The Wind In Our Sails

“I will go before you and level the mountains [to make the crooked places straight]; I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut asunder the bars of iron.” (Isaiah 45:2). That was God’s promise to His anointed, Cyrus. We can also believe the Lord will make a way for us, to blow the wind into our sails towards retiring our debts.

In our own household just a few months after we committed to becoming debt-free, my manager called me into her office, she was concerned if I was unhappy there and seemed concerned I may be leaving the company – neither of which was the case. A few minutes later I was assigned some very minor duties and given more than a 10% raise, a most unexpected blessing.

How do you think that thought came to my manager? The Lord has a history of such things, in Judges 8 God gave Gideon a miraculous victory over the Midianites when He caused confusion amongst themselves and many of them slew each other and others fled in the darkness.

At this same time my wife Karen worked for the county government, and out of the blue the county reclassified her position upward which amounted to a 15% raise – a most surprising action given the strict structure of government pay. We both knew and were thankful that it was the Lord’s hand moving on our behalf to accelerate becoming free of debt.

After becoming debt-free we began teaching the principles and scriptures in many churches. One of the most inspiring influences we receive is getting word back from those who attended the class of how God has moved on their behalf.

One woman was a manager for a camera store chain, she had applied for a raise for one of her employees. Her boss came back and said “you’re not being paid enough” and gave her an immediate raise. She was so excited to share the news of God blessing her, and how she could pay down her credit card with this money.

We have heard back testimonies from many people being blessed from the Lord once they set their minds on becoming debt-free. People who have paid off credit cards, cars, boats and homes – all thankful to the Lord for blessing them in ways only He can do.

In Acts 10:34 Peter shares that “God is no respecter of persons…” You can be assured that He will respond to your faith in Him, just as He has to others. We can take comfort in Hebrews 11:6, which states that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].

Expand your faith towards the Lord to move on your behalf in the area of finances. Take this last thought with you from Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.”

One Step Closer

Can you recall your amount of debt and stress over finances from one, three or five years ago? How does that compare with today? Are you one step closer or further to freedom from debt? Many are in a more challenging place today than before. It is vital to recognize two things at work: our level of contentment relating to our spending beyond needs and the power of compound interest.

Paul wrote in I Timothy 6 that godliness accompanied with contentment is great gain. He also said if we have food and clothing, we shall be content. Paul shared this wisdom because he knew how the trap of placing material things above God leads to ruin. He also revealed in Philippians 4 that his inward strength comes directly from Christ, enabling him to live under all circumstances.

Do we consider that loving tether coming from the Lord that provides contentment when certain optional purchase decisions are in front of us? Is it possible we sometimes over dramatize that we must have something (or have it now instead of later) to be happy? Many feel if they just made more they would get ahead, but when they get more money frequently people just get deeper in debt with larger bills. This is why even many households with large incomes end up filing for bankruptcy.

Just one example of the power of compound interest: did you know that a purchase of a sofa for $2,000 on a typical credit card at 18% interest and in paying just the minimum monthly requirement can leave you paying over $8,000 over decades to finally pay it off? It can feel like we are shackled to the bills which arrive and moving one step further away every year. This is why Proverbs 22 warns us that “the borrower is servant to the lender”.

It is by the power of compound interest working against us every day that makes it harder each year to get ahead – unless we choose stop the bleeding. Make a decision to only use your credit cards for what you can pay off by the end of this next month. It is important is to move away from impulsively using your credit card as the first response when you see something. Ask the Lord to provide contentment and wisdom to operate this way.

For a larger item, you may find you can locate it for less (on Craigslist for example), save up to make the purchase with cash, or you might eventually decide you can do without the item after all. By having patience, there is also the opportunity for the Lord to overtake you with a blessing of what you are seeking. If we get on and stay on this path, we will find ourselves one step closer a year from now.

Lastly, take away this thought from Paul in Philippians 4, and know that the Lord will hear your prayer… “Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.”

God bless you and may He show Himself greatly to you,

Paul

From God’s Point Of View

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9). Our Heavenly Father has a higher way for us in every area of life, with debt and finances one of those areas He desires for us to experience the blessings of obedience in following His way.

