Ralph: You felt it, haven't you?
That knot in your stomach when a dream a needed step forward.
Hinges on a single number, and it's a number.
You don't fully grasp a number that feels like it holds all the power.
Maybe for you, it was for an apartment or for a car, or
even just turning on utilities.
That moment when credit score is whispered and suddenly you feel exposed, you feel
vulnerable, like your entire financial past is laid, bare, judged, and you're
not even sure what the rules are.
If that sounds like you, if your credit score feels like a silent,
invisible barrier holding you back, then stick with me today.
We're gonna pull back the curtain.
We're gonna take back the power.
Hey there.
Welcome back to your daily, financially Confident Christian.
I'm Ralph and it's truly great to be with you, just you and me.
This is the place where we answer that deep question.
How can I become a financially confident Christian?
And we're still right here in the heart of our series dealing
with the stress of money worries.
We've been on a journey together, haven't we?
Learning to face debt.
Understanding credit and taking tangible steps towards real peace.
Today we're discussing something that often feels shrouded in mystery, something
that can cause a lot of unspoken anxiety.
Your credit score and your credit report.
These aren't just cold, arbitrary numbers.
Their echoes of your financial journey, moments that shape
your future opportunities.
So let's be honest with each other today.
What does your credit score actually mean for you, and why should you truly care?
Perhaps you've never looked the, the thought alone feels heavy,
maybe even a little shameful.
What if it's bad?
What if it confirms my deepest financial fears?
Many times it's easier to just not know, to keep that part of
your financial life locked away, out of sight, and out of mind.
Or maybe you did apply for something.
That rental, that loan and the terms were unexpected, the terms were harsh.
Or maybe you were simply turned down and they mentioned your credit score,
but it left you feeling confused.
It left you feeling disempowered.
Like someone else was holding the keys to your future, and you
didn't even understand the lock.
That quiet struggle, this lack of understanding about
your own credit history.
It's real.
It leaves you feeling trapped, like important decisions about
your life are being made based on a number that you don't control
and a language you don't speak.
It adds a crushing layer of stress precisely when you need to access credit
for essential things leaving you wondering if your past will forever hold you back.
But here's the truth, friend.
Your credit report is simply a record.
It's a snapshot of how you've managed and borrowed money in the past.
It shows if you paid bills on time, how much credit you've used and for how long.
And your credit score, it's just a summary, a calculated
number from that report.
Now I wanna be clear about something.
Our true identity, our worth is rooted firmly in Christ.
We must start there.
It's never in a number, never in a balance, but the truth is being
a good steward, being responsible with our own financial reputation.
That is a practical aspect of living wisely in the world.
God has placed us in.
The Bible consistently values integrity and faithfulness in our commitments.
Think about Psalm chapter 37, verse 21.
The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously.
Now while that speaks to generosity, it also clearly implies that the
righteous due repay their debts.
And how about Proverbs Chapter 22, verse one.
It reminds us this a good name.
Is more desirable than great riches.
It's great scripture, and in today's financial system, part of that good
name, that reputation involves how reliably you've handled credit.
Understanding and managing your credit report isn't about
worshiping a number, it's just not.
It's about being a diligent and trustworthy steward of your
financial reputation, reflecting faithfulness in your commitments.
It's about being free from that financial anxiety.
So my friend, you're asking what can you do right now?
How do you move from feeling lost in the dark about your credit to shining
a light on it and taking control?
I've got an essential step.
The one thing that will begin to shift everything for you is to take
a practical step of accessing your free credit report and beginning to
really understand the basic factors that influence your credit score.
And I just wanna tell you right now, this isn't about fixing everything overnight.
This is about knowledge.
This is about empowerment.
This is about stepping out of intimidation and into what
I'll call informed awareness.
It's about taking back the keys to your financial peace.
So, okay, here's your one singular action step for today.
Specifically designed to help you understand your credit report and
your credit score, your action step.
I want you to access your free credit report.
You do that by going to the official website annual credit report.com,
and I'll put that in the show notes.
This is the only place authorized by federal law to give you a free
copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus.
That's Experian.
Equifax and TransUnion, and you can get that once every 12 months.
So when you get there, choose just one bureau to start with.
Don't feel overwhelmed, just pick one.
And then once you've pulled it, take just 15 or 20 minutes
to look through it and listen.
You don't need to become an expert today.
Just glance at it and ask yourself some questions.
Are the balances listed here, even mine?
Do the balances look generally correct?
Ask yourself, do I see in accounts I don't recognize?
Just a quick scan.
And then finally, if your bank or credit card company offers free access to your
credit score, take a look there as well.
Just notice the number.
I don't want you to stress about it.
Just see where you stand.
Now you're wondering, Ralph, why does this help?
Well, here's why it helps.
That single action directly confronts that feeling of mystery and that
feeling of fear that surrounds credit reports and credit scores, and it
truly empowers you with the knowledge about your own financial history.
It allows you to spot potential errors.
It gives you a starting point for understanding how your financial actions
impact your future and best of all.
It replaces the stress of the unknown with informed confident awareness.
Well, let's pray together now.
Father God, we just thank you for giving us the ability to understand
and to manage our resources.
We confess that the world of credit reports and scores can feel complicated,
even intimidating, and we have to admit, Lord, it often causes us anxiety.
Please Lord, grant us clarity and grant us understanding as we access
and review our credit report today.
Help us to see this information not as a source of shame or source of judgment,
Lord, but as a tool for wise stewardship.
Guide us in understanding what influences our score, and how to manage our financial
reputation in a way that honors you.
And we ask this with confidence in Jesus' name, Amen.
Understanding your credit report and score is powerful.
It's an empowering step towards true financial peace.
Don't be afraid to look my friend.
It's the information you need to manage your finances wisely.
And if taken this step, feel significant.
I encourage you to share this episode with someone else who might
benefit from this information.
You can find resources and connect with our show at our website that's 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 giving you a free copy of my book.
It's called Mastering Your Finances.
It's a quick, powerful tool designed as a starting point to help you
break that cycle of financial shame.
Step into confidence.
So again, go to financially confident christian.com/master
to get your free copy today.
Now, tomorrow we're gonna be talking about once you've looked at that credit
report, how to clean up your credit report and build a healthier credit score.
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.