Financial Hope Podcast

People, especially those high-achieving go-getters, make the mistake of thinking that with a little education and know-how, they can make quick changes to their money management methods and suddenly everything starts flowing smoothly. I have rarely found that to be the case. I've been budgeting for 6 years, and we still have hiccups. We've learned how to create a solid foundation and roll with the changes, but that doesn't mean everything is easy-peasy.

You cannot walk into this thing without a long-term commitment. You've got to decide that, no matter how long it takes and how frustrating it gets, you're going to figure this out. You want things to change in your life? Then be willing to work to make that happen. Your money affects everything. Fix the money management, and everything else becomes easier. And within money management, budgeting is the foundation on which all of the other things rest.

So don't give up when it gets hard. Get some help. Get a coach. Your investment will be well worth it. Not only will you get your money in check, which will save you thousands of dollars in months, but you'll find a sense of joy and freedom in your life that will affect your overall well-being.

Don't let weeks, months, and even years go by without making an intentional decision. You just let life happen to you, and you wonder why things don't change. When you don't make a decision, you're training yourself to continue that pattern in future situations.

Don't get stuck in paralysis. Make the decision. Take action. Even if it turns out to be the wrong decision, you made it with intentionality and you'll be able to adjust and do things differently in the future. You'll learn not just from the experience, but about yourself and the decisions you make. Give a clear yes or no.

We all want clarity on what we're supposed to do in life. While prayer is the most important and powerful way to gain this clarity, we can also utilize tools to help us in the journey. In this second part, I connect concepts from Ken Coleman's Career Assessment with a framework from Marshawn Evans Daniels' book, Believe Bigger. We talk about talent, passion, mission, gifts...and the journey to put all these together and create a life of influence.

We all want clarity on what we're supposed to do in life. While prayer is the most important and powerful way to gain this clarity, we can also utilize tools to help us in the journey. In this first part, I cover the Myers Briggs and the Big 5 personality types, using my own type to explain the concepts and their practical application.

The basic principles of good money management are actually pretty simple...or are they? Human behavior is fickle and unpredictable, and you're not the exception. In this episode, Josiah talks about some habits you need to develop in order to be more successful with managing your finances.

It's easy to wallow in indecision, but we are not serving ourselves when we do. Look at the alternatives, do your research, then act. As Robert Brault said, "We are kept from our goal not by obstacles but by a clear path to a lesser goal." Often the clear path is not the path we really want to take. Think about who you want to be and the steps you will need to take to get there, then make the decision to act. It will change your life.

Once we figure out who we want to be in the future, we need to forge a path to get there. This means prioritizing our time and staying focused on the things that matter. In this episode, Josiah gives his own story of learning to prioritize, shares some books and app resources, then digs into Gary Keller's question: What's the One Thing you can do such that by doing it everything else is easier or unnecessary?

Josiah uses material from Matthew Kelly's Dream Manager and Gino Wickman's Traction to suggest a framework for setting goals that are connected to your dreams.

Have you forgotten how to dream? Or have you buried those dreams, believing that they'll never come to pass. Be encouraged today as you listen to Josiah remind you of that latent potential hiding inside of you. Let's bring back the belief and courage to do something great in the world. You have what it takes!

No one likes to talk about money. You probably don’t even talk to YOURSELF about money. How much did I spend on fast food this month? Do I really want to know? Christians can easily over-spiritualize things. But sometimes, their predicaments have nothing to do with the devil. They are simply a result of their bad choices. This is most obvious when it comes to money. Why is it that so many people with vastly different incomes have similar money struggles? The more money they make, the more they buy. The greater the bank account, the better the lifestyle. Money issues are often not about how much you make but about your spending habits.

So what is the remedy for this? Let’s first address the elephant in the room: looking at how much you spend every month in comparison to how much you make. Then you need to prioritize where you WANT your money to go, and set limits on how much you plan to spend. Track how much you are spending in different areas, and adjust your spending as needed. Will this fix all your money problems? Probably not, but it’s a good start.

God expects us to be good financial stewards. He blesses us so that we can be a blessing. If we squander that blessing by being unwise with it, why would He give us more? Manage your affairs with wisdom and God will take care of the rest.

Reflection questions: What is the state of your finances? Do you have a plan for getting them in order? What is your first step?