Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Do You Pray Before You Buy?

I Thessalonians 5:17 "Pray without ceasing."

This is the time of year where a lot of buying of gifts goes on. I thought I would pose this question to you to see what responses I get. As a lost person I never prayed before I bought anything because I didn't know the Lord....duh!! And even after I got saved I didn't know to pray in every situation. I later learned that we are to be praying at all times or be in an attitude of prayers at all times. This means that even in situations where you are shopping you should be in an attitude of prayer.

There have been times...and still are times now...when I haven't prayed before buying something I wanted. I can testify to you that there have been times that God has let me know through His Holy Spirit when He didn't want me to buy something. That may not mean that you can't have it altogether. It might mean that He doesn't want you to have it right then. There was on instance that I remember wanting an article of clothing (can't remember what it was now...I think a skirt) but the Holy Spirit wouldn't give me peace about getting it that day. So I didn't. I don't remember the time frame but I remember going back at a later time and finding that same thing marked down really cheap and then He let me get it. I believe that two things took place...that God knew I would get it later at a cheaper price and also because of my obedience to Him at the first time He let me have it later at the discounted price. I was so thankful for that too. There have also been times that I wanted something and I didn't get it because I didn't have peace about it and I ended up getting that very thing for my birthday or as a Secret Sister gift.

I'm saying all that to say this....pray before you buy anything you want and if you can't get the liberty to get it from the Lord then don't get it. He will bless you later with that thing at a better time or price or maybe even bless you with something nicer. Trust Him!! He makes no mistakes!!

Do any of you have any testimonies of the Lord doing this for you in your Christian life? Please leave a comment if He has and tell us about it.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mrs Julie a couple of interesting posts the last couple. I have really never thought about this praying before buying anything, but I do have instances when I bought something and I wasn't suppose too, and it either broke or didn't work. The Sin of Gluttony wow that is a post that I know you had to get from the Lord especially this time of the year. I wouldn't say I overate over thanksgiving but I did eat till I was full. I appreciate your sensitivity to the Holy Ghost to put something like tha on the blog. I have been guilty of that sin I know numerous times. Well have a great day.

Bro Tim

Sis. Julie said...

bro. tim...I too have had instances where I bought something I wasn't supposed to and it broke or didn't work when I got it home. I've sure seen this in Ronnie's life in the past few months as well. I'm so thankful that God lets us learn our lessons the hard way sometimes. Those are the best ones to learn and the most remembered.

The post on The Sin Of Gluttony was a hard one to do. I've been so guilty of it so many times. God really worked me over on that one. I didn't overeat on Thanksgiving...I'm doing so much better (with the Lord's help of course) at eating till I'm satisfied. I've not made an effort to do that in the past. I'm glad that post is helping so many. All I can say is praise the Lord!!

Mary said...

Good post, Julie! I think your post is a very good reflection of how a loving, good God is concerned about EVERYTHING in our lives - including the smallest purchase. I am sorry for the times that I didn't listen to the Holy Spirit and purchased something only to regret it later. But I am happy for the lessons I've learned through those regrets and how I've learned to hear and obey the voice of the Lord. Again, good post Julie. Very down to earth and applicable! And thank you for the sweet, edifying comments you have left on my blog - you're a blessing!

Anonymous said...

I'm ashamed to admit that I do not pray before buying "everything" ... only about the expensive things. I'm sure that had I prayed over the smaller things, I would not have broken pieces to account for them now. :-( What a blessing!

Sis. Julie said...

sis. mary....Thank you so much Sis!! You are a blessing to me!!

Sis. Julie said...

maranatha....Its good to see you back! I've been wondering about you and Bro. Jerry. I pray all is well.

I too have not prayed about EVERYTHING I've bought and have regretted those purchases later. Would I could always remember to pray before I buy!!

Susannah said...

Excellent advice. Yes, often I do pray before I buy. Some times of the year, I just don't go near the stores at all... :~D

Sis. Julie said...

e-mom....Amen!! I try not to as well!

Jodi said...

Sis Julie ~ Does it sound silly to say Jesus and I do the grocery shopping together? I don't mean it flippantly. I talk to the Lord the whole time I walk up and down the aisles. I get excited when I find a bargain, and I thank Him!

I know the Lord has blessed our family many, many times through the years while I shop, but the story that came to my mind first happened over ten years ago. While shopping, I felt the Lord pressing upon me to buy two packs of ribs instead of one. I did (I'm sure more fearfully than I should have). Now we were strapped back in those days. There were many a times that $10.00 stood between us and the next payday.

