A Prayer for Spending Money
By Heidi Vegh
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate and love the other or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. - Matthew 6:24
Whether we have plenty or are in need, money can cause issues and struggles in our lives and relationships. God knows our tendencies as individuals; some of us love to spend money, have a hard time holding onto money, and are challenged to save. Others hoard what they have, keep it for themselves, and never share. Neither of these bless the Lord nor the ones around us. God calls us to have a healthy relationship with our finances, but it is only through following Jesus and obeying His Word that this is possible.
No one is immune to the negative hold that money can have on our hearts in plenty or in want. I am a spender. I like to shop and get new things. However, God has taught me throughout my life to pray about my spending and to listen to the still, small voices that lead me in my financial decisions. God desires us to live a life of generosity, putting God before money. We cannot serve both God and money. (Matthew 6:24)
What does this look like practically? First of all, God calls us to give. He calls us to take 10% of our income and give it to our church to help further the kingdom of God. This can be a challenge for some as they either don’t understand or have trouble trusting God with that portion of their income. This heart issue can only be resolved between us and the Lord. However, in my own experience, I have trusted the Lord with a portion and have seen His hand on my finances. I have never gone without. That is not to say that I have not struggled financially, but God always provides. (Philippians 4:19)
“Do not store up for yourselves (material) treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart (your wishes, your desires; that on which your life centers) will also be. - Mathew 6: 19-21 (AMP)
Jesus is asking us to be wise with our finances. He is asking us to not put our trust in money. It is okay to save money and make wise decisions about our future. However, that can not be our sole source of security. Our security and peace must come from God alone, regardless of our financial life. Our trust should be in God alone, as Jesus tells us that He alone is the bread of life.
"Then Jesus declared, 'I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.'” - John 6:35
Let’s pray:
Lord, thank you for the blessings in my life. Thank you for providing for my needs and giving me what I need every day. However, I find myself worrying over money and how I should spend it, save it, and give it. Money can be a huge source of stress in my life, and I want to be able to live in peace regarding my finances. I want to live a life pleasing to you. I long to trust you so fully with my needs that I don’t spend any of my time worrying over how my needs and my family's needs will be met.
I want to trust you with my finances and show you by giving a portion back to you. I want to obey you, Lord, but sometimes I get scared that you won’t come through for me. Please help me to trust you enough to put that money in the basket as it passes by and show me miraculous provision so that I won’t ever doubt you again. I ask for financial blessings, Lord so that I can use what you provide to help those in need. I don’t want to hoard what you give me, Lord, but I long to be a person of generosity and a vessel to be used to bless those around me.
Teach me how to spend wisely, Lord. Speak to my heart when I make a wrong financial decision and convict me when I spend money on something that is not necessary. I long to be content in all I have, whether I have a lot or a little. I want to live in financial security because of your presence in my life, not the numbers in my bank account. Show me you through my finances, Lord. Thank you for being Jehovah Jirah, our provider. You alone can provide what we need.
Please help me not to rely solely on myself or others to provide for my needs. Give me wisdom with every cent that comes through my hands. God, show me what to give, save and spend. I want to live in your will. Thank you, Lord, for caring for my needs and showing me your love and care daily. Please open my eyes to the miraculous ways that you care for me.
In your precious name, Jesus, we pray, amen.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/fizkes
Heidi Vegh is a writer, speaker, and ministry leader living in Western Washington. She is a remarried mother of four, navigating the blended family life after the loss of her first husband to cancer in 2013. She longs to use her writing as a way to encourage others who have experienced loss and guide them on the road to healing. She contributes to her blog found at www.mrsheidivegh.com , sharing stories and devotionals of faith stemming from her loss and healing, mothering, and her blended and complex family. She graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a degree in Creative Writing and English and is working on her first book. Heidi is the Women’s Ministry Director at her local church and has a deep heart for sharing Jesus with women and encouraging them in their faith walk. When she is not writing, she loves to travel, read, craft, and experiment in the kitchen. Visit her Facebook and Instagram (@mrsheidivegh) to learn more.
Editor's Note: We're proud to announce we've just launched a new nighttime companion to Your Daily Prayer: the Your Nightly Prayer devotional. You'll soon be able to subscribe to receive Your Nightly Prayer via email, or as a podcast, but for now you can find it on the website at crosswalk.com/devotionals/your-nightly-prayer. We hope it's a relaxing and soothing way to wind down your day with rich meditations on who God is.
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