Financial Freedom

The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets. Proverbs 21:20 (paraphrase)

The Holy Spirit has really been convicting me on the way I handle my money. He's been doing it for so long and in June I began a spending fast that restricted unnecessary spending. The fast went pretty well and curbed a lot of  my unnecessary spending. Unfortunately, the fast did not permanently reform my spending habits because I went right back to my old habits in July. The way I see it, I can continue spending the way I have and accumulate a mountain of debt that I'll never be able to pay back, or I can submit in obedience to my God and reap the blessings of godly stewardship.

I so desperately want financial freedom. I also want to be able to purchase a home in the future and that goal cannot be realized if I don't stop spending and start saving. Even writing these very words, I feel a weight being lifted off my shoulders. God has been blessing me financially and I have nothing to show for it other hair products, shoes, and clothes. I do give to my church and other ministries which is not the problem. My problem is spending the money I have left after bills are paid and offerings are given.

There are a few things I've thought to do about my spending habits. Most of these were taken from the LOV Spending Fast responsibilities. This is no longer a fast, it's a lifestyle change. For anyone who is interested they can be found at http://www.lovislove7.blogspot.com/2013/05/ladies-of-virtue-spending-fast-wise-man.html

1. Pray to God to help me develop more responsible spending habits.
2. Prayerfully develop a monthly budget and stick to it.

3.Take time to mediate on bible verses and devotionals that talk about money and stewardship.

4. Stay away from websites and stores that I usually shop from. Do not let the lure of an once-in-a-lifetime sale, coupons, or other incentives lure me away from my goal not to spend.

5. Buy only what is needed.
6. Avoid waste. There is a lot of food wasted in my household and it MUST stop.

7. Express gratitude to the Lord for His blessings each and every day.

8. Don’t allow anyone to lead me into temptation to spend. 

9. Kill the flesh anytime it rises up and wants me to buy something unnecessary.
10. Significantly reduce the amount of times I eat out per week to one no more than two times. 
11. In caring for my hair and personal health, I've become a product junkie. I'm only allow to replenish a product once it is completely gone. And sorry flesh no more trying new products. I know what works for my hair and skin and will stick to those products until I have destroyed the urge to spend, spend, spend. 


 

Praying for My Future Husband

Today, I was inspired to pray for my future husband. For the next few days I will focus on praying for that area of my life because it's not something I give much attention to. Psalm 112 is perfect for praying over your future husband or your marriage, that is, if you're married. I like to think that Psalm 112 is the male version of Proverbs 31 because of it's rich language and description of a godly man who every Christian woman dreams of marrying. My prayer will be directly below and I will post Psalm 112 beneath it.

 ^{Thank you Lord for Your faithfulness and Your gift of singleness to develop our relationship and to prepare me for the ministry of marriage.}

^{Teach the man You bring into my life to fear You and to take great pleasure in every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord. Teach him to love You with all his heart, mind, body, and strength. Teach him to love, obey and please You more than he loves and pleases me.}

^{Mold him into a strong spiritual leader, so that he can discipline our children (if it is in Your will for us to have them) and raise them up in the way that they should go. Bless our children because we will have diligently instilled a reverent fear and love for You inside them.} 

^{Teach him to be honest, have integrity and work hard to provide for his family. Teach him to be a good steward with every resource you will give our family.}

^{Teach him to be gracious, compassionate, and righteous. Give him a love for the poor and downtrodden. For the bible says, "good will come to the man who lends generously."}

^{Let him trust in you completely and wholeheartedly, not fearing a bad economy, being laid off or being under-appreciated, for You are his Provider, shield and buckler.}  

^{I pray these words over my future husband and marriage, in Jesus' mighty name Amen!!!}

 ^{Psalm 112 (HCSB)}

¹ Hallelujah!^[a]
Happy is the man who fears the Lord,
taking great delight in His commands.

² His descendants will be powerful in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
³ Wealth and riches are in his house,
and his righteousness endures forever.
⁴ Light shines in the darkness for the upright.
He is gracious, compassionate, and righteous.
⁵ Good will come to a man who lends generously
and conducts his business fairly.
⁶ He will never be shaken.
The righteous man will be remembered forever.
⁷ He will not fear bad news;
his heart is confident, trusting in the Lord.
⁸ His heart is assured; he will not fear.
In the end he will look in triumph on his foes.
⁹ He distributes freely to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.
His horn will be exalted in honor.

¹⁰ The wicked man will see it and be angry;
he will gnash his teeth in despair.
The desire of the wicked man will come to nothing.