We had two older men share the job of pastor at the church where I played the piano. One of them got ill, and his wife was recovering from knee surgery at the same time. I felt the Lord telling me to cook up those ribs and take them over to their house. I did. Now I will admit that between the time they finished cooking and the time I walked out the door with them I doubted several times. (This little elderly couple was very well off, had lots of family living right around them, and I knew I could stretch that meat into two meals for our then small family.) But the Lord kept saying *take it*.

When I got there, they were overjoyed that someone had thought of them. Neither their children nor grandchildren had been by to see them yet.

This pastor had friends in all sorts of businesses ... one being the food industry. One of his friends had come by earlier in the week and given them a box of 100 good, beef, hot dogs. They insisted that I take those hot dogs. Do you know how **many** more meals I got out of those hot dogs than I'd have ever gotten out of those ribs?

Have I always heard Him when He directed? No. I think most of my disobedience has occurred when I didn't take the time to really seek out His guidance. When I've experienced "Buyer's Regret" it's been because I was a "Neglectful Believer" and did not pause and take time to seek out the Lord's guidance first and foremost. Life is so.much.better when we prayer first and purchase later!

This is a great post for this time of year. We are praying about the gifts we will be buying for the children. A Spirit led purchase can lead our children into a new skill or enhance their abilities, but the wrong purchase can lead them into the sin of wasted time or something even worse.

I'm sorry my comment is so long, Sis. Julie. You give me so much to think about, and I just want to jump into conversation with you.

Sis. Julie said...

sis. jodi...Don't worry about the length of your comment. Length is not an issue with me. I just want people to share their heart with me and others who read here.

Thank you for sharing your testimony. It blessed my heart. God always blesses obedience and sacrifice. You did both in this instance and God honored and blessed that effort. Praise His holy name!!

Anonymous said...

What a great post, and a timely reminder for me, I was about to head out and grocery shop!! I have come home now and guess what, I spent less!! Yup by praying my way through the list, I found great buys and saved money!!

What a great lesson for me!! Thank you :)

Blessings
Amy

Sis. Julie said...

mrs. amy....Amen!! It really does help to pray before you buy...and that includes groceries. What a blessing to hear that you saw God's hand at work in your shopping this time. Thank you for sharing!!

~~Deby said...

Julie,
My husband gave me a Christmas cash budget....and usually I would take it as more of a suggestion...this year is different...I am trying to be a helpmeet and responsible to him and be obedient as a Christian and as a wife...after 36 years..it's about time, huh?
I too ask the Lord for certain things...bargains,wisdom...and sometimes for me NOT to even go into a place when I shouldn't go.
They are just things....
Great post.
Deby

Sis. Julie said...

sis. deby....what a blessing!! Having a budge to shop within will certainly be a challenge and will cause you to pray before you buy won't it? I pray you do well with it and buy ONLY what the Lord gives you liberty to buy.

Don't feel bad about taking so long to submit to you husband. It took me a long time to even begin submitting to him and I still have areas that the Lord is helping me work on in that area of my life. Some things just take time!

Love you!!

Jessica said...

Wow, that's a great post. I too have bought things in the past without praying, and then the item not work, or break... or I've simply gotten myself in a financial mess because of the purchase. The Lord has taught me a lot about praying over purchases!! It is very important that we are sensitive to the Holy Ghost concerning everything that we do (even what we buy!). Thanks for that reminder during this time of year, when we make so many purchases!!

I have prayed about the Lord helping me find some neat gifts for everyone that I have to buy for this year.... the Lord has allowed me to find some neat things.... right now I'm praying that the Lord will show me something neat to buy my "future-Momma & Daddy-in-law"..... any ideas?? :)

Sis. Julie said...

jessica....It's amazing the people who have had this lesson taught to them as a result of a bad purchase. God certainly knows how to let us know what we do was wrong doesn't He?

As for gifts for me and Bro. Ron....I don't know what to tell you about me. Bro. Ron could use some white dress shirts. He has colored ones but now that we have a washing machine that works right...he can have white shirts. He has suits that he can't wear because he doesn't have white dress shirts. As for me....I could use trouser socks....regular ankle socks...a Cato's gift card...calgon body spray...bath and body works juniper breeze body splash. Those are some suggestions but you don't have to worry about getting us anything if you can't. We're just looking forward to you being with us for the holiday!!

Love you BUNCHES!!

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