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Hey, we know our why for making financial
changes, but what if other hidden

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motivations are actually driving the bus?

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Things like fear or status, or the
security found in money instead of God.

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Well, today we're gonna tackle the tough
but vital topic on financial idols.

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Hey there.

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Welcome back to Your Daily Ask Ralph.

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I'm Ralph.

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Thanks for joining me for this
deeper chat as we near the end of

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another week of action in the joy
of Living below your mean series.

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Still in pursuit of breaking
that cycle of financial shame

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and doing it with confidence.

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Now, yesterday we connected with our Why
Today we look even closer at our hearts.

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So you've set goals, you've found your
why, and now you're taking action.

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But maybe you still find yourself
wrestling with certain financial

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behaviors, perhaps overwhelming anxiety
about money persists, even when things

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are okay or, or maybe you feel an
intense pressure to keep up appearances.

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You're buying things that you just
can't afford to project a certain image.

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Maybe you find that your sense of
worth or your sense of security is

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tied tightly to your bank balance,
or maybe tied to your possessions.

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Listen, I've certainly
been there a time or two.

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You might even find yourself compromising
your values for financial gain.

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Well, that internal struggle, where
despite good intentions, your financial

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decisions seem driven by fear and driven
by greed, or driven by pride or even

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finding security in money itself rather
than God, that's often rooted in the

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difficult issue of hidden financial idols.

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These are things that have subtly
taken God's rightful place in our

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hearts when it comes to money.

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But here's the thing.

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Jesus was crystal clear.

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Look at the book of Matthew
chapter six, verse 24.

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It's what he said.

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He said, no one can serve two masters.

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You cannot serve both God and
money, or what they called mammon.

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This is often misquoted, but do we really
understand just what Jesus was saying?

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Do we understand what he meant by that?

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And see, an idol isn't just a statue.

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A lot of people think
an idol is some statue.

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It's really anything we
put our ultimate trust in.

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Or something we find our core identity
in or sacrifice excessively for, and we

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choose to do that other than God himself.

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It could be money, security status,
maybe our possessions and these can

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easily become idols in our culture today.

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Look at the book of one
Timothy, chapter six, verse 10

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warns that the love of money.

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Now listen, it doesn't say money itself.

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It says the love of money is
a root of all kinds of evil.

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And in the book of Colossians,
chapter three, verse five, even

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calls greed or covetousness idolatry.

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And see, identifying these
hidden idols is crucial.

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It's crucial because they secretly
direct their choices and they sabotage

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both our financial wellbeing and more
importantly, our relationship with God.

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So what can we do?

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How do we uncover and begin
to deal with these powerful

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but yet often hidden drivers?

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How do we ensure that God, not
money or possessions, is truly

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enthroned in our financial lives?

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Well, my view, the single essential
solution is to engage in courageous

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prayerful self- examination to identify
potential financial items in your life.

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And listen, this isn't about
feeling condemned, but it's

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really about seeking freedom.

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It involves asking hard questions with
humility questions like, where does

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my true sense of security come from?

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Does it come from my job?

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Does it come from my savings or
does it come from God's provision?

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Maybe you're asking this question, what do
I worry about most when it comes to money?

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See, truth is, fear can
indicate an idol of security.

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What possessions or financial
status do I need to do?

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I need to be happy or to feel respected?

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See, this too can reveal idols
of status or materialism.

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Do I constantly compare my
financial situation to others?

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That's a tough one.

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This may indicate envy
or idol of comparison.

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Am I willing to compromise my integrity?

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Am I willing to compromise my faith?

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Or am I willing to compromise
my family time for money?

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See, 'cause that shows
what we truly worship.

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Acknowledging even one area where money
or things have taken too high a priority.

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Well, that's the first step
to dethroning that idol.

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The solution is honest self-reflection.

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You gotta identify potential idols.

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I. Well, this is a deep heart work today.

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Sure.

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One action step for today or perhaps more
realistically, find some dedicated time,

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some quiet time, this upcoming weekend.

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You know, memorial day's not
far away for those in the us and

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here's what I want you to do.

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First step, I want you to find some
quiet time and start with prayer.

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Just set aside 15 or 20 minutes
where you can be alone and just

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pray for the Holy Spirit to give
you honesty and to give you courage.

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Then I want you to ask some really
hard and difficult questions,

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prayerfully consider some of the
questions I just mentioned or maybe

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others that come to your mind.

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One of the things you might
consider is maybe journal your

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unfiltered thoughts and feelings.

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Ask yourself, where does money hold
too much power in your thoughts or in

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your emotions, or in your decisions?

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The third thing I want you to
do is identify just one area.

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Just just one area.

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You know, humbly try to
pinpoint one specific thing.

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Is it that security?

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Is it that status?

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Is it a particular possession?

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Is it comparison or, or fear of lack?

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One that might be functioning as a
financial idol in your life right now.

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And then finally, the fourth step.

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This is the most important step.

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You gotta acknowledge it and confess it.

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Simply acknowledge it honestly before God.

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Because here's the truth, confession
is the first step towards freedom.

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Maybe say something like this, Lord,
I see that I find too much security

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in my sayings account instead of you.

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And now I hear you already
asking, but, but Ralph, why?

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Why do this difficult heart work?

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Well, here's why.

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'cause it gets to the root of many
persistent financial struggles.

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Identifying and confessing financial
idols breaks their hidden power.

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It, it just breaks it down.

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It's a crucial step towards aligning your
heart and your finances fully with God,

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leading to deeper spiritual freedom and
often making healthier financial choices.

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So much easier to make.

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Well, let's pray together.

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Father God, search me, oh
God, and know my heart.

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Try me and know my thoughts and see
if there'll be any grievous way in me

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and lead me in the way everlasting.

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That's beautiful.

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From Psalm 1 39 verses 23 to 24,
beautiful words you gave us, Lord,

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Lord give my friend listening immense
courage and honesty as they examine

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their heart regarding money today.

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Holy Spirit, we ask that you would
gently reveal any area where money

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or possessions or security or status.

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Has taken over your rightful place.

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Grant the humility to see it
and the grace to confess it.

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Begin that work of dethroning these
idols, Lord, and draw their heart

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closer to you as their true source
of identity, their truth, source

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of security, and their true choice.

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of joy.

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Thank you for your loving
kindness and forgiveness, and

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we ask this in Jesus name.

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Amen.

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I know that was deep.

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I know it.

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But be gentle with yourself as
you reflect on this, perhaps this

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week and as we talked about, but
be honest, be gentle, but honest.

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Take an even one step to identifying Idol
is a huge victory in faith and finances.

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And remember this, God
honors a humble heart.

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Now we've covered some deep
and challenging ground.

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Be sure to join me back here tomorrow
on Ask Ralph for our final action in

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this part of our series where we ask,
struggling on your financial journey,

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how about progress over perfection?

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Yeah, we're gonna get real practical
tomorrow, and if this episode

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prompted important reflection for
you, do me a huge favor and share it.

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Share it with somebody else
who might be struggling.

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You can find resources and links in
our show notes at our new website,

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financially confident christian.com.

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So until tomorrow, guard your heart.

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Keep God first and keep seeking him.

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Keep pushing in your quest to be
a financially confident Christian.

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Stay financially savvy,
break free from those idols.

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And God bless you and
I just encourage you.

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Have a truly blessed day today.