If we’re going to be good stewards of what God has given us, we need to have a plan for the money entrusted to us. After giving God His 10 percent, give your future 10 percent as well by setting it aside in a savings account that you are committed not to touch. Make saving a core value for your family. Then begin to pay off the necessary bills such as your mortgage or rent, food, and utilities.

Most often the problem is how we prioritize our money. Planning and continually reviewing your spending habits bring accountability and partnership into your marriage. And these two elements bring unity and agreement, which in turn attracts the presence and blessings of God. Maybe you never thought of applying this basic principle to the wise use of finances in your marriage. Let me remind you of Jesus’ words about the power of agreement:

[Jesus said,] “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” (Matt. 18:19–20 NIV)

When people develop the disciplines of wisely saving, giving, investing, and spending, an amazing thing happens in their hearts. They know they are obeying God, so they feel closer to Him. They develop confidence in themselves, in their spouse, and in their future. Tithing is no longer a burden or an obligation, but a way to express gratitude to God and partner with Him in changing people’s lives. Stress levels that were once out of control because of debt and careless spending now subside, and the whole family can enjoy a sense of peace.

- Excerpt from The Heart Revolution book by Sergio De La Mora. Purchase your book today from Amazon.com

I know what it feels like to be scripted. While I was growing up, my parents had a script for my life that protected me when I found myself lost in another script of the neighborhood gang. My father had a dream that his children would take over his landscape design business and experience greater success than even he had seen. Both my parents saw my future in the family business, but I struggled to believe it was the right path for me. Yet even when I was trying to go my own way, they never once wavered or gave up on the script they had for me. They continued to believe in me and gave me room to assimilate the character God had shown them inside me. They could see greatness within me, but I struggled to see it. They had to trust that God’s script would resonate louder than the script of my friends.

At seventeen, I didn’t understand that going to work on the weekends with my dad was doing more for me than just teaching me the family business. I couldn’t see the diligence, excellence, and responsibility being molded into me. All I knew was that every Saturday and every summer vacation I was going to be with my dad mowing lawns, digging ditches, and planting plants at some mansion in Santa Barbara. But now I can see how the ink from God’s pen was constructing the storyline of my life. Every experience growing up would soon find its place in my destiny as an adult. I encourage you to trust the hand of Him whom you have trusted with your heart.

One day on the driveway of our home, I shared with my dad the news that my employment application was being considered at the city building department. I proudly explained that I would be making twelve dollars an hour instead of the six I was making with him. I was confident he would share in my pride and joy as I pursued a successful career just as he had done. Why would it matter if I was working for someone else? Surely he would just be proud of my decision not to settle for minimum wage. Success was important to him, so I eagerly awaited his approval.

My father sighed as he looked at me and said in Spanish, “Sergio, you’re going to be making twelve dollars an hour working for another company when you could be making an unlimited amount working for yourself. This business is yours. Everything I do is for all of you. Don’t you see you’re already a millionaire?”

That statement infuriated me because I didn’t feel like a millionaire. And when I read my bank statement, I knew I wasn’t! But what my dad said next revolutionized my mentality about the acquisition of wealth. He said, “You’re the boss here. What boss leaves his position to become someone else’s worker? Think bigger, Sergio.”

I was stunned at his words. In my father’s script, I was the boss. In my script, I was the worker. His words changed everything for me that day. I refused the position with the city, took the pay cut, and never again questioned whether I was doing the right thing or making enough money. Over time my brothers and sisters came together in taking over my family’s business, fulfilling my father’s dream. Today, I’m proud to say that my father’s script of success for his children is being carried out.

- Excerpt from The Heart Revolution book by Sergio De La Mora. Purchase your book today from Amazon.com

A relationship with Jesus will always lead to an “I can” on the inside of you, whereas religion will always focus on an “I can’t!” God is not interested in measuring our mistakes and successes; He just wants to know if we’ll believe in Him and stay connected to Him through a genuine personal relationship with His Son.

When religion replaces a genuine relationship with Christ, we venture down a road that denies us the very power that God longs for us to have. In a letter to Timothy, Paul warns,

You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. . . . [For people] will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. (2 Tim. 3:1, 5 NLT)

The power to turn our hearts and change the trajectory of our lives cannot be obtained through religion, because religion lacks the inherent power to change the condition of our hearts:

• Relationship draws us into life transformation; religion drives us into self-improvement.
• Relationship allows us to tap into God’s liberating power over sin and death; religion causes us to profess a power we haven’t truly possessed.
• Relationship gives us God’s perspective for the hurting and unsaved; religion causes us to criticize and condemn those God wants to cleanse and heal.

Living religiously leads to frustration, as we see in Acts 19. The miraculous evidence of Paul’s relationship with Jesus Christ prompted others to look for the miraculous as well. However, without the authenticity of truly knowing Christ, certain men were unable to call on Christ to expel demons:

Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” . . . (One day) the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” (Acts 19:13, 15 NIV)

They couldn’t live in the power of God’s grace because they hadn’t experienced it. They couldn’t bring healing to others because they didn’t know the Healer. They had heard of the one Paul preached about but had yet to know Him intimately. There is a difference between knowing Christ up close, as Paul did, and knowing Christ from a distance, as these men did. No matter what you’ve known about God in the past, you have been called to know God and His healing power up close and personal!

- Excerpt from The Heart Revolution book by Sergio De La Mora. Purchase your book today from Amazon.com

Here’s the difference between God’s perspective and our perspective of adversity. He is challenging you to no longer see adversity as something happening to you, but instead to take on the perspective of it happening for you. God will always use adversity to focus your thoughts and attention on Him so that you can see His hand and hear His voice more clearly.

As you continue to live out the Heart Revolution, there may be times when the enemy lines up a full array of attacks to knock you out of the battle. He may use deception, discouragement, accusation, or even a combination of all three. He’ll try to put roadblocks in your way to slow you down so that you’ll quit. He’ll accuse you of being inadequate and unqualified to serve God. Don’t fall for the enemy’s tactics. Be on guard to protect your heart and fight hard against his schemes. Paul was wise to the enemy’s devices. Can you see him pacing like a general commanding his troops when he dictated these words?

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Eph. 6:11–13)

In times of adversity, we aren’t alone. We have God’s power and guidance, and we have the wisdom and experience of others who are in the fight and have endured the same kind of attacks. When God told me to start a Heart Revolution, I had no idea the magnitude and impact it would make in the lives of so many people. I just knew what He had told me to do. But out of this revolution have come some of the most powerful testimonies of faith, victory, and triumph I’ve ever known. And it all started with a decision to turn their hearts.

- Excerpt from The Heart Revolution book by Sergio De La Mora. Purchase your book today from Amazon.com