Can I Use Credit Wisely Without Falling Into Debt?

Credit cards, loans, credit scores.

It's a world that can feel confusing, it can feel overwhelming, and let's

be honest, downright terrifying.

Especially if you've been burned by credit before.

You're probably asking yourself, is it even possible to touch credit without

falling back into that debt trap?

Maybe you think it's the devil's tool, maybe you just don't trust yourself.

But what if I told you that avoiding credit entirely might

actually be holding you back?

Stick with me today 'cause we're tackling that uncomfortable truth on today's show.

Hey there.

Welcome back to your Daily, financially Confident Christian.

I'm Ralph and it's great to connect with you again today.

This is the show that helps you answer that question.

How can I become a financially confident Christian?

As we continue our series dealing with the stress of money worries, we've

made huge strides tackling existing debt and building habits to prevent new

debt, like avoiding those impulse buys and strengthening your emergency fund.

Today we're gonna dive headfirst into a topic that often feels

like a minefield credit.

For too many credit has been a source of crushing stress and soul sucking debt.

It's the monster under the bed, the financial boogeyman

for them and for others.

It's a necessary tool, the key to buying a home, securing a car, or

even building a successful business.

So let's get real today.

Can you actually use credit wisely in your financial life?

Without falling back into the stress and trap of debt.

And look, I get it.

Maybe he was sworn off credit cards entirely.

You cut them up, you burn them, you bury them in the backyard.

'cause they caused you so much difficulty in the past.

You say to yourself, I, I've been there, I've done that.

I've got the t-shirt and I've also got that overwhelming

interest statements to prove it.

Perhaps, you know, deep down you might need credit someday for a major purchase,

maybe a home, a car, an education.

But the very thought of using it fills you with paralyzing anxiety.

You have this very real fear that you won't be able to handle

it responsibly, and you fear repeating those past mistakes again.

The struggle here is intense.

It's that tension between the perceived necessity or benefit of credit in

today's world and the very real, visceral fear of overspending, of

accumulating, crippling interest and ending up back in that suffocating

cycle of debt stress, and maybe you feel like it's an all or nothing game.

Either you avoid credit completely and potentially limit your future,

or you risk financial ruin.

See this lack of understanding or confidence in using credit responsibly

isn't just an inconvenience for many.

It's a source of ongoing stress for countless financially

confident Christians.

It's a silent battle that many of you are fighting.

But here's the bombshell.

Credit itself is not evil.

Let that sink in for a minute.

Credit itself is not evil.

It's not the devil's tool.

It's simply a tool.

And like any tool, a hammer, a knife, or even your tongue, It can

be used for incredible good or for terrible harm, depending entirely

on the user's wisdom and discipline.

Think about it.

Building a good credit history can be an act of why stewardship.

It opens doors, it allows you to obtain favorable terms on a mortgage,

potentially saving you tens of thousands of dollars over the lifetime of a loan.

It can be the difference between pursuing a dream and being stuck,

but here's the catch, the crucial, often ignored truth is this.

It requires strict God-given self-control.

This connects directly to biblical principles of wisdom to biblical

principles of self-discipline and managing the resources that God

has entrusted to us faithfully.

See, using credit wisely isn't just about financial savvy.

It's about managing a powerful tool with diligence, with self-control, and trusting

God for the discipline needed to avoid.

Its very real pitfalls.

It's about you using the tool for your benefit, for your freedom rather

than letting the tool control you and enslave you and steal your peace.

So what can we do?

How do you, my friend who's listening right now, navigate this treacherous

world of credit in a way that builds your financial health without leading it

straight back to debt and back to stress.

My single essential and non-negotiable solution is this, You must

approach credit usage with strict faith fueled self-discipline.

Committing to only charging what you can already afford, and paying off the entire

statement balance every single month.

Yes, you heard me right Every single month.

And listen, this isn't some trick.

It's the only way.

It's the only way that you can use credit as a convenience, as

a tool to build credit history, never as a way to spend money.

You don't actually have.

That's what gets so many people in trouble.

They spend money they don't have, and this radical commitment is the key

to using credit as a convenience or what we'll call a score building tool,

not as a means of borrowing money.

You don't have, or worse money that you cannot even pay back.

So here's my one undeniable action step for today, specifically

focused on using credit responsibly.

This is where the rubber meets the road, as they say.

If you have credit cards, you've got to make this agreement.

I commit to pay in full.

If you currently have one or more credit cards, make a concrete

binding commitment to yourself today.

Right now, as you listen.

Moving forward, you will only use them for purchases that are already budgeted

for and for which you and hear me on this part, and for which you already

have the cash available to pay for it.

And your goal is to pay that statement balance off in full every single

month before any interest accrues.

This means that you will never, never pay interest.

You will pay zero interest.

Now, you're probably thinking, Ralph, how does this help?

How can this really make a difference?

Here's how this single action plan, it directly fights that struggle of

accumulating that high interest debt.

It allows you to potentially benefit from using credit, like building that

crucial credit score or earning those credit reward points without devastating

cost of interest, and that sole crushing stress that debt puts on so many people.

It just reinforces self-discipline.

It keeps you firmly in control of your spending.

It aligns your credit usage with your budget, with your financial

goals, and hear me on this part, and most importantly, with your faith.

Well, let's pray together.

Father God, thank you for giving us the capacity for wisdom and Lord,

the capacity for self-control.

We confess that using credit can feel incredibly risky, and we sometimes

struggle with the overwhelming temptation to overspend, to fall into the trap,

Lord, Please grant us the discipline needed to use credit responsibly.

Help us to see it as a tool.

Nothing more, not a means to live beyond our means,

Lord.

Strengthen our resolve to pay off any credit card balance

in full every single month.

And Lord, we just ask that you will protect us from the pitfalls of debt and

guide us in using all of our financial tools in a way that honors you and in a

way that brings us true lasting peace.

And we ask this in confidence.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

My friend, responsible credit usage is not just possible.

It's a critical component of truly confident financial living, but it

does demand constant vigilance and it does demand strong self-control.

So commit to paying at balance in full each month.

It's the absolute non-negotiable key to using credit without the stress of debt.

This is not just a suggestion.

It's a command for your financial freedom.

And if navigating credit feels challenging, do me a favor and

share this episode with someone else who may be struggling.

There's other people who are battling this same thing right now, and you can

find resources and connect with the show at our website that's at financially

confident christian.com, and I've got a special gift for you on your journey.

For the first 100 listeners who go to financially confident

christian.com/master, I'm gonna give you a free copy of my book.

It's called Mastering Your Finances.

It's quick and it's a powerful read, designed as a starting point to help

you break that cycle of financial shame and step into confidence.

Again, go to financially confident christian.com/master

to get your free copy today.

Now tomorrow we're gonna be peeling back the curtain on understanding your credit

report and your credit score and what those numbers really mean and how they

directly impact your financial future.

So you don't wanna miss it.

So make sure you join me tomorrow.

Now, let's all go out there and be financially confident.

Christians, you can do this.

I have confidence in you.

Have confidence in yourself.

Stay financially savvy.

God bless you, and you have a great day today.

I.