The Miracle in the Math: How Budgeting Opened the Door to My Biggest Financial Breakthroughs

  

 I want to talk to you today about financial breakthrough. When we discuss breakthrough in the church, especially financial breakthrough, we often think of supernatural provision, unexpected checks, surprise inheritances, or spontaneous promotions. And while those things absolutely happen (because God is indeed a miracle worker), my most prominent financial breakthrough didn’t come through a sudden windfall.

It came through budgeting.

Yes, budgeting.

The Wake-Up Call

    I began budgeting in June 2016.  And while I didn’t realize it at the time, that decision would become one of the most spiritually and practically transformative choices I’ve ever made. In that season, I was working hard but often felt like I had nothing to show for it. I was praying for breakthrough but didn’t feel like I had any control over what was happening in my finances. I didn’t understand where my money was going, only that it was gone by the end of the month.

    But Proverbs 27:23 says, “Be diligent to know the state of your flocks and attend to your herds.” I wasn’t being diligent. I wasn’t watching. I wasn’t stewarding. That conviction led me to do something simple: make a budget.

Budgeting as a Spiritual Discipline

    As I began budgeting month by month, something unexpected happened. I began to see patterns in my spending, where money was leaking, where I was overdoing it, and where I could cut back. Budgeting helped me build discipline. It gave me a plan. It taught me how to live within my means and still enjoy my life.

    I noticed that as I stuck with it, I was always ready to pay my bills. My rent was paid on time. My utilities were never overdue. I no longer had the anxiety of guessing whether I could make ends meet, I knew exactly where my money was going and what was coming in. I even began to save and give more generously.

    Budgeting became more than a financial habit; it became a spiritual discipline. I started seeing every dollar as something I was accountable to God for. As Luke 14:28 reminds us, “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost?” That’s what I was doing, counting the cost and building my life on purpose.

The Breakthrough Didn't Happen Overnight

And let me be honest: the breakthrough didn’t happen overnight.

    But around the five-year mark, after faithfully budgeting for years, I began to notice a shift. Doors started opening up for me in my career. But here's the thing: I wasn't the one knocking. Opportunities started finding me. People were reaching out, wanting to hire me. Recruiters were calling. Collaborators were inviting me in.

    It was a stark contrast to what I experienced after college, when I was struggling to find work and constantly told I lacked experience. Back then, I felt invisible. But now? I was prepared. I was available. And I was in position to receive what God was sending.

    That’s the power of budgeting. It’s not just about the money; it’s about the mindset. It positions you to walk in the blessing instead of being overwhelmed by it. Luke 16:10 says, “Whoever is faithful in very little will also be faithful in much.” I believe God saw my consistency and stewardship and said, “Now she’s ready for more.”

Encouragement for You

    I know it’s tempting to look for quick fixes and miracle moments, especially when you feel behind or overwhelmed. But don’t overlook the miracle in the math. Don’t underestimate the power of tracking your spending, setting a plan, and committing to it. Financial healing often begins with clarity, not cash.

    Zechariah 4:10 says, “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.” If you’re just starting, know that God rejoices in your decision to steward your resources well. It’s not about perfection, it’s about consistency.

A Few Tips That Helped Me:

1. Start with what you have. Don’t wait for a raise. Budget what’s in your hand right now.

2. Track patterns, not just amounts. Your habits are the real story behind your numbers.

3. Make room for giving and saving. Even small amounts help build the habit.

4. Review your budget regularly. I check in weekly—like a financial devotion.

5. Pray over your finances. Ask God for wisdom, strategy, and stewardship grace.

Final Thoughts

    Budgeting might not look like a miracle, but it unlocks the miracles that discipline, wisdom, and consistency create. It prepares you to receive what you’re asking for. It positions you to live in peace, not panic.

    So, if you’ve been waiting on a breakthrough, don’t overlook the blessing of a budget. That’s where mine started. And it changed everything.

    
Have you experienced a shift in your finances through budgeting or stewardship? Share your testimony below, I’d love to encourage you on the journey.

Sometimes God Speaks through the Process: The error of always expecting instant answers

    

    It is summer, and I am on an 8-week vacation from the classroom because we are out on
break. This past May, I graduated from my teacher preparation program and officially became a fully certified teacher in Virginia. I’m heading into my fourth year of education, and I’m excited about what the new school year will bring.

    I currently teach 4th and 5th grade math, so naturally, I’ve been pondering new ideas for my classroom. As I sat in quiet reflection, I was about to pray for divine ideas. In my imagination, I pictured God “downloading” fresh lesson plans into my brain from heaven, quick, clear, and complete. Or maybe I’d fall asleep and wake up from a dream, brimming with supernatural insight.

    But when I paused, I realized that’s not really how it has happened for me in the past.

    Most of my best ideas have come through study, reading, attending workshops, and reflecting deeply. The divine insights I’ve received were often revealed gradually, not dropped all at once. They came through diligence, not downloads.

