July 2, 2025 • 13 mins
On this episode of Financially Confident Christian, Ralph tackles a surprising but powerful question: Can gratitude actually change your financial situation? While budgeting apps and spreadsheets get all the attention, Ralph invites listeners to explore how a shift in mindset—specifically, cultivating gratitude—can reduce anxiety, rewire our brains for financial wisdom, and anchor us in God's provision. If you've ever felt stuck in a scarcity loop or overwhelmed by what you don’t have, this episode offers both spiritual encouragement and practical action steps to break free. Because the truth is, gratitude changes finances.
Check out the full podcast episode here
Whether it’s a paid bill, a reliable car, or help from a friend, recognizing these blessings transforms your perspective. Gratitude becomes more than just a nice thought—it becomes a daily discipline that shifts your focus from lack to abundance and helps you move toward real peace in your financial life.
Chapters:
- 00:13 - The Power of Gratitude in Financial Wellness
- 02:37 - The Connection Between Gratitude and Financial Peace
- 04:12 - Cultivating Financial Gratitude
- 06:58 - Expressing Gratitude to Others
- 08:16 - The Power of Gratitude
- 09:50 - Introduction to Financial Confidence
Takeaways:
- Gratitude can be a powerful tool for transforming your financial mindset and situation.
- Cultivating a habit of gratitude helps shift focus from scarcity to abundance in life.
- The Bible connects gratitude with peace, which reduces financial anxiety and stress.
- Acknowledging and appreciating what you already have is the first step toward financial freedom.
- Expressing gratitude to God and others strengthens trust in His provision and improves relationships.
- Creating a 'thank you inventory' helps recognize financial blessings and reinforces a positive outlook.
Links referenced in this episode:
WATCH NOW ON YOUTUBE (OUR VIDEO VERSION)
WATCH NOW ON RUMBLE (OUR VIDEO VERSION)
Please share our Podcast with all your friends and family!
Submit your questions or ideas for future shows - email us at
ralph@askralph.com or leave a voicemail message on our podcast page
Buy Ralph's Book - Mastering Your Finances!
Buy Ralph's Book - Gospel of Entrepreneurship: Following Jesus in Your Business Journey
Buy Ralph's Book -
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Ralph (00:00):
We talk a lot about practical steps for your money on this
show, but what if one of the mostpowerful tools isn't a spreadsheet?
Isn't a budget app, but somethingas simple as saying, thank you.
Can gratitude actually transformyour financial situation?
Well, stick with me today 'causeI've got the answer on today's show.
(00:35):
Hello and welcome back to your DailyFinancially Confident Christian.
I'm Ralph and it's greatto be with you again.
I just wanna thank you for trustingme with your time as we continue
on our journey, answering thatbig question, how can I become a
financially confident Christian?
And we're continuing our newseries today beyond the budget.
Finding financial freedomthrough intentional living,
(00:56):
and that is really what we'refocused on for the next 30 days.
And yesterday we talked about cultivatingcontentment in a world of more and more.
More.
If you miss it, I'm gonna encourage youto check it out because I really gave
you some great ideas of how to break theworld's hold in that feeling that you
just gotta go get more and more and more.
Well, today we're gonna focus onsomething a little bit different.
(01:18):
We're gonna answer this question.
Does gratitude actuallychange my financial situation?
Yeah.
Might seem a little contrary towhat you might think, but I'm gonna
answer that question on today's show.
We're gonna answer.
Does gratitude actuallychange my financial situation?
And because maybe like mostpeople, a lot of people, I'll take
myself as an example, maybe you'refocused on what you don't have.
(01:42):
See, it's so easy to look at ourlives and account for what we,
we, what we see, what's missing.
We, we don't have that.
I. We don't have that same fancy car likeour neighbor has, or we don't have the
vacation home, or we don't take those,those vacations like our neighbors have.
And you compare yourself, you compareyour life, and you feel like you're
just constantly falling behind.
(02:03):
Well, really what that is, isjust this scarcity mindset.
A lot of people get stuck in it.
I've been stuck in thatfrom times in my life.
It's a scarcity mindset, and whatit does is it really drives over
spending, but bigger than that.
It just keeps you chasing more and more.
And we talked about that a lotyesterday because that that goalpost
(02:23):
just keeps moving farther and farther.
And as you're chasing more,it's just creating more anxiety.
And if you have a lot of anxiety, you'renot getting to a place of financial peace.
