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Ralph: Yesterday we talked about tracking
your spending and if you took that

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step, if you have followed through,
today is the moment that really matters.

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'cause now you're staring at some
numbers and maybe you're thinking,

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okay Ralph, I've got this list,
but what do I do with this now?

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Well, let's talk about how to
turn that data into direction.

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That's what we're gonna
cover on today's show.

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Hey there friend.

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Welcome back to another episode of
Financially Confident Christian.

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I'm Ralph, and if no one's told
you yet today, I am proud of you.

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Seriously, I'm proud of you.

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If you tracked your spending yesterday,
you did something most people just avoid.

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You faced your reality
and that's a brave step.

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And now we're gonna take it
to the next level together.

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'cause That list of transactions,
it's not just numbers; It's a mirror,

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and today I wanna help you look
at it with wisdom and not worry.

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Now I know how this can feel.

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You open up your app or your notebook
and all those transactions are staring

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back at you Fast food here, online
purchase is there, and suddenly you

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feel this wave of embarrassment.

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Or maybe for you, you
feel this wave of regret.

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I remember the first time I reviewed my
spending after tracking it for just a

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week, it hit me like a ton of bricks.

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I was spending money on things that
didn't even reflect what I said I

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valued, and I thought to myself,
how did I not see this before?

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But let me tell you
what you're seeing now.

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That's not a failure.

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Hear me on that.

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This is not a failure, it's clarity.

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Friend.

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Clarity is the beginning of freedom.

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Think of it this way,
tracking is the flashlight.

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Reviewing it is what shows
you what's in the room.

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Look at the book of Proverbs,
chapter 15, verse 22.

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It says, this plans fail for
lack of counsel, but with

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many advisors, they succeed.

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What a great Bible verse.

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And you know what Your spending
data is one of those advisors.

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It's not here to condemn you.

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but it is here to counsel you.

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Because it helps you see the gaps.

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And then when you invite God into
that process, you turn that fear into

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faith and that shame into strategy.

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So here's your action step for today,
and I want you to keep it simple.

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You don't have to solve
everything at once.

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Step one is to set aside about 15 to
20 minutes today, just like yesterday,

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you're building a habit of focus.

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Step two.

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I want you to bring your budget
plan from a few days ago and your

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track spending from yesterday.

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Now, I know you've only got one day's
worth of data, but this is a start.

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Step three, I want you to
compare where you plan to spend

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versus where you actually spent.

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Now, I want you to group your spending
into those same categories that you

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did in that intentional spending plan,
like food or gas or giving or personal.

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And then the step four, I want
you to just look for one or two

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key insights, just one or two.

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Did anything surprise you?

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Where did you go over that
intentional spending plan?

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where were you under it?

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And listen, don't try to fix it all.

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Just observe and listen.

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I know this is only one day's worth
of data, but this is something I want

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you to do each week and each month.

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And then finally, step five, I just
want you to reflect with grace.

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Ask yourself this.

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What's this teaching me about my habits?

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Just that simple question.

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What's this teaching me about my habits?

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No blame, no shame.

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This step is all about
simply understanding and

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friend that understanding.

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That's where confidence starts.

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Now, before we go any further, I
wanna give you something to help

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as we walk this past together.

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As we continue this series on money
stress, I wanna bless the first a

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hundred listeners who take action.

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I'm gonna encourage you to
go to financially confident

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christian.com/master, and I'm gonna
give you a free copy of my book.

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It's called Mastering Your Finances.

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Now, this book is just 47 pages.

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It is packed with wisdom.

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It's packed with encouragement, and
it's packed with just simple next steps.

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And best of all, it's completely free.

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This could be the breakthrough
tool that you've been praying for.

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So don't wait.

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Go to financially confident
christian.com/master and

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grab your copy today.

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Let's pray together.

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Father God, thank you for clarity.

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Lord, thank you for the courage
to look at our spending with

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honesty, and look at it with hope.

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And Lord, help us not to feel discouraged,
It's so easy to feel that way,

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Lord, but help us to feel empowered.

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Lord, give us eyes to see those
patterns, ears to hear your counsel,

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and most of all, Lord hearts, to
align our finances with your purpose.

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Lord, may we become wise stewards one step
at a time, and we ask this in confidence.

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In Jesus name, Amen.

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Remember, don't let
those numbers scare you.

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They're just a reflection.

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And today you get to respond, not react.

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So keep going friend.

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You are becoming more financially
confident every single day.

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So let's go out there and
be financially confident.

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Christians, you can do this.

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I have confidence in you.

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Have confidence in yourself.

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Stay financially savvy.

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God bless you, and I'll see you tomorrow.

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Have a great day today.

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I.