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| Image courtesy scottchan at www.freedigitalphotos.net |
Seeking
God’s guidance: this is something we must do at all times and in all things.
Yet it is natural for our rational minds to take over in business, particularly
in “small” decisions. God gave us the wonderful gifts of reason and rational
thinking, and we should embrace and apply gratefully these gifts. Yet we must
never do so at the expense of tuning out God’s voice. The gifts should never
supersede the Giver.
I am sure, as a
faith-based entrepreneur, you know this deep in your heart. But what does this
look like in action – and, specifically, in business? As an example: you
receive an invitation to participate in a business opportunity. On the surface
it seems like a great fit for your business vision; it is aligned with your
goals and your schedule. Perfect, right? But perhaps you have a slight
“off-feeling” about it; you cannot determine why you have this feeling.
You simply know you feel a little “off” about it. When we are extremely busy,
it is easy to dismiss this off-feeling…particularly if it is very subtle. When
we are moving quickly, we want to check the item off the to-do list by
answering “yes” or “no” to the invitation. Yet, as tempting as it may be to
plow through another to-do, this is the time to slow down. The “off” feeling –
soft and subtle as it may be - is there for a reason. Our God is gracious to
give us our feelings. Yes, even bad feelings are a tremendous gift. They warn
us. They give us clues. They direct us. If we allow them to.
It may be rather easy to
heed an “off feeling” when it is overwhelming or at least pronounced. Our
off-feelings, however, are often very subtle. Quieter than a soft whisper. For
this reason, it requires a conscious and concerted effort to quiet everything
else in order to hear this signal.
So, as busy as we may be,
this is the time to pause. To breathe. To pray. As practical and as rational as
the opportunity may seem, we must remember that God sees everything. Even if
the opportunity is good in and of itself (oftentimes this is the case), God may
have other plans for you. There are only twenty-four hours in a day, and He may
deem that your time would be more effectively spent elsewhere. He knows what is
best. He sees the big picture. He is weaving the eternal tapestry.
Here are some actionable steps for applying this principle:
1.
Be very
conscious of your feelings, subtle as they may be, when making decisions.
Journal about your feelings. Where are you feeling the discomfort? In your
stomach? In your shoulders? In your neck? Take note of the discomfort and its
location in your body. If you are attuned to your body signals, take note of
what discomfort in that certain area generally signals (such as anxiety,
uncertainty, sadness, overwhelm).
2.
Pause
to pray. Ask God what these feelings mean. Request His perfect and
precious guidance and wisdom.
3.
Wait
for His answer. If you do not hear His voice, read His Word.
Write about the situation. Look for signs throughout your day. Perhaps God will
whisper to you through a friend, an email or a devotional.
4.
If you
require time to make your decision and others are impacted, inform the involved
parties of this. Do not allow the feeling of being “rushed” to
push you into a hasty decision. Inform all involved parties that you need time
to think and to pray.
5.
Once
you hear or read God’s answer, embrace it completely. As
irrational as it may be, move forward. For example, decline the invitation or
stop the creation of the product. Do not procrastinate sharing your decision
with others due to being afraid of their negative reactions; furthermore, do
not overanalyze the reactions of others. Be firm but graceful. Simply do what
God wants. Stay clear in your mind that your decision is for the highest good
of all and for the highest glory of God.
6.
Rejoice
in the rewards. You may not see the rewards immediately, but
oftentimes you will see them soon thereafter. You may hear yourself saying,
“Oh, that’s why God didn’t want me involved; He wanted me to do this instead.”
Even if you never comprehend why God led you to make a certain decision, you
can rejoice in knowing that you heeded His voice. Doing so strengthens your
ability to hear Him and to heed Him in the future.
7.
Give
glory to God! It is amazing how God, the Creator of heaven and earth, will
guide us step by tiny step if we allow Him. How blessed we are that our Father
is so intimately involved in our lives! Give glory to God for guiding you ever
so tenderly and lovingly.
When we step back from
our businesses and do the irrational (if God so leads us), we give space for
God to work miracles. We allow His strength to shine. When we step back from
opportunities, as irrational or as unpleasant as it may be to do, we give God
the opportunity to work powerfully in our situation for our favor – and for His
glory.
We remember that our businesses are most blessed when we work in
His strength rather than our own.
So let us be intentional
in stilling our hearts and hearing God’s voice.
Let’s pray. Heavenly Father, thank
You tremendously for the love you lavish upon us. How blessed we are by the whispers
You share. May we still our hearts to heed them and may we embrace Your
guidance with a joyful heart. We love You so very much, and we desire to
glorify You in all we think, say and do. Bless our businesses and our lives;
allow them to be vessels for Your divine will. It is in Jesus’ Name we
pray…Amen.
One way to still our thoughts is to savor every
precious step:
Savor Every Step
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Image courtesy
of Feelart at www.freedigitalphotos.net
“Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to
eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the
sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot.” ~
Ecclesiastes 5:18
My daughter, I ask you
When you go about your day,
Moving here to there
Upon your pathway,
Remember to take time
To hear wind in the trees,
To feel the pure delight
Of a soft springtime breeze;
To smell the fragrant flowers
That grow in the fields,
To enjoy the fruit
That My provision yields;
To marvel at the birds
As they soar in flight;
To gaze upon the stars
As they sparkle at night;
To smile at the butterflies
As they dance to and fro,
To rejoice in the roses
As they blossom and grow;
To play with your children
In their carefree games,
To delight in the music
Of calling their names;
To be still in My presence,
To know I am here,
To celebrate the truth
That I am always near;
Please, My daughter,
I ask of you these things,
That you may experience fully
All My grace brings.
So remember to take time
To hear wind in the trees,
To feel the warmth of My love
Bringing you to your knees;
Yes, my daughter, I ask you
When you go about your day,
Savor every sweet step
Of your purposeful pathway.
© 2013 Caroline Gavin
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