Why Did I Expect Instant Downloads from God?

    This question stopped me. Why did I expect God to speak in flashes of brilliance, bypassing my need to study, explore, or prepare?

    The answer, I’ve come to realize, is layered.

    1. The Way We Read the Bible

    In Scripture, it often seems like God speaks instantly and clearly. Abraham hears a command and obeys. Moses gets instructions from a burning bush. Paul is struck down and redirected in one dramatic moment. These stories make divine communication seem sudden and spectacular.

    But when you look closer, these men waited, wandered, and wrestled too. Abraham waited 25 years for his promised child. Moses lived in the wilderness for 40 years before his calling. Joseph had a dream, but lived through betrayal and prison for over a decade before it was fulfilled.

    The Bible often summarizes long seasons of silence and struggle in a few verses. And if we’re not careful, we’ll imagine God always moves in seconds, not seasons.

    2. Church Culture in the U.S.

    In many church spaces, especially charismatic or revivalist circles, the supernatural is emphasized heavily. We hear testimonies about prophetic dreams, spontaneous ideas, and “God told me” moments. These stories are exciting, and they encourage faith, but they also unintentionally send a message: if you’re spiritual enough, you’ll hear God clearly and quickly.

    Meanwhile, few testimonies spotlight the teacher who studied for hours, the parent who patiently built a habit, or the writer who revised the same chapter ten times.

    We don’t often celebrate God in the grind, but He is there.

    3. Our Fast-Paced, Shortcut Culture

    Layered on top of that is modern life. We live in an age of instant gratification. We’re used to Googling answers, streaming shows in one night, and finding “life hacks” for everything.

    So when it comes to prayer, it’s easy to want the same speed. We want God to operate like a search engine, with instant clarity, no waiting, and no confusion.

    4. Sometimes, We’re Just Tired

    And let’s be honest, sometimes we crave a divine download because we’re exhausted. Teaching is hard. Life is full. And the thought of sitting down to plan or study can feel overwhelming.

    It’s not laziness, it’s weariness. In those moments, we don’t just want insight, we want comfort.

    5. We Were Rarely Taught the Value of Process

    Many churches teach us to expect revelation, but not formation. We were told to “wait on God,” but we weren’t always told that waiting might involve study, trial and error, discipline, and growth.

    We were not taught to see process as spiritual, but it is.

    Sometimes, the Holy Spirit leads you to a book. Or gives you a spark during a boring workshop. Or nudges you gently as you rework your lesson plan for the third time. That is divine guidance, just not in the form we were taught to expect.

    The Shift

    This shift in mindset has been powerful for me. I still ask God for ideas, but now I ask Him to partner with me in the process, not to help me skip it. I pray as I study and I’m learning that God doesn’t just speak through downloads, He speaks through diligence.

    Sometimes, the miracle isn’t in the moment, it’s in the making.

Christian satire: You God Dishwasher Demons? Fear Based Theology in the Church

     In this humorous yet convicting piece of Christian satire, You Got Dishwasher Demons? explores the absurdity of fear-based theology that turns everyday inconveniences into spiritual warfare. Through the exaggerated lens of Dr. Simeon Paul and a well-meaning believer named Jennifer, we shine a light on how some corners of the church have strayed from sound doctrine into superstition. The skit is a playful critique of deliverance culture taken to extremes, where demonic explanations are given for everything from microwave malfunctions to dirty dishes. It challenges viewers to rethink how they discern spiritual matters and invites the Body of Christ back to a theology grounded in God’s love, wisdom, and goodness, without losing our ability to laugh at ourselves along the way.

Did God Really Tell You That Man Was Your Husband? Or Was It Limerance?

    Have you ever been certain that God revealed a specific man as your future husband, only to end up confused, disappointed, or emotionally stuck? In my newest YouTube video, Did God Really Tell You That Man Was Your Husband?, I unpack the powerful emotional state called limerance, where longing and imagination can feel like divine revelation. This teaching sheds light on how spiritual desire can blur the lines between God’s voice and our own hopes, especially in romantic matters. If you're searching for clarity, healing, or freedom from years of waiting on a word that never came to pass, this video is for you.

From Spiritual Warfare to Structural Awareness: What I Learned About Poverty

Isaiah 10:1-2 – “Woe to those who make unjust laws… who deprive the poor of their rights…”

Before studying sociology in graduate school, I didn’t fully understand the root causes of poverty. Like many others raised in spiritual communities, I was taught that poverty was a demonic spirit; something to be bound, cast out, and defeated through fasting and prayer. I believed that if people remained poor, it was because they hadn't broken the spiritual chains holding them back.

That was what was taught to me. And for a time, I accepted it without question.

But during graduate school, as I studied sociology and global systems, my perspective began to shift. I learned that poverty cannot be explained solely by spiritual causes. In fact, reducing poverty to a demon can dangerously oversimplify a much deeper problem and can lead us to ignore the real-world structures that keep entire communities in cycles of lack.

