Praying for Financial Breakthrough? Start with These Encouraging Scriptures
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One topic the Bible speaks to extensively is money and how to deal with money. Yet, dealing with financial matters from a biblical perspective can sometimes be difficult. Part of the challenge is there are different views on this topic. Some will say you are blessed beyond measure and you can have everything you want financially; all you have to do is ask. For many who teach this, the key to your financial breakthrough is often tied to giving to their ministry. Others would say you shouldn't chase material things but simply look to God for provision. How do you find the balance in all this and, more importantly, what does the Bible say? Are there scriptures for financial breakthrough that you can apply to your life and, if so, what is the proper way to apply them?
What Does the Bible Say About Financial Provision?
The Bible tells us that God has promised to provide for his people. Some have gotten carried away trying to teach you that all you must do is tell God what you want, and he must give it to you. That is not the case. God is not a genie in a bottle, but he has promised to provide everything we need. The key word is need, not want. When he provides, there will be times when we have just enough and there will be times when we have more than enough. However, in both instances, God shows himself faithful because he gives us what we need.
Financial Provision is Not about What but Who
So often, the focus when we talk about financial provision is on what we need, and I get it, especially when you are facing turbulent financial times. However, when you consider different scriptures for financial breakthrough, it is helpful to focus not so much on what you need but more on who you need.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus reminds us that our Heavenly Father knows what we need and we don’t need to run around worrying about whether he will provide it. Worrying about how we will make ends meet puts our focus on what we need when Jesus wants us to focus on who we need. Listen to the words of Jesus:
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matt. 6:33).
Jesus turns the attention back to who you need. This matters because God is our source, and he is the one who provides everything we need. By focusing on him and his kingdom, we can rest easier, knowing he will take care of our daily needs.
Which Scriptures Offer Hope for Financial Breakthrough?
When we are often taught about financial breakthrough, giving is usually associated with it. However, if we are not careful, the scriptures for financial breakthrough that are commonly used can give people the wrong motivations for giving. Consider this scripture for financial breakthrough that is commonly heard. For context, I want to include the entire portion of scripture.
“Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it" (Mal. 3:8-10).
When this scripture is used, there are two primary motivations that are tapped into to move people to give. Guilt or greed. If you don’t give, you are robbing God and are cursed. That is guilt. If you give, then sit back because the windows of heaven are about to open, and you are going to get a blessing that you won’t have enough room to keep. This is greed. Neither one of these is a good motivation for giving, and these are not the keys to your financial breakthrough. If we only give because we are expecting a return, that is not giving, that is investing. If we give because of guilt, then how are we honoring God with our giving? The problem with these forms of giving is that they are not motivated by obedience or generosity but by fear or selfish desires. This is not the secret to finding financial breakthrough.
The genuine hope for financial breakthrough is found in scriptures like this one in Proverbs.
"Honor the Lord with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine" (Prov. 3:9-10).
The primary focus here is not the amount you give, but honoring God first with your giving. This means the key to financial breakthrough begins with the condition of your heart. When God is first, you are positioned for breakthrough. When he is not, then you have placed something else before him.
Your Heart Plays an Important Role In Financial Breakthrough
If we are not careful, we can make financial breakthrough a transactional relationship with God. You give to God and you expect him to give more back to you. I had someone reach out to me frustrated because they had been tithing as they had been told, but they did not see the windows of heaven open nor the blessing that was too big for them to receive. I told her you are giving with the wrong motivation and because of this, she missed the reasons we give, the blessing in giving, and all the blessings God had provided her along the way. Unfortunately, she didn’t like that answer too much.
If you are looking for financial breakthrough because of your giving, then your heart matters. While faith and trust in God are important, financial breakthrough does not come just because you give. The way you give matters. One great scripture for financial breakthrough to focus on your attitude in giving is 2 Corinthians.
"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Cor. 9:7).
The next time you give, ask yourself why are you giving? Does it meet these criteria? Are you giving willingly, obediently, and cheerfully? When you do this, God will bless you, but the irony of it all is the blessing of financial breakthrough is not the focus of your giving. The joy of giving is your focus, and when that happens, God is happy to bless you. Please note when you tie financial breakthrough to giving it does not come because you gave. More importantly, it comes because of the spirit with which you gave. Financial breakthrough is not just tied to your actions; it is tied to your heart. The cheerful, willing giver understands the true blessing is being able to give, not looking for what God is going to give back to them. These are the type of people God blesses the most because they are not seeking blessings, but simply seeking to honor God.
What Role Does Stewardship Play in Financial Blessing?
If all we had to do was give a lot of money and automatically receive God’s blessing, that seems simple, but remember, it can make for a transactional relationship. What we cannot overlook is the role stewardship plays in financial blessing. Sometimes financial breakthrough is not about more resources but about managing the resources you currently have better. This is stewardship. The way God works is when you show you are faithful with little, he gives you more. If you cannot be faithful with little, then it is not unreasonable that God would not bless you with more. We can’t just search out scriptures for financial breakthrough and claim them; we must also learn how to be better stewards of the resources God has already given us. This could mean becoming more financially literate, being more aware of your income and expenses, or simply paying more attention to the resources you currently have. It could be your financial breakthrough is not God giving you more, but you doing more with what God has already given you.
How Can Christians Pray for Financial Breakthrough?
If you are praying for financial breakthrough, I want to focus your attention on an important scripture related to this topic.
"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want" (Phil. 4:11-12).
Before you ask God for more, ask yourself, are you content in him with what you currently have? Paul was content, but not because of his material possessions. His contentment was found in Christ, which is why he said right after this, "I can do all this through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13).
There is no guarantee of when a financial breakthrough is going to happen. That’s why, until it comes, you must find your contentment in Christ. Whether it comes today, next year, or a decade from now, your contentment must always be in Christ first. If you don’t find your contentment in Christ first, then no amount of financial gain is going to make you content. When you are full in him, then if you have a lot or not much at all, you are full and complete in Christ. The freedom of contentment positions you to live well with what you have and not be consumed by material things, should God bless you with more.
If you are praying for financial breakthrough, here is a simple prayer for you today.
Lord,
I give you my financial situation. Thank you for what you have provided because you have been faithful in providing it. As I seek a financial breakthrough, I pray first for wisdom to put you first in everything and wisdom to know how to use what you have already provided. As I honor you with my resources, I pray you would pour out more, but not so I can seek my own desires. Do it so I can bless you and bless others more. Until that time, help me to be content with what you have provided because I know you will continue to provide all my needs. Lord, when I give let me give with the right heart, knowing as Jesus said, it is more blessed to give than to receive.
Amen.
Further Reading:
Top 10 Prayers and Scripture for a Financial Breakthrough
Bible Verses about Financial Blessings
8 Ways to Trust God When Money is Tight
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