Glorify God in Everything We Do (1 Cor 10:31)

Life can change on a dime! I don’t think any of us imagined ourselves on a lock down, homeschooling our kids, hoping our grocery order has the essentials, or worrying about an invisible virus. Besides the fear of contracting Covid-19, a whole lot of us are worried about our jobs and finances, too. Before we talk about some of the things we can do when it comes to money and spending, let’s pause and remember Jesus promise to never leave or forsake us and find encouragement in His timeless words, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!” (John 16:33).

Jesus is with each of us in this very moment of crisis. He has already overcome everything that we will face in this world. Yet, with compassion, He also cares about everything that is on our hearts and mind, including our finances.  He desires  to exchange our anxious thoughts with perfect, supernatural peace as we look to Him.

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

God is not surprised by any of the difficulties we are facing; He wants to guide us through them!

Let’s start by taking a deep breath together, staying calm and begin to recognize the things we can control as we trust God to take care of everything else! Even in the midst of craziness YOU can still be kind to others (even when they post dumb stuff online that makes you mad). Remember, HOPE > FEAR. Fear is contagious, but hope is more contagious!

 Here are a few more suggestions for increasing hope in financial uncertainty:

• Develop or reinforce a daily habit of spending time with the Lord. Include time praying for your finances each day and ask the Lord for strength to trust in His provision.
• Thank Him for the blessings He has provided and cultivate a grateful heart by taking time each day to list three provisions for which He’s blessed you.
• If your income is stable, consider giving to our Benevolence Fund to support those negatively impacted or Community Impact to support their ministry efforts in our community.
• Tighten up your spending. Have a plan for your finances!
• Connect with others regularly and ask a trusted friend to check in with you about your finances
  • If there is an area you tend to overspend, share that and give them permission to ask how your spending is going.
  • Did you order take out one too many times this week? It happens to the best of us!
  • Were you able to resist that afternoon stop at Starbucks?
  • We all need a cheerleader in times of uncertainty – invite someone to share in your celebrations and help keep you on track.

If you would like further help with finances, check out one of our online Financial Peace University groups starting soon! Check out the resources available at www.hcbc.com/fpu or email [email protected] for more information.

Last fall, our entire church participated in FPU together and we learned about how to manage God’s blessings, God’s ways, for God’s glory. There were countless stories of life change as God took our “baby steps” and did BIG things! If you are new, missed it, or need a refresher, check out the Defying Gravity sermon series at https://www.hcbc.com/watch/.

As a stewardship team, we’re  here to walk alongside you in your financial journey which is why we want to give you the tools you need to make a budget, crush your debts, and build wealth. Right now, for the first time ever, Dave Ramsey is offering a FREE two-week trial of Financial Peace University. This course has helped over 6 million people just like you take control of their financial fears and live in PEACE. For questions or encouragement, email us at [email protected].

“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” 2 Thess. 2:16-17