One of the most eye-opening revelations I encountered was the concept of systemic oppression—a form of injustice that is built into the fabric of society. Systemic oppression isn't about individual acts of hatred or discrimination. It’s about institutional policies, practices, and power structures that disproportionately harm certain groups while protecting and privileging others.

In the case of Black Americans, poverty is deeply rooted in centuries of systemic injustice:

• Over 400 years of free labor through slavery built the economic foundation of the United States.

• After slavery, Jim Crow laws, redlining, voter suppression, mass incarceration, and unequal access to education continued to strip Black families of opportunity, land, and wealth.

• To this day, Black communities face barriers in healthcare, housing, banking, and employment.  These barriers that are not accidental but woven into the systems that govern American life.

This is systemic poverty, not just personal failure or spiritual bondage.

What I came to understand is this: Poverty is not merely the result of demons—it’s the result of decisions.

Yes, spiritual warfare is real. But prayer must be partnered with policy, advocacy, and economic empowerment. We cannot rebuke our way out of injustice. We must also confront the systems that create and sustain inequality.

What encouraged me most during this journey was realizing that the Bible doesn’t shy away from structural injustice. Scripture doesn't merely present poverty as a personal or spiritual failure, it acknowledges that oppression and corruption are often behind it.

Ecclesiastes 4:1 – “I saw the tears of the oppressed—and they have no comforter…”

These verses rebuke the kind of societies that exploit the vulnerable, ignore the cries of the poor, and legislate inequality into the daily lives of the marginalized.

God’s Word aligns with the sociological truth: poverty is often enforced by unjust systems. And God holds oppressors accountable.

Today, I hold a more holistic view. I believe poverty must be addressed on multiple levels:

• Spiritually, through prayer, discernment, and inner healing.

• Socially, through education, equity, and economic reform.

• Systemically, by dismantling the structures that keep entire communities locked out of opportunity.

We serve a God of justice.  A God who sees the oppressed, hears their cries, and raises up people who are willing to stand in the gap and bring change.

New Video: Test his spirit, Sis!

    Before I got married, I encountered several men who seemed promising on the surface, but deep down, they weren’t who God had chosen for me. They weren’t necessarily bad people, but many didn’t have my best interest at heart. That’s why I created this video, to help you avoid the emotional and spiritual drain of connecting with someone who was never assigned to your life. In “Test His Spirit, Sis!”, I walk you through how to spiritually discern a man’s intentions using biblical wisdom and real-life experience. If you’re dating with purpose and praying for clarity, this video is for you.

Does God Choose our Mate?

Does God Choose Our Mate?

This is a question I honestly don’t have a definitive answer to. As believers, we often wonder whether God has a specific role in choosing our spouse. We reference moments like when God created a partner for Adam by forming Eve from his rib (Genesis 2:18–25). But does that example still apply to us in 2025?

Some also wonder if, when we are created as souls in Heaven, God forms a counterpart soul for us, a "soul mate." These are deep questions that touch on both theology and personal experience.

God’s Sovereignty and Free Will

We serve a sovereign God who knows the plans He has for us (Jeremiah 29:11). Those plans include every aspect of our lives, such as our work, health, spiritual growth, and even the relationships we form, including marriage. 

However, God also gives us free will. He allows us to make choices and does not force any person or path upon us. Just because He knows the plans He has for us, does not mean He is controlling the plans He has for us.  He is not micromanaging every aspect of our lives.  His guidance is available, but we must choose to walk with Him and seek His wisdom.

Biblical Principles for Choosing a Mate

While the Bible doesn’t offer a definitive answer to the question, "Does God choose our mate?" it does offer principles to guide our choices in a spouse:

• First and foremost, your partner should be a believer, someone who shares your faith (2 Corinthians 6:14).

• They should demonstrate good moral character, such as the qualities described in Proverbs 31 and Ephesians 5:22–33.

• Look for someone who lives out love, patience, and kindness (1 Corinthians 13:4–7).

• Above all, seek God’s wisdom as you make this important decision (James 1:5).

Practical Steps for Seeking God’s Will in a Spouse

If you are currently seeking a spouse, consider the following steps:

• Pray for clarity and discernment.

• Study God’s Word to understand His principles for relationships.

• Seek counsel from trusted spiritual mentors or leaders.

• Pay attention to the peace in your heart as you pursue a relationship (Philippians 4:6–7).

• Really take time to get to know someone as your "brother or sister" in Christ first before you imagine hearing wedding bells.    

Conclusion

Though it remains a mystery to me whether God chooses our mate in a specific, predetermined way; I am confident of one thing:  God is deeply involved in every area of our lives, including our relationships. We may not fully understand how He works behind the scenes, but we can trust His timing, His guidance, and His desire to bless us with good things.

God may not drop a spouse from the sky, but He will walk with you through the process. If you invite Him in, He will direct your steps and give you peace as you move forward.