by Marie | Dec 9, 2025 | Archives, Inspiration
To overcome financial anxiety, you must: 1) Understand where your anxiety comes from. Unless your name is Bill Gates, the chances are that you’ll experience some degree of financial anxiety. But when fear becomes your fixed state of mind, something’s wrong; it’s time to unwrap the package. Fear can be hereditary, passed from generation to generation. And it can trap you in a cycle that’s hard to break. But you can break it! Gideon tore down the altar where his family had worshipped idols for generations—and they were angry with him when he did it (Judges 6:25-30). But Gideon knew that to win in life, he must trust in nobody but God. 2) Rise above your past failures. Have you made bad investments and now you’re afraid to take a risk? Are you hoarding as a hedge against future failure? Here’s the problem: nothing ventured, nothing gained! In football, the players who score the most goals are often the ones who miss the most chances. But they keep trying because if they don’t aim for the goal, they can’t win. A barn filled with seed doesn’t produce a harvest. Furthermore, when the farmer plants his seed, drought and frost, and pests can wipe him out. Yet if he doesn’t plant, failure is guaranteed. Getting the idea? 3) Anticipate God’s goodness.
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by Marie | Dec 8, 2025 | Archives, Inspiration
The solution to financial worry isn’t necessarily having more money. Indeed, the more money you have, the more you have to lose. And the thought of losing it can cause you to worry more, not less. It’s a vicious circle. Trying to find security in money is like tying a boat to a dock; when a big enough storm comes along, the ropes will break and it’ll be swept away. So since we all wonder when the next economic storm will hit, what’s the answer? More rope? Stronger rope? Tighter knots? No—that just gives you knots in your stomach! For the next few days let’s look at some Bible answers to money worries: Tackle your fear head-on. The Psalmist said, ‘Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.’ Now, since David was a king, he probably didn’t worry a lot about money. But he did worry about his enemies stalking him, catching him off guard and killing him. We each have different areas of worry, and the ones that control us are called ‘core fears’. Sometimes you can keep them at bay; other times they control and consume you and make you act in ways you’re not proud of. Christian financial advisor Ron Blue says that for years he was trapped by the fear of not having enough money,
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by Marie | Dec 6, 2025 | Archives, Inspiration
Jesus said: ‘A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’’ But he answered and said to him, ‘‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilise it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down’’’ (vv. 6-9 NKJV). How long have you been serving the Lord? What are the tangible ‘fruits’ of your service to Him? We’re not all capable of the same level of productivity. Jesus taught that some of us have thirtyfold potential, some sixtyfold, and some a hundredfold (Matthew 13:8). It’s your faith and your gifting that determine your level of productivity. For example, God doesn’t expect a ‘thirtyfold’ to produce a sixtyfold harvest. He’s not an unreasonable taskmaster. But if this parable teaches us anything, it’s that God won’t let you just sit on your hands and do nothing. The words, ‘cut it down’, are a sobering reminder of this. God is patient. He will work with you year after year in an attempt to
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by Marie | Dec 5, 2025 | Archives, Inspiration
God can put an idea in your mind that changes the direction of your life. Marconi had an idea from which came the radio. Bell had an idea from which came the telephone. God, who’s a creator, gives creative ideas to people all the time. But you must act on them; otherwise, He will give them to somebody else. Isn’t it time you asked Him for one of His ideas for your life? The fact that you believe in God is wonderful. But here’s something equally wonderful—God believes in you! Instead of looking at your present situation and thinking, ‘I guess my life’s as good as it’s ever going to get,’ start asking, ‘Lord, what do You have in mind for me?’ If you let it, life can beat you down and make you feel low, lost, lacking, and limited in ability and potential. And if you act on these feelings and thoughts instead of what God says about you in His Word, you’ll never move forward and fulfil what He put you on this earth to do. You say, ‘God has never given me one of His great ideas.’ Maybe that’s because you have never asked Him for one! He gives them to seeking hearts, prepared hearts, faith-filled hearts and obedient hearts. Here’s a profile of the kind of
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by Marie | Dec 4, 2025 | Archives, Inspiration
Releasing yourself from calls for: 1) Choosing to forgive. ‘Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you’ (Ephesians 4:32 TM). Whether or not the person who hurt you apologises, is dead or alive, or is still hurting you, your only option is forgiveness. By forgiving, you set yourself free to enjoy life. 2) Releasing the wrongdoer from all expectations. By changing your expectations, you reclaim your peace of mind. Whether or not the other person changes is his or her business—move on! Requiring a certain response keeps you bound to them. Paul says, ‘Christ has set us free to live a free life…Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you’ (Galatians 5:1 TM). 3) Transferring to God all expectations for your needs. His Word says, ‘God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 4:19 NAS). Note the word ‘all’. God can supply the people, resources and opportunities you need to live a joyful life. 4) Asking God to bless your offender. Yes, it’s difficult, but Jesus said, ‘Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!’ (Matthew 5:44 NLT). That kind of prayer puts you in the driver’s seat of your life. 5) Doing something nice for your offender. Ask God how you can
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