Utah's Hope

On FamilyLife Today, part 2 of a girls’ day talk goes straight for the tension: Can strong, vocal women actually enjoy biblical submission? Ann Wilson hosts pastors' wives Ari Todd and Brittany Gray, who say yes to submission—with joy. Their stories reveal submission not as erasure, but as a Christ-centered posture that brings relief, courage, and surprising freedom. If the word still makes you wince, this conversation might rewrite your instincts.

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“Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.” - Proverbs 21:20 

Scripture highlights a simple principle of stewardship: wise people live with margin. They don’t spend everything they earn; they save, plan, and prepare for the future. And in our modern world, the basic tool that helps us live with margin is a budget. Today, Chad Clark joins us to discuss what budgeting really looks like for most Americans and how we can do better.

As FaithFi’s Chief Technology Officer, Chad oversees our digital tools and the development of the FaithFi app. He recently came across research that sheds light on how people actually budget. According to a NerdWallet survey of 2,000 adults, three out of four Americans report keeping a monthly budget. That sounds encouraging—until you read the next line: 84% of them say they regularly overspend their budget. And when people overspend, nearly half bridge the gap with credit cards, while the rest tap into savings—often until savings eventually run out. Chad notes that this is why we say that without a working budget, debt is almost inevitable once savings are depleted.

So why do some people avoid budgeting altogether? After years of hearing excuses, Chad lists the most common: it’s too time-consuming, too complicated, too much math, too restrictive, or simply too hard to stick to—like dieting. Others believe they don’t need a budget because they earn enough, or that a budget limits their freedom.

But as Chad points out, most of those reasons are rooted in misconceptions. A budget isn’t a punishment, and it’s not primarily about cutting expenses. It’s a decision-making tool that prioritizes spending and helps you align resources with values. Nor is a budget inflexible; it can and should adjust as life changes. And even those with high incomes need budgets. If billion-dollar companies operate from a spending plan, “I make enough” isn’t a sound argument for skipping one. Stewardship isn’t about how much we earn but how faithfully we manage what God entrusts to us.

Before wrapping up, Chad shares how the FaithFi app makes budgeting more approachable. First, it accommodates different budgeting styles, allowing you to choose the method that works best for you. Second, it builds habits through daily, weekly, and monthly rhythms—to help you engage consistently rather than merely set up a plan and hope it works. And finally, FaithFi goes beyond numbers. Through biblical content and community, it helps shape the heart behind the decisions—because stewardship is ultimately about walking with God.

If you’re ready to begin budgeting—or begin again—FaithFi can help you take that first step and actually stick with it.

• I have a HELOC at about 7% and about $80,000 in credit card debt. Does it make sense to use the HELOC to pay down that credit card debt at the lower rate, or should we handle it another way? I also have a second question: My husband and I own a couple of rental properties. One of them is basically a wash—no profit. We’ve always assumed the rentals would be part of our retirement, but we don’t have an emergency fund. Would it be wiser to sell the rental property that isn’t generating income, invest the proceeds, and improve retirement and emergency fund strategies?
• I contribute 10% pre-tax and 5% post-tax to my 401(k), and the 5% post-tax is maxed out. With the new rules allowing tax-free overtime up to $25,000, is it still beneficial for me to contribute the 5% post-tax? Or should I redirect it and contribute 15% pre-tax to the 401(k)? Or should I take a differen

Justin Brierley is a Christian apologist, popular author and podcaster in the U.K., reaching thousands as he shares from a Christian worldview. He believes there is a growing wave of faith in the culture, including among skeptics and atheists, and believers have a great opportunity to share the gospel. Based on his book Why I’m Still a Christian, Justin shares how science and other disciplines point to our Creator. Reaching beyond intellect, he also addresses heart issues that are drawing people in the culture to search for truth.

Receive a copy of Why I’m Still a Christian and an audio download of "Providing Hope to a Doubting Culture" for your donation of any amount!

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Sometimes seatbelts are uncomfortable. They’re confining, they need constant adjustment, and they can rub a person the wrong way. But in a traffic accident, they can literally save your life. Sometimes we chafe under the corrective guidance of God, but in the end it’s for our own good, and may save our life. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us recognize and realign ourselves with God’s plan, as we study the wrong way to respond from the life of Jonah.

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God is called by many names in the Bible, but one of the most comprehensive is the name "I Am." God has many titles that remind us of His attributes and can encourage us when we face difficult circumstances. Dr. Stanley uses the life of Paul to illustrate that God truly is the God of all comfort.

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Finding financial freedom isn’t ultimately about getting more—it’s about learning to trust God with what you already have. When it comes to money, we often focus on strategies and tools, but the true path to freedom starts much deeper—in the heart. On the next Faith & Finance Live, Rob West and Ron Blue share how aligning our finances with God’s wisdom can bring lasting peace and clarity. Then, it’s on to calls. That’s Faith and Finance Live . . . biblical wisdom for your financial journey. That’s weekdays at 4pm Eastern/3pm Central on Moody Radio.

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Giving your child a legacy of faith needs to be your top priority. Danny and John address why it's critical to help your kids know who God is. You'll also hear Jim Daly interview Tim Shoemaker on how Psalm 78 inspired him to focus on spiritually training his kids.

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There are many places in the country where the locals say, ‘If you don’t like the weather, just wait 20 minutes.” Weather changes . . . constantly. It’s the same with the storms of life. They come, and they go. Some of us feel like a rain cloud has been hovering over our heads for months! But today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us find the help and reassurance we need for those times of crisis in our lives. Today’s study is one of our most requested messages.

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Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years.

Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.

Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupport

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