Want to Stop Worrying About Money? Create a Plan That Gives You Freedom and Stability

Are you tired of that knot in your stomach every time you think about your finances?

Does the weight of bills and uncertainty steal your peace?

What if I told you there's a way to break free from that worry?

A true path to financial freedom and stability rooted in God's wisdom.

On today's Ask Ralph show, we're going to go deep into creating a financial plan that not only makes sense, but also aligns with your faith.

Imagine, if you will, a life where you're not controlled by your money, but instead you're confidently stewarding God's blessings.

Are you ready to trade financial anxiety for genuine peace?

Then you absolutely need to tune in to this episode.

In a world where crushing debt keeps you trapped, where living paycheck to paycheck has become your new normal, and where the dream of retirement seems impossibly out of reach, there's hope.

Join financial evangelist Ralph Estepp, Jr.

A man who's walked through the fire of financial failure and emerged stronger on the other side.

Welcome to Ask Ralph, the show where real world experience meets biblical truth.

To break the bondage of financial despair, get ready to take control of your money, break free from the financial stress, and align your resources with God's purpose for your life.

This is Ask Ralph with Ralph Estepp, Jr.

Hey, everybody, and welcome back to Ask Ralph.

I'm your host, Ralph Estepp, Jr.

And I am so glad you're tuning in today.

For those of you joining us for the first time, this is the show where we tackle your questions about Christian finance, helping you break free from that cycle of financial shame and step into a life of confidence and peace.

Now, how many of you have just ever laid awake at night just feeling that weight of financial worry pressing down on you?

I know I've had many of those nights.

I can remember some really challenging times when my boys were really young.

Those were some really rough times.

Maybe it's the bills piling up or the uncertainty of the future, or that just that nagging feeling that you're not doing enough.

Well, today we're moving headfirst into that very issue.

Our topic today is when to stop worrying about money.

Create a plan that gives you freedom and stability.

Think about that for a second.

Freedom.

Stability.

See, when it comes to our finances, those are words that bring a lot of hope, right?

And we can all use some hope these days.

Because the truth is this.

God doesn't want us to be consumed by anxiety about our money.

He just doesn't.

He wants us to live with a sense of peace, knowing that he is our provider, and that we are being stewards of what he's given us.

And that's where having a plan comes in.

It's not about becoming a financial guru overnight.

It's about taking those first steps to create a roadmap that leads you towards that freedom and stability that you're so longing for.

You know, I was talking to a listener the other day, a fellow named Andy, and he said something that really resonated with me.

He said, ralph, I feel like I'm just constantly reacting to my finances instead of being in control.

One unexpected bill throws everything off, and I'm back at square one, worrying about how I'm going to make ends meet.

You know, Andy's story is a perfect example of why having a financial plan isn't just a good idea.

It's essential for finding that peace we're talking about.

So you might ask, where do we even begin when it comes to creating this plan?

That's the central question, isn't it?

Well, I truly believe the foundation for any good Christian financial plan starts with understanding what God's word says about worry and our role as stewards.

You know, the Bible has so much to say about our anxieties, especially when it comes to finances.

Think about Matthew, chapter six, where Jesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow, reminding us that each day has enough trouble of its own.

I don't know about you, but I feel that every day.

Or Philippians, chapter four, encouraging us to pray about everything and offering the promise of peace that passes all understanding.

And let's not forget first Peter 5, telling us to cast all of our anxiety on him because he cares for us.

And you know, these aren't just nice verses.

They are God's direct instructions to us, showing us that he doesn't want us to be burdened by financial worry.

But it goes far beyond just telling us not to worry.

That would be great enough, but it gets even sharper.

The Bible also lays out a clear framework for how we should manage our money through the principle of biblical stewardship.

I know you might be thinking that's a big word.

You may be saying to yourself, ralph, what does that mean?

What does it mean when you say biblical stewardship?

Can you make it easier for me?

Sure, I can do that.

This is the idea that everything we have, every dollar, every possession, ultimately belongs to God, and we're just simply managers of those resources.

When we truly grasp this concept, it will shift our entire perspective.

See, it's not our money to do with however we please.

