Struggling with financial lack is an accepted way of life for most people. Trying to stretch our money far enough each month to pay all the bills, and juggling which ones get paid first and which ones can wait, is stressful and discouraging. Having enough money to live comfortably can seem like an elusive dream. However, God’s will for our lives is abundance in all areas, including in our finances.

The world is in bondage to depleted budgets, insufficient income, and maxed out credit cards. We may find ourselves wondering how we’ll make ends meet, how to scrape together enough to put gas in the car and food on the table, and how to keep the lights on. We mustn’t be deceived—God doesn’t want us to sweat and struggle living paycheck to paycheck. Believing this allows Him to bless us, and our bank accounts, abundantly.

God is well aware that we need money, and He doesn’t want to see us broke and penniless. But our earthly desires can betray us if we’re tempted to seek money over everything else. We mustn’t get our priorities backward. When we seek Him, first, everything else will fall into place. “For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:32, 33, NIV).

We need to visualize in our mind’s eye that we already have the financial resources we need. Prosperity is part of the finished works of Jesus; therefore, we can begin thanking Him for what we’ve already received by faith. God always keeps His promise to bless us financially, but we must use wisdom. This means handling money responsibly by paying the bills, balancing the checkbook, establishing a household budget, not relying too heavily on credit, and giving generously.

A spirit of generosity has no relation to our bank account. The Bible story that teaches us to trust God and give out of faith uses the example of a woman who put all she had into the offering plate in the temple, despite the wealthier people making much larger donations. When Jesus saw this, He made note of it. “Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on’”(Mark 12:43, 44, NIV).

The world doesn’t think this way about money management, and the devil would prefer we stay poor and continue to struggle. But God transforms our minds and teaches us to think differently about money, so that we can stand out from everyone else. If we keep the proper perspective and attitude when we ask Him for financial blessings, we position ourselves to receive what He wants us to have. “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it” (John 14:13, 14, NIV).

If we’ve been born again, we never have to wonder if God’s promises extend to our wallet. He has more than enough to meet whatever needs we may have. “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus”(Philippians 4:19, NIV). Our heavenly Father will never leave us lacking in any area.

For more on receiving God’s financial blessings, click on the link below for the three-CD series, Live Rich Volume 1.