Hearing God for Financial Provision

March 23, 2009 · Filed Under finances · 1 Comment 

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been speaking with a company about doing a project. It’s a fairly big project, and would require much of my time, so there’s been some hesitancy in taking it on. While I don’t mind the hard work, this is one of many projects that I have planned for the year.

While on vacation for Spring Break, I spent some time praying over the project. I needed to hear some clear direction. Lord, is this what you want me to work on? I asked a few weeks ago, and I sensed my Father saying that it was going to be hard work and that it was also great provision. But still, I wasn’t sure if it’s what he wanted me to work on.

While on vacation in Colorado one afternoon, I was praying for him to make it clear to me if I should work on this project. Again, there was hesitancy because it was a lot of work, and I wasn’t too excited about working hard.

As I was praying, I sensed a scripture come to mind: Proverbs 6:11, or was it 16:11. Not sure. Kept praying. Kept hearing 6:11 and then 16:11. So, I just said myself, Okay, I’ll read both.

First, Proverbs 6:11. I started back at verse 6, because it was the first part of a larger section ending at verse 11:

    Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and be wise! Even though they have no prince, governor, or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? I want you to learn this lesson: A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest– and poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber. Proverbs 6:6-11, NLT.

Wow, you lazybones. That was me—I was being lazy. I didn’t want to do hard work.

Learn from their ways and be wise! I need to learn something here. They have no prince, no governor or ruler to make them work. Ouch, that’s me. I have no boss or manager to make me work. I work for myself. Busted.

They work hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. Again, that’s me. That’s my situation. It’ll physically be a summer project, wrapping up around Christmas. And, figuratively, this income should provide for us through a winter season of no additional work. The seasons are both physical and figurative.

And then, verse 11 that was spoken to me: “poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.”

If I don’t do this, lazybones, poverty will pounce on me and scaracity will attack me. It was obvious from this scripture that the Lord wants me to work hard during the summer to store of provision for the winter.

Then, I read Proverbs 16:11, The LORD demands fairness in every business deal; he sets the standard.

Now, the Lord says, Do this project, but I demand fairness in this business deal. I will set the standard.

Again, very clearly, the Lord wants me to do this deal for provision for my family and he requires that I do it as a fair business deal. I am now convinced that the Lord wants me to do this project.

I wanted to share this journal entry with you to encourage you. I know there are many of you struggling through this difficult economical situation. The current financial crisis is creating a lot of unemployment, cut backs and lay offs. I want to encourage you in this time of recession that God can help you. If you will listen to him, and let him guide you, he will show you where to look for work, and what to do.

In Psalms 32:8, the Lord says, I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.

Update – Tuesday, March 31, 2009

I wanted to take a moment and share some interesting news about this post. As you may have read, I prayed and sought the Lord about the potential project, and I interpreted his giving me the two scriptures as, “You need to do this project.” Which, I know now, was interpreted incorrectly. After I made that decision and then met with the client, I had this overwhelming since of uneasiness. There was no peace about this project, only heaviness. I started to lose sleep over the project, knowing it conflict with many other God-given project this year.

After speaking with my wife and some friends, I realized that I had misinterpreted the giving of those two scriptures, and just assumed I was to take the project. I liked the provision aspect of the project, but it would have consumed my time and energy for the whole year, and all my other projects and clients would have taken the hit.

My wife and I decided to completely pass on the project. The decision alone gave me incredible peace. I knew it was what I was supposed to do.

That morning, in my quiet time, I was praying and getting ready to let this client know I couldn’t be a part of the project. I did not like the idea of telling them that, because they really needed a solution, and they were putting their hope in me to deliver this solution. But, I had to let it go. As I was praying over it, I sensed the Lord whisper to me, “There’s a middle ground solution.”  Hmm. Really?

I didn’t put much thought into.  I was honestly just thinking about how to gracefully pass on the project. But, I tucked that thought away in mind and prepared for the meeting. As I was driving to the meeting, I had that thought again, “There’s a middle ground solution.”  Okay. What is it? I didn’t hear anything, but I sensed that my Dad would reveal the solution at the right time.

During the meeting, I told the client that I would have to pass on the project, but that I would help them find someone to take it over. This was very difficult, because they had already built some trust with me, and they really wanted to work with me. But, I just couldn’t.

Then, “out of the blue”, the client asked, “Would you be willing to stay on board for a month or two as a consultant to help us get this project off the ground? We really trust you.” Immediately, when the question was asked, I knew that it was the middle ground solution. I immediately had the thought, “That’s it.”

