is this going to cost? I didn’t have time to investigate the issue as work was about to start. I left the car to cool down in the parking lot until the end of the workday.

After work I lifted the hood to check the coolant levels. It was still full! I couldn’t see any leaks. There were no puddles under the car. Whatever caused the steam must have been a miniscule pinhole. I decided to drive it home and see what happened. Once I pulled into my parking spot at home, I opened the hood once again. The problem was immediately clear. A small tube about a quarter inch in diameter, running from the coolant reservoir, was hissing and letting out a tiny jet of steam. I got a ride to the closest auto parts store to buy a short section of hose and a clamp. It cost just under $10. After about 10 minutes, the faulty section of hose was replaced and the problem solved.

It didn’t occur to me at first, but after telling my wife how simple and inexpensive the repair was, my prayer from roughly a year earlier came to mind. God had answered! It was almost as if He allowed this tiny hose to spring a leak just to remind me that He is faithful to His promises (Hebrews 10:23). We thanked God for the obvious miracle and for having kept us from expensive car repairs for the entire third tithe year.

Would I have remembered to be so grateful if this tiny leak never occurred? I don’t think so. That was another lesson. It was a reminder to be more grateful by continually praising and thanking God (Philippians 4:6). Not only did God prevent major repairs during that third-tithe year, but aside from oil changes and replacing worn-out tires a couple years later, that was the only part we ever had to replace while we owned that car!

To this day, our old third-tithe Focus serves as a monument in our lives to remember God’s ability and willingness to “rebuke the devourer” (Malachi 3:11). It is a reminder that God truly will pour out blessings if we prove Him by obeying His laws of tithing.