Daily Devotional for Saturday December 1, 2001

Financial Stress

(Matthew 6:25-33)

***A QUICK NOTE OF THANKS. WHEN MOSES BUILT THE TABERNACLE (EXODUS 25) GOD TOLD HIM TO TELL THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL TO GIVE ACCORDING TO THEIR ABILITY ALL THAT WAS NEEDED. AS GOD MOVED ON PEOPLE'S HEARTS, THEY GAVE AND THE JOB WAS COMPLETED. GOD'S PEOPLE, SUPPORTING GOD'S WORK. THAT IS HOW GOD TOLD ME LIVEPRAYER WOULD BE FINANCED EACH MONTH, SO THAT WE COULD BRING THE HOPE AND LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST TO PEOPLE WORLDWIDE 24/7. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW PROUD MOSES WAS TO WATCH THE PEOPLE RESPOND TO GOD'S CALL. NO PROUDER THAN I AM EACH MONTH AS YOU PRAY AND SACRIFICIALLY GIVE TO SUPPORT THE WORK WE DO HERE AT LIVEPRAYER. THIS IS HOW GOD MEANT IT TO BE. THANK YOU FOR BEING OBEDIENT. THANK YOU FOR BEING FAITHFUL. MAY YOU CONTINUE TO BE RICHLY BLESSED AS YOU FOLLOW HIM EACH DAY!

For many people today, there is much pressure because it is the start of the month. Many struggling with financial commitments they can't meet are dealing with much stress today. Today starts another month and more obligations become due. Giving up seems like the easiest thing to do, but my friend, that is a thought straight from the pits of hell itself. Praying doesn't seem to work. It doesn't look like any miracles are on the horizon. What now? What is the next move?

First of all, praying is NOT in vain and is the first step. The Bible tells us to ask God for wisdom and He will give it to us. Secondly, God has promised in His Word to supply our need so we have to trust that promise and use it as the ope to move forward. Third is the very real, practical situation of unmet obligations. Every situation is different, and the dynamics are unique to where you are at. But here is my suggestion.

Get a legal pad and write down what is essential to day-to-day living. Than write down the other nonessential day-to-day living obligations. Lastly, write down all of the obligations you are delinquent on. On the other side of the legal pad, write down the income you have to work with and any income you will have during the month. The first goal is to make sure the day-to-day essentials are met; then the other obligations for the month. Lastly, you need a plan for the delinquent obligations. Your first goal is to contact the debtor and explain your situation. Most creditors are only interested in getting paid, and as long as you are working towards that, will usually work with you. You need to structure based on your income...or possibly even additional income if you need to take that route...a plan to work down the past due obligations. The bottom line is it will take three things: 1. Wisdom from God, 2) Discipline, 3) Hard work. You didn't get into the problem overnight and won't get out overnight.

I pray that this has helped some of you focus on a problem we get many prayer requests about. God is able...and He will walk with you through this problem to victory!!!