But here's the thing, the Biblemakes a very strong connection
between gratitude and peace.
Let's look at the book ofPhilippians, chapter four,
(02:44):
verses six and seven says this.
Do not be anxious about anything, but inevery situation by prayer and petition.
With Thanksgiving, present yourrequest to God and the peace of God
will guard your hearts and your minds.
I love this verse.
See, gratitude reduces anxiety.
(03:07):
Don't be anxious about anything, but inevery situation with prayer and petition.
With Thanksgiving, see thatThanksgiving, it shifts the focus
from that feeling of scarcity.
And it's so easy to feel likethat because we're always
comparing ourselves to others.
We always feel like we don't havewhat they have, but it really shifts
our focus from scarcity to abundance.
(03:31):
And the other side of this,present your request to God.
See, this strengthenstrust in God's provision.
'cause God is producing for you.
He is providing for you.
Big picture thing.
It fights that lie.
That lie that moremoney equals more peace.
Hey, our culture screamsthat from the rooftop.
Social media, you nameit, it's just a lie.
(03:55):
It's that lie that, hey, if I havemore money, I'm gonna have more peace.
I don't know about you, but I've metpeople with a lot of money and they
don't seem like they have a lot of peace.
So now you're askingRalph, what can we do?
How, how do we use gratitude to reallydo the shift you're talking about?
Well, I've got the solution, and the waythat you need to do it is to cultivate a
consistent habit of financial gratitude.
(04:19):
I'm gonna get to how you do thatin just a minute, but it starts
with two really basic things.
Acknowledge and appreciatewhat you already have.
Acknowledge it.
Hey, I've got it.
I'm gonna talk a little bit aboutthe specifics here in a moment.
I've got it.
And then appreciate it and expressthat to God and express that to others.
(04:39):
So here's your one action step for todayto really get you in that ability to
con, you know, consistently cultivatethat habit of financial gratitude.
I want you to start by creating whatI'm gonna call the thank you inventory.
I want you to start today, just list five,six, or seven specific financial blessings
that I'm gonna give you some examples,but I just want you to list those out.
(05:02):
Maybe something like, I was able to pay myelectric bill this month without stress.
Hey, that's something to be grateful for.
Or maybe I have a reliable usedcar that gets me to work every day.
Hey, it's not.
It's not the fancy new sports carwe talked about the other day, but
I have a reliable used car thatgets me to work every single day.
Here's a great one that you can reallyconsider during times of inflation.
(05:24):
There's groceries in thefridge and food on the table.
Thank God for that.
Or maybe this one.
Hey, my paycheck camein on time this week.
It's a good thing to get paidon time, but be grateful.
Appreciate that.
Acknowledge it.
Maybe you recently paid off a creditcard and you've been working so
hard and so diligently to do that.
(05:45):
Maybe a friend gave you somefree tickets to event that
you couldn't afford to go to.
Maybe you're gonna tagalong as a friend with them.
That's something to be grateful for.
Or as we get closer to gettingready for school, whereas in Juba,
we're getting closer, maybe mychildren's school supplies are
all taken care of for the fall.
You've already put the moneyaside, you've handled that.
So start that, that simplethank you inventory, and just
(06:09):
say those things out loud.
Write those down.
Gonna start to change your mindset.
Then the second component tothis, I really need you to
express that gratitude to God.
Choose just one item from your list,the one that really is impactful
to you, and then just reach out toGod in prayer and just say, Lord, I
just thank you for your provision.
(06:29):
For example, Lord, thank you forproviding me with steady income.
Even when things feel tight, youcontinue to meet my daily needs.
Help me trust you in faithfulness.
And use what I have wisely.
Amen on that one.
Or maybe this one.
Father, thank you for thatunexpected gift from my friend.
It reminded me that you see me andyou care for even the little joys, and
(06:53):
I give you praise for your goodness.
So just reach out to God and thank himfor it, and then I'm gonna encourage
you to do one more thing, and that'struly express gratitude to someone else.
It's easy to make thoselists for yourself.
It's kind of easy to say toas the God, but how about
expressing those to someone else?
Identify someone who's helpedyou specifically financially.
(07:14):
Maybe send them a text or give thema call and just say, Hey, you know
what, Sally, I really appreciate it.
You helped me last week, or Youhelped me get through a tough time.
Or, Hey, here's one.
People don't do a lot of write a note.
I love notes.
People don't do it anymore, butwrite a note to just say thank you.
