In order to be successful at managing money and your lifestyle, you must commit to prayer. The arena of personal finance is important to you, your family, and the church and should be prayed for often because it increasingly takes more money to do more worthwhile things for your family and other people and to live at the same level of comfort you did last year, not to mention five or ten years ago. Like most people, you want more to be able to do more of God's will and fulfill your purpose in the earth. This requires that you be a good steward of what you already have been provided because it is the measuring stick that determines how you will handle more money when you receive more (Matthew 6:33).
For the most part, we will all receive more than we had in times past, if only through inflation of the dollar or technology making once unheard of comforts commonplace. However, the greater questions you should ask yourself are will you obtain more money, desires, and comforts by way of a humble state of mind and activities that are pleasing to Almighty God who made you and will you use more of what you receive in a manner that pleases Him. Offering prayer and praise while performing your daily tasks and scheduling daily devotionals at the least, where you get away from everyone else for one-on-one time with the LORD Jesus Christ, are necessary to have the strength of heart and mind to answer these questions and respond to them in a God pleasing manner that truly helps other people and yourself (Psalms 37:4).
The result of your prayers will be God showing you how to better your situation by giving you knowledge and understanding of biblical principles (financial and otherwise). He will also reveal saving, investing, and money management methods you should use to bring prosperity to you. Don't leave Him out of the day-to-day budgeting or long-term planning of your finances and stewardship. God will provide all your need according to His riches in glory, if you consult with Him as to what He wants you to do (Matthew 18:18).
If you do not manage your income and resources according to biblical principles you are headed for financial failure and all of the negative consequences that follow it on earth and/or in eternity. However, God has mighty biblical principles available for you to pull down debt strongholds, change spending habits, and place ungodly desires and activities into captivity to Christ's will (2Corinthians 10:3-4). These weapons bathed in prayer will help you get your financial house in order in a manner that ultimately blesses you.
May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!
