What's My Year-End Financial Checklist to Wrap Up Strong?

Speaker A00:00:01

Gonna say something bold today. The year is almost over. You're probably thinking, Ralph, it's August. But just bear with me here a little bit. The year is almost over.But here's a question you probably haven't asked yourself. What do your year end finances truly say about your faith? Are you tying up loose ends in faith? Are you avoiding them out of fear?Let's talk about closing the year well and how that's not just smart, it's spiritual. I want to start to set that table now so you are prepared for year end. That's what I'm going to cover on today's show.

Speaker B00:00:33

This is Financially Confident Christian, your daily dose of gospel, grounded insight and faith driven tips to help you break the cycle of financial shame with confidence.

Speaker A00:00:45

Hey there and welcome back to the show. I'm Ralph. I just want to thank you so much for just spending a little time with me each day.This is the show that really trained you on how to become that financially confident Christian. And we answer that question on a daily basis in the topics that we cover.Now, if you missed yesterday's show, we talked about building that contentment for the holidays and starting to shift our focus away from spending and really focusing on what matters the most to us. And if you missed that show, I'm going to encourage you, as I do every day, to go to our website.That's financially confidentchristian.com hey, you can see all of our shows there. There's a wealth of resources there. I'm going to encourage you to go check it out. But today I want to start to set some seeds in the ground.So I really want to start to plant this idea and that's how do we end the year financially strong? Because I really believe that reveals a lot about how much you trust God.Yeah, I'm going to get a little deep today because here's the truth and I really want you to really think about and be honest with yourself.When most of us start thinking about year end planning, we start thinking about those tax chores, boring administrative work, those check the boxes things we have to do. Make sure we do this, make sure we do that. Hey, maybe you're going to set those New Year's resolutions.Maybe you're going to plan for your tax preparation, maybe you're going to open up that new calendar, maybe you're going to do all those kind of things. But a lot of that stuff just feels like administrative work. But here's what I want to challenge you with today.What if the year end is actually a window into your base theology. Think about that for a second. Does it really speak about who you are and what you value and where you put your trust?And maybe right now you're thinking, Ralph, Yeah, you kind of write about that because so many of us avoid our finances right now. We just avoid it. We don't even want to be bothered with it. Why? It may not be laziness altogether. It could really be fear.And that's one of the things I really want to focus on today. It's so easy to get stuck in that. That fear, that fear of what the numbers will reveal. That fear that we don't measure up to our own expectations.Or maybe that fear that next year will even be worse.That's why I think so many people put off that year end planning because they're just so afraid of what they're going to look at when they look back at Laser and say, what did I do last year, Ralph? And I'm just worried that next year is going to be even worse. But here's something I want to hear. This is my big takeaway.My, my truth bomb for today. Faith shows up in how we finish. Think about that for a second. Your faith is measured by how you finish.And see when you start to think about year end with diligence. Think about that for a second. I really just want to focus on this for just a minute or two.When we approach year end, and I know we're in August, but I think we have to start thinking about how do we set that plan so that we start with the end in mind. I don't know who the guy is, but somebody always talks about that in their success leadership seminars. They talk about start with the end in mind.I think it might be Stephen Covey actually. But when you start to do that, you approach your end with diligence, it becomes a powerful declaration of trust. And what does that trust say?And this is where the faith component comes into it. I'm going to get some great scripture references here in a minute, but this is what I think we need to start to declare in our own hearts.And that's this. I trust God's provision this year and I trust him even more for the next. Just think about that.What if you made your mantra right now, starting right now in August or. I don't know, when you're listening to this, let's just say you're listening to it as it's coming out on a daily basis.Just think about how powerful that would be to say this. I trust God's provision this year and think about this part. And I trust him even more for the next.Well, let's jump into some scripture because I really want to reinforce this today. Let's go right to Jeremiah. Don't often quote the book of Jeremiah much, But Jeremiah, chapter 17, verses 7 to 8 says this again.Jeremiah 17, 7, 8 says, but blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes. Its leaves are always green.And listen, if you're like me, you're probably listening right now. You're going rally. My finances. Don't always feel like they're green right now. But just think about what the scripture is telling us.But if your roots, those things that are deep in the ground, those things that grab that moisture from the soil, if your roots are in the right source, here's God's promise to you. You're never going to dry up. So that's my first biblical challenge. Where are your roots?Let's look at the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 11, verses 4 to 6. Another great scripture again, Ecclesiastes 11, 4, 6. Whoever watches the wind will not plant. Whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.And I thought about this for a second. I said, wow, this is a riddle a little deep here today.But think about what the scripture's saying to us because it's so easy for us to get stuck in that perfection mindset. And if you wait for perfect clarity, I'm going to say something bold here. If you wait for perfect clarity, you're going to miss the moment.What does the scripture say? Whoever watches the wind will not plant. If you wait for the wind, if you wait for the sail to be in the right spot, are you going to plant?And then it goes on. Whoever looks at the clouds will not repo. What is it saying there? You're going to miss your opportunity.See, I want you to think about this right now. This is your action thing for today. Now is the time to plant a seed of order, to plant a seed of diligence, and to plant a seed of trust. Hey. Yes.Even in August.So we plant those seeds now, then over the next several months, we can start to water them, we can start to cultivate them, and they're going to grow into something strong by year end. So that's why I was so compelled to talk about today. Let's look at the book of Haggai, chapter 1, verses 5 to 7 again. Haggai chapter 1. 