Sure enough, there was a great middle ground solution! I’m able to stay on track with my current clients and projects, help this new client with the launch of their project and make some money along the way.

I wanted to share this update because of wonderful it was to have God whisper to me this opportunity. When the client made that suggestion, I had no doubt it was God. He had prepared my heart for this meeting, and had given me a great solution for a very difficult situation.

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Finding faith in God during economic and financial crisis

February 20, 2009 · Filed Under finances · Comment 

It’s obvious from the news (and our poor performing 401k’s) that we are struggling through some difficult, financial times right now. Jobs are being cut, houses are being foreclosed on, and financial difficulties are high. Is there hope? What can we do during these difficult economic times? How should we respond?

Money is a reflection of our heart–how we spend it, how we trust in it, how we hope in it. “Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be” (Matthew 6:21). Your heart follows your money and possessions.

What do you really hope for? What is most important to you? I think in all honesty, most of those questions are answered with some form of money or possessions. Jesus talked a lot about money and possessions, even more than hell, prayer and faith. Why? Why would the Son of God talk so much about money? Because it is a reflection of our heart, what we trust in.

Last October, I posted a blog about Financial Anxiety in these economic times, and after re-reading it, I think about the verses of scripture that surround Jesus’ comment about how our hearts follow our treasure:

“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. The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:19-24).

Mammon is not a common word we use today. In Biblical times, it referred to a demon or personification of riches, wealth and possessions. It’s interesting how Jesus concludes that we cannot serve both God of Heaven and God of Mammon. We can only serve one God.

So, what do we do? How do we respond?

The next few verses Matthew 6 are the answer. It’s one thing to read them—it’s another thing to believe them. So, I challenge you to read these words of truth. Read them and let them sink deep in your soul, because they are words that can bring you incredible peace during difficult financial times:

I tell you not to worry about everyday life–—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:25-34).

I encourage you to seek God first, put him first in your life. He cares for you. He knows your needs. Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all those things will be added to your life. Trust him.

Galatians 4:7 sums it up well, “You are no longer a slave, but God’s own child. And since you are his child, everything he has belongs to you.”

Think about life as a kid. Did you ever worry about your parent’s providing for you, taking care of you, feeding you, clothing you? If that’s true for imperfect, earthly parents, how much more will your perfect, Godly Father provide for your needs?

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Quiet time with God for the New Year

January 1, 2009 · Filed Under spiritual hearing · Comment 

It’s January 1, 2009–the start of a new year. It’s often a time when people set new goals and resolutions. Often, Christians will start a new Bible reading plan. Maybe it’s to read through the entire Bible in a year, or maybe it’s to read the New Testament in a year.

There are a variety of Bible reading plans out there. Here are a few:

Also, it’s a good time to get into a new habit of spending daily time with God through journaling and meditating on God’s word.

Our church recently gave its members a new prayer journal called Conversations with God. (You can download the PDF from this link.) It encourages people to start journaling and dedicating time each day to meeting with God. I believe this is essential in your walk with God. It has been a pivotal experience for me in my journey. In fact, this blog is a direct result and expression of that daily experience with God.

Tom Lane lays out the structure for his daily connect time with God:

  • Scripture Reading
  • Scripture Meditation
  • Journal
    • Praise and Thanksgiving
    • Commitment and Surrender
    • Needs and Requests
    • Blessing
    • What is God saying to me?

To give you an exmaple of what this format would look like, I decided to post my January 1, 2009 journal entry.

Scripture Reading

Matthew 1 (reading through the New Testament in 2009)

Scripture Meditation

Each year, I have a scripture for the year. For 2009, it’s Philippians 3:12-14:

“I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection! But I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be. No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven” (Philippians 3:12-14).

You can also use a scripture that you read in your daily reading program.

Journal: Praise and Thanksgiving

Lord, I am so utterly grateful and thankful for you. So much. So, so much. You have done great and mighty things in my life. And, I so appreciate that. It’s truly wonderful, Father. Truly. Lord, the anticipation of what you’re wanting to do in my life, in my family’s lives gets my heart pounding and my mind spinning. So many wonderful things!

Father, thank you. Thank you that I don’t have to live this life alone, clueless, directionless, protection-less. You are there to guide me, to watch over me, to protect me, to save me. You keep my feet from stepping into danger. You guide my thoughts and guide me down the safe path. My roots go down deep into you, and I trust you. You are my life.

Thank you, Father!

Journal: Commitment and Surrender

In today’s “Reminders from God”, there is a great message from the “Two Listeners”. About the New Year, it says, “I hold the year in My Hands in trust for you. But I shall guide you one day at a time. Each day I supply the wisdom and the strength.”

