Let's face it. One of the biggest challenges facing a number of single parents is the need for adequate finances. The need to have more money at the end of the month versus more month than money. The need to not have to look into the faces of our children when there's barely enough food to eat and bills are getting cut off left and right. The need to not have to face eviction because we have to choose between paying a bill instead of the rent. The need to be able to buy our children basic items like clothing and shoes when holes begin to show through the items that were already donated. These are just some basic needs. But it's a challenge to meet them.
It's more than a notion. How do you handle finances when you're parenting solo and the job you have just doesn't cut it and child support is few and far between?
First of all, I know it sounds cliche, but put it to prayer! God has a special place in his heart for the downtrodden. However, your prayers must be with the right motive and you can't just come to God like He's a piggy bank. Your prayer life has to be consistent. I'm a living witness that prayer is a powerful weapon to use in your times of need. Not only do you cry out to the Lord for YOUR needs, but also pray for others who may be having the same challenge or even worse. Spread your bills out across your table and ask the Lord to help you and I promise, if you trust Him with your whole heart, He will come through. He may not come right away, but trust me when I say He is ALWAYS right on time. That may be a song to some, but it's been my life experience.
Secondly, put your faith into action. Faith without works is dead. Don't just sit and wait for something to drop down out of the sky and into your lap. Now, sometimes it happens that way. But that's rare and for the most part, you really have to do your part. Create a workable budget that includes your needs (shelter, house bills, and food) as a priority and your wants (eating out, cable, getting your nails done, etc) as secondary. Figure out what things are necessary and unnecessary and begin trimming the fat. You'll be surprised to find out how much excess you have! With that excess, put a savings plan together. I know it's hard to fathom saving when you're using every dime to keep your head above water, but I have an easy solution that I wish I'd had when I was raising my kids. It's called the 52-Week Savings Challenge. ANYONE can do this. You can do it, if you put your mind to it! You have to discipline yourself to do it and then discipline yourself not to touch it.
Got skills? Of course, you do! God has provided us all with the gifts and talents that we can use to survive. You just need to tap into them and ask the Lord to give you the wisdom in how to put them into practice. Your gift will always make room for you! For instance, do you like to cook - I mean REALLY cook? Can you throw down like nobody's business? Maybe you were meant to be a caterer or a baker? Google what it takes, then follow the steps to the tee to get started. Are you a fashionista? A good event planner? A good organizer? A great writer? If you look at the Proverbs 31 woman, you will see that she used her skills for provision for her family. (Don't worry about making your husband known in the gates, that will come later!) Align yourself with the master designer of your destiny so you can hear what He's telling you to do because He knows the plans He has for you. Read Jeremiah 29:11.
Finally, be willing to help and serve others. I know you're saying - with what time? Trust me, if you have to time to Facebook and Twitter, you have time to help and serve. There are many ways to help others and your financial blessing among other things may well come from being in the right place at the right time. Now, you have to be willing to help and serve with the right motive - just like when you come to the Lord with your prayers - you must have a contrite and humble heart that is eager to do it, not just because you want to see what you can get. Remember, God sees and knows your heart and people can tell if you're genuine or not. So pray about how you can volunteer your time and talents to help and serve others.
All in all, remember always that ALL things are working together for your good. All means all and that's all that all means! Tests and trials come to make you strong and they also make you appreciate the blessings when they do come. They give you a compassionate heart for others and they draw you closer to the Lord. When the blessings start to pour in, you will know from whom they came and you will give Him all the honor and glory that is due to Him.
It's more than a notion. How do you handle finances when you're parenting solo and the job you have just doesn't cut it and child support is few and far between?
First of all, I know it sounds cliche, but put it to prayer! God has a special place in his heart for the downtrodden. However, your prayers must be with the right motive and you can't just come to God like He's a piggy bank. Your prayer life has to be consistent. I'm a living witness that prayer is a powerful weapon to use in your times of need. Not only do you cry out to the Lord for YOUR needs, but also pray for others who may be having the same challenge or even worse. Spread your bills out across your table and ask the Lord to help you and I promise, if you trust Him with your whole heart, He will come through. He may not come right away, but trust me when I say He is ALWAYS right on time. That may be a song to some, but it's been my life experience.
Secondly, put your faith into action. Faith without works is dead. Don't just sit and wait for something to drop down out of the sky and into your lap. Now, sometimes it happens that way. But that's rare and for the most part, you really have to do your part. Create a workable budget that includes your needs (shelter, house bills, and food) as a priority and your wants (eating out, cable, getting your nails done, etc) as secondary. Figure out what things are necessary and unnecessary and begin trimming the fat. You'll be surprised to find out how much excess you have! With that excess, put a savings plan together. I know it's hard to fathom saving when you're using every dime to keep your head above water, but I have an easy solution that I wish I'd had when I was raising my kids. It's called the 52-Week Savings Challenge. ANYONE can do this. You can do it, if you put your mind to it! You have to discipline yourself to do it and then discipline yourself not to touch it.
Got skills? Of course, you do! God has provided us all with the gifts and talents that we can use to survive. You just need to tap into them and ask the Lord to give you the wisdom in how to put them into practice. Your gift will always make room for you! For instance, do you like to cook - I mean REALLY cook? Can you throw down like nobody's business? Maybe you were meant to be a caterer or a baker? Google what it takes, then follow the steps to the tee to get started. Are you a fashionista? A good event planner? A good organizer? A great writer? If you look at the Proverbs 31 woman, you will see that she used her skills for provision for her family. (Don't worry about making your husband known in the gates, that will come later!) Align yourself with the master designer of your destiny so you can hear what He's telling you to do because He knows the plans He has for you. Read Jeremiah 29:11.
Finally, be willing to help and serve others. I know you're saying - with what time? Trust me, if you have to time to Facebook and Twitter, you have time to help and serve. There are many ways to help others and your financial blessing among other things may well come from being in the right place at the right time. Now, you have to be willing to help and serve with the right motive - just like when you come to the Lord with your prayers - you must have a contrite and humble heart that is eager to do it, not just because you want to see what you can get. Remember, God sees and knows your heart and people can tell if you're genuine or not. So pray about how you can volunteer your time and talents to help and serve others.
All in all, remember always that ALL things are working together for your good. All means all and that's all that all means! Tests and trials come to make you strong and they also make you appreciate the blessings when they do come. They give you a compassionate heart for others and they draw you closer to the Lord. When the blessings start to pour in, you will know from whom they came and you will give Him all the honor and glory that is due to Him.
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