It's God's money that he's entrusted to us to manage responsibly for his purposes and his glory.

See, that is the mindset Game changer.

Think about the parable of the talents in Matthew 25 and I'm going to encourage you to read it.

It's powerful and impactful.

The master gives his servants difference amounts and expects them to use those resources wisely.

It highlights that we are accountable for how we handle what God has given us.

And a key part of that stewardship is putting God first in our finances, which often starts with tithing.

Okay, there's another big churchy word.

Ralph, can you explain that?

Yes, I can.

Tithing is giving that first 10% back to him as an act of worship and trust.

See, when we approach our finances with this foundation, acknowledging God's ownership, trusting in his provision, and committing to being good stewards, it changes everything.

It moves us away from a mindset of scarcity and worry towards a mindset of trust and responsibility.

So here's my first actionable takeaway.

Take some time today to really reflect on your beliefs about money.

Do you see God as your ultimate provider?

Are you viewing your finances through the lens of ownership or stewardship?

You see, just that simple shift in perspective can be incredibly powerful in starting to alleviate financial worry.

Now, just as an aside, if you're new to the show, I'm all about action here.

So when you listen daily, I'm always going to give you a few action items.

Let's call it homework.

But it's a good kind of homework because I believe at my very core, ideas without action are useless.

I know that's strong, but that's what I believe.

I just want you to understand my passion.

Now that we've laid that foundation by understanding the biblical perspective, let's get into some practical steps you can take to create that plan that gives you freedom and stability.

The first crucial step is biblical budgeting.

I know the word budget can sometimes feel restrictive, but from a Christian perspective, it's really just a tool for good stewardship.

It's about making conscious decisions about where your money is going.

And as we talked about, a Christian approach to budgeting starts with prioritizing, giving, honoring God with your first fruits of your income.

Some people even might find it helpful to allocate their income with tithing right at the very top, followed by needs, and then once, and then savings and debt repayment.

See, because this reflects that commitment to putting God first A Another key part of biblical budgeting is living within your means.

This simply means spending less than you earn.

Think of it like this.

I'm on a diet right now.

I started my health plan again about three months ago.

If I want to continue to lose weight, I've got to take in less calories than I'm using.

It's really that simple.

You see, living within your means is the same idea.

It helps you avoid unnecessary debt and frees up resources for savings and giving.

And that involves planning ahead both for those regular monthly expenses and for those bigger, less frequent needs.

So to give you a practical way to start, here's a sample of how you might allocate your income in what I'll call a Christian budget.

Let's start with our tithe, or giving, if you want to use a simpler term, make that 10% of your budget.

See, this is seen in in the Book of Proverbs, chapter three, verses nine, and honoring God first.

So once we've got that 10% for our tithe, then we move into your needs.

That's housing, clothing, food, shelter, and let's plan for this being 45% of your budget.

This is our responsible stewardship of those basic necessities.

Then we come to your wants.

Let's choose 25% for a budget goal here.

Remember, to exercise moderation and contentment.

I'm going to encourage you to look at first Timothy, chapter six, verse six.

We'll cover that in an episode in the future.

And that leaves savings and debt repayment, which for our sake, we'll assign it 20% of your budget.

That's our planning for the future and seeking freedom from debt.

We see all this illustrated again in the book of Proverbs, chapter 21, verse 20, and Proverbs 22:7.

I encourage you to check both of those out.

Add them all together and we've got a really simple budget, or dare I say intentional spending plan.

10% forgiving.

10%, 45% for our needs, those must haves, 25% for our wants.

Those really would be nice to have.

And then 20% for savings and debt repayments.

Now, the second practical step I want to highlight is saving with purpose.

So we talked about budgeting.

Now let's move into saving with purpose.

And you see, the Bible encourages saving for the future as a sign of wisdom.

We all want to be wise.

The book of Proverbs, chapter 21:20 talks about the why storing up for the future.

I use that verse on the show all the time.

By the way, did you know that you can get our entire catalog of.

Well, I looked at the other day.

Well over 700 shows by going to ask Ralph.com so if you're in the mood for more Ralph, check it out.

But let's get back to savings with a purpose.

