Pray For Your Husband

Dear God,
I pray that my husband will not be money hungry, not willing to get money by questionable means, not greedy, not deceitful but of clear conscience.

A verse often misquoted regarding this subject is 1 Timothy 6:10. I have heard many say that money is the root of all evil when actually God says the LOVE of money is the root of all sorts of evil. Money can be an idol if we love it and serve it and put our trust in it or God can use it to accomplish great and mighty things for his kingdom (like adoption--read on).
Like so many of the prayer blogs I post, this prayer is for my husband but it is a challenge to me in particular. I have been idolizing money for years unbeknownst to me. It came sneekly, deceptively. I didn't love money just for all the things it could buy me...I let money control me. I gave to money things that belonged to God--my fears, my trust. God is graciously opening my eyes to the truth and leading me on to trust in Him (read my story below to see how).

It is hard to be a man in today's society and down economy. It's hard to be wife who trusts in God to provide through her husband but it is NOT impossible.  God created man with the abilities and gifts and talents unique to providing for his family. As a wives, we are to come along side our husband and help him. We can help our husband by encouraging and thanking him for working hard for the family. We can discourage him by our discontentment bred through things like Pinterest and a host of other things. I love Pinterest just like the next girl, but if I am not careful, I start thinking I "need" to have a new this or that or redecorate or paint or what have you. There may be a time for that but it seems I most often want things at the most inconvenient times financially and that puts a lot of unnecessary pressure on my husband.
Getting personal--You know, when I look back at my behavior over the years, I have really had a problem trusting God with our finances. Here is one example.  Many of you know Kendall and I are pursuing the Lord's lead for us to adopt. We feel incredibly blessed that God would call us to do so, but for reasons only He perfectly knows, He has asked us repeatedly to wait. We have prayed and prayed and sought the counsel of wise pastors and elders. When we pray together, we know right now God is asking us to pay off some bills (medical, student loan, car) so I can transition to a full-time stay-at-home mom. We know beyond a shadow of a doubt this is what God has asked us to do. I know God has reasons that are good and perfect and right for all He does. Still, I have a tendency to think this should happen today, so if the money isn't coming in as quickly as I want it to, then I starting thinking how can I do this quicker on my own (instead of praying and relying on God). It's like I was saying...God I think I will trust money instead because I know it will get me there faster. (as if)  In my eagerness to obey God's call to care for orphans, I was disobeying God by not trusting in Him.  I put myself in the driver's seat of my life when I didn't even know which way to turn next.  How can I reduce all our bills, how many possessions can I sell to make this happen sooner? It's not wrong to sell our possessions for His will or to reduce our spending or live wisely with what He has given us but what is the motive? Is God asking me to do this or am I doing this because I am not trusting and waiting on God? Kendall and I take finances very seriously as stewards of dollars that belong not to us but to God. I am blessed to have a husband who is a financial planner and is wise in planning for our family. He shows me and reassures me that we are living wisely. We are giving to God first. We are obedient to God with our money. I still felt the need to contribute to get things done faster. I held umteen garage sales and sold much of my clothes on eBay. My husband began to question my motives in doing this. I didn't even realize that I was robbing us of God's blessings because I was working so hard to get it done on my own (and getting nowhere quickly I might add). I have since stepped back and let God be God....He really doesn't need my help--He does a pretty good job on His own. :-)  I have stopped all of it. I continue to pray and rest in God and His will and it is so freeing. God is continuing to provide for us and bless us in abundant ways as we wait on Him. He knows exactly what we need just as He knows the needs of the birds, the animals, the plants and the rest of His creation. He also knows there are some of His little ones in the world who need families and He knows that we are eager to obey His command, and when He says "go" we will run to bring those kids to our home.
Thank You God,
Thank You God for guiding our family and leading us. Thank you for the freedom that comes when I trust You know best, when I step back and follow You in prayer and faithfulness. Life is not about money. Life is not about kids. Life is not about me becoming a mom. Life is not about me. This life, my life is for You Lord. Every day. May I not spend my days counting the what ifs and the what nexts but in serving You, in knowing You and living out the call of the Gospel on this earth. Thank you for centering me in Your Truth and in eternal perspectives.
Holy God, we are Yours. Amen.