Sometimes, there is not enough money to make ends meet, much less afford any luxuries.
People may tell us to do a budget, and we chuckle. The expenses we need to pay for survival surpass the income.
We look at the situation; shake our heads, and say, "No way."
Many of us have had to live through these situations. This is not the time to panic; this is not the time to despair.
Panic and desperation will lead to bad judgment and desperate moves. This is the time to substitute faith for fear. This is the time to trust God to meet our needs.
Take life one day and one need at a time. Use your survival skills positively. Know your possibilities are not limited by the past or by your present circumstances.
Examine any blocks that might be stopping the flow of money in your life. Do you have an attitude, an issue, a lesson that might be yours to change or learn?
Maybe the lesson is a simple one of faith. In Biblical times, it is said that Jesus walked on the water. It is said His followers could, too, but the moment they let fear take over, they sank.
During financial hard times, we can learn to "walk on water" with money issues. If we make out a budget, and there's not enough money to survive and pay legitimate expenses, do your best, then let go. Trust your Source to supply your needs. If an emergency arises, and there is no cash to meet the need, look beyond your wallet. Look to your Source. Claim a Divine supply, an unlimited supply, for all that you need.
Do your part. Strive for an attitude of financial responsibility in thought and action. Ask for Divine Wisdom. Listen to God's leadings. Then let go of your fears and your need to control.
We know that money is a necessary part of being alive and living; so does our Higher Power.
God, bring any blocks and barriers within me concerning money to the surface. Help me take care of myself financially. If money is tight, I will dispel fear and learn to "walk on water" concerning finance issues. I will not use this attitude to justify irresponsibility. I will do my part, including letting go of fear and trusting you to do the rest.
From The Language of Letting Go
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss
That's some pretty good stuff there but I'd like to add. I was complaining to my first sponsor about lack of work as I was starting a new business. I was concerned because the phone was not ringing and that some of the people that I was trying to sell my wood decks to appeared not to like me. That bothered me because deep down I want everyone to like me.
My sponsor said the "staying sober Was our primary purpose, but not our only purpose." When I asked what he meant by that that he said "Your higher power wants you to work!". So then I asked him if it was ok to pray for the opportunity to work? And he said of course it is. Well a couple of decades have passed since then and I'm still self employed and every year work gets slow and I get to the point (after beating head against wall a few times) that I pray for work. That day or the next day the phone rings off the hook and I'm selling and booking work for months in advance. Knowing this full well I am still reluctant to pray about it regularly. Pray For Work!
As for the concern I had about people not liking me, he said that there was no way to control that. At that time I had longer hair, rode a motorcycle and was was in my twenties. My sponsor pointed out all of those features could be naturally disliked by others, include race gender, color of hair.... but the less targets I gave them the less prejudice would result from it. This was the first time that I realized that in my efforts to be "unique" I was giving others an opportunity to dislike my "uniqueness". So I cut my hair, stopped riding my bike to appointments, dressed very conservatively, and kept my personal business (and opinions) to myself and it has worked very well for me.
Great Subject! My husband and I have just walked through one of the most difficult financial hardships since we married 12 years ago.
My husband lost his job! He wasn't able to get another job for exactly 3 months and 29 days. We had drawn closer to GOD in those almost 4 months than we had been together in all the time we had been married. We know that our TRIALS were because of Disobedience to GOD.
Even with our finances being tested. ALmost all of our savings, 401k, and some bonds that were being depleted down to almost nothing. My temperment was not that great, and I pray that in other trials I will do much better. We still TITHED to GOD which is first in our lives. Finding that GOD is, should, and has to be, Numero uno was a journey that took way to long. We robbed GOD of his money for many years and we weren't Blessed because of it.
GOd allowed us to keep our home. So for that we are eternally grateful. However, we can't help my Prodigal Son anymore like I did. I "TRUST" GOd in every part of my life especially in our finances. We had a huge financil cut back in my husbands income per year in the changing of his job. But we are happier, he is closer to home, and he can be with me more often at Church and in Ministry.
We have no "DEBT" just our mortgage, utilities, food,gas,dogs that's it. However, today that is costly in and of itself. But we can make it because of our thrifty way of being able to live.
I have been homeless in my youth because I lived on the streets when I was young, and then older from my drinking and using. My husband came from a working class family that didn't have much so he knows what it is like to have "O" He is a normie so I am truly BLESSED to have him as my husband. Not that having another Alcoholic would be bad. It's just that GOD put him in my life not another Alcoholic.
Well time to get busy I have ironing to do and some housework baking an Angel Food cake for my hubby.