This is a good message. I know this is what you would say to me, Father. You hold the New Year in your hands, and you shall guide me one day at a time, with each day having its own wisdom and strength for that day.

Lord, show me that. Please remind me. Help me remember that, in Jesus’ name!

Lord, I am yours. You are mine.

Journal: Needs and Requests

It’s Thursday morning, a new day, a new morning, a new year, a new month. So many new things. New dreams, new expectations, new seasons. New rhythms, new cycles, new projects, new clients, new opportunities, new friends, new movies, new partners, new productions.

I love the new year. Lord, why is it that I find this new year so exciting? It seems like I’m so driven by achievement, and that I like to achieve and accomplish things. I’m usually not this driven, but I sense that there is something big on the horizon, something exciting! I don’t know what you’re doing, but there’s something there. Something!

Father, guide me into this new year. Show me what you have planned for me and my family. Let your Spirit guide us. Help us to walk with purpose in every step, and to run towards the goal, striving, reaching, persevering. Give us wisdom and strength. Help us draw closer to you because you will be our source.

Journal: Blessings

Lord, I bless my family today. I bless my wife and my son. I bless their health, their minds, their bodies. I bless them with strength and authority. I bless them with wisdom to guide them through this year. I bless them with Godly protection, and a hedge of protection to surround them and keep them safe.

I bless my business. I bless it with exciting, successful projects this year. I bless it with new clients and new projects from current clients. I bless it with financial wisdom, creative ideas, efficient projects, and a team of creative, honest, hard-working people.

I bless all of my new projects this year. I bless the movies, the webisodes, the commercials, the documentaries, the testimonies, the websites, the marketing campaigns and all the new projects that haven’t even crossed my mind yet.

I bless my clients and their business. Grow them. Help them succeed in this down market. Bring them good, solid business, new clients, brilliant employees, new contracts and prosperity.

Journal: What is God saying to me?

Son, I really want you to know that your past is past. The sins are gone. They were gone the day you received Christ into your heart. Cleanse your mind, your thoughts, and wash away the trash that hinders you. Know this, son, I am fighting for you. I am fighting to bless you, to bless your family, to grow your business, to make all your projects a success. Know that, son. Know that I am for you, with you, watching you, guiding you.

The key is that you need to listen. When you do your own thing without consulting me, then I can’t help you. I want to, but I can’t. You have to let me in, you have seek me, you have to seek my counsel based on the rules I have laid down, but when you do, my son, there is great power at your fingertips. Great power! The kind of power that can unleash heavenly angels into the earth for great and mighty things, son.

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Financial Anxiety

October 13, 2008 · Filed Under finances · 1 Comment 

When you think of money or finances, is your stomach in knots? Is the upcoming holiday season starting to stress you out? What about the current financial crisis? Are you living paycheck to paycheck? Are you constantly fretting layoffs or “restructuring”?

Finances can be a very anxious experience for many, even those who are well off. Managing money can be very stressful. Many couples that divorce in the US do so because of problems with money. It’s an incredibly serious issue in people’s lives.

Can you find peace in stressful financial situations? Can finances really become a place of peace and rest, or must they always be feared and anxiety-provoking?

When it comes to our financial economy, our country is in serious trouble. Consumer debt is at an all time high. Credit companies have made it so easy to “buy now and pay later”. For one small monthly fee, you can have whatever you want. How many of those “small monthly fees” do you have?

This credit-driven lifestyle has made it too easy to spend more than we make. I recently read a statistic on consumer spending in America. Through most of the 1900′s, people spent on average about 30% less than what they made. That means people were saving money. Today, the average American spends more than they earn. That means nothing is being saved. Nothing is put away for unforeseen circumstances.

I can see why financial anxiety is rampant these days. The loss of a job, an emergency house repair, the car breaks down, again–all can be terribly stressful when it comes finances.

So, is there hope? Can you be free from financial anxiety? I shout a hearty YES. You can be free. But, it may take time and serious discipline. It probably took you years to get where you are now. For many, it’ll take years to dig yourself out of the financial pit. But, here’s the beautiful thing–God is faithful and he cares for you, even your finances.

Today, my wife and I live in financial freedom. And it’s not because we have lots of money. On the contrary, we live very modestly. As a freelance producer, our finances ebb and flow depending on projects. Our financial freedom is a result of solid money management skills and the discipline to live by those skills.

We live on a budget, we no longer use credit cards, we only buy used cars, and at the end of each month, we have money left over. Amazingly, we don’t feel at all constricted by this lifestyle. Quite the opposite. This lifestyle has given us incredible freedom.

