Prayers Of Financial Freedom: Prayer Of Repentance

     I'm going to confess that throughout my life, the devil has tried to keep me in bondage to the fear of financial lack. Perhaps you are like me and grew up with parents who struggled financially in their childhood, and that carried over to an unhealthy attitude towards money and a fear of the lack of it.
     I recently read an article in Charisma Magazine by Dr. Mark Virkler and it profoundly touched my heart and I want to share some of his observations. He begins by stating that "Finances are one of the greatest sources of fear for people today". I agree with that! It has certainly been the case in my family and I hear that sentiment echoed often by people I come in contact with.
      So how can believers overcome fears and worries about their finances? Some of you may even feel that money is somehow wrong and against God's will. The Scripture 1 Timothy 6:10 is often misquoted as "Money is the root of all evil". In truth, the Scripture reads "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil". We know that Sin is the root of all evil, and it is the love of money, not money itself, that leads to trouble. In fact, in Deuteronomy 8:18, God reminds the Israelites, "You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth...". Wealth is not a bad thing. We just need to remember who it comes from.

     So, if you have a fear about financial lack, don't let the Enemy steal your peace or joy. It's okay to pray for a financial breakthrough, and to access the storehouses of heaven. Again in Deuteronomy 28, the Word says, The Lord will command the blessing upon you in your storehouses and in all that you undertake, and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God gives you (verse 8). Verses 10 and 12 tell us the Lord will give us great prosperity and will open His good treasure house for us. 
     We need to understand that God has stored things up for us according to our needs, desires, and requirements. In our spiritual life, it means that He wants us to be filled with the Holy Spirit, walking in the love of God, overflowing with the joy of the Lord, manifesting the fruit of the Spirit as well as flowing in the gifts of the Spirit, demonstrating the power of God, radiating the life and nature of God.  In our families, it means that He has stockpiled everything we need for our generations to serve Him. In our bodies, we have access to health. And in our finances, He wants us to have an overflow of abundance; more than we could dare to ask or think... in other words, financial freedom -- enough to meet our needs plus extra to share with others. And it's okay to pray and ask Jehovah Jireh (the God who provides) to open up His storehouse for us. If we are fearing the lack of money or think it is sinful to need it, then we are listening to the lies of the devil. It is God's good pleasure to provide for us!
     Since this is an issue that has affected me and my family, and I'm sure many other families, I would like to take the next couple of blog posts to give you prayers [by Dr. Virkler] for helping you to overcome your fear of money and to step into the abundance the Father has stockpiled for you. This first prayer is a Prayer of Repentance. I suggest praying it our loud, slowly, incorporating any pictures or visions the Holy Spirit brings to mind; letting any emotions flow to make it a heart prayer and not simply a head prayer. And believe that your prayer will be heard and answered.

Prayer of Repentance
     Lord, I repent for my sins and the sins of my ancestors for harboring ungodly beliefs about money. I repent for believing it is wrong to have wealth when others are in poverty. The truth is that You have provided more than enough resources for everyone. Your watchful care, personal guidance, angelic intervention and creativity within each heart releases Your financial provision into our lives. You do this for me. You do this for others.
     I repent for believing that money is evil and thus is to be avoided. In reality, money simply magnifies what is in a person's heart. You said, 'Blessed are the pure in heart' (Matthew 5:8a). Thank You that Your Spirit has purified my heart, allowing me to see You and receive from You.
     I repent for believing that money will disrupt my spiritual life, for it is You and You alone whom I allow to influence my spirituality. I have chosen to receive Your wonderful counsel in the cool of the day (Genesis 3:8, Isaiah 9:6) as I encounter You in my quiet time. You keep me on track and reveal dangerous attitudes and actions I am to avoid.
    You have given me unique gifts and a passion to multiply talents, mastering area after area. Every vocation and skill I have is part of my spiritual life, and taking time to master every area You place before me is part of my spirituality. In no way is it secular. So I will take the time to master each area, acknowledging these areas are part of Your kingdom.
     I repent for believing I am not gifted enough to be prosperous. The truth is, it is the hearing and obeying of Your voice that causes blessings to be released in my life (Deuteronomy 28:1-14).  Your wisdom and anointing overcome every natural limitation. You have placed within me a vision for my destiny (Genesis 12:1-3, Proverbs 29:18). You have instilled the passion and gifts to bring it forth (Romans 12:6). I honor and receive each of these and know that by following them, financial blessing will flow. Thank You, Lord.

   In the next post for Financial Freedom, we will consider a prayer for breaking off curses, and a prayer for forgiveness. And I would suggest that you repeat these prayers often to fully receive the blessings they afford. Thank you to Dr. Virkler for these encouraging and powerful prayers. May they grow your faith and understanding of all that God desires for your life.
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Dr. Mark Virkler is the author of more than 50 books in the areas of hearing God's voice and spiritual growth. He is the founder of Communion with God Ministries and Christian Leadership University. He has taught on developing intimacy with God and spiritual healing for over 30 years on six continents.

Psalm 35:27    Let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say evermore, “Great is the Lord, who delights in the prosperity of His servant!”