A Spiritual Audit

Every once in a while, my husband tells me that he has received a “low balance warning” from our bank. He has set this up so that we are aware if the funds in any of our bank accounts drop below $100. My role is to then go into the online banking app to replenish that account so that it doesn’t go into a deficit.

No one wants to go bankrupt, when what we draw out of our funds is more than what is deposited. However, studies show that many people live “beyond their means” often due to the use of credit cards. The problem is that it is just too easy to buy and do everything without counting the cost!

Spiritually, I think that I have often made more withdrawals than deposits, and have been in danger of spiritual bankruptcy! Does that make sense? I realize that carrying the analogy between financial and spiritual too far may cause it to break down, but for me there is a link between the two! In growing as a Christian, I definitely need to allow God to do an “audit” from time to time, pointing out where I am headed, if I continue to spend more than I allow to be deposited.

Now, what should we do if we get a spiritual “low balance warning”? (For me, this means I start getting a little angry, being a people pleaser and then losing my joy in serving God.) As I have thought about how to avoid spiritual bankruptcy, I have two suggestions:

1. We need to ask God to show us if we are trying to do more than what He has called us to do, and how to cut back if we are. Sometimes we are spending our spiritual or emotional energy on the wrong things.

2. We need to draw on his supernatural bank balance, rather than trying to “pinch pennies” in our own strength, when we believe that God has truly called us to do hard or draining tasks.

The difference between thriving with a full spiritual bank account or barely being able to make payments is whether we allow God to top up whenever there is a low balance warning. Through our dependency in prayer and spending time soaking in the truths of God’s Word, the Bible, we never have to worry about going bankrupt spiritually!

Father God, thank you that your resources are limitless. As I come to you, please audit how I have been doing spiritually. Help me to come to you so that you can deposit more to offset my deficit, so that I can serve you with real joy and thrive spiritually as well. Amen.

For Today: Do you feel spiritually bankrupt? Go to God, confessing your poverty, and asking him to refill the emptiness that you feel. We were never meant to carry it all by ourselves!