Daily Devotional for Friday February 28, 2003
For Many People there is Much Pressure at the End of the Month
(Matthew 6:25-33 )
For many people today, there is much pressure because it is the end of the month. Many struggling with financial commitments they can't meet are dealing with much stress today. Today ends another month and tomorrow 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 hope 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, as you probably have, and write down what is essential to day to day living. Then write down the other non-essential 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 essential are met. After that,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 structures 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. But God will see you through this valley.
I love you and care about you so much. I pray that this has helped some of you focus on a problem we get many prayer requests about. Very few people get into financial problems overnight, and very few people will get out of them overnight. But with the wisdom God can give you, being disciplined, and working hard each day, YOU WILL BE VICTORIOUS!!!
In His love and service, Your friend and brother in Christ, Bill Keller