That sounds like a vague statement, because there are many, many things that Christians should know, and many more that we will probably never understand. However, when it comes to managing your finances and obeying God’s commands as related to your money, there are some key points that all Christians should learn. Keep in mind though that we are never supposed to worry about money…after all, it’s in God’s hands and He is in control if you are obeying His Word.

When it feels overwhelming to look at your budget, your wallet, your bank account, or your bills in general, keep the following things in mind:

1. God is in control. It bears repeating that no matter what kind of a mess you have made out of your money, God sees it and knows what you have done. He knows what it will take to bring you back to a place of financial stability and freedom, and what must be done in order to achieve your long-term financial goals. Stressing over it and giving yourself an ulcer will not bring you one cent closer to financial peace, but trusting that God will help you through it as long as you obey His commandments will let you sleep at night.

   “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” ~ Philippians 4:6-7

2. You cannot fix it overnight. It took longer than a day to make the financial debt, and it will take longer than a day to fix it…unless you are one of those insanely lucky people who inherit millions and get out of debt instantly. Take a deep breath, say a quick prayer, and as Dory says in the Pixar film Finding Nemo, “Just keep swimming…” Stick to your budget and your long-term plan, regardless of how far away the end of the tunnel seems.“Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak.” ~ Thomas Carlyle
3. God’s promises are never lies. If you find a promise in the Word of God, you can rest assured that it will not return void. There is absolutely no chance of God reneging on something that He says that He will or will not do, so trust Him implicitly. Even when what He has commanded seems outrageous or downright foolish, do it; you will never be let down by the results. However, I cannot stress enough that you must seek God and be sure that you are hearing His voice…if there is doubt, seek counsel from a Godly person that you trust, and if it goes against His Word in any way, it is NOT God.“God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent; has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? “Behold, I have received a command to bless; When He has blessed, then I cannot revoke it.” ~Proverbs 23:19-20
4. You might mess up sometimes. In fact, I can almost guarantee that there will be a setback or two (or ten) in your journey to financial freedom. We are human, things break or need replacing, and sometimes things just change. Most of these situations we cannot control, but that is what your emergency fund, savings account, etc… covers. If you do not have one yet, do not panic. Just do your best to get back on track, keep focused, and dedicate every expenditure to prayer until you are once again meeting your goals.“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” ~Maya Angelou

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