Marie is a friendly, outgoing and accomplished woman. She’s one of those women who you want as your friend. A while back she said to me, “No wonder I never have any money!” That’s when we entered into a great conversation about Marie’s personal finances.
For the first time in decades, Marie had sat down and really figured out how much she consistently earns. And then she added up how much she consistently spends. That was when the “writing on the paper” took her by surprise. She was spending just about every penny that she earned. Plus, she had to admit she had a hard time accounting for a lot of the dollars that had vanished from her accounts.
The truth is, Marie is like most people these days. I’m not sure why, but for some reason personal money management isn’t practiced like it used to be! Of course there are all kinds of reason we could cite for this problem. Maybe it’s because ATM machines, automatic payment plans, and debt cards have caused us to lose the real value of money. I admit, there are times when I don’t use cash for weeks. My debit cards are so convenient. And a lot of my bills are paid by automatic withdrawals.
Perhaps money management went out the window with the “ostrich syndrome.” That’s when you’re struggling with money so much for so long that you just don’t want to deal with it. So you don’t look. You just bury your head and hide from the hard facts. I get that. There was a time when looking at my bills and my bank accounts was just too depressing. I didn’t need the cold, hard facts to bring me down even further!
Or, maybe money management seems too complicated and tedious. Tracking spending? Creating a budget? Sticking to a spending plan? That just may seem too much for some folks.
That’s where Marie was at. She told me she always felt like managing her finances just took too much time. And she didn’t seem to have enough hours in the day as it was. So how could she possibly spend any more time looking at her spending, which she said was a task worse than cleaning the basement or emptying her cat’s litter box!
That’s all fine, except when money becomes a problem. When there’s more month than there are dollars. And when you start wondering how you’re going to ever retire or send your kids to college or pay for your daughter’s wedding.
A recent study by the Pew Charitable Trusts reported that half of American families are spending all the money they make just to pay their regular monthly bills. Middle-class families would spend all their savings in just 21 days without any other income coming in. Plus, they’d use up all of their retirement and investment savings within just four months.
Other studies show that most American are living paycheck to paycheck. Quentin Fottrell reported on Money Watch these sobering facts: “Approximately 62% of Americans have no emergency savings for things such as a $1,000 emergency room visit or a $500 car repair, according to a new survey of 1,000 adults by personal finance website Bankrate.com. Faced with an emergency, they say they would raise the money by reducing spending elsewhere (26%), borrowing from family and/or friends (16%) or using credit cards (12%). “
When we compare these reports with what the Bible has to say, we see a huge gap. One of the names of God is Jehovah Jireh – God the Provider. And throughout the Scriptures we learn of Him caring for His people and blessing them with abundance, financial stability, and even wealth in some cases.
As followers of Jesus Christ, how should we be? Should we be stressed out and struggling with money? Or should we be secure as we trust God for our financial stability and receive the direction and guidance from Him so that we live in the peace, joy and rest Jesus gained for us through His death and resurrection?
One thing I know for sure is that our Lord is orderly. And when our financial matters are disorganized and chaotic, we are not aligned with His ways. That’s what Marie discovered. And even though it stung when she first realized that she was overspending and not being a good steward of the funds God had placed in her hands, she quickly found that with order and with a plan comes peace and hope.
How about you? Are you in the minority with enough in savings. Your financial records are in order. And you don’t have any money stresses?
Or, are you like the majority of men, women and families in America and in other parts of the world? You’re struggling. You know you can do better. And you also can use some pointers and help. You want to learn how to bring God into your money matters and yield to His care.
The answers and even the secrets to managing our finances by using our faith are all found the Scriptures. God wants us to have what we need. He want us to depend on Him for our security. And He wants us to be at peace and secure.
If you would like to learn more about how to integrate your faith in this area of your life, I encourage you to join me for a complimentary mini-class that we created from a live teaching event. Here are the details:
- How to bring the truths of God’s Word into the way you manage your personal finances.
- How to submit yourself to God so that He becomes your very own Financial Adviser
- How to design a personalized spending plan that will get your bills paid on time, relieve anxiety, and move you toward financial stability.
