Hello family, this is week three of our Women of Prayer Weekly Devotional and we thank God for bringing us thus far. We pray and hope that this devotional will be useful for you as we all grow in our spiritual walk with the Lord. You will need a journal / notebook /diary / pens and markers. This week's topic is New beginnings - Our Relationship with our Finances. Probably most of you can relate to this but some years ago, every new year I would set a financial plan about how much I intend to spend, save and invest my money but by the third month of the year all that planning would go down the drain. In James 1:14 the Word of God says
"But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire." One thing I know is that our eyes are enticed by nice things we desire, ALL women love to shop and to spend money , at times we spend money that we don’t have. As a matter of fact I’ve gone shopping with my bank balance in my head and when I finish shopping , I take a look at my banking apps and it looks like somebody has robbed me. LOL. You look at the shopping bags and the money that went out and all of a sudden it does not make sense. Well NEWSFLASH it does, when you spend money, money leaves your account and this often leads to problems with Your finances. Sometimes we need to take several steps back and be honest with ourselves and our financial situation. We shouldn’t try and live a life that we cannot afford and at times what we are bringing home or to the table is not enough to sustain a certain lifestyle ,this leads to borrowing and debt and debt that we actually can’t pay which leads to bad credit and financial stress.
SCRIPTURES
Philippians 4:11-13
11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ,[a] who gives me strength.
Luke 14:28-30
For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
Take this time to reflect on your financial situation especially after the past year 2020 that we’ve had and the pandemic that we are still in. We should be able to differentiate between a need and a want because most times the things that we want are things that we probably have but want more of or a better version of. At times those things are temporary things that are just to keep up with the Joneses and they force us to spend outside our means. When we can’t manage our finances we end up stressing ourselves and unable to sleep at night wondering how we are going to make the next bill payment or how we are going to avoid debt collection.
God wants us His children to be financially responsible and have financial freedom. According to Philippians 4:19,The Lord, will meet all our needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus. To achieve financial breakthroughs and freedom Children of God need to know the 3 M'S and exercise them appropriately.
What are the 3 M's?
1.Make
As believers, we should be able to make money legally without compromising our beliefs and faith, for example working or having a business. We should ask God to give us ideas that will generate wealth for us. If we are employed by companies , we should have the best possible positions with the highest paid salaries. We should be the first ones to get the best contracts than those in the world, meeting the right opportunities and destiny changers.
2.Manage
As children of God we should be able to manage our money and live within our means. We should not envy what others have or try to compete with each other ,that we end up living in debt to keep up with the Joneses or to keep up appearances in order to meet the world’s expectations. We should not be borrowing and begging just to survive. We can ask God to bless us ,and He does it in His own time. If God gives you little, and you prove you can manage it well then ,He will give you more. Luke 16:10 Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
3.Multiply
As Christians we have to be able to learn how to multiply what God has given to us. Yes we can make money but we can also multiply that money. We need to pray for discernment to make the right investments to yield a harvest. Just like in Matthew 25:14-30 in The Parable of the Talents.
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Bible Verses - Ecclesiastics 5:10, Romans 13:8 Hebrews 13:5
Prayer
Eternal Savior, I am currently struggling financially and sometimes I know it is my fault. I know that You will meet all my needs according to the riches of Your glory in Christ Jesus. Help me to make, manage and multiply my money .Lord, I pray that You have Your divine way over my money for You know what I need, and I know that only You can provide it. I thank You for my financial breakthrough, financial responsibility and financial management and I trust that it is coming. I release all negative thoughts about money, and know that prosperity is my true state. Father help me learn to manage my finances wisely, seeking help where needed,
Thank you, Jehovah Jireh in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Declaration
I trust You Lord with every part of my life, including my finances. I stand in faith for Your Word to come to pass that all my needs are met according to Your riches in glory by Christ Jesus. I will continue to thank You that those needs are met and that You will provide for me and my family every day of our lives. Lord, we, the Body of Christ, declare that the earth is Yours, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to You. I will trust in You with all my hearts and I will not depend on my own understanding. I will seek Your will in all I do, and I know that You will show me which path to take. I will not place the welfare of my families at risk by making hasty or unwise financial decisions. As ambassadors of Your Kingdom, I take authority over debt, greed, and reckless spending in all forms. In Jesus’ Name, I rebuke the spirit of poverty, and I command that all that God has entitled me to have is released back into my possession right now! I decree that we will not love money, but we will be satisfied with what we have, for Father, You promised that You will never fail us and You will never abandon us. I will no longer be in fear about my financial future, but I will submit to the guidance of the Holy Spirit who understands all things pertaining to life. This is my declaration in Jesus name. Amen.
Next Steps
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what areas of financial stewardship you and your family need to improve so that you can manage your finances and become more financially stable , leading to financial freedom.
NEXT WEEK'S DEVOTIONAL IS ON OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR HEALTH.
KINDLY LIKE, SHARE, COMMENT.HAVE A BLESSED WEEK.
