Achieving Debt-Free Living: God’s Role in Financial Freedom

How do you find freedom from financial worries when you have bills waiting to be paid and you don’t know if you are going to have enough money to buy groceries for your family. I went through several seasons in my life where I was in credit card debt and my husband lost his job. I want to share with you how God helped me to get out of debt and how he gave me financial freedom.

TIPS TO HELP IF YOU ARE IN FINANCIAL DEBT

I tried many things to help with my finances. And here a few of them.

Tip #1 I used a consolidation firm (a company that puts all your bills into one bill. Then they cut your bill in half by talking with the credit card companies and negoitating a new payment amount – I recommend finding one).

Tip #2 I also was very stingy with my spending. My motto was if I couldn’t pay cash for it then I didn’t need to buy it!

Tip #3 I also found ways that I could cut back on my phone, utility, and cable bills.

Tip #4 I still was able to save back a little money from each paycheck. Even if it was only 5 dollars I still put that away in my savings account. Then I had that money for emergencies.

Tip #5 When it came to grocery shopping I only bought the food to make my meals. I didn’t buy anything extra or snack foods. I stuck to my grocery list. Also don’t go to the grocery store hungry. This tip alone will save you money.

Tip #6 You can initially use Dave Ramseys plan of attack when it comes to credit card debt. What you do is pay off the credit card with the least amount that you owe. While paying minimum on the other cards. Then when that one credit card is paid off, you will then take all that money you were using to pay on that card and put it toward the next card that has the lowest amount that you owe. While paying minimum on the other cards. Then when that one credit card is paid off, you will then take all that money and put it toward the next card. You will continue this until all cards are paid. This is called the snow ball effect.

It took me a total of 3 years to get myself out of debt using the tips mentioned above. If you stick to a plan and spend your money wisely I believe you too can get yourself out of debt.

HOW GOD CAN GIVE YOU FINANCIAL FREEDOM?

But God doesn’t want you to worry about such things.

In Matthew 6: 31-34 He says, "So do not worry, saying what shall we eat? or what shall we drink? or what shall we wear? For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

There is something that is mentioned in the verse above that will help you in finding freedom. It says to “seek first his kingdom”. If you were to put God first, think of him first, ask of him first and put him before everything else, then this world won’t rob you of the peace that God wants to give you. Let me show you how you can do that.

MY STORY

In 2002, God gave me a test to see if I would obey. I was to give to a charity monthly. Now I was trying to get out of debt and I didn’t have the money to be giving away. Both my husband and I had low paying jobs and money was tight. But God still wanted me to give to this charity every month. So I obeyed.

I was waitressing at my parents restaurant at the time and every time I had a bill that was due or when I was to pay the charity, I would pray to God for help in paying what we owed. I would then go to work and we would be very busy that night. I would always bring home enough money to pay for those bills that was due. I did this every time a bill was due. And the restaurant was always busy on those days I prayed. I relied on God to provide and he most certainly did.

In 2021, my husband lost his job. His job paid all the bills. I wasn’t working at the time and my mind began to worry about how I was going to pay the bills. My husband and I prayed and we both started looking for work. In the meantime God made sure that the bills were paid and there was food on the table and a roof over our heads. I don’t know how he did it. But God never let us down and he always provided.

TRUSTING GOD

I am reminded that fear is from the enemy not from God.

God does not give us a spirit of fear, but of peace, love, and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)

Whenever the enemy wants to rob me of my peace I can repeat these verses out loud.

 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I now give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:7)

And Joshua 1:9 which says, "Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you where ever you go." 

Another word for discouraged is to look around in terror or to be anxious. And in this particular chapter in Joshua, the Lord mentions to “not be afraid” three times! That just goes to show you that God does not want you to worry or to be afraid.

But it is so hard to not worry.

Worry says that I don’t trust God. It’s saying that I am in control and that God can not handle my problems.

Oh, father please forgive me for not trusting or believing you have everything under control.

The bible says in Hebrews 13:5 to let your character be free of the love of money (including greed, lust, and craving of earthly possessions). And to be satisfied with your present circumstances for He said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support.

Did you catch that? God says He will not leave you without giving you support.

God knows what will happen before it even happens! He knew that my husband would lose his job. He knew that I had a mortgage payment and utilities due. But that doesn’t mean I just sat around and waited for God to make his move. No, I do my part in searching for a new job, and then I let God do the rest.

I must not forget that He tells me that not in any way will He fail me. Do not be afraid!

CONCLUSION

Trusting is hard. But if you can remember to repeat those verses I mentioned when the negative thoughts crowd your mind. Then the enemy doesn’t stand a chance. And the more you repeat God’s promises the more peace you will have.

If you are in financial debt and would like someone to pray for you or give you some ideas on how to get out of debt please leave a comment below and share your story. Let’s be an encouragement to each other!

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