Are you a slave to debt? Many Americans are, according to data provided by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Household debt in America measures in the trillions, with mortgages, credit cards, student loans, and auto loans being the largest culprits.

If you have debt, considering yourself a slave to it may be offensive—but it’s a biblical fact. Consider the words of Proverbs 22:7:

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The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender (Proverbs 22:7 NKJV).

And with debt in America measuring in the trillions, Americans are feeling that servitude.

Consider the toll that slavery to debt has on American families, even if those families haven’t thought about their debt as bondage before. For example:

• How many husbands and wives are living paycheck to paycheck, fighting over money, and afraid of foreclosure on their house or repossession of their car?
• How many Americans stare into space in tears because they are drowning in credit card debt and feel they can’t possibly conquer it?
• How many people are experiencing sleepless nights, anxious over constant phone calls from creditors—and worrying about how they will buy groceries this week without incurring even more debt?

Beloved, we need a cultural change in America.

When it comes to family finances—and even church and government finances, for that matter—our whole nation needs to change its way of thinking. And even if people don’t know or believe the Word of God, we still need to embrace its wisdom across every socioeconomic group.

God’s wisdom for the American personal debt crisis is clearly stated in Romans 13:8: Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law (NKJV). Yes, that means it is God’s will for every family, every church, and every government to live debt-free.

What should we do about the personal debt crisis in America?

If we want to obey the Bible, we need to forsake the mentality that debt is our provider and embrace the understanding that El Shaddai is our Provider instead. (The very name of El Shaddai, in Hebrew, means “The Many-Breasted One.” It’s a nursing analogy, like mothers nurse their babies; and it shows God to be our abundant Source for every need.)

Also, I believe we need to make consistent and sustained effort to get completely out of debt—including mortgage debt, which many Christians give themselves permission to have—and embrace the wisdom and prudence of the debt-free lifestyle. Proverbs 22:3 says this:

A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished (Proverbs 22:3 NKJV).

Beloved, the American government is in a debt crisis. But everyday American families are in a debt crisis too, and the cultural debt crisis we have across all aspects of society are hurting the American people.

Would you pray with me today for a cultural shift toward debt-free living?

Let’s pray as follows:

“Dear Heavenly Father, we come before You in Jesus’ name. Thank You for being El Shaddai, our Source and Provider in every time of need. We praise You for Your mercy and lovingkindness toward us.

Father, Your Word repeatedly says, “According to your faith be it unto you.” You show throughout Your Word that You will let us have what we believe for. And unfortunately in America, too often we have believed You for our car loans, mortgages, credit cards, and student loans to be approved—rather than simply believing You for provision.

Lord God of Heaven and earth, we come together today and mutually confess our dependence on debt, instead of on You, to be sin. We repent for our sins, both personally and for our whole nation. And we humbly ask You to forgive us and change our mindset:

• Please give us revelation to understand how much bondage and slavery debt really is to us. Let us recognize and admit this truth.
• Please grant us an abhorrence of debt at all levels. Let us grow to hate debt and eschew its use the way Your Word says we ought.
• Give us Your wisdom and divine strategies to get out of debt, both at the family level and even in churches and governments.
• Let us love what You love and hate what You hate, even when it comes to personal finance and usage of debt.
• Let the usage of debt become unthinkable in America, just like slavery and ownership of humans has become unthinkable to righteous people.

And Father God, in Jesus’ name, we ask You to help every family in America get out of debt. Convict us about this matter, and help every family in America learn to budget, increase income, conserve where necessary, make a plan, and pay off every debt we owe, that we may be free indeed.

Thank You, Abba Father. We bow before You as our Source, and as our good, good Father; and we ask You to bless us with prosperity as we follow You to manage Your resources the way You prescribe. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen and amen.”

Beloved, debt is not God’s will for you, for me—or for any family, church, or government in America or any nation.

It is His will for us to be free, and not in bondage of any sort. Let’s persist in asking Him to change our ways of thinking on this topic to reflect His, for God takes pleasure in the PROSPERITY of His people (Psalm 35:27)!

How else can you pray today for the Lord to deliver American families from this debt crisis? Leave a comment below!

Jamie Rohrbaugh is the founder and CEO of From His Presence. She is the author of over 40 books, including her two latest collections of prayer tools, Wind of Heaven and New Season. She seeks to equip you to carry God’s manifest glory everywhere you go. Her resources have been published by YouVersion Bible Plans, The Elijah List, Spirit Fuel, and various other ministry outlets. Download her free prayer tool, Praying the Names of God: 555 Biblical Names of God and How to Use Them in Prayer and Worship, here. Photo credit: 89Stocker/Canva.