Heidi Bruder

The date was January 2008. Mike and I were overwhelmed by our financial state. We were trying so hard to pay off debt, but never felt as though we were making any headway. I was discouraged and frustrated. Our friends, Skip and Carolyn had recently finished a class at their church called, Financial Peace University by Dave Ramsey. God had been reminding me of this in various times and various ways for a number of weeks. One night in January, I took the plunge and ordered the book Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey. This book is based on his Financial Peace University class.

Little did I know how this book was about to change my life. I’m excited to report that 10 months later, we have paid off $11,316.78 in debt! To God alone be the glory! We also cut up every single one of our credit cards and haven’t looked back (or even needed them for that matter!) We are not done yet. We still have a lot of debt to pay off…everything from car loans to student loans, but we are on our way to living debt free.

I can’t begin to express to you the freedom that has come along with this. I no longer feel enslaved to bills and finances. I’m no longer fearful about the future of our finances. Although getting out of debt had been our goal all along, we needed help knowing a “logical” way to pay off our debts and keep a budget.

In the past year, God has taught me a fundamental truth…He will always provide. Since going down to one income, I had come to trust the plastic in my wallet before even allowing God the opportunity to provide. I don’t think I really believed that He could or would provide for me in a practical, everyday sort of way. I’d read His promises in Scripture, but I didn’t apply them to my life. I had turned borrowing money into a god in my life instead of trusting the One who provides. I don’t think I really believed His promises like those in Philippians 4:19, “My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” God has (and still is) having to change my mindset about needs vs. wants in life. He has faithfully provided for every one of our needs and always on time. God is faithful to everyone of His promises. He has (and continues) to provide in some very unusual and some miraculous ways.