{"id":46,"date":"2015-04-15T19:50:48","date_gmt":"2015-04-15T19:50:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplyfabulous\/?p=46"},"modified":"2015-04-15T20:02:01","modified_gmt":"2015-04-15T20:02:01","slug":"46","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplyfabulous\/2015\/04\/46.html","title":{"rendered":"Financial Faith: Easier Said Then Done?"},"content":{"rendered":"

“And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” \u00a0– Philippians 4:19<\/em><\/p>\n

Take a moment to really read that verse. \u00a0It doesn’t say God will meet some<\/em> of your needs. \u00a0It doesn’t say God might<\/em> meet your needs. \u00a0It says God\u00a0will meet all your needs.<\/strong><\/p>\n

If we as humans feel the need to put our faith in something when it comes to finances, why put it in things that are constantly changing like your job, your bank account, investments or the economy? \u00a0None of these things are dependable or steadfast. \u00a0None of them care about your best interests. \u00a0And most importantly, none of them have promised to meet your needs.<\/p>\n

But God has.<\/p>\n

God is\u00a0dependable.
\n<\/strong>God is\u00a0steadfast.
\n<\/strong>God does\u00a0care about your best interests.
\n<\/strong>God did\u00a0promise to meet your needs.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yet for some reason, it is still difficult for us to relinquish control (or more accurately – perceived control) when it comes to money. \u00a0When we have money, we either want to spend it freely or hold on to it with a vice grip. \u00a0When we don’t have it, we dwell on it and worry about how we can get more. \u00a0But neither of these approaches are how God wants us to handle our finances.<\/p>\n

He wants us to trust Him fully when it comes to money. \u00a0To tithe our first fruits and to trust that He will provide everything we need. \u00a0In fact, He asks us to test Him on it.<\/p>\n

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. \u00a0‘Test me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the flood gates of Heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” \u00a0– Malachi 3:10<\/i><\/p>\n

With a promise such as this, why wouldn’t we trust Him?<\/p>\n

I have struggled with financial stability for the better part of my life. \u00a0I unfortunately started out with credit cards pretty young. \u00a0I inherited a love of shopping from my mother and loved the “high” I’d get from finding a good bargain. \u00a0I also tended to live outside of my means and before long, had enough debt built up that even when I cleaned up my spending habits, I still had the weight of old bills tied to my ankle.<\/p>\n

But after I was able to finally pay off all of those credit cards with a very modest inheritance from my mother last year, God changed my perspective on money. \u00a0It actually wasn’t just about money – it was about life in general. \u00a0He convicted me to lead a “cleaner” life physically, emotionally, spiritually and financially. \u00a0And that included not worrying anymore about money.<\/p>\n

Of course,\u00a0it is still a challenge sometimes. \u00a0When an expense comes up and I’m not sure where the money is going to come from to cover it, my initial reaction is still to worry. \u00a0But… as soon as I feel that worry coming on, I can\u00a0choose<\/em> to stop it and to have faith instead.<\/p>\n

And God has come through for me time and time again. \u00a0Providing additional job opportunities or unexpected blessings at just the right time.<\/p>\n

That’s because He knows what you need before you even need it. \u00a0And He doesn’t depend on interest rates, deadlines or sales goals to provide. \u00a0He will provide\u00a0what\u00a0<\/em>you need,\u00a0when<\/em> you need it.<\/p>\n

All you have to do is trust Him to do so.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” \u00a0– Philippians 4:19 Take a moment to really read that verse. \u00a0It doesn’t say God will meet some of your needs. \u00a0It doesn’t say God might meet your needs. \u00a0It says God\u00a0will meet all your needs. 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