How Can I “Future-Pace” My Freedom and Live My Ideal Intentional Life?

You're budgeting, you're saving, you're making progress. But if you're honest, does freedom still feel far off? Like just far away at this point? Like the finish line is always just out of reach?What if imagining your ideal life could actually bring that freedom closer? Well, today we're exploring what it means to future pace your freedom so you can live with vision, purpose and joy. Starting right now.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. Hey, welcome back to Financially Confident Christian. I'm Ralph and I am so glad you're here.This is the show where we answer that question that reshapes your money and reshapes your mindset. And that's how can I become a financially confident Christian?And we're continuing our series today, beyond the Budget, Finding financial freedom through intentional living. Now, yesterday we redefined wealth as just being more than money.If you missed the show, I'm going to encourage you because I talked all about relationships and community and I'm going to tell you right now got a lot of feedback on that show already. So I'm going to encourage you to check it out if you missed it. And today we're casting a vision.So we're going to explore how your future can pull you forward. Yes, you heard me right. If you have a vision for your future, it actually can pull you forward. Let me paint a picture for you.Just think about this for a second. You're doing all the right things. You're budgeting, you're tithing, you're cutting spending and you're reducing debt.But still, that day in and day out grind, that dream of peace, that dream of purpose and that dream of freedom, many times it seems like it's just years away.And that daily grinding, if you're putting in the reps like I'm putting in right now doing my exercise routine every day, if you're putting in the reps with your finances, that daily grind will wear you down. And it's so easy to lose your focus and you start to wonder, hey, Ralph, is this even worth it?And see, without a vision to pull you forward, the journey loses its joy. It truly does. It loses its joy. Unless you've got a vision that can pull you to that point of staying in it day in and day out. Well, here's the thing.Vision gives purpose to discipline. I'm going to say that again because I think it's so important that you understand this. Vision gives purpose to Discipline.See, without vision, without a clear understanding of where you're trying to go, the effort to daily routine just becomes that, it becomes routine. But with vision, every small step becomes sacred. Well, let's talking about sacred, let's look at the scriptures.Let's look at the book of Proverbs, chapter 29, verse 18. And it says this. Where there is no vision, the people perish. But he that keepeth the law happy is he. What a great, what a great verse.And it ties exactly to what I was talking about today. Where there is no vision, the people perish. See, without vision.And I'm gonna, I'm gonna lay this on you right now because I think it's so important to really grasp this. And you're like, Ralph, where are you going with this? But I really believe this. Without vision, we just drift, we're just drifting.But with that vision, I'm going to use a power word here. I truly believe that we can thrive. Let's get back into the word. Look at the book of Habakkuk. And this is chapter two, verse two. And says this.Then the Lord replied, write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.And I just thought that was, I don't really quote that book of the Bible very often, but when I was preparing for today's show, I was like, that is perfect. See, it's not just about prophecy. That's part of it, but it's about clarity and it's about action.Okay, now you're thinking, Ralph, how does that apply? Well, here's how it applies. True financial planning to true financial stewardship is more than math.And if you're going to be effective in it, it's much more than math. It's a mission. And see, when you future patient, you partner with God's vision for your life.And when your budget serves your calling, your motivation grows. And when your motivation grows, big secret here, freedom follows. Like, hey, great, that's perfect. That's what I want to do.Now what can we do about this? I want you to create a vivid picture of your financially free, intentional life. Just put that picture in your mind. What does that look like?What's that picture look like? Being financially free and intentional about your spending decisions. And then take one small action towards that vision this week.Because this is about connecting your daily discipline. You're doing it, you're putting into reps, but this is about connecting your daily discipline to your God given destiny.So here's your one action item for today. Your one challenge, if you will, for today. I want you again to envision your ideal life.Take a few minutes today, find a quiet space, close your eyes and just picture yourself five, maybe seven, maybe ten years from now. I really want you to get this in your mind. What are you doing each day? What does your day look like? Who are you with? How do you spend your time?What brings you peace? What brings you joy? What brings you fulfillment? So that's the first step. Envision that ideal life and just picture yourself what that looks like.And then I want you to do is I want you to write down three or four or five key scenes from that. Be specific and I dare you to do this.Be emotional about it, because I think if you can tie specificity and emotion into it, it will really paint this beautiful picture. I'll give you a couple examples. Like maybe for you, your vision is giving generously without fear. You want to be able to help people.You want to be able to support missionaries or support your church, whatever that looks like for you, without fear, without worrying about that scarcity. Maybe for you, it's traveling