Getting Out of Debt
Making God Your Partner
So, you have decided it is time to get out of debt and stay out of debt. You are probably wondering where to begin. It may seem like a difficult decision, in reality it is the easiest decision you will make. Begin by making God your partner.
He wants to be there for you. He wants to help you get out of debt and stay out of debt. Ask for His help and be ready to work with Him. He expects you to do your part, but He will not leave you to do it alone.
God created you. He knows the mistakes you have made and He knows how to help you better than anyone else could. God wants to rescue you from yourself, from your debt, and from a life that seems a little out of control. Before He can help you, you have to be ready to ask for the help and be ready to accept it.
Prayer is one of the greatest tools He has given us. Through prayer we can build a relationship with God that goes beyond calling on Him only when we are in trouble, we can truly get to know Him. Dedicate some time each day to reach out to God in prayer. Talk to Him and ask Him to work in your life. Ask Him to open your eyes to understanding Him and His way of life better. Let Him know that you are ready to bring Him on as your partner in life.
A prayerful relationship with God does several things.
- It can help relieve the stress you are feeling about the debt as well as other issues you may be dealing with.
- Prayer opens communication with God and creates a more intimate relationship between the two of you.
- When you spend time in prayer with God, you can go through the rest of the day knowing that your partner is right there with you and stronger than anything or anyone you may come up against.
- As God begins working with you and your debt problems, you can begin to see His hand in your life. This builds confidence and faith, allowing you to believe getting out of debt is actually possible.
While making God your partner is the best place to begin, it is not the only action that needs to be taken. You will have to do your part as well.
Recently, I read a story about a young man who graduated with $90,000 in student loans. He made a decision to pay off those loans as soon as possible. He sold everything that was not needed, worked part time jobs, and went out of his way to curtail his spending. At the end of 7 months, he had wiped out his student loan debt. Not only had the loans been paid off, he also saved the $40,000 in interest that he would have paid if he had maintained the 15 year repayment schedule.
Starting with prayer and following it up with a plan of action can help you eliminate the debt hanging over you and your family. Ask God to help you find the solution that is best and move forward with a new determination to become debt free.
As discussed earlier in this series, getting into debt can be the result of making poor decisions. Replacing bad habits with good habits will help you to enjoy a better lifestyle. What bad habits should be replaced and what do you replace them with? The following booklets are free of charge. They can help you find the answers to those questions, while you strengthen your relationship with God.
