Freedom Has Finally Come

           Have you ever found yourself carrying an enormous weight for so long that you thought it would be that way forever?  I did and that huge load I was carrying was called debt.  It started out many years ago with one credit card, then two, then so many they lined my wallet.  It seemed everyone was offering you one.  I started out buying things we needed, then things we wanted.  We went out to eat, traveled, shopped for more clothes and shoes, bought presents for everyone, used it for a business endeavor and helped family and friends in need.  I spent a little here, then a little there, ultimately realizing I was spending more than we made.  I didn’t really think about how we would pay it all back.  I wasn’t thinking about the future, just living in the “now”.  The credit card commercials promised I would have freedom with their card.  It’s a lie of course, a trap; weighty chains of bondage and suffering.

           My debt mounted slowly over many years.  I found myself manipulating money, borrowing from Paul to pay Peter; just making the minimum payment.  I was never getting ahead, in fact, the debt was growing.  The credit card companies were now jacking up their interest rates and there was nothing I could do about it.  It surmounted to the point that frankly I didn’t know what to do and found myself getting stomach ache’s over it.  The debt problem was constantly churning in my mind.  I approached a pastor once and told him I was “over giving” but his advice was “you can’t out give God”.  Apparently I did, I gave so much we were bondage.  On the surface, I looked calm and collected but underneath I was crying in a self-made pool of self pity.  It all culminated when we were about to build a home and they were going to run a credit report, what would they find?  Would they lend us the money when they saw our staggering debt?

           I finally cried out to the person I should have come to first about it, God.  He had been trying to steer me in the right direction, but I wasn’t listening.   He told me what to do and for the first time, I listened and was obedient.  I just wasn’t up for the pain and embarrassment that I knew would come with it. My humbling first task was telling my husband how much debt we were in.  That was probably the most excruciating part of it.  He had entrusted the bill paying to me since he had no interest or time to do it.  At first, he was dumbfounded that we were in a situation reaching such a high level of debt but later calmed down to the compassionate husband that he is.  My second task was to call a Christian credit counseling service for help.  They were caring and sympathetic as I told them my story.  They quickly negotiated lower interest rates on all the cards, and I made one payment each month, in turn they would pay our creditors, lowest bill first, knocking them out one at a time.  Many years have gone by and freedom day has come.  We are no longer in debt!  In fact, our cars are paid off as well!  We never touched our 401K through all this and we still have that intact and growing.

           Freedom is living within the means God has entrusted to you.  We don’t charge anything anymore, we pay cash for everything.  I had heard radio programs from Larry Burkett (who is no longer with us).  I bought and read books from Crown Financial Ministries (http://www.crown.org) and Dave Ramsey (http://www.daveramsey.com) , I just needed to do it.  God’s Word says, “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender”, Proverbs 22:7.   God also told me I needed to pay it all back and not file for bankruptcy, “The wicked borrows and does not pay back, but the righteous is generous in giving” Psalm 37:21.  God provides for our needs, not our wants.  “My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus”.  Phil. 4:19   I know it is easy to get caught up in seeing something advertised and suddenly you want it.  Like a new TV, iPhone, iPad, new car, new something, etc.   You want what your neighbors have; you want what your coworkers and friends have. 

           Lastly, we try so hard to store up treasures on earth, when we should be storing them up in heaven.  The things we buy will just wear out and break down anyway 3, 5, 10 years from now, why do we stockpile so many things and get ourselves into debt doing so?  Look over your checkbook for a list of where your treasure lies.  "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay 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 will be also.”  Matthew 6:19. 

           Being debt free means I have the resources to help my son with college expenses, my elderly mother with rent and food, buy clothes and fun stuff for my daughter, son-in-law and  grandkids, as well as help others in their moment of need.  I think that’s the way God wanted it all along.

            I pray that my transparent and tough lesson will resonate with the direction you might be heading.  Take control of the finances God has given you and realize what your true needs are in this life.  Learn how to spend it wisely and pray for godly guidance as you journey through the materialistic self-centered society that we live in.  Keep your focus on Him, every step of the way.

 

The hand that rocks the cradle will change the world.

The heart that trains the soul will reach the nations,

But the spirit that awakens the destiny of another, transforms the universe.

What is a Spiritual Mom?

Spiritual Moms help point people in the right direction—God’s direction.  They battle on their knees and in the work place. 

Spiritual moms pour love into the lives of others as they listen, laugh, cook, and council.

Specializing in:

Listening to you pour out your soul, loving you unconditionally,  coming alongside you, teaching, tending, mending, strengthening relationships, building character, praying over you, worshiping God with you, equipping you to lead, investing time with you, laughing with you, and most importantly and the toughest for me—releasing and letting you go to the call of God.