Drifting Without Direction? Will You Let God Lead Your Money?

Speaker A00:00:28

You ever feel like you're managing money but not actually going anywhere? You're not failing. What you're actually doing is drifting. Because most people start with numbers, but God starts with vision. Budgets answer the how.God's vision answers the why. Let's talk about how to stop drifting and let God lead your money. That's what I'm going to cover on today's show. Welcome to the show. I'm Ralph.Thank you so much for joining me in our daily adventure of helping you break that cycle of financial shame and doing it with confidence. You know, a listener said to me, ralph, I always start the year with numbers.I've got those savings goals, I've got debt goals, but none of it sticks. Ralph, how do I start with God's vision instead of my math? It's easy to get stuck on the math, isn't it?And if you've ever felt that tension, guess what? You're not alone in that. Every year, the headlines scream out to us, Americans set money goals without clear purpose.And Proverbs 29:18 reminds us, where there is no vision, the people perish. People don't fail because they don't have goals. They fail because their goals lack purpose. That purpose creates staying power.And for over 30 years, I've helped people just like you, families connect their budget, connect their calling, and connect their peace. And the transformations I've seen are real. And when vision leads those categories, peace rises.And when peace rises, anxiety shrinks, and money becomes a tool and not a tyrant. I never forget I work with a couple who finally asked me. They said, ralph, what does God want from our money?And for the first time ever, they set a giving goal before they set a savings goal. And everything else aligned naturally. And I'll never forget, they called me back and they said, ralph, for once, we feel led, not chaste.See, that's the power of beginning with God's vision. So the real question is this. What does it actually look like to let God lead your money?But bigger than that, how do you stop drifting and start listening? Let's walk through it. I've got four spiritual and practical steps that you can take today to lean into that number one thing.Like I said at the beginning, it's all about vision before numbers. See, purpose, before planning leads to grace, before guilt. You don't start with a spreadsheet. A lot of people get stuck there.You start with a prayer. You start with, what is God's vision for your life?Because God will give you direction before he gives you the details I don't know how many times in my life God has said to me, ralph, go in this direction. But he hasn't given me the details to do it. See, it's that vision. That vision pulls you forward when discipline gets uncomfortable.Because, listen, discipline is not easy. Discipline makes you feel stuck sometimes. That's shame. We talk about that on the show all the time. That shame keeps you stuck.But having that purpose will move you. And a God given why stabilizes every financial decision. So that's what I wanted to start with. Your numbers need a North Star.And God provides that one. God provides that vision. Second point, mission converts categories. A lot of people get stuck on the word budget.They say, oh, Ralph, you're always talking about budget. You're always talking about restriction. But your budget, when you have a mission, becomes a ministry tool.Because you can ask this, how does God want me to serve in 2026? We're all planning for 2026. But start with the question of God, how do you want me to serve?And once you understand that, then you can align your giving, you can align your savings, you can align your serving, you can align your spending. And also you're investing because you understand the vision. And all of a sudden.And it doesn't happen overnight, but over time, when you live in that vision, those categories become assignments, not obligations. See, when you really have that mindset shift, when you understand that vision, it's not assignments anymore. It's what God wants you to do.And that mission, let me just tell you right now, if you deal with impulse spending, that mission destroys that. Because now everything has a meaning. And that's so very important. Point number three, peace is built. One faithful step at a time.A lot of people need to hear this right now. Listen, many times in my life, I needed to hear this because I thought, oh, it's just going to happen overnight.But God doesn't build that vision overnight. He helps you establish the plans, but you build it. You build it. One bill paid at a time. You build it. One temptation resisted at a time. You build it.One small win celebrated at a time, and one small obedient step at a time. Because I want to tell you something, you need to hear this today if you're dealing with this right now. God honors faithfulness before increase.And you need to understand you're not behind. You're actually building. Which leads me to the final point for today. God gives peace before he gives plenty.You know, that's a tough one to stomach sometimes, because we want it all. We want to say, God, Well, I don't understand. I've been praying incessantly. Why aren't you giving me this?But so many times in my life, I can speak for me right now. Sometimes God says, wait, just hold up a second, Ralph. Now, he's not doing that to punish us. He's doing that to prepare us.And it took me a long time to understand why. But here's why. Increase without vision becomes chaos. See, if God just threw it all at us at once, we wouldn't be able to handle it.We wouldn't be prepared for that. It would just be absolute chaos. And that worry would drain us. But that relentless worship, that consistent effort, that worship resets us.And so many people get stuck on this. Provision isn't just money. See, a lot of people say, well, Ralph, I don't have that money. But maybe for you, provision is clarity.It's understanding that vision and living in contentment that is fertile soil for blessing. And if you're wondering how you're going to see this, peace is the first sign that you've aligned with God's direction.I truly believe this in my own life. When you feel peace returning, I'm going to tell you right now, that's God leading you. Let's look at the Book of Proverbs, chapter 16, verse 9.In the hearts. Humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. I've heard this said, we plan and God lives. How about First Peter, Chapter 5, Verse 7?Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. The Lord cares for you. The Lord wants you to be successful. Establish your vision and establish your steps with him. How about we pray together, Lord?We ask right now that you would help me to hear your vision above my fear. Lord, it's so easy to live in a state of fear with everything going on around us. As we prepare for 2026, we worry, Lord.We wonder about what is that going to look like. And we want to have it all laid out. We want you to give it all to us right now, Lord, but help us to hear your vision to battle that fear.And, Lord, as we think about planning for 2026, redirect my plans to match your calling for my life. Help us to live in your will, Lord. And I just ask right now that you would give me joy and generosity and purpose in every dollar.Lord, we ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen. Here's what I want you to do today. I want you to take just two minutes. All you need is two minutes.I want you to Pray and complete this sentence. Are you ready for it? In 2026 I will use money to serve God by. And then I want you to fill in the blank there.In 2026, I will use God to serve by, whatever that is. And then put that sentence on top of your budget. Put it where you're going to see it every day.Because when you do that, that becomes your financial North Star. We started off talking about vision. Let that be your financial vision for the future.And if today's show spoke to your heart, you don't have to walk this journey by yourself.I would love to invite you right now to the financially confident Christian community because you're going to move past financial shame when you have support and when you have truth. And in the community, you're going to find steady, faith filled encouragement and accountability. There's other people that want to pray with you.They want to understand what you're going through, they want to share your wins and they want to give you a big old hug when you're stressed, struggling. It's still growing. But I want you to come and check it out. It's absolutely free. You get to it by going to financiallyconfidentchristian.com/join.We've got some great plans over there. We're just waiting for more people to join. So I would love it if you I'd encourage you today to go join it. Financiallyconfidentchristian.com/join.Your story matters and we'd love to walk with you. As I said before, friend, you're not drifting. God is pulling you into clarity.He's pulling you into peace and he's trying to pull you into his purpose. You're not behind, you're becoming, you're not condemned. You're being restored. So let's go out there today and be financially confident Christians.You can do this. I have confidence in you. But brighter than me, the Lord has a vision for your life. Stay financially savvy.God bless you and I hope to see you again tomorrow on the show.