Simple Prayers for Paying Off Debt

There are many tips and tricks I can give you to help you get out of debt. Though there are many incredible systems I subscribe to,  I attribute our debt free success to God‘s presence in our lives.  Prayer was one of the main ways we were able to stay committed and connected to God throughout our debt free journey. I’ve provided some prayers that you can read aloud or read to yourself when you are feeling discouraged when trying to get out of debt. I’ve also provided some prayers to rejoice when you make little milestones and victories to posture your heart towards gratitude.

Serenity Prayer

The first prayer I want to share with you I cannot take credit for. It was written by Reinhold Niebuhr. It is used in many contexts including Alcoholics Anonymous and Celebrate Recovery. These programs offer counsel through addiction recovery. I have included it because money is just a resource & an inanimate object. It is how we choose to use it that gives it any significance. Changing your thought patterns & habits surrounding money starts with YOU. I love that this prayer initially acknowledges control. There are many times we face circumstances (even financial circumstances) that are far outside of our control. There is grace & space for this fact. Based on what we can control, we get to decide how we approach such situations. If serenity is a new word for you, then I encourage you to replace that word with “peace” & “clarity.” Here is the Serenity Prayer. 

God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time,
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardship as a pathway to peace;
taking, as Jesus did,
this sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it;
trusting that You will make all things right
if I surrender to Your will;
so that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with You forever in the next.

Amen.

                                      Reinhold Niebuhr

Prayer for setbacks in your debt free journey

The next prayer I want to share is for someone who may be dealing with lots of setbacks along their journey. Paying off debt can prove to have many challenges, temptations, and setbacks. 

Jesus, thank you for setting me on this path. Thank you that I am learning more about you through this financial journey to freedom. I remind my body, mind, & soul that true freedom comes from you. Thank you for setting me free – may that permeate throughout my entire life. There have proven to be many challenges I did not foresee. I thank you that none of them have been a mystery to you. I place my financial hopes & dreams in your hands. I pray that I see the setbacks as opportunities to recalibrate & reorganize. You are God, the Most High.

Prayer for Unity in Marriage

This prayer is for anyone who cannot seem to get on the same page about their debt with their spouse/significant other.

Lord, I trust our financial situation to you. It seems my partner sees this situation from a different perspective as I do. Please unite us so that we may work together. Help me to dream with my partner so we can work towards the same goals. Soften my heart to listen to my partner. Shape my partner to be more receptive to your voice & to your direction. Guide me so that I may have a faithful response to you. Work miracles in our relationship. Transform our hearts to be postured towards you & then towards each other. 

Prayer for Shopping/Spending Addiction

Next I have included a prayer that is for someone who is dealing with a shopping or spending addiction.

Lord, there is something deep within me that feels empty. Help me create space so I can fill the empty void with your presence. I trust you are working to help me resist temptation. I have everything that I need in you, Jesus. Help me recognize when I feel urges that seem out of my control – may they come under your Holy Spirit’s guidance & authority. Thank you that your Holy Spirit empowers me to choose a different way. Thank you for setting me free. 

Faith of a Mustard Seed

Maybe you feel silly praying words that you don’t yet believe. In my opinion, that is mostly the whole point of  prayer to begin with. Learning to pray when we have very little to no faith is what makes space for more faith. It can actually grow our faith! I know it can seem a little counterintuitive. There have been so many times where I have had to pray others prayers to find even an ounce of faith. It was those prayers that carried me from the place I was to the place I am now. 

Prayer for Dreaming with God

This is a prayer for the dreamers. Getting out of debt starts with deciding you are done being in debt, then deciding on a dream. Here is a prayer to help you co-create a dream with God. 

Jesus, thank you for giving me space to dream with you today. I know where I am at right now is not where I want to be long-term. Help me remember that even now, with little, I can be incredibly generous. I imagine with you how I want to feel when you help me become debt free. I envision how my marriage/family/life will thrive. I imagine certain unexpected things popping up & having peace to handle them. That will be because I  will have the means & resources to take care of it. I thank you for how you have already provided for all my needs & how you will continue to provide. I praise you because you are the God that sees me & the God who provides. 

Prayer for Faith-Filled Community

I want to include a prayer for those who are seeking a strong faith community. Being surrounded by people who are on a similar mission as you can be incredibly encouraging. 

Lord. please surround me (& my family) with people who are journeying towards freedom. Allow me to have friends who I can walk alongside as we learn how to manage our money well. May I have the courage to reach out to people who I want to learn from. Give me stories of people who have overcome far greater what lies before me. Help me see the people who are already around me who I can walk alongside. Thank you for how you work in communities to transform lives. I am open for you to transform me in the context of a faith-filled community.  

Prayer of Gratitude

Lastly is a prayer of gratitude. Being able to look back on how God delivered & redeemed you & your story can provide so much joy. It also pleases the heart of God which is by definition worship. 

Jesus, I thank you for what you have brought me out of. Thank you that I was truly free when I first called on your name as my Savior. Thank you that your true freedom is permeating every area of my life. I praise you for the abundance you have moved me towards. Help me to bless those who are still journeying. Set my sights on more of you as I move forward. Thank you for your grace throughout the process. I commit all of this blessing and success to you. 

I pray that you see God journeying with you all along the way. May you be able to look back & see not only how far you’ve come, but also how far you’ve been carried. God bless you on your financial journey to freedom.