So from a Christian perspective, savings allows us to be prepared for unexpected expenses through an emergency fund.

Again, we're aiming for three to six months worth of living expenses in an easily accessible account.

It's a great goal.

I've talked about emergency funds in the past and I'll be covering that again soon because oftentimes financial struggles are the direct result of not having that emergency fund.

But again, that's a topic for another day.

Saving also enables us to provide for future needs like retirement or our children's education.

And more importantly than anything, having savings allows us to be more generous when opportunities arise.

Remember, our motivation for savings should be rooted in trust in God's provision, not out of fear.

And this is critical.

You need to understand this.

It's about being responsible with what he's given us and preparing for the future so we can be a blessing to others.

Now, I know that taking these steps and creating a financial plan can sometimes feel overwhelming.

Maybe you've tried budgeting before and you just didn't stick to it.

Or.

Or maybe the thought of tackling debt feels impossible.

I want to encourage you today that change takes time and your progress is what truly matters.

Don't get discouraged by setbacks.

Just keep moving forward one step at a time.

Remember, this isn't just about numbers on a spreadsheet.

It's about your peace of mind and your ability to live out God's calling on your life without being weighed down by that financial stress and that shame.

See, here's a truth.

God wants you to experience freedom and stability in this area of your life.

And I I love the promise in Philippians chapter 4:19.

And it says this.

It says, and my God will meet all of your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

That is such a powerful reminder that our ultimate provision comes from him.

And our role is to be faithful and responsible with what he's given us.

And we can trust that he will meet our needs according to his perfect plan.

So be patient with yourself, celebrate those small victories, and keep your focus on aligning your finances with God's principles.

And remember, you're not alone in this journey and God is with you every step of the way.

So, speaking of getting started, let's circle back to our listener, Andy, who felt overwhelmed about where to begin.

And Andy, my advice to you and to everyone else listening is this Start small.

Don't try to overhaul everything at once.

Maybe this week, just focus on tracking your expenses for a few days to get a better understanding of where your money is currently going.

Or perhaps sit down and create a very basic budget.

We laid out a plan for that, focusing on just your essential needs and giving.

See, this is the key is to take that first step no matter how small it feels.

Remember that simple budget framework we talked about?

The this can be a great starting point.

And don't be afraid to seek wise counsel from trusted friends.

Maybe talk to your pastor or even a Christian financial advisor.

These are people who can offer guidance and more importantly, support as you build your plan and as you start to implement these changes, remember why you're doing it.

This is the crucial critical point.

You're doing it to honor God with your finances and to experience the peace and freedom that comes from being a good steward.

So let's recap the key takeaways for today.

We've talked about the importance of having a solid foundation rooted in biblical principles of stewardship and trust.

We explored practical steps like biblical budgeting, prioritizing, giving, living within your means, and saving with a purpose.

And we emphasize that need for a mindset shift, reminding ourselves that God is our ultimate provider and that progress takes time.

And I want to encourage each and every one of you listening today to take at least one small step this week towards creating a financial plan that will bring you greater freedom and stability.

And listen, you don't have to have all the answers right now.

Just start.

Just start doing something now.

Looking ahead to our next episode.

We're going to be going even deeper into the topic of trust.

Ask yourself this have you ever struggled to fully trust God with your finances?

We'll be exploring how to find peace and purpose in his plan.

Even when things feel uncertain.

You don't want to miss that.

Be sure to tune in tomorrow for that show.

So thanks again for joining me today on the Ask Ralph Show.

If you've got a question or a story you'd like to share, please don't hesitate to reach out.

You can find all the details on how to Connect with Us show by going to ask Ralph.com and if you found today's episode helpful, I would be grateful if you would subscribe to the podcast and maybe even leave a review because it really helps us reach more people with this message of hope and financial freedom.

Remember this.

You're not alone in this journey and with God's guidance in these practical steps, you can break free from that paycheck to paycheck cycle and build a solid foundation for the future.

So until next time, stay financially savvy out there, and may God bless you richly.

Thank you for joining us on the Ask Ralph show, and with a simple click to subscribe, we'll invite you back to our next episode.

And remember, financial issues don't have to be complicated.

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