The Six-Thousand Dollar Prayer
"We were really good with our money," says Elizabeth. "We didnt own any credit cards. We didnt see how people could get in trouble with them."
But trouble soon found them as their car began to break downa lot. The more expensive the repairs became, the more they relied on an answer found in their mailbox: credit card applications.
"Almost daily we were getting those things, the applications [that say] 'pre-approved!'" she says.
"Its a quick fix," notes Bradley. "It's simple. It's easy. They send you the $5,000 credit limit. Wow! Ive got $5,000 that I can spend."
Within a year, the Collins' had charged up nearly $3,000 on car repairs. But their problems were just beginning.
"When you realize that your payments are going to be $200 to $300 a month on a credit card, it is easier to pay the $20 or $25 a month instead," Bradley says.
Instead of paying off their cards, Bradley and Elizabeth started using them for almost everything.
"Our debt amount came close to $25,000," Elizabeth tearfully explains. "Once you reach that level, you are basically ashamed that you allowed it to get that way. At the beginning of our marriage, I would look at people and I would say, 'How come you dont have money to do this?' or 'How come you dont have money to pay your bills?' Then we were there."
"It just consumed every ounce of energy we had," says Bradley. "Id come in. Shed be sitting down looking over the checkbook or looking over the bills that came in the mail for that day."
"When we tried to talk about it, of course, it created such turmoil, that you didnt want to talk about it because all you did was fight," says Elizabeth. " Our focus was not on our marriage. Our focus was not on the Lord. The focus was on how to make this debt disappear. It impacted our children because they dont understand why when you go into Wal-Mart they cant have a 97-cent car or a dollar toy. I picked up my little girl from school one day. We were going down the road in the van, and she said, 'Mommy, can we go to McDonalds today?' I sat there a minute, and she said, 'Dont tell me it's because we dont have any money.' It broke my heart."
But God was about to show them a plan that would turn their financial nightmare around.
Says Elizabeth, "I started to watch The 700 Club, and that was an awesome thing for me because it was the help that I needed. When Id watch The 700 Club, Id be so inspired, Id be like, 'God, Youre so good! Just hearing how God helped these people that I was watching on The 700 Club."
Elizabeth was inspired as she saw people struggling with their own finances but still giving to others who had less.
"I would hear Pat say, 'God wants His people to prosper. He wants His people to prosper.' And Im like, 'Yes, You do, Lord!'" she says.
In spite of their debt, Elizabeth and Bradley joined The 700 Club.
"I know that everybody got tired of me talking about The 700 Club," says Elizabeth with a laugh. "I was constantly telling everybody what I was learning from The 700 Club. I was just thankful for it."
Elizabeth and Bradley believed that God could bring a change to their troubled finances, too, so they prayed for His blessing.
"I know everybody thought Id lost my mind," says Elizabeth, " but I had this amount in my mind, and I would get up every day and say, 'Lord, I thank You for this $6,000 that You are going to send."
A few weeks later, Elizabeth spoke to the woman who prepared their taxes.
"She said, 'Youre getting back $5,700. I said, 'Shirley, did you say $5,000? I wanted to make sure I heard right."
In addition, a friend gave them money to help with their children. Together, it equaled $6,000!
"Its a night-and-day difference between now and seven months ago," Bradley notes.
Brad and Elizabeth are not completely out of debt, but they have re-consolidated and have things under control. As for those credit card offers that still come in the mail every day, Elizabeth knows just what to do.
"[They go] right in the trash, or 'return to sender,'" she says. "I love to do that, and I do that quite a bit. I send it right back to them and make them pay the postage!
Brad and Elizabeth are right. God does want His people to prosper! The Collins acted in obedience to God's Word and were amazed by what He did in their lives. He will amaze you, too! Join with CBN now and help provide biblical answers and the gospel to thousands of people, just like the Collins. You will also help feed and clothe children here and abroad, provide medical care to those who are hurting, and help keep The 700 Club Prayer Counseling Center phone lines operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please join today!