debt free to serve on mission trips. You're like, Ralph, you know what I've always wanted to do?I've always wanted to be that one that could raise my hand and say, yes, I'll go, Lord. Maybe that's what your vision looks like. Maybe for you it's simply working fewer hours so you can be present with your family.Maybe right now your kids are getting to the age where they're starting to have a family, they're owning. You're like, Ralph, I'd really like to have time with my grandkids. So my vision is working fewer hours so I can spend time with them.Or maybe for you, you've got this big vision of running a business that reflects your faith. So I just want you to take time and really write down three to five key scenes, what that looks like for you.And then I want you to just pick one aligned action for this week. Ask yourself this simple question. What small step today supports that vision?You know, maybe for you it's making that extra debt payment so you can get that margin. You're not so worried about being in debt, which means you may not have to work as hard later. You may be able take that time off for the grandkids.Or maybe for you, you want to have a bigger emergency fund or you want to have a sinking fund to save for something.So starting a new savings goal, maybe for you, that idea of running your own business not having to work that 9 to 5 and report to work for somebody else is important.So for you, maybe research a skill or learn a new side business, or maybe for you, you just want to live more intentionally so maybe saying no to a time waster so you can pursue a deeper calling. Maybe you hear the Lord speaking to you right now and he wants you to do something deeper. And you just have to. You have to find time.You have to find margin to do it. So you want to say no to those time wasters. And I hope right now you're feeling how this helps, because it's going to reconnect you to your why.See, it's all about the why. If you want to live an intentional financial or just in general intentional life, you've got to connect to your why.That's what makes that daily grind, makes it work every day. Because if you don't have a why, I'm going to tell you right now, you're not going to do it. I use that analogy.My exercise, my why is I'm a type 2 diabetic. I want to get off of insulin. I want to get off of medication. You know, about four or five years ago, I had my A1C tested. It was over 13.Well, just two weeks ago, it was down to 7.3. So in my mind, I see this vision. I see this vision of going to the doctor and the doctor saying, Ralph, guess what?You're no longer a diabetic anymore. And see, that motivates me. That motivates me to watch what I eat. That motivates me to exercise every day. It motivates me in that daily grind.And it boosts my motivation, it boosts my joy. I'm so excited to see that I'm making progress. And it turns that daily routine into worship because I'm doing it for a purpose.I'm doing it because God is calling me to be healthy. God is calling me to be able to do things. Maybe that's take emissions trips, or maybe that's be around for my grandkids.I don't have any grandkids yet, but that's going to happen eventually. And the big reason that this works is it aligns your habits with your higher calling. That's what it's really all about.It's making those daily habits, that daily grind, align with your higher calling. Well, how about we pray together? Heavenly Father, we just thank you for dreams and the callings you've placed inside of us.Lord, our dreams forgive us when we forget them, Lord.And when we get caught up in the day to day and we lose sight of the vision that you gave us, that clear vision that you've given us for our life, that you've imprinted on our heart today, Lord, just give us fresh clarity. Help us to imagine the future you're calling us towards and then help us to take faithful steps to walk in that direction.And Lord, we just ask that you would help us make every financial decision, serve a greater purpose, let every habit reflect your glory. And Lord, may we move towards peace, maybe move towards purpose. And may we move towards bonus. And we ask this in boldness, in confidence.In Jesus name. Amen, friend. Freedom begins with vision.I'm going to say that again because it's so important that you understand that today I could have renamed this, this title of this particular show, Freedom begins with Vision. But it does. It begins with vision. If you want to walk in your calling, you've got to see it first. You gotta, you gotta picture it.You gotta paint that canvas. So today I want to encourage you, take time to dream with God, take that one bold step, because your future, it's not far off.And it can start right now. It can start today.Speaking of starting, I would really encourage you if you're getting value from this show, I would love it if you would share the show.You can send your friends, send your neighbors, maybe send some family members and say, hey, listen, I catch this daily podcast and it's really helping me grow in my faith. It's helping me really focus on my finances.The best way to do that is just point them to financiallyconfidentchristian.com and now listen, while they're there, they can also pick up a copy of my book. It's a free copy. It's called Mastering Your Finances.It's a brief book, but man, it is super impactful to helping somebody get started on that path to being financially confident. And you can get that book by going to financiallyconfidentchristian.com/master. Now tomorrow we're going to have a powerful talk on legacy.Yeah, we're going to talk about what you leave behind for God's kingdom. A lot of people get hung up on the will and all that stuff, but I'm going way beyond that tomorrow. So I'm going to encourage you to check it out.And until then, I just encourage you right now, stay intentional, stay faith filled and stay financially confident. 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.