I'm here to tell you that you CAN live on a zero income - trusting God to provide. Yes, you can do without when you have to - but to get the full value out of such sacrifice, you also must not complain about your poverty.
When I moved home to care for my parents, I resolved not to complain, nor to hint and expect others to help me out, but to pray. I would trust God to put it into the mind of others to help, or to find ways for me to raise income through my creative crafts and writing. I was sure I had flare to spare.
Reality? No, in fact, worry and anxiety, did set in from time to time. Fortunately, I had made that good resolve, and so I dumped all my thoughts and feelings on the Lord daily in my journals.
Sometimes He answered with dramatic surprises of gifts from penpals, relatives, or friends. Sometimes with odd jobs, such as wall-papering, chauffeuring other elderly to their doctor appointments, and producing family history books to sell.
You may not be called to have your faith tested to the nth degree like this, but if you ever should be, or if you have times when you feel like you are, here is my ruby piece of advice; don't drive yourself nuts with whining and complaining about how hard done-by you are - instead, accept that period of poverty in your life as something God is using to polish you into a very special gemstone for a work of beauty that you will see later.
For one, it will cause you to pray more, which means you'll grow spiritually very close to God, and be on intimate terms with Him. That's very good!
For another, you'll learn to live simply, discover you really don't need many things you thought you did, and you may turn out much healthier when you drop junk food from your diet, stop dining out on rich food, take no more unnecessary trips, and give up window-shopping, as it only makes one covetous.
I've always loved reading books and magazines, and I had been afraid that I'd starve in my soul. Amazed, I have watched as God has found other ways to provide me with good reading material that doesn't cost me a cent.
It takes some humility to accept gifts of clothes from others, but by learning to do that graciously I have quite a broad selection of clothes. People who do not know of my financial straits can't always tell by my outfits.
One huge advantage of not having money to spend on all kinds of activities and entertainment, is that it boils life down to what is truly important. Simplicity comes with a rare beauty all of its own, and it adds layers of depth and value to your soul. So long, that is, as you don't spoil it all by constantly wishing it away and whining to yourself, others, and God about your state.
You might think it's a dull life, but I'm so busy I don't have time to write all the books of advice I could give you. So much of this rich content comes out of having time to think things through and living quite deliberately by the principles I believe in.
Your mind is not dead when you are poor. With the right attitudes you have more time and liberty to harness your mental energy.
Oh-h! Now we can branch off into various directions. Let's talk about some of the potential next time.
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