Divas of the Divine Daily Devotional
Ladies,
Late last year, we set out to buy two brand new cars from the dealership. We had developed a budget, as to how much we could afford, which cars fit within our budget, and we even prayed that God would guide our decisions. Then, we went to the dealership. The salesman's eyes lit up when he saw we were interested in two new cars, and assured us, we could work something out. However, when the finance office came back with the numbers, they in no way matched up to our budget. i was disheartened. My husband was obstinate, and told the salesman to tell the finance office to come up with something better. He wouldn't budge. The salesman tried to sweeten the deal, by allowing us to drive one of the cars around for the weekend. I fell in love with that car, but I knew if the numbers didn't come within our reasonable limits, we would not keep them...so I prayed harder.
The numbers never matched and we returned the car to an unhappy salesman. My daughter, who is five, saw me and her daddy praying about the cars, before we went to the dealership. She was confused as to why we didn't get to keep the new car that she got to ride in all weekend. I simply told her, "Sometimes, God says no, because he wants to give us something better." Surprisingly, that was enough for her.
Then, not more than three months later, my husband lost his job and all forms of income into our household, suddenly stopped. Fortunately, we had surplus savings in the bank that we have been living comfortably off ever since, because we did not buy two new cars, but kept the two not-so-new cars that God has blessed us with.
Now we could have accepted the ridiculous numbers and bought the cars anyway, and just made adjustments. But we prayerfully developed a budget, and prayed that God would give us the cars within the budgeted amount. When that didn't happen, we trusted that God was saying no.
So many times, we buy things we shouldn't have or can't afford...things God never intended for us to have, and we find ourselves in debt. God didn't intend debt for you. We make rash and sometimes irresponsible decisions about the money God has given us to manage, but even this God can and will forgive. We can also pray for full deliverance from past debt and wisdom to avoid it in the future.
Late last year, we set out to buy two brand new cars from the dealership. We had developed a budget, as to how much we could afford, which cars fit within our budget, and we even prayed that God would guide our decisions. Then, we went to the dealership. The salesman's eyes lit up when he saw we were interested in two new cars, and assured us, we could work something out. However, when the finance office came back with the numbers, they in no way matched up to our budget. i was disheartened. My husband was obstinate, and told the salesman to tell the finance office to come up with something better. He wouldn't budge. The salesman tried to sweeten the deal, by allowing us to drive one of the cars around for the weekend. I fell in love with that car, but I knew if the numbers didn't come within our reasonable limits, we would not keep them...so I prayed harder.
The numbers never matched and we returned the car to an unhappy salesman. My daughter, who is five, saw me and her daddy praying about the cars, before we went to the dealership. She was confused as to why we didn't get to keep the new car that she got to ride in all weekend. I simply told her, "Sometimes, God says no, because he wants to give us something better." Surprisingly, that was enough for her.
Then, not more than three months later, my husband lost his job and all forms of income into our household, suddenly stopped. Fortunately, we had surplus savings in the bank that we have been living comfortably off ever since, because we did not buy two new cars, but kept the two not-so-new cars that God has blessed us with.
Now we could have accepted the ridiculous numbers and bought the cars anyway, and just made adjustments. But we prayerfully developed a budget, and prayed that God would give us the cars within the budgeted amount. When that didn't happen, we trusted that God was saying no.So many times, we buy things we shouldn't have or can't afford...things God never intended for us to have, and we find ourselves in debt. God didn't intend debt for you. We make rash and sometimes irresponsible decisions about the money God has given us to manage, but even this God can and will forgive. We can also pray for full deliverance from past debt and wisdom to avoid it in the future.
Saucy Sister
--------------------------------------------------------
May 2, 2007
Joey and the Jeep
By Luann Prater
“Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.” John 11:6 (NIV)
Devotion:
“It’s perfect!” she squealed. “You don’t understand! This is exactly what I’ve been looking for! I’ve never seen another one like this!” Her response to the shiny vehicle summed up her 19 years-in-the-making personality and her “gotta-have-it-now” attitude. So why was her dad giving her a hard time about it?
