You're making progress.

You're paying down your debt.

Maybe you even paid off a debt or two, and that feeling, that feeling is incredible.

But is there this nagging fear in the back of your mind that somehow

you'll slip back into those old habits and end up right where you started?

Well, stick with me today because we're gonna explore how to protect

that freedom that you've gained.

Hey there.

Welcome back to your Daily Financially Confident Christian.

I'm Ralph and it's truly inspiring to witness your commitment.

This is the show that helps you answer that question, how can I become a

financially confident Christian?

We continue on this journey through our series of dealing

with the stress of money worries.

We spent some serious time tackling that existing debt.

We've strategized, we've found extra money.

And every day we're working to stay motivated.

And you're building powerful momentum towards debt freedom.

But here's the truth.

Getting out of debt is one challenge, but staying outta debt, that's another, that

temptation to borrow can still be there.

And unexpected life events can try to push you right back into that debt cycle.

So today we're focusing on protecting your progress and asking how can I

avoid getting back into debt once I start getting free, or maybe

even while I'm still paying it off.

Now, maybe you've experienced this before.

You pay off a credit card and you feel this wave of relief,

and then a few months later that balance starts creeping back up.

Or maybe you have to handle an unexpected expense with debt because your savings,

well, they just weren't quite enough yet.

And this cycle of getting outta debt and then falling back in is

incredibly frustrating and it's a major struggle and I've, I've

been there, right there with you.

And truth is, it can lead to deep discouragement.

It can reinforce feelings of financial failure and make you question.

If lasting freedom is even possible for you, and this stress comes

from that fear of undoing your hard work and feeling trapped in a loop

that you just can't seem to escape.

But here's the thing, Staying out of debt, just like getting

out, requires intentionality.

It requires discipline, and often it requires delayed gratification.

It's not just about willpower, it's about building habits and

putting safeguards in place.

and the Bible gives us wisdom on avoiding debt.

Look at the book of Proverbs, chapter 22, verses 26 and 27.

It warns against co-signing for others saying this, do not be one who pats on

wrists or one who vouches for debts.

If you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you.

Now, that's harsh, but we need to heed that warning, and

this highlights that serious consequences of taking on financial

obligations that you can't cover.

And more broadly, the principle extends to personal debt, living

within your means and being content with what you already have.

It's a powerful way to avoid that need or that desire to borrow unnecessarily.

Continuing on in scripture, self-control is listed as a fruit of the spirit.

Look at the book of Galatians chapter five, verses 22 and 23.

I don't have time to cover that today, but I'm gonna encourage you to read it because

this is a key quality that God helps us develop to help us manage our desires.

Truly make wise choices with our money.

Avoiding that lure of instant gratification through debt,

and I want you to hear this.

Avoiding new debt is an act of wise stewardship.

It's protecting your future peace and it's honoring God with your resources.

Why?

Because you're relying on his provision and your diligent planning,

not relying on those lenders.

So what can we do?

How do you build those strong defenses to prevent new debt from derailing

your progress and bringing back that stress that you work so hard to break

and listen, if you've been in debt, you remember that stress all too well, I bet.

Well, the single essential solution is to develop conscious habits and

establish clear boundaries around your spending that eliminate that need.

Maybe more importantly, the temptation to take on unnecessary new debt.

And this means being proactive about preventing debt before

it even has a chance to start.

So, okay, here's your one action step for today, specifically focused

on avoiding unnecessary new debt.

To start, I wanna start by asking you to identify your debt triggers.

You need to think honestly about why you've taken on debt in the past, or

maybe it's right now you're taking it on.

Ask yourself, was it unexpected expenses?

Is that impulse buying that you've worked so hard to curb?

Is it wanting things you couldn't afford right now?

Or maybe just peer pressure and see identifying your one or two biggest

triggers can help you on this process.

Next thing, it's time to implement the wait rule or for non-essentials

or what I've called that big pause.

So for any non-essential purchase over a specific amount that you set, you pick it.

For example, maybe for you it's $25 or $50 or maybe a hundred

dollars, whatever you decide.

Then you're gonna implement what I call a mandatory waiting period,

like 24 hours or 36 hours, or maybe even four to eight hours, or for you.

Maybe it even needs to be a week and you just pause and you don't spend.

And then if you still need and can truly afford it, then

you can consider buying it.

'cause this will break that impulse cycle.

The next thing you need to do is prioritize strengthening your

emergency fund because maybe for you it's those emergency expenses.

So I'm going to encourage you to revisit your emergency fund goal.

We covered that in episode 1 54, and make a commitment again, or maybe

a recommitment to building it up because listen, a solid emergency

fund and ideally, like I talked about in the show, three to six months

of essential expense is your best defense against those unexpected

costs forcing you back into debt.

So I want to encourage you today, make a building this a priority in your budget.

Then finally, one of the things that I think you can do is use cash or debit

for those flexible spending items.

So for variable spending categories where you tend to overspend or you find yourself

making those impulse buys like dining out or maybe entertainment or just that

personal spending, I'm gonna encourage you to try using cash or even your debit

card instead of those credit cards.

' cause seeing the money leave your hand or leave your bank account instantly, I

just believe that creates more awareness than just using that credit card.

It's just too easy.

And now you might be asking Ralph, why does this even help?

Well, here's why.

Because this single action directly fights that struggle of falling back into

debt and losing your hard won progress.

It builds powerful habits of intentional spending and delayed gratification.

And I truly believe it protects your emergency fund and your

budget giving you a stronger defense against life's curve balls.

And listen, I play softball sometimes you get a curve ball.

This will help you without resorting back to borrowing again.

And it replaces that stress of that debt cycle that you work so hard to break

free, and it replaces it with the peace of controlled spending and growing freedom.

Let's pray together now.

Father God, we just thank you for showing us the path to financial freedom.

Lord, we confess that temptation to take on new debt is often

present, and that fear, Lord, of slipping back is real for us.

So, Lord, please strengthen our self-control and help us to establish

wise boundaries around our spending, Lord.

And give us the discipline to use that 'Wait Rule' and to prioritize

building our savings buffer.

Protect us from unnecessary debt.

And Lord, help us to live contentedly within the means that you provide.

Guide us in every spending decision and we ask this in confidence.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Preventing new debt is just as vital as paying off old debt.

If you really want long-term financial peace, build those habits, set those

boundaries, and protect your freedom.

You are making smart choices for your future.

And if avoiding new debt is a challenge you face, please share

this episode with someone else who might be facing it as well.

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

financially confident christian.com.

And I have 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 a quick, powerful read, designed as a starting point to help you break

that cycle of financial shame and step into confidence and step into freedom.

Again, go to financially confident christian.com/master

to get you a free copy today.

Now, tomorrow we're gonna be talking about navigating the world of credit.

Whether you can use it wisely without falling into debt.

Again, you don't wanna miss it.

So make sure you join me and 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.