If you want to learn how to integrate your faith with your personal money matters, then I hope you will join me for this time of sharing. I’ll share some of what I learned when I went through a really hard time that you can start using in your life as you continue your own faith journey.
I hope you will join me. Just click on the link above to register.
I really need God as i’m facing difficulties in my finances and sometimes not being able to tithe. I need God in the forefront of my finances and every area. And barely surviving on my paycheck as a single parent is really difficult and now am not meeting my monthly commitments. please help Susan as i refuse to accept my situation because its not my portion. how do i become a lender and never a borrower ever again?
So often we look to our circumstance or opportunities to be our source for financial security. And we know from our own experiences or the experiences of others that they are not always reliable and can even be risky. However, as children of the Most High God, you and I have access to the Creator of all. He is our Source. And when we learn to put our whole trust in Him and then do what He tells us to do, we receive all He wants for us. His blessings include financial security and well-being. He demonstrates it throughout the Scriptures.
Read Deuteronomy 28. It has one of the most clear set of instructions for how to get out of borrowing and into the financial security you desire and that the Lord wants for you, also.
Wow! Its like you were referring to my financial situation. I ‘d like ti be a part of the teaching to learne more about finances and God’s will.
Hi Muhluri,
Just click on the link and it will take you to the intro teachings.
I am a caregiver trying to work part-time and taking classes to upgrade skills. I could very much use this program. Please send it to me via email so I can pri t it out or if you have it in printed form already. It would be great help to me. Ty.
Hi Lenora,
Here is where you can learn about the online teaching course: Your Financial Breakthrough
I would like to ask a question that I truly believe Pastors are not bringing to the for front. In the old testament Malachi 3: 10 talks of bringing tithes to the lord. B
Hi Debra,
Please let us know more . . .
Reviewing steps for the Daniel fast strolled down, as these speaks out to me No Wonder I Never Have Any Money!
Would like to know more, not able to watch during day. but with ever you can email me thankful for. Need help in planning a budget in my finance. Hard for me budget, living from paycheck to paycheck. Something always comes up are you can say the devil just continue appearing. But God does also which gives me with I need from week to week are yr. to yrs. Not letting him devil thank he has my thoughts planned. Thank You
Hi Lorraine,
Just click on this link – Three Steps to Start Getting Your Finances Under God’s Care.
You’ll connect to a free mini-class where I share how you can start getting your finances in order and under God’s care and intervention.
Be blessed
Susan Gregory
I would like to do ur next conf. I am hearing impaired. Do u do close captioned. God blessed
Hi Sharian,
You can now click on the link above to access the teaching!
Be blessed!
Ready To Learn About Money Management Thanks.
I was not able to attend the web lecture. Please inform me of the replay
Thank you
Hi Janice,
You can now click on the link above to access the teaching!
Be blessed!
I just saw this post 🙁 is there another date or a way I can watch the webinar if I didn’t register?
Hi Tiffani,
You can now click on the link above to access the teaching!
Be blessed!
I found that a budget plan, prayer, and consistant god creates the possiblity to be free, if we accept his willing after we obey to honor him as good stewards of his money and time.
Please send me link so I can see the replay
Diane, you will need to register. And then we will send you the link within 48 hours of the live broadcast.
Thanks for your message!
I am in class when these lectures are given,. Do you have a day classes or recordings, so that I can hear the word?
With Kind Regards,
Toyleece. Lucas
The best thing to do is register and then we will send you the details for the replay.
Be blessed!
Thank you so much! I cant wait for the webinar, I find myself using vacation days to stay home and sleep so that I don’t have to come to work hungry because I don’t have money to buy groceries for lunch or dinner. ENOUGH!
Good Morning
Iam so tired of struggling financially and feel so sad that I do not have the facility at home to participate, I however thank God for the priviledge of getting educated and uplifted via email.
Remain blessed
Hilda
Hi Hilda,
We will have a replay. So go ahead and register and then we will send you the link for the replay. You can then watch it at a place that has Internet access.
Be blessed
Hi Susan. My husband and I are currently reading the Daniels fast devotionals and they are amazing. I was wondering if you had any testimonies about the financial course that we can read on just curious
Thanks for your words of encouragement. I am blessed to be able to do this work God called me to in 2007. He is so good.