God speaks wisdom to us because He knows all things. Isaiah 46:10 says “Declaring the end and the result from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure and purpose”. We may think we know a better way for our finances, but only God sees the future – even specifically for each of us, and will lead us in the right path to take.

Can you imagine there being any debt or lack in Heaven? Of course not… there will be only abundance and giving, as that is consistent with the loving character of our Lord. Jesus said that He came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. The book of 2 Peter speaks about the divine nature that He desires we become partakers of, it’s described as coming through the full personal knowledge of Him Who called us.

God wants you to know two key things in this area; to be obedient to His Word in finances and to have faith to see His power at work. Proverbs 22 instructs us not to pledge ourselves or to be security for another’s debts. He also states in Proverbs 3 we should not withhold good to whom it is due when we have it available. We should seek to reduce and eventually get out from our debts as soon as possible.

By your faith to honor God and put your trust in Him with in your finances - by first giving to Him in tithes and offerings, then in being good stewards of the increase He brings to you, and seeking to cheerfully give generously unto others – you will be personally enriched and blessed by Him. That is promised to us in Proverbs 28:25.

If you’ve had fear to trust God in the area of finances, please open your heart to this last thought and invitation found in Psalm 34, “O taste and see that the Lord our God is good! Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts and takes refuge in Him”.

God bless you and may He show Himself greatly to you,

Paul

All That God Has For You

Switching gears this time, rather than focusing on freedom from debt, we’ll highlight what God’s Word says about being the best you can be in earning a living, as this will also benefit our finances.

God desires for us to increase our learning throughout our lives, Proverbs 18:15 says “The mind of the prudent is ever getting knowledge, and the ear of the wise is ever seeking (inquiring for and craving) knowledge.” This applies to us whether we are still in school, learning a trade, or a seasoned and experienced employee. We can always gain more knowledge which will increase our value in the workplace.

Many times in the Word God confirms to us the relationship of work to sustaining ourselves. From the basic - The appetite of the laborer works for him, for [the need of] his mouth urges him on (Proverbs 16:26), to the more obvious - In all labor there is profit, but idle talk leads only to poverty (Proverbs 14:23).

Once in the workplace, believers in Christ have the opportunity to let their light shine by following God’s direction for them. Colossians 3:23 encourages us “Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and not for men.” We see also that enlightened focus in Ephesians 6:5 “Servants (slaves), be obedient to those who are your physical masters, having respect for them and eager concern to please them, in singleness of motive and with all your heart, as [service] to Christ [Himself].”

God is honored in our work when we seek to do our best every day, inspired by working unto Him, that effort will undoubtedly stand out from among the crowd. Proverbs 22:29 states “Do you see a man diligent and skillful in his business? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.”

As a result of our inspired commitment in working as unto the Lord, we can expect our efforts to be blessed – both in responsibility and financial increase. We also can take comfort in what the Lord says about our state, “The blessing of the Lord—it makes [truly] rich, and He adds no sorrow with it [neither does toiling increase it].” (Proverbs 10:22)

God bless you and may He show Himself greatly to you,

Paul

Listening For God’s Voice

So you want to get out of debt. Wouldn’t it be beneficial if there was someone to accompany you everywhere and provide guidance whenever you need it most? God specifically made that provision for you, by His precious Holy Spirit.

Jesus said “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever—“ (John 14:16) There are numerous accounts in the Bible of God’s people overcoming famines, making wise choices and prospering when they listened to His voice and obeyed the direction given.

God can provide His direction for us in a moment’s notice in the marketplace, in times of reading and meditating on His Word, when we spend time alone with Him. What is important is that we are actively listening for Him – for He is always there. John 14:17 concludes about the Holy Spirit “But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you.”

You may question “what if I don’t understand His voice?”, or respond that “I hear different voices at times”. If your cell phone has poor reception, you try to get outside or up higher, right? That’s to get closer to the transmitter’s signal, it’s the same action here. As we read and absorb God’s Word on a regular basis, our ability to recognize God’s voice will grow because what He says will always line up with what is written in His Word.

