How do we pray when we’re in financial need? Is it okay to pray for a financial miracle? Or should we just ask God to give us more wisdom when it comes to money? The good news is we can ask for both. God wants us to ask him for what we need (1 John 5:14-15, Psalm 34:17); reliance on his provision is to be our default posture (Matthew 6:31-33). However, God also calls on us to be wise with our resources (Proverbs 12:11). A habit of asking for miracles to make up for careless stewardship can lead us down a selfish path of trying to manipulate God. Take heart, if we confess our mismanagement or tendency toward self-reliance, the God who loves us will give us both wisdom and provision…perhaps even miraculously.

Living paycheck to paycheck

Years ago, when my husband and I were just starting out as a young family, we faced financial hardships. He was just starting his career as a high school teacher, and I was juggling part-time work, graduate school, and taking care of our small children. Money was extremely tight; in fact, I remember on more than one occasion—after paying the bills, filling up the gas tanks, and buying a few groceries—we often had less than $20 to last until the next paycheck. More times than I care to admit, we used a credit card to make ends meet. Consequently, for a handful of years, we teetered on the brink of financial ruin. I remember many sleepless nights, spending hours praying to God for some relief from my worries and that he would continue to provide our daily bread (Matthew 6:11). Sometimes, that daily bread was all we had left. After I completed my master’s degree and secured a decently-paying job, we finally began the slow climb out of debt.

I can't help but hear my own story in some of the prayer requests I receive as the Prayer Team coordinator for ReFrame Ministries. I see prayer requests all the time along the lines of “Pray God gives me a financial miracle so I can pay my bills and get out of debt.” These prayer requests take me back to those sleepless nights when I fretted about how we would manage.

One example of how I experienced God’s provision was after a careless driver ran a red light and totaled our car. We were left in a tough spot, as we had no way to afford a new vehicle. Living in an area with limited transportation, the situation seemed impossible. A friend from our church came to our aid. Well aware of the financial strain we were facing, a friend trying to sell his father’s vehicle generously offered it to us. Instead of going through the bank and getting a high-interest loan, he proposed a flexible payment plan directly to him, allowing us to pay at our own pace and at a significantly reduced price. We were grateful for his kindness and praised God for providing an answer to a huge need. Several months into this agreement, our friend surprised us again. He expressed that he wanted simply to give us the car, and he forgave the remaining balance on the payments. It was such an unexpected gift, and I think of it as a miracle. It solidified our faith and served as a powerful reminder that God is faithful.

Praying for a miracle

It’s absolutely okay to ask God for a miracle. The Bible makes it clear that in “every situation” that we can ask God “with thanksgiving” and he will provide for our needs (Philippians 4:5-7). Timothy Keller in his book Prayer, writes these wise words about how we should pray for needs:

There are ordinary prayers for our own needs and those of others. Praying for our daily bread for ourselves should cover the full range of what we need spiritually, emotionally, and materially. It means praying for freedom from our besetting sins and temptation, for clarity and energy to do our daily work well, for protection from injuries and sickness, for the financial means to support ourselves and our family. It includes asking, above all, for communion and fellowship with God (p. 233).

What is the true purpose of prayer?

We can and should ask God for financial help, but always in the light of what the true purpose of prayer is—to lead us into a closer relationship with and obedience to God (James 4:8). We can pray for financial miracles but should do so with a humble, patient, and trusting heart. Instead of sitting back, being passive, and waiting for God to perform a financial miracle like winning the lotto or inheriting a fortune from a long-lost relative, we need to be active participants and ask for financial wisdom.

We pray for wisdom by asking for creativity as we manage money: perhaps to find a better-paying job, get help from a financial advisor, follow a strict budget, limit spending on non-essentials, and grace to trust in God.

Scripture reminds us about looking to God first:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6).

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:11)

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows (James 1:17).

Pray for a miracle or pray for wisdom?

So is it better to pray for a financial miracle or financial wisdom? My take is this: first and foremost, we pray for financial wisdom and actively participate in the process of gaining wisdom. But yes, we can also pray and anticipate that God will do miraculous things, while being attentive and thankful, noticing God’s provision for each day. A sign of miraculous provision might not be simply coming into large sums of money unexpectedly; instead, it’s often receiving just what we need…when we need it. We can also pray this way for others who are asking for a financial blessing or miracle. We pray that they continue to see God’s care for them each day and pray that they have wisdom and contentment with what they have.

May you continue to pray with confidence and boldness, anticipating the miraculous work that God will do while fostering a content heart for what he has given you right now.

For more resources on financial wisdom, check out this podcast episode from our sister ministry, Groundwork, and this article from our sister ministry, Family Fire.