Build Financial Freedom with God
Faith, Family, and Finances—Step by Step Phase I: Start Strong
By Tim Linnet · Money
What Is This Framework About?
The Financial Freedom Framework is a step-by-step guide to help you manage your money wisely, give generously, and live out God's purpose for you. It’s designed to be simple and practical while keeping God at the center of your financial decisions and GET FINANCIAL FREEDOM!
How to Use This Newsletter with Your Spouse
Plan a retreat! - This is how Jess and I shaped our financial future many years ago. We used to live paycheck to paycheck. Now, we live in abundance, and we get to say yes to the things we care about - generosity, tithing, investing, and much more.
To get the most out of this journey, set aside intentional time together—think of it as a spiritual and financial reset. Here’s how long to spend on each section and what to do:
Preparation (Before Starting): Plan a full-day retreat with your spouse—overnight is even better! Make it fun Get away from distractions, phones, and daily chaos. Pick a spot an hour or two’s drive away. Spend the drive together in prayer and reflection, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you. Don’t rush this—let it sink in before moving to Step 1. This is your foundation for everything else.
Bring a laptop. Bring snacks.
On the drive, read the scriptures below out loud, discuss what stands out, and pray over each verse. Focus on how it applies to your family and finances.
Key Tip: Don’t skip the retreat or prayer time before Step 1. This isn’t just a plan—it’s a heart shift. Invest the time now to finally break free financially.
On the Drive
Talk to get the normal coordination and logistics of life out of the way. You could also do this the day before the retreat at a lunch date. Things on your mind for the calendar or your family’s schedule? Things on the business weighing you down? Your goal here is to connect and clear the air - share the things that are on your minds so you can fully move on when its time to focus on your connection and what God is doing in your finances. (Jess and I try to do this on a weekly lunch so date night can be a time of connection on our relationship instead of focusing on the kids or the ‘business of family’ all night.)
Read Luke 16:13 together (still on the drive)
Choose a side
"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."
This verse emphasizes the importance of choosing where your loyalty lies, as it is impossible to fully commit to two opposing priorities, especially in the context of faith and finances.
Read Ephesians 6:12 together
Be prepared for battle
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
This verse highlights the spiritual nature of the battles believers face, reminding them that their fight is not with people but with unseen spiritual forces of evil, calling for reliance on God's power and spiritual armor.
Proverbs 22:7
Pay debts / Debt-free goal
"The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender."
This verse underscores the burden and dependence that debt creates, emphasizing the importance of financial freedom and wisdom in managing money.
Step 1: Build Your Foundation
You made it to the retreat!
Plan some fun time together to weave into the retreat - Go to dinner. Play board games. Bring your favorite snacks. This whole thing should bring you closer together and be a getaway from the hustle and bustle of life.
Principles:
Don’t spend money you don’t have (no credit cards for now).
Don’t spend more than you make (this is a poverty mindset)
Be aligned, or this plan won’t work.
The Holy Spirit can override any rule at any time.
Say "yes" to your dreams and cut out other stuff to make them happen.
Retreat Overview
Pray Together: 30 minutes. Be honest, listen to the Holy Spirit, and break off anything holding you back.
Make a Commitment: 15-30 minutes. Talk it out, align your hearts, and commit to following the Holy Spirit’s guidance together. Commit to unity and connection to each other. Pray for each other (it’s a great way to get God’s heart for your spouse).
Dream!: 1-2 hours. Dream big about debt, home, generosity—write it all down and find common ground.
Budget: 2-3 hours. Map out your every-dollar budget, starting with essentials, then dreams. Agree on amounts and a debt payoff plan.
Pray Together
30 minutes. Be honest, listen to the Holy Spirit, and break off anything holding you back.
Ask the Holy Spirit to join this process.
Ask the Holy Spirit what parts of your financial life the enemy has used to attack you in the past.
Ask the Holy Spirit about things regarding finances you’re unsure about.
If you need to break from any lies the enemy has told you, now is the time!
Pray and declare the truth over your family you feel led to. Things like “Jesus is Lord over our finances.” “I am a Son of God, not an orphan.” (Let the Holy Spirit lead you) Declarations in Jesus’ name - attached to your faith - have power!
Make a Commitment
15-30 minutes. Talk it out, align your hearts, and commit to following the Holy Spirit’s guidance together. Pray for each other (it’s a great way to get God’s heart for your spouse).
Make a commitment to each other and Jesus to do finances his way. Commit your heart (and finances) to God.
Remember, He wants your heart and doesn’t need your money.
Dream!
1-2 hours. Dream big about debt, home, generosity—write it all down and find common ground.
Ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom and clarity first.
What does your dream life look like regarding:
Debt
House
Investments
Tithing
Specific high priorities that fill you up
Vacation
Generosity
Expenses related to your kids
Be honest with yourself and each other.
Find alignment.
Decide together on things you want to say “yes” to.
Budget (Only after 1-3 are complete):
2-3+ hours. Map out your every-dollar budget, starting with essentials, then dreams. Agree on amounts and a debt payoff plan.
Map out an every-dollar budget on a free tool like Google Sheets. Every-dollar means - a budget that accounts for every dollar of your spending. (Bonus: Use apps to accomplish this Envelope Money or Qube Money).
Start with necessary items (e.g., food, bills), then add dreams and the rest.
Agree on monthly amounts and revisit as needed.
Make a "Pay Off Debt Plan" where everything extra goes to pay off debt.
Use the snowball method for debt payoff.
The snowball method for debt payoff involves listing your debts from smallest to largest and aggressively paying off the smallest one first while making minimum payments on the rest. Once the smallest debt is cleared, you roll that payment into the next smallest debt, gaining momentum like a snowball rolling downhill until you’re debt-free.
Consider:
Cutting up credit cards.
Saving up for cars in cash. This helps you know how much of a car you can afford.
You did it! Praying that this retreat will be a source of unity and connection with your spouse. Eventually leading to complete freedom to follow Jesus wherever he calls you.
Coming up: Step 2: Focus on Your Plan and Take Action and Step 3: Achieve Freedom.
Business:
Financial freedom isn’t just personal—it’s how we run our businesses too. One of ours is exploding with growth, thanks to a general manager who’s laser-focused on what matters. I’m learning to delegate with trust (and self-control!), aligning his incentives with our goals—just like aligning our budget with our dreams. Jess and I see God’s hand in this: 12 years ago, starting out, I heard Him say it’d take 7 years to build a business and 12 to perfect it. This is year 12—His timing proves faithful. Trust Him with your money and work; He’s working it all for good.
Know someone who’d vibe with this journey? I’d love a share!
-Tim Linnet
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