For example, maybe text afriend who covered your lunch.
Say, Hey, just wanted to thankyou again for lunch last week.
(07:35):
Could really help me out morethan you know, you're a blessing.
Or maybe call your parents,Hey, we all need to do that.
I wish I could call my mom.
She passed away a couple years ago.
So cherish the ability to do that.
But call your parents who helpedyou maybe for a down payment on
your house and say, mom and dad.
I've been thinking today about howgrateful I am for your help in this house
as I sit here this morning in the kitchen.
(07:57):
And I don't say it enough, but thank youfor believing in me and supporting me.
Or maybe Ray a thank you note toyour pastor or to a church member
who once helped with a bill.
Maybe your generosity during a toughseason of my life made a lasting impact.
Thank you for being the hands and feetof Christ when I need it the most.
And see this kind of stuff really helps,and I'm gonna tell you why it helps.
(08:21):
Gratitude truly rewires your mind.
It rewires it towards abundance.
You start to move away from that,that scarcity, anxiety, riddled
place that you are in right now.
It reduces stress because youdon't have that fear of, of
lack, that fear of scarcity.
And if you do the things I mentioned,it's gonna improve relationships.
(08:41):
'cause people are going toappreciate the fact that you're
thankful for what you have.
Because I don't know about you, butI can't stand to be around people
that are always complaining, alwaystalking about what they don't
have, all the lack that they have.
And when you, when you express thethankfulness for what you have, hey man,
that, that just spreads like a wildfire.
(09:01):
And when you acknowledge it to God, whatyou're doing is you're really anchoring
your peace in God and not what you lack.
Well, let's pray together.
Father God, we just thankyou for all you've given us.
The provision is abounding to us.
It's so abundant, Lord.
And we have to confess that we often focuson what's missing, Lord, it's so easy
for us to pick apart what we don't have.
(09:23):
And we just ask you to help us tosee your hand in our finances, Lord,
and give us hearts full of gratitudeand help us to express that thanks
consistently to you and to others Lord.
And we ask this withconfidence, In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Listen, gratitude isn't just a feeling.
It's not a simple feeling, oh, I'm gonnado this gratitude, I'm gonna feel great.
(09:46):
No, it's a transformationalforce in your life.
So I just wanna encourage you onemore time, acknowledge and express
your blessings today because thatis helping you move towards freedom.
And one of the things that youcan do is share this episode
with someone who needs it.
There's a lot of people outthere right now who are hurting.
Maybe that person who doesn't understandwhat they have and what they can be
(10:08):
grateful for, maybe to send them a textand just say, Hey, I listened to this
podcast and I really got a lot from it.
You might want to consider doing it, oryou can point them to our website that's
financially confident christian.com.
I've got a free gift for you as well.
I'm gonna give you a copy of my book.
It's called Mastering Your Finances.
You can getthat@financiallyconfidentchristian.com
(10:29):
slash master.
It's absolutely free to you.
Just go there and you can download it.
Now tomorrow we're gonna talk aboutclarifying your values and how that
helps you spend with a purpose.
We're really gonna get into clarifyingvalues and how to spend with a purpose.
So I'm gonna encourage you not to miss it.
Now, let's go.
Go out there and be financially confident.
(10:50):
Christians, you can do this.
I believe in you.
Believe in yourself.
Stay financially savvy.
God bless you, and youhave a great day today.
We talk a lot about practical steps for your money on this
show, but what if one of the mostpowerful tools isn't a spreadsheet?
Isn't a budget app, but somethingas simple as saying, thank you.
Can gratitude actually transformyour financial situation?
Well, stick with me today 'causeI've got the answer on today's show.
(00:35):
Hello and welcome back to your DailyFinancially Confident Christian.
I'm Ralph and it's greatto be with you again.
I just wanna thank you for trustingme with your time as we continue
on our journey, answering thatbig question, how can I become a
financially confident Christian?
And we're continuing our newseries today beyond the budget.
Finding financial freedomthrough intentional living,
(00:56):
and that is really what we'refocused on for the next 30 days.
And yesterday we talked about cultivatingcontentment in a world of more and more.
More.
If you miss it, I'm gonna encourage youto check it out because I really gave
you some great ideas of how to break theworld's hold in that feeling that you
just gotta go get more and more and more.
Well, today we're gonna focus onsomething a little bit different.
(01:18):
We're gonna answer this question.
Does gratitude actuallychange my financial situation?
Yeah.