You can go to this link to read some testimonies: http://danielfastforfinancialbreakthrough.com/testimonies/
Be blessed!
I’m so tired of living paycheck to paycheck! I thank God for the money I do have though. I’m a single parent with two children and I’m supporting them on my own!!! This webinar will be beneficial to me!!
God Bless
I look forward to this teaching. My challenge and struggle is the division on financial management in my marriage. We simply cannot come into agreement as my spouse does not want to align our finances according to God’s word. I need a plan to work on.
Thanks Susan, I think most of us are in more trouble than we are willing to admit. I know I am. I feel myslef sinking further and further. Although I am trying and my debt with credit cards is slowly coming down. I feel really awful when I can’t pay my tithes because of my daily living expenses. I feel guilty. I go to a Church that teaches the Word of God, I go there every week to get fed, and I want to give back, but my bills have the most of me. After I pay the rent, carnote, insurance and other bills, I don’t have any more money to pay tithes. If I pay my tithes first, I won’t have any money to pay my rent or carnote. I tried that before, believing God for my rent and other bills. However, I was not able to pay the rent. Some checks bounced. What do you do?? HELP!!!!!
Hi Karen,
I hope you will be on the call tonight! I totally know how you feel. I’ve been there! But then God showed me His way out. Not systems and answers from the world. But depending on Him as my Provider.
Be blessed, dear one!
Hi, I am in desperate need of GOD’s hand in y finances! I am in NZ thou, just wondering what time would be best suited for me to attend these seminars? Thank you x
Hi Leilani,
It’s best to register for the online class. Then even if you can’t make the live session, we will send you a link for the replay. Then you won’t have to be up in the middle of the night 🙂
Be blessed!
Hi Susan, as with many of the others that replied, I to am very interested in participating in this seminar, because I really need to be under God’s care not only financially but also spiritually. I should be doing much better than I am but I am really struggling right now! I need this!
This sounds like what I need, but I live in South Africa so I won’t be able to participate live. Will the discussion be available later to download?
Yes, there will be a replay. But be sure to register anyway so you receive the notice.
Thank you for posting this message. First, I would like to Thank God for using you as a servant to minister to His people, God bless you Susan. I fall in the category of the majority and would like to change it. I know God promises in His word that He will supply “ALL” of our needs Phil. 4:19 and it’s time for a CHANGE.
I definitely want to get my finance under God’s care.
I’m looking forward to getting back on track, getting out of the pit, getting my focus back on God so I can be the Christian He’s created me to be.
I want to be all that God wants me to be and then some. I, unfortunately will not be able to join you for the complimentary teaching on 2/5/15 as I will be working. If there is a complimentary repeat, please let me know. Thanks.
Yes, no cost and there will be a replay. But be sure to register anyway so you receive the notice.
This time does not work for me because I will be in class. If there is another web seminar offered could you please e-mail me the details?
Thank you,
Brandi Conrad
Yes, there will be a replay. But be sure to register anyway so you receive the notice. We will send it to your email address.
Be blessed.
I registered but have a class from 6-9pm, Please let me know about the replay. Thanks!
Yes, you will receive an email with the replay details.
Be blessed
Hi Susan,
It will not let me register.
Thank You for you help.
Sheila
Hi Sheila,
The event is past, that’s why it wouldn’t let you register. Be sure join our membership list and you’ll be notified of the next one.
Be blessed!
I missed the web lecture Please inform me of the replay
Thank you
Hi Janice,
You can now click on the link above to access the teaching!
Be blessed!
Please send it to my email. Thanks
Hi Melanie,
You can now click on the link above to access the teaching!
Be blessed!
I am tired of living paycheck to paycheck. Looking forward to the teaching.
I have been a widowed for almost 5 years and drawing from my late husband’s social security doesn’t cut it anymore. I’ve been working part time just to make ends meet. I have two beautiful daughters and being a single parent is very hard. I need this more than anything. Please help me get hold of my finances……
I want to be all that God wants me to be; and I definitely want to get my finances in order.
I feel the exact same way. I want to be all that GOD has planned for me to be. So tired of living from paycheck to paycheck.