If you read about using a journal and have started writing in one, you may find by reviewing what you have written some recurring themes or concerns. In fact you may have found several items that you need to study or find an answer to. We could even call them sins in our lives. List your items and study them for a a few days. Pick an item that you are confidnet you can work on and feel better about yourself easily. Develp a study plan. Read a book, talk with a close friend or discuss with your pastor. You may need to develp a stronger prayer life, or you may have a concern with anger or have some resentment towards somebody or something. Maybe you have relationship problems or finacial concerns. Do you listen or have fears. Any of these can be a goal to work on. If you have financial problems this could be a first step but is not necesarily an easy one to fix. With financial problems you may not be letting God direct your life and until you get a handle on them you will be lost and misdirected.

I have mentioned in an earlier entry about Dave Ramsey and the Financial Peace University. Check it out. He provides some very basic steps toward financial peace.

Increase your understanding of prayer and build your faith. Remember, God doesn't always answer prayers the way we want. Sometimes the answer is wait or not now.  That usually means you have other issues to resolve or in the long run will not be in your best interest.  In this society of I want it now is not Gods way.

I have been involved in a class called Financial Peace, A Total Money Makover. The material is by Dave Ramsey who has had a radio talk show for some time and is now aslo on Fox Business TV Network. As Americans we all want it now and are victims of good advertising that tells us how to think, dress, talk and especially what we should be buying. This advertising is a part of the problem with Americans being in debt, we "need" to have things.These things only put us in more debt and don't make us happy becasue we end up focusing our whole lives on how to keep all the creditors out of our life which won't happen until you are debt free. It is possible to get debt free but you wil have to change your focus for a couple of years (you didn't get into extreme debt overnight) and not "keep up with the Jones". Find a Total Money Makeover class and change your life, I have.

www.daveramsey.com

We just have to have that new car, a fishing boat, a widescreen TV and other things including the biggest and best house on the block but end up with more month than money and no money in a savings account (emergency fund). Think about it. Pray about it. It is scriptural, don't be a borrower and end up a slave to the lender.