90 Day Challenge - Part 2: Financial Fitness

This month I started a 90 Day Challenge to improve my health: spiritually and financially. Please see my previous post on Part 1: God's Word. Welcome to Part 2: Financial Fitness! Onward...

Over the years, I've had my ups and downs financially. I've had hardships. I've had periods of positive cash flow. I've been unemployed. I've worked two jobs while continuing my education. I've worked multiple part-time jobs because I couldn't find a full-time job. Can you relate???

I've also had moments of not knowing how my expenses would be covered and God always provided.I tell ya...struggle can improve your prayer life. God's faithfulness is a blessing and not one to take lightly. I have a responsibility beyond prayer. He is generous enough to allow us all free will. To choose right from wrong. To choose His ways over man's ways.

When a child is irresponsible with what's been entrusted, what does the parent usually do? Take it away, right? The child has a lesson he or she needs to learn. We've all experienced it in some form. We are reminded, "Take care of that which you have been given." God, our Heavenly Father, is no different. He is generous! He is gracious! He is merciful! He gives more than we deserve...and does not give us what we, as sinners, do deserve. But He also expects us to take care of that which He has given us.

James 1:17 says, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." Remembering that all good gifts come from God, our Father, should prompt us to be especially wise with our finances. When times are tight, it's hard to even think of anything beyond making ends meet. I can relate. I've been there. 

So where do we begin when things are not where they should be financially? I have done several programs and one that has helped me the most is Dave Ramsey's book "Total Money Makeover". I've posted a link to the 7 Baby Steps below, as outlined in the book. One of the best things about the book is the many testimonials in it. Having read it a few times, I'm always amazed how different stories resonate with me. I hope you'll take a look for yourself.

http://www.daveramsey.com/new/baby-steps/

I will attest that sometimes it seems easy to think you can combine baby steps and maybe reach your goal faster. I will also attest...something WILL "come up" and prevent that from happening. Seriously. Just do the steps. One step at a time. Just as it's written. AND you will make strides to improving your financial fitness! Keep it simple. It's not easy, but it IS doable.

As Dave says, "If you live like no one else now, later you will live like no one else." Translation: Make some serious sacrifices now...for a few months to a few years (however long that takes for your situation). Then, when you are DEBT-FREE and building wealth...You will be able to live like most people will not. Why? Because you will be been debt-free and they will be swimming in debt til the end of their time. I don't know about you...but I don't want "debt" to be my legacy! I want FREEDOM! Freedom to live generously and not be enslaved to whatever "The Joneses" have. I want to live like no one else for the glory of my God and Savior, Jesus Christ!