Praying for Prosperity

He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God,
and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper. –2 Chron. 26:5

If you ask ten different people how prosperity, prayer, and promises intersect in scripture, you will likely get ten different responses. Handling money is tricky for anybody, and Christians are no exception. God warns us about the love of money, how it is hard for a rich person to enter into the kingdom, and we are given numerous examples of biblical characters whose wealth led them into sensual lifestyles that negatively impacted them, their children, and their nation.

Sadly, for the most part, America has become a D.I.N.K. economy (Double Income No Kids). This has led to greater disposable income for some, which translates into higher demand for products and higher prices for us single-income families. Economists inform us that $0.65 a gallon gas in 2000 is at a similar rate as $3.20 per gallon of gas today, adjusting for inflation. What they forget to factor in is that very few of us have seen a 450% increase in our salaries over the same period of time. This discrepancy adds extra stress to households, especially homeschooling households. With these challenges how do we process prosperity from a biblical worldview?

One thing we need to remember is that there are different types of prosperity. There are some absolutely gorgeous houses that will never be true homes. While they are extravagant on the outside, there is little love between parents and even less between children and parents on the inside. The marble is not only on the countertops but also surrounds seemingly impenetrable hearts. Regardless of how much money a family has, it can never make up for the poverty of relationships. Proverbs 15:17 reminds us “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it.” If you are rich in familial relationships, count yourself as blessed as the richest people in the world.

A second consideration about wealth is knowing what purpose it serves in life. Money is a wonderful servant but a monstrous master. Throughout the Old Testament, people gave generously to various projects as needs arose because they were committed to God’s kingdom and not simply to their own little empires. Unfortunately, others used their wealth to satisfy insatiable sensual pleasures. Solomon had more wealth than anyone who ever lived, yet, in a backslidden state, he proclaimed life to be nothing but “vanity” apart from Christ.

Finally, we must realize that with wealth comes unique temptations. God injected money (gold) into the first book in the bible (Gen. 2:11) and monetary transactions shortly thereafter (Gen. 23:9). Economics is a God-ordained part of life. Still, it takes extra grace to handle wealth responsibly. I feel most certain that if each of us could handle wealth properly, God would gladly give us all the money we could use. We are tempted to think, “If I had their money, I would use it better than they do,” but God didn’t give us their money for a reason.

Homeschoolers, remember, you can have all the money in the world and still be poor in the areas that matter most. The love of money has shipwrecked many souls and has limited the spiritual growth of some genuine Christians as well. Having said all this, however, we do need resources to live. Finances can put a lot of stress on single-income families, especially young homeschooling families. Sure, we can save money through eating out less, wearing secondhand clothes, and being careful about monthly subscriptions like cell phones, Netflix, Spotify, etc., but the reality is that we need to have so much income. While God promises to give us our daily bread just as He does the birds of the fields, I think He finds pleasure in His children recognizing their dependence upon Him and crying out for His provision.

Trusting that God knows what we can and cannot handle and will distribute accordingly, we are going to dedicate July’s prayer and fast requests to our various daily needs of simply living life. No, we’re not turning into a prosperity gospel organization where we all drive brand new cars and have bigger homes than we need. We are, however, going to ask God to pour out abundantly from His mighty storehouse, so we can relish in His faithfulness, see our children have unique opportunities that will add to their future growth, and allow fathers adequate time at home to help mothers raise their children.

As God answers these prayers, may they redound to His glory and our humility.

1. Pray that our eyes may be enlightened to truly see and know that our God is a good God who wants to abundantly bless His children. It is part of His character.
   1. If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! –Matthew 7:11
   2. He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? –Romans 8:32
   3. For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. –Psalms 100:5
2. Pray that we will realize that God is endless in both resources and in avenues.
   1. For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.—Psalms 50:10
   2. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,–Eph. 3:20
3. Pray that we homeschoolers would walk by obedient faith regarding tithes and offerings and generosity, not just with money but with words and actions as well, knowing that God recognizes and rewards faith.
   1. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. –Mal. 3:10
   2. The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. –2 Cor. 9:6
4. Pray that we will receive any of God’s corrective discipline in our attitude or handling of the resources He entrusts to us. Pray that we will exhibit genuine repentance and ask for His grace to enable us to walk in obedience in all areas of life.
   1. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. –James 4:3
   2. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. –Hebrews 12:11
5. Pray that we would receive God’s supernatural favor and blessing in the works of our hands and with the people with whom we interact.
   1. And there you shall eat before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your households, in all that you undertake, in which the Lord your God has blessed you. –Deut. 12:7
   2. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him. –Luke 2:40
6. Pray that God would be merciful to us physically, so we will be able to work hard for a long time as well as not spending extra money on medical bills, medicine, etc.
   1. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. –Proverbs 3:16
   2. O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these is the life of my spirit.
      Oh restore me to health and make me live! –Is. 38:16
7. Pray that God would give us insight into opportunities that we might otherwise miss.
   1. Give us this day our daily bread, –Matt. 6:11
   2. The Lord your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your cattle and in the fruit of your ground. For the Lord will again take delight in prospering you, as he took delight in your fathers, –Deut. 30:9
   3. And Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father’s household with food, according to the number of their dependents. –Gen. 47:12
8. Pray that God would give us restraining grace to resist all the little foxes that would eat away at our finances.
   1. Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom.” –Song of Sol. 2:15
   2. “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. –Luke 16:10
9. Pray that there would be unity of vision in the home over financial matters. Pray that the savers would still recognize the important of generosity and the spenders would recognize the value of proper frugality.
   1. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. –John 17:11
   2. Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. –1 Peter 3:8
   3. Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. –Proverbs 27:17
10. Pray that God would bless the functioning of all of our machines (e.g. cars, appliances, etc.) so we would not have expensive repairs or replacement costs. Pray that we would steward these things well through proper maintenance, care, and use.
    1. Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years. –Deut. 8:4
    2. Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds, –Proverbs 27:23
11. Pray that God may bless homes in such a way that fathers can have more quality time with their children.
    1. He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, –Psalms 78:5
    2. Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers. –Proverbs 17:6
12. Pray that God would continue giving grace to ICHE to bless those whom they serve and that His blessing would be on ICHE’s finances as well!!
    1. give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”—Luke 6:38