Joey was making great money on her job. The jeep was only $10,000. And to top it off, it was loaded with all the right toys! Her dad was trying to counsel her, but he realized his words were falling on deaf ears. He could see down the road where this decision could be a burden for his sweet daughter, but she could only see her desire for the jeep.
He called for reinforcements…me. I had been Joey’s small group leader at church for seven years, and we had a bond. I took her to lunch and we discussed the jeep. After listening to all of her yearnings, it was my turn to talk. I explained that most of the worst decisions in my life were made in a hurry. If we look back on Jesus’ life, we see that He never rushed into anything. Even when His dear friends, Martha and Mary, wanted Him desperately to come to their aid, he waited.
I asked Joey if she would do me a favor. Would she be willing to put the $400 car payment in her savings account for ten months? Then, in ten months she not only could prove to herself, her dad, and the bank that she was disciplined enough to make regular payments, she would also have $4000 to put down on a car! I reassured her that there were hundreds of perfect cars that would be available in ten months. I then took it a step further and said, “Maybe in 10 months you will decide to wait another 10 months and accumulate $8000. Then you can walk into a dealer and pay cash for the perfect car!”
She didn’t like the idea but agreed to do it. Before the ten months were over, her great paying job came to an abrupt halt. She was grateful she had not committed in haste to a gut-wrenching debt.
So let me ask …do you have a “gotta-have-it-now” attitude? Scripture tells us that the borrower becomes a slave to the lender. And the best example in the Bible of patience is Jesus. I challenge you. The next time you are in a hurry to make a major decision, wait a few more days.
Dear Lord, how anxious we are each day to make every decision. Teach us to have Your patience in all things. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Cents and Sensibility by Bethany and Scott Palmer
Material Girls, an ETC article by Rachel Olsen
Application Steps:
Write down the things that seem to be screaming for a quick decision. Ask God to give you the patience and wisdom to wait on His timing for each decision.
Reflections:
Joey was making great money on her job. The jeep was only $10,000. And to top it off, it was loaded with all the right toys! Her dad was trying to counsel her, but he realized his words were falling on deaf ears. He could see down the road where this decision could be a burden for his sweet daughter, but she could only see her desire for the jeep.
He called for reinforcements…me. I had been Joey’s small group leader at church for seven years, and we had a bond. I took her to lunch and we discussed the jeep. After listening to all of her yearnings, it was my turn to talk. I explained that most of the worst decisions in my life were made in a hurry. If we look back on Jesus’ life, we see that He never rushed into anything. Even when His dear friends, Martha and Mary, wanted Him desperately to come to their aid, he waited.
I asked Joey if she would do me a favor. Would she be willing to put the $400 car payment in her savings account for ten months? Then, in ten months she not only could prove to herself, her dad, and the bank that she was disciplined enough to make regular payments, she would also have $4000 to put down on a car! I reassured her that there were hundreds of perfect cars that would be available in ten months. I then took it a step further and said, “Maybe in 10 months you will decide to wait another 10 months and accumulate $8000. Then you can walk into a dealer and pay cash for the perfect car!”
She didn’t like the idea but agreed to do it. Before the ten months were over, her great paying job came to an abrupt halt. She was grateful she had not committed in haste to a gut-wrenching debt.
So let me ask …do you have a “gotta-have-it-now” attitude? Scripture tells us that the borrower becomes a slave to the lender. And the best example in the Bible of patience is Jesus. I challenge you. The next time you are in a hurry to make a major decision, wait a few more days.
Dear Lord, how anxious we are each day to make every decision. Teach us to have Your patience in all things. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Cents and Sensibility by Bethany and Scott Palmer
Material Girls, an ETC article by Rachel Olsen
Application Steps:
Write down the things that seem to be screaming for a quick decision. Ask God to give you the patience and wisdom to wait on His timing for each decision.
Reflections:
- What financial decisions have I made in the past that I now see were in haste?
- How can I break the pattern of the ‘gotta-have-it-now” attitude?
- Why do I resist God’s timing?
Power Verses:
- Psalm 27:14, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” (NIV)
- Isaiah 30:18, “Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him.” (NIV)
- Psalm 40:1, “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.” (NIV)
Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org
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