Imagine you are driving towards a roundabout in your car, where multiple roads diverge, each leading to a different destination. This roundabout is busy, and there are many choices and potentially life-altering ones. Deciding which exit to take requires clear signs, confidence, and a sense of direction.
As a Christian entrepreneur, determining which path your business should take among such options can be overwhelming. In this intricate decision-making exercise, understanding God’s will is like having a reliable GPS that not only suggests the best route but ensures it aligns with His purposes for your business.
In this blog, we’ll explore how:
- putting God first,
- engaging in prayer and
- embracing fasting,
serve as navigational tools to help you select the right path. This way, all your business decisions move you forward toward success, and you find satisfaction in knowing you are in God’s will.
God first: aligning with higher principles
Putting God first and making Him the CEO isn’t merely a spiritual statement; it’s a transformative mindset that can guide all aspects of your business.
Carving out a daily time to check in with the Boss, taking your challenges to Him, or having a brainstorming session will move your business forward. God cares about what you are doing in your business. It is your way to serve others. Marketplace service cannot happen unless you are connected to the One who gives you strength and support.
By meeting with God each day, I can say that I have gained focus and direction. This approach has allowed me to align my business vision and practices with God’s principles and teachings, ensuring they mirror the values God has set up: honesty, integrity, and service.
Let’s get started
Here’s a great way to get started: Create a journal or notebook with the meeting notes each day. Personally, I use colored pencils to draw, letter, list, and create. By doing this consistently over time, I have seen patterns emerge as to the direction my business should take. I also take time to review the pages and ask God to bring important items to my attention.
One thing that is very important is to shut down all other distractions when you meet with your CEO. Focus on what He wants to reveal to you. His instructions are precise for your business.
1 Corinthians 1:25 (NLT) says, This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.
Setting time apart to think, regroup, and plan is important for any type of success. Your success is guaranteed if you trust God and align your actions with His plans, motives, and methods.
Trust that He wants the best for you and that He will direct you on the right path for your business. This daily meeting will give you ideas that are the perfect solution for you and your business.
Prayer: seeking Godly guidance for your business
Prayer is a powerful tool for seeking God’s guidance. It allows for a deeper communion with Him, asking for wisdom and discernment in decision-making. Through prayer, you can seek to address immediate business needs and understand His broader purpose for your life and how your business fits into HIS plan.
The best way to get started is to establish specific times for prayer related to your business each day. This could be morning prayers that help set the tone for the day or evening prayers for reflection on the day’s events and decisions.
I advocate giving God your best time of day. Not only do you grow closer to God, but prayer, meditation, and thinking also help clarify goals and next steps for your business.
Research shows us that Prayer is a powerful tool for:
- self-control
- making you a nicer person
- increasing your ability to forgive
- increasing trust and
- offsetting the negative effects of stress
This also gives you a bigger capacity to problem solve and opens you up for more creative brainstorming.
You may be thinking. I can’t pray. It’s so boring. I don’t know how. I can’t concentrate for long enough. The answer is learning how to pray in the way God designed you. To connect with Him in a way that works for you.
Using a technique that works for you means having a way to focus on God. Prayer is really just conversing with God. When we get alone, with a method that works, we open ourselves to real communication with the Father about every part of our lives, including business.
Fasting: sharpening spiritual sensitivity
Fasting is a biblical practice that has been used since Old Testament times to enhance spiritual insight and reliance on God. The Bible describes it in many forms, such as in:
- Esther, when the Jews are facing execution, has but one chance to change the King’s mind.
- Jonah, when the people of Nineveh realize their sins and repent of their ways.
- Christ’s life as he prepared for His three-year ministry.
My understanding of fasting is that it is something we should do on a regular basis. Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:16 were, “When you Fast,” not IF you Fast.
By fasting, you sacrifice physical needs to focus more intensely on spiritual matters. This leads to greater clarity in decision-making. Depending on your health and circumstances, fasting can vary in intensity. You may choose to abstain from all food and drink except water, while someone else might opt for a partial fast, such as giving up a particular type of food or meal.
You may want to choose specific days to fast with the intention of seeking clarity on a particular business decision or direction. This can be particularly helpful during periods of strategic planning or significant changes in your business.
During your fasting time, you should continually think about God as you go about your daily routines. Make it a time of supersensitivity to the Spirit. You should have something prepared to do at the designated mealtimes that connects you to God.
Combining fasting with meditation on scripture and reflection can provide insights into personal spiritual growth and how your business practices can better reflect your Christian values.
Integrating spiritual practices in business decisions
As you navigate the roundabout of business decisions, implementing these spiritual practices offers you a way to adjust your GPS to the most reliable and trustworthy route. Putting God first, engaging in dedicated prayer, and committing to fasting act as your navigational aids, helping clear the fog and illuminate the best exits.
This approach enhances the likelihood of reaching your desired destination safely and successfully; it enriches the journey with deeper meaning and aligns your business practices with eternal values.
In the complex roundabout of business, where each exit could lead to different challenges and opportunities, relying on God’s guidance ensures that your decisions don’t just aim for immediate gains but also contribute to a legacy of integrity and purpose.
With God as your navigator, every turn you take moves your business forward and positively impacts the broader world. By adopting these spiritual strategies, you ensure that your business adventure is successful and spiritually significant.
If you would like to chat about any of these topics, I welcome your thoughts and ideas in the comments OR click HERE to set up an appointment with me. It’s a free call. Let’s discuss how you can start making great decisions and be in God’s will for your business.
Be filled to overflowing,
DeneenTB
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