Might seem a little contrary towhat you might think, but I'm gonna
answer that question on today's show.
We're gonna answer.
Does gratitude actuallychange my financial situation?
And because maybe like mostpeople, a lot of people, I'll take
myself as an example, maybe you'refocused on what you don't have.
(01:42):
See, it's so easy to look at ourlives and account for what we,
we, what we see, what's missing.
We, we don't have that.
I. We don't have that same fancy car likeour neighbor has, or we don't have the
vacation home, or we don't take those,those vacations like our neighbors have.
And you compare yourself, you compareyour life, and you feel like you're
just constantly falling behind.
(02:03):
Well, really what that is, isjust this scarcity mindset.
A lot of people get stuck in it.
I've been stuck in thatfrom times in my life.
It's a scarcity mindset, and whatit does is it really drives over
spending, but bigger than that.
It just keeps you chasing more and more.
And we talked about that a lotyesterday because that that goalpost
(02:23):
just keeps moving farther and farther.
And as you're chasing more,it's just creating more anxiety.
And if you have a lot of anxiety, you'renot getting to a place of financial peace.
But here's the thing, the Biblemakes a very strong connection
between gratitude and peace.
Let's look at the book ofPhilippians, chapter four,
(02:44):
verses six and seven says this.
Do not be anxious about anything, but inevery situation by prayer and petition.
With Thanksgiving, present yourrequest to God and the peace of God
will guard your hearts and your minds.
I love this verse.
See, gratitude reduces anxiety.
(03:07):
Don't be anxious about anything, but inevery situation with prayer and petition.
With Thanksgiving, see thatThanksgiving, it shifts the focus
from that feeling of scarcity.
And it's so easy to feel likethat because we're always
comparing ourselves to others.
We always feel like we don't havewhat they have, but it really shifts
our focus from scarcity to abundance.
(03:31):
And the other side of this,present your request to God.
See, this strengthenstrust in God's provision.
'cause God is producing for you.
He is providing for you.
Big picture thing.
It fights that lie.
That lie that moremoney equals more peace.
Hey, our culture screamsthat from the rooftop.
Social media, you nameit, it's just a lie.
(03:55):
It's that lie that, hey, if I havemore money, I'm gonna have more peace.
I don't know about you, but I've metpeople with a lot of money and they
don't seem like they have a lot of peace.
So now you're askingRalph, what can we do?
How, how do we use gratitude to reallydo the shift you're talking about?
Well, I've got the solution, and the waythat you need to do it is to cultivate a
consistent habit of financial gratitude.
(04:19):
I'm gonna get to how you do thatin just a minute, but it starts
with two really basic things.
Acknowledge and appreciatewhat you already have.
Acknowledge it.
Hey, I've got it.
I'm gonna talk a little bit aboutthe specifics here in a moment.
I've got it.
And then appreciate it and expressthat to God and express that to others.
(04:39):
So here's your one action step for todayto really get you in that ability to
con, you know, consistently cultivatethat habit of financial gratitude.
I want you to start by creating whatI'm gonna call the thank you inventory.
I want you to start today, just list five,six, or seven specific financial blessings
that I'm gonna give you some examples,but I just want you to list those out.
(05:02):
Maybe something like, I was able to pay myelectric bill this month without stress.
Hey, that's something to be grateful for.
Or maybe I have a reliable usedcar that gets me to work every day.
Hey, it's not.
It's not the fancy new sports carwe talked about the other day, but
I have a reliable used car thatgets me to work every single day.
Here's a great one that you can reallyconsider during times of inflation.
(05:24):
There's groceries in thefridge and food on the table.
Thank God for that.
Or maybe this one.
Hey, my paycheck camein on time this week.
It's a good thing to get paidon time, but be grateful.
Appreciate that.
Acknowledge it.
Maybe you recently paid off a creditcard and you've been working so
hard and so diligently to do that.
(05:45):
Maybe a friend gave you somefree tickets to event that
you couldn't afford to go to.
Maybe you're gonna tagalong as a friend with them.
That's something to be grateful for.
Or as we get closer to gettingready for school, whereas in Juba,
we're getting closer, maybe mychildren's school supplies are
all taken care of for the fall.
You've already put the moneyaside, you've handled that.
So start that, that simplethank you inventory, and just
(06:09):
say those things out loud.
Write those down.
Gonna start to change your mindset.
Then the second component tothis, I really need you to
express that gratitude to God.