Psalm 119:105 tells us “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path”. What a beautiful and accurate description! Stop and consider that God has created the whole universe and knows all in the past, present and future. God loves you and wants to light your way in each and every path of your life, with this area of debt and finances one of those paths.

God will speak to us – as will the enemy. The enemy says “you can have this now”, God says “wait for it”. The enemy says “you deserve this”, God says “I will satisfy all of your needs”. I encourage you to pause and listen for God’s direction on purchases in the marketplace and especially major decisions with finances. Many times He will lead you to something better in His timing and also strengthen your confidence when you do make that purchase.

God bless you and me He show Himself greatly you

Paul

Steps Towards Freedom

We know the account in God’s Word of David slaying Goliath (1 Samuel 17), a monumental victory for God’s people. It is important to understand how David’s faith in God grew to be vividly demonstrated at this point. He states in the middle of the chapter that when he kept his father’s sheep, and a lion or bear took a lamb from the flock, that he went after it, smote it and delivered the lamb out its mouth. He also declares the Lord delivered him from the paw of the lion and bear.

David’s early victories in these and other situations gave him the confidence the Lord was with him. Our battle towards freedom from debt can trace these same steps. We first need to be strengthened by recognizing it is the Lord’s will for us to be free of debt. Romans 13:8 instructs us to “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another…” You may have a stack of bills that seem daunting, but recognize that David did not slay Goliath without first increasing his faith.

First, recognize that your current debt load resulted from spending more than you make, and decide some changes are needed to turn it around. Place your household on a spending “diet” or even a “fast” towards discretionary spending for the next month or two. This will allow you some breathing room, resulting in available funds to reduce your debt load.

Now target the funds available to your smallest debt while only making the minimum payment required on your other debts. Stay focused on this first debt through to its pay-off, this is like slaying that first lion as David did. Then the next month you now have both the extra amount you were paying that debt down with and the minimum payment available you previously had to use—go and take these funds and use them to pay-off the next smallest debt. You will be slaying that second bear just like David.

Your faith in God will strengthen in this process, as He blesses your faithfulness to reduce these debts. By paying off one car, you will have the funds available to eliminate the payments of the second car and when those are gone you will be able to retire that last Goliath—your mortgage. This has been proven to be possible in a relatively short amount of years if you stay with it.

The most important thing is to start… now. Not next week, not next month. The enemy will provide a thousand excuses why now is not the time to address this, because the enemy knows what a difference it makes in a believer’s life to be progressing out of debt and the result of when they achieve it. They are able to be a greater blessing to God’s Kingdom and are a testimony to those around them.

God bless you and may He show Himself greatly to you,

Paul

The Truth About Our Finances

The Word tells us that God is Truth, and how He desires for us to live in truth, “Behold, You desire truth in the inner being; make me therefore to know wisdom in my inmost heart” (Psalm 51:6). Have we considered how this relates to our finances?

The tools of the marketplace scream to us that we can have it all now, but then what happens when those bills become due? How is your financial condition today compared with a year ago? Are you deeper in debt… with less savings? Sometimes an emergency with our car, home, or medical need can trip us up, but is our normal spending at a rate that if any wrinkle occurs we end up deeper in debt?

The solution is found in Proverbs 21:20, “There are precious treasures and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a self-confident and foolish man swallows it up and wastes it”. God’s Word is simply telling us to spend less than what we make, that is the truth speaking to us. We frequently deceive ourselves that we can have many discretionary purchases now with no consequences ahead. That is a lie which becomes more visible when the bills arrive each month.

Visible – review your recent credit card and other bills, look for the purchases made that were optional or excessive, and what affect they had on your ability to be ahead at the end of the month, to spend less than what you made. Make a truthful assessment of how important it is for you to have that item instead of the peace knowing you can meet your obligations and even emergencies that could arise.

Invisible – Ask the Lord to provide wisdom for you the next time you are confronted with making a discretionary purchase, whether large or small. We can expect His direction continually – “You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to honor and glory” (Psalm 73:24). By starting to listen for and respond to His guidance in this area, we can also more clearly hear His voice in other areas as well.

God bless you and may He show Himself greatly to you,

Paul