Can I Find Real Joy Without Spending Money?

Ralph00:00:00

Does it ever feel like every good time comes with a price tag? Those dinners out, those streaming subscriptions, that shopping to feel better. But what if real joy can't be bought?What if it's found in something deeper, something quieter and something that is completely free? Well, stick with me today because I'm going to share how to find joy that money can't buy. This is Financially Confident Christian.Your daily dose of gospel grounded insight and faith driven tips to help you break the cycle cycle of financial shame with confidence. Hey there. Welcome back to Financially Confident Christian. I'm Ralph and I am glad we're together again today.As you know, this is the show where we ask that transformational question, how can I become a financially confident Christian? And now we're back in our series beyond the Budget, trying to find ways to live intentionally.Now yesterday we talked about how to adapt your plan when life changes. You know, when you get those curve balls. So if you missed it, going to encourage you to check it out.And today we're going to talk about something we all long for, joy. And more importantly, how to find it without spending a dime. That's right. You heard me right. You better listen closely. Think about it for a second.You've had a hard day. You're tired, you just want to unwind. So what do you do?You start to scroll, maybe you order something, you grab some takeout, you hit that button buy now button and it feels good for a moment. But then we feel that regret. We start to feel that budget guilt and worst of all, unfortunately of all, emptiness.Because friend, you're stuck in a cycle spend to feel. And when you're honest with yourself, deep down honest with yourself, it really doesn't satisfy. And here's a truth bomb to all truth bombs.And the joy you're looking for, hear me on this, it's not in that purchase. See, here's the thing. I want you to understand and I want you to hear me loud and clear on this. Joy is not a product. I want to say that again.Joy is not a product. Okay, Ralph, what is it? Here's what it is. It's a gift from God. Let's look at the book of Proverbs, chapter 15, verse 17. It says this.Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fatted calf with hatred. Small serving of vegetables with love. What is it talking about love? Let's look at Proverbs, chapter 17, verse 1, and adds this.Better a dry crust with peace and quiet. Then a house full of feasting with strife. Dry crust Peace, house full of feasting, strife. And Paul reminds us even from a prison cell.Think about that for a second. Here is Paul in prison. That joy isn't circumstantial.Look at the book of Philippians, chapter 4, verses 11 to 13, one of my favorite verses of the Bible. I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need and I know what it is to have plenty.I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. And I love this part of the verse. I can do all things through him who gives me strength. I can do all things through him who gives me strength.That's it. See, joy is spiritual. It's found in peace, it's found in presence, it's found in beauty, it's found in rest. It's found in relationships.And yes, it's found in gratitude. And guess what? You're listening right now. It doesn't cost a thing. So now you're saying, Ralph, how do we get to this mindset? What can we do?Well, here's the solution. You've got to cultivate awareness and gratitude for the no cost joys in your life and prioritize those things over reflective spending.Here's your one action step for today. Here's what you need to do. Name three soul fulfilling joys that cost you nothing. Just take a moment. Think about simple things that lift your spirit.Those things that the kind of joy that money just can't buy. I'm going to give you some examples of some soul refreshing examples. Maybe a sunrise walk through the woods, breathing in the stillness.Maybe for you it's losing yourself in a chapter of a good book. Or journaling your prayers with a cup of coffee by your side. Hey, maybe it's singing along with worship music while doing the dishes.A game night with family filled with laughter. Maybe it's that heart to heart conversation with someone who really gets you. Or maybe 10 minutes with God and no agenda, just present you and him.And I just want to encourage you right now. Write down your top three. What are those things for you? And then I want you to just choose one, just one, and schedule it.Put it on your calendar like a meeting that you can't cancel. Then guard it, honor it. Don't let it get swallowed up by the busy. See, that's the key. Pick one, just one, and schedule it. Put it on your calendar.You will not cancel this. Guard it, honor it. And then as you do it, don't just do it. You know, Nike has this thing. Just do it. That's not what I'm saying.Ralph's not saying that. Ralph is saying savor it. See, when the moment comes, I want you to slow down. Our lives are so hectic.Take this minute and just slow down and take it in like a feast. Look at the colors around you. Feel the textures. The breeze on your face. The pages of that book. The warmth. Listen to the sounds.The sounds of nature, or that. The laughter of a child or that stillness. And whisper a simple prayer. Thank you, Lord. Just thank you, Lord. And let that linger. Let it restore you.Because I'm going to tell you right now, friend, this will break that spend to feel better cycle. It's going to rewire your heart towards peace and presence. It's going to reduce that financial pressure.And it helps you live a full life with less gratitude, contentment. Let's pray together. Father God, we thank you for the abundance of joy in the simple, in those beautiful things you've already given us, Lord.It didn't cost us a dime. And we confess right now, Lord, that we often look for satisfaction in stuff. We think we can buy joy, Lord. And when we do, all we find is emptiness.We chase joy through spending, Lord, and we forget to see the blessings that are all around us. So, Lord, right now, right at this moment, we ask that you would open our eyes, Lord. Slow us down, Lord. Help us to be still.Help us to savor the gifts of peace and the gifts of presence and the gifts of the people you've put into our lives, Lord. Make us content, Lord. Fill us with gratitude and help us live life with joyful simplicity. And we ask this in true humility, Lord.We ask this in confidence. In Jesus name, Amen. Friend, listen to me right now. Stop whatever you're doing and just take 30 seconds and listen to what I'm getting ready to say.You don't have to buy joy. It took me a long time to understand that. I tried buying it with everything I could think of. Cars, houses, vacation homes, jewelry.If you've listened to my show, you know where I've been. But here's the truth that you need to hear today. You don't have to buy joy. You just have to receive it. It's a gift from God. It's all around you.So this week, I'm just challenging you. Choose one simple joy. Put it on the calendar. If you have to schedule it, honor it, guard it, and then savor it. Just savor it.Take in the colors Take in the sounds, Take in the feelings all around you, because that's true joy, and that's a gift from God, and there's nothing you could do to earn it. It's a gift to you. And while we're talking about gifts, I want to encourage you right now to share this show.Maybe you're like, Ralph, man, this is a great show. I'm really enjoying it. I'm really getting some benefit from it. Well, I want to encourage you to share it with somebody who maybe needs that lift.Maybe there's somebody you're thinking of right now, and you're thinking, Ralph, man, they're really struggling. And maybe it's not just their finance. They're just struggling with a lack of hope, a lack of the busyness going on all around them.And maybe just send them a text message or send them an email and say, hey, listen, I'm gonna send you a link to a show. I'm gonna send you a link to a website, and I just want to encourage you to check this out.Send them to financiallyconfidentchristian.com because, listen, that's a gift that you can give. You might be able to put some joy in someone's life just by sharing the show.Now, I hope you join me tomorrow, because we're going to have a powerful reminder that your confidence comes from Christ, not just your cash flow. Hey, I've stacked them up together the last two days. This is all about mindset. You don't want to miss that show.So until then, friend, I'm going to encourage you to stay grateful, stay grounded, and truly stay financially confident. You got this? I have confidence in you, have confidence in yourself. God bless you.And you have a joyful day and enjoy all of the blessings around you that don't cost you anything.