Am I making the right decisions with my money?

This is a question we hear over and over again. No matter how much income or how financially secure someone appears to be, there seems to be a constant fear when it comes to managing our finances.

Circumstances do not create fear and anxiety around money. Our heart condition does.

So how do we combat this fear? How do we get to the root of our heart condition and weed out the lies we are believing?

John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

If this is God’s promise, our confusion and fear over finances is not a part of his plan.

This life is not just about surviving and getting by.

God has more for us and He wants our financial stories to be fulfilling and exciting. But how do we release the confusion and fear which permeates our society and replace it with contentment?

Don’t be Passive

Contentment is an action. It isn’t remaining stagnant while saying, “I’m good where I am at. I don’t need to move.”

Contentment happens as you adventure. It is facing the obstacles and fears which confront you in each moment and choosing to be at rest.

So make a change. Don’t stay in the same place you were six months ago. Choose one simple task which requires confronting your fears, even if it is just opening the mail. Contentment begins when we chose to take action.

Plan

Often when we hear the word ‘budget’ or ‘financial plan’ a cold shiver runs down our spine and we imagine Ebeneezer Scrooge bent over his money changing table.

Yet, this is not the case. A spending plan isn’t restrictive, it is liberating.

It doesn’t force you to scrimp and save every dime, it helps you prioritize where you really want to put your money.

To release the fear and confusion, we need to have a plan for moving forward. It is difficult to take action when we don’t know where we stand. Having a spending plan is imperative to living a life of contentment.

Learn to Say ‘Yes’

Money is a tool for aligning us with our greater purpose. Not only do we need to use it to perform the daily tasks, but also to drive us towards our goals and desires. Sometimes this means saying ‘no’ to our momentary satisfaction so we can reach our long term goals.

Ultimately, we need to learn how to say ‘yes’ to the important things. Unimportant expenses often leave us feeling unfulfilled and discouraged in the long term.

These are only a few ways by which we can move from confusion to contentment. It is not a complicated process, but it does take time. Allow yourself the grace to make mistakes and adventure towards contentment!