Budget anxiety is a real thing! It is not of God, but it is a real thing. It looks for every opportunity to take you from faith straight into the arms of worry, fret, and fear—especially when you’re at Walmart watching the cash register continually increase in the amount you have spent. I vividly remember the day when the Lord taught me a valuable lesson on the heavenly economy. 

As I watched the register calculate at check out, it was clear to me that I went way over my allotted budget. Standing in front of the register feeling the beads of sweat developing on my forehead, I debated if I should put the milk and eggs back or dip into my gas budget. Staying home and eating won that battle! Dipping into my gas budget, I paid for items. 

Upon barely leaving the parking lot to head home, the thought crossed my mind: “Mmm, Starbucks white chocolate mocha and bacon egg bites sounds yummy.” Followed by a sharp fast-flying thought, “You overspent; you have eggs and coffee; eat at home!” 

As I was agreeing with that thought, the inner voice of the Holy Spirit cut me off quickly! “That’s poverty mentality!! You go to Starbucks now!” I questionably responded out loud, “Lord, are you sure?” I barely blurted the words out when a stern “Go now!” put a new meaning to “Yes sir” as fear and reverence for my Heavenly Father flooded me—knowing it was important that I get to Starbucks pronto. Egg bites were waiting, and the spirit of poverty was being ejected from my car! 

I was casually easing into the turn lane at the traffic light that led into the parking lot when an SUV suddenly whipped right in front of me. I had the perfect opportunity to become upset and cynical. I could have sarcastically thought, “Well, someone really needs their coffee.” Instead, I noticed that I didn’t take notice of the suffered wrong. It didn’t affect me negatively in any way. I did not fret or become irritable. I didn’t have to try to stay in peace, I just was in total peace, and I noticed it! 

When the peace of God is on you, it doesn't always make logical sense. Philippians 4:7 tells us that the peace of God surpasses all understanding and will guard your heart and your mind!

After going way over budget at Walmart, I ordered my delicious morsels of Joy, never fretting that I was about to overspend an extra $10. 

 I arrived at the pickup window with my $10 bill ready to pay when the woman said, “That will be nothing, your order was taken care of by the person in front of you.” Yes, this was the same person who was in a hurry to cut me off. Maybe she was in a hurry because the Lord told her to buy my meal; or could it have been an apology for cutting me off in the turn lane? 

Regardless of whether or not she knew that the Lord was using her to perform His Word on my behalf, we both reaped the reward of obedience. Isaiah 1:19 tells us, “If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.” (NKJV). I was eating good that day because I obeyed the voice of the Lord when it didn't make sense! 

 Realizing my coffee was on God that day, I continued praising Him in a state of pure joy and thanksgiving. As I drove off, a thought of panic and condemnation pierced my mind. I answered, “LORD, I should have paid it forward to the people behind me!” Immediately I heard the inner voice say, “I never told you to do that.” Pulled back into peace, I remembered that Jesus never did or said anything that He did not see or hear His Father do or say. (John 5:19, John 12:49) I continued praising all the way home.

I learned a fun lesson that day. Sometimes being willing and obedient doesn't look like wisdom, but it always comes with peace and tastes so good. 

“...wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy” (James 3:17).