Most individuals do not get a warm feeling when they hear the term, audit. Typically, an audit means a lot of tedious work, and it can produce significant anxiety should any large discrepancies be found. Though an audit can cause some anxious moments, there is also a lot of good that can come from performing an audit.

Performing audits in a retail business will help achieve higher inventory accuracy and can ensure that the supply is adequate to meet customer demands. Performing regular audits can help other types of businesses improve systems or procedures and make them better equipped for future planning. At Master’s our advisors “audit” each client’s established financial plan during our Strategy and Design meetings. This process keeps us from overlooking important details or potential planning strategies.

One of my biggest takeaways from 2020 has been how beneficial it can be to practice regular and intentional “heart auditing.” As I read news articles about the unrest in our nation, frustration and anger often crept into my emotions. I have discovered during the past year that spending time in the Word regularly is necessary if I want to better understand the incredible nature of God and the life model that Jesus displayed. With this focus, I have a clear baseline which is needed to audit my heart’s condition.

Think about what frustrates or angers you most, and then compare that to the baseline. Where do your discrepancies lie? I need ongoing auditing. Without intentionally aligning my heart with God’s, I can easily drift and get pulled into our culture’s mindset. I am learning that constantly auditing my heart and realigning it to God’s will lead to tremendous peace, regardless of what is going on in society.

Have you, like me, had to perform any “heart audits” this past year?

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” – Proverbs 4:23

Written by Colton Keller