“But you don’t know where we are. We’ve maxed out our credit cards? My husband lost his job. These medical bills keep getting higher and higher. We can barely get by.”

Here’s the most important message I learned about finances: it’s not a matter of how much or how little you make; it’s a matter of your heart. Financial freedom starts in your heart. Listen to what Jesus said, “Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be” (Matthew 6:21).

Where is your treasure? A new car, a big house, a pair of jeans, your 401K? Or, is your treasure in your family, your peace, or God? You see, where you put your money is where your heart is. Your money always follows your heart. So, make sure your heart is right when it comes to finances.

When my wife and I first got married, we were in debt. I was into new cars, new stereo equipment, new things. So when I prayed for financial freedom, I expected God to deposit a big sum of money into my account. What he did, though, was deposit incredible financial wisdom into my heart. You see, financial freedom starts in your heart.

If you’re struggling with finances, I want to encourage you that you can be free from financial anxiety. God desires to help you, first with your heart and then with your finances. I have seen God move in amazing ways when it comes to finances, both in my life and in the lives of those we have counseled. There are great resources to help you in this journey towards financial freedom. Dave Ramsey and Crown Financial are two great resources to get started.

Prayer: Father, I need your help with finances. Financial anxiety is consuming me. I’ve made some bad money decisions in the past, and the financial consequences are overwhelming. First, change my heart. Then, give me a strategy to get my finances under control. Help me start down the road to financial freedom.

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Lifting the Heaviness

August 19, 2008 · Filed Under spiritual hearing · Comment 

This past Saturday was the middle of month, day to pay bills. For some reason, it’s always an emotional time for me—sometimes good emotions, sometimes bad.

When you run your own business, there is considerable ebb and flow in your finances. You must learn to budget wisely and control your spending. It’s not hard, and the benefits are quite freeing. But, it can be a rollercoaster experience.

During the hot, Texas summers when electricity bills are sometimes 3 to 4 times that of normal bills, it can be quite stressful paying bills (those bad emotions). Other times, when the cash flow is good and bills are minimal, I often break out in to praise while paying bills. (It’s odd, I know, but I am always quite thankful to God for his provision in our lives.)

This past Saturday morning, bills were due. As I sat down at my computer, and started organizing the payments, there was considerable amount of “outflow” (bills to be paid). This summer has been wonderfully blessed for us, so it’s not a matter of having enough to pay the bills. But, for some reason, the bills started weighing quite heavily on me. And, the thoughts started to flow:

  • Wow, I’m spending a lot of money.
  • At this rate, we’ll be out of cash in no time.
  • With the economy down, it’ll be hard to find projects.
  • Oh no, then what? How can we afford to spend like this?
  • What are we going to do?

Since we were wonderfully blessed with projects this summer, again, there was no danger of running out of cash. Yet, those thoughts were so strong, so powerful, so influential. But, I’m quite confident that they weren’t my thoughts. Nor, God’s.

Read through that list of thoughts again, and you’ll hear many opportunities to make an agreement. At first, I started thinking, What’s going to happen? This heaviness, this depression started overshadowing my morning. I felt as if I was being smothered under the burden of financial stress, which was an odd feeling since we were doing so well this summer.

As I sat down in my recliner to ponder these thoughts, I immediately thought, These aren’t my thoughts. This heaviness is not the fruit of the Spirit. This is evil.

Immediately, I started to fight this oppressive feeling. I knew it was the voice of the enemy trying to subtly work his way into my mind, to get me to agree with him. And, if I had chosen to believe his lies, then my life would naturally follow. “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7).

After just a few moments of prayer and standing on my authority as a Christian believer, the heaviness lifted. Lord, these are not my thoughts. I trust you. In the name of Christ, I break these thoughts. I reject them. I make no agreements in my heart with them. Lord, you are my Provider. The thoughts were gone. Soon, my words were words of praise and thankfulness to God for his provision in our lives.

You have to remember that the enemy is an opportunist. He will look for any and every opportunity to speak lies into your mind to get you to agree with him. And, he’ll do it when you are at your weakest.

Have you ever seen one of those nature shows where a pack of water buffalo are being chased by a few lions. And, there at the back of the pack is a weak, wounded or young buffalo. He’s slower than the rest. He’s obviously not able to keep up. Guess what–he’s the target. And when you are weak, down, depressed, sad or vulnerable, you are the devil’s primary target. He doesn’t care about you. He doesn’t let down. He hates you, and we must constantly be on our guard for such attacks.

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