5 to 7.You earn wages only to put them in a purse with holes in it. Give careful thought to your ways. Wow. I don't know how much clearer you can say that. Think about what this scripture.I'm going to say it again because I think it's so impactful. You earn wages, you work hard is what it's saying there. You do all the right things only to put them in a purse with holes in it.And then what is it going to say? Give careful thoughts to your ways. So here's a bold thing.If your money keeps sliding through the cracks, maybe God's calling you to re examine your priorities. It's a great time to do that. You don't have to wait till the end of the year. You don't wait for those New Year's resolutions.Maybe God is pointing out the holes in your purse right now to you. Maybe it's time to re examine those priorities. So here's your action step for today.I want you to go ahead and schedule that year end financial checkup. Yeah, you're thinking, Ralph, you've lost your mind. It's not the end of the year yet. No, but let's start to plant those seeds.Someone encourage you today, over the next couple days, block off 30 or 45 minutes on your calendar this week, just you and God. And just review where you are and you can do some practical things. You can start thinking about tax opportunities.It's a great time to start thinking about things that you can do for your taxes. We've had some tax changes this year. Another thing you can do is start thinking through that charitable giving plan for the rest of the year.Maybe you haven't been that cheerful giver. Maybe you're not getting to that tie that you really in your heart want to do. I've done many shows on that.Maybe this is a great time to start thinking about those retirement contributions. In my accounting practice.I'm meeting with a lot of clients right now where we're doing some planning even in August to set ourselves up for year end. Hey, and maybe let's get even more practical at the workplace.Maybe it's time to look at some of your benefits, make sure you're using your fsa, make sure you're going to spend those unused reimbursements. And hey, maybe it's a time to start thinking about, hey, you know what? In my job we always get a year end bonus.I've done shows about this many times with those bonuses and have A plan in place, what are you going to do with those? And then I'll circle right back to giving any remaining generosity goals you have for the year.Maybe at the beginning of the year you said, you know, I'm really going to get to that tie. Plus I'm really going to support some missionaries. Well, this is a great time to do that.And then start thinking about those goals that you set at the beginning of the year and start asking yourself some really tough questions. Did you follow through on the financial goals that you've set this year? Hey, if you, if you haven't, this is the time to make that correction.This is the time to see if there's holes in that purse. And then I just want you to identify one, just one thing. I'm trying to overwhelm you, but just find one faith filled action to take.Whether that's giving or savings or hey, maybe for you it's just simply getting better organized. And then just get into that. Make it a statement of trust. Make not just a task.It's so easy to say, well, I got these tasks to do, Ralph, but think about it. Make it stronger than that. Make it a statement of trust. Because my big hairy, audacious goal takeaway today is to help you move from fear to faith.Because that's where it's odd. That's what we're really talking about today.And this is the time to really redeem those unfinished areas of your finances, clear that clutter and prepare for a peaceful start next year. Yes, you, you've got several months to fix things before the end of the year.And in the end, what you're really doing, what you're really doing today is you're honoring God. Not just trusting in your money, but you're trusting in him and you're putting your trust and your faith in the Lord.How about we pray together today? Heavenly Father, we just thank you for walking through us through every high and low throughout the year.And Lord, we just ask that you will forgive us for the times that we let fear drive our financial decisions. Sometimes we have to admit to you we live in fear. So today we invite you into our year end process in August.Lord, show us right now what needs your attention. And Lord, most importantly, give us courage to act, even if it's uncomfortable. Lord, help us through those uncomfortable times.And Lord, even now, help us to end the year not just with balanced books. Hey, that'd be a great outcome, Lord. But help us to end with bold faith and a renewed trust in you. We don't just want to finish strong, Lord.We want to finish faithfully. And we ask this today in confidence, knowing that you're there for us. In Jesus name, Amen.Listen, your finances tell a story and I just want to encourage you right today. Let that story be one of trust, let that story be one of surrender, and most importantly, let that story be one of stewardship.This isn't just some year end administrative task. This is truly a faith statement.And I just want to encourage you right now, if this message has challenged you or the show has encouraged you, I would really appreciate if you would share it with somebody who may be avoiding those year end financial thoughts themselves. You see somebody that's struggling right now with their finances, you could do something really simple.Just send them a link to our website that's financiallyconfidentchristian.com because hey, if it's impacting you, it can impact them as well. So share the wealth and send them to our website.Again, that's financiallyconfidentchristian.com now tomorrow we're going to wrap up this 30 day series with a big picture perspective. That's how to live as a financially confident Christian, not just seasonally. So easy to live in a season of that.But tomorrow I'm going to challenge you and help you to do it year round and you don't want to miss that show. So let's go out there today. Let's seize the day today. Let's go out there and be financially confident Christians.I have confidence in you, have confidence in yourself, stay financially savvy, God bless you and you have a great day today.