Choose just one item from your list,the one that really is impactful
to you, and then just reach out toGod in prayer and just say, Lord, I
just thank you for your provision.
(06:29):
For example, Lord, thank you forproviding me with steady income.
Even when things feel tight, youcontinue to meet my daily needs.
Help me trust you in faithfulness.
And use what I have wisely.
Amen on that one.
Or maybe this one.
Father, thank you for thatunexpected gift from my friend.
It reminded me that you see me andyou care for even the little joys, and
(06:53):
I give you praise for your goodness.
So just reach out to God and thank himfor it, and then I'm gonna encourage
you to do one more thing, and that'struly express gratitude to someone else.
It's easy to make thoselists for yourself.
It's kind of easy to say toas the God, but how about
expressing those to someone else?
Identify someone who's helpedyou specifically financially.
(07:14):
Maybe send them a text or give thema call and just say, Hey, you know
what, Sally, I really appreciate it.
You helped me last week, or Youhelped me get through a tough time.
Or, Hey, here's one.
People don't do a lot of write a note.
I love notes.
People don't do it anymore, butwrite a note to just say thank you.
For example, maybe text afriend who covered your lunch.
Say, Hey, just wanted to thankyou again for lunch last week.
(07:35):
Could really help me out morethan you know, you're a blessing.
Or maybe call your parents,Hey, we all need to do that.
I wish I could call my mom.
She passed away a couple years ago.
So cherish the ability to do that.
But call your parents who helpedyou maybe for a down payment on
your house and say, mom and dad.
I've been thinking today about howgrateful I am for your help in this house
as I sit here this morning in the kitchen.
(07:57):
And I don't say it enough, but thank youfor believing in me and supporting me.
Or maybe Ray a thank you note toyour pastor or to a church member
who once helped with a bill.
Maybe your generosity during a toughseason of my life made a lasting impact.
Thank you for being the hands and feetof Christ when I need it the most.
And see this kind of stuff really helps,and I'm gonna tell you why it helps.
(08:21):
Gratitude truly rewires your mind.
It rewires it towards abundance.
You start to move away from that,that scarcity, anxiety, riddled
place that you are in right now.
It reduces stress because youdon't have that fear of, of
lack, that fear of scarcity.
And if you do the things I mentioned,it's gonna improve relationships.
(08:41):
'cause people are going toappreciate the fact that you're
thankful for what you have.
Because I don't know about you, butI can't stand to be around people
that are always complaining, alwaystalking about what they don't
have, all the lack that they have.
And when you, when you express thethankfulness for what you have, hey man,
that, that just spreads like a wildfire.
(09:01):
And when you acknowledge it to God, whatyou're doing is you're really anchoring
your peace in God and not what you lack.
Well, let's pray together.
Father God, we just thankyou for all you've given us.
The provision is abounding to us.
It's so abundant, Lord.
And we have to confess that we often focuson what's missing, Lord, it's so easy
for us to pick apart what we don't have.
(09:23):
And we just ask you to help us tosee your hand in our finances, Lord,
and give us hearts full of gratitudeand help us to express that thanks
consistently to you and to others Lord.
And we ask this withconfidence, In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Listen, gratitude isn't just a feeling.
It's not a simple feeling, oh, I'm gonnado this gratitude, I'm gonna feel great.
(09:46):
No, it's a transformationalforce in your life.
So I just wanna encourage you onemore time, acknowledge and express
your blessings today because thatis helping you move towards freedom.
And one of the things that youcan do is share this episode
with someone who needs it.
There's a lot of people outthere right now who are hurting.
Maybe that person who doesn't understandwhat they have and what they can be
(10:08):
grateful for, maybe to send them a textand just say, Hey, I listened to this
podcast and I really got a lot from it.
You might want to consider doing it, oryou can point them to our website that's
financially confident christian.com.
I've got a free gift for you as well.
I'm gonna give you a copy of my book.
It's called Mastering Your Finances.
You can getthat@financiallyconfidentchristian.com
(10:29):
slash master.
It's absolutely free to you.
Just go there and you can download it.
Now tomorrow we're gonna talk aboutclarifying your values and how that
helps you spend with a purpose.
We're really gonna get into clarifyingvalues and how to spend with a purpose.
So I'm gonna encourage you not to miss it.
Now, let's go.
Go out there and be financially confident.
(10:50):
Christians, you can do this.
I believe in you.
Believe in yourself.
Stay financially savvy.
God bless you, and youhave a great day today.
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