Have you discovered your purpose in business, but find yourself struggling to execute on it because you get sucked back into old ways? Maybe there’s a new direction you want to take with your business, but past clients and old services keep you from moving forward because…you’ve gotta pay the bills, right? Or, there’s a personal brand or blog you’ve been meaning to launch, but with all the distractions of life, you can’t find the time to press play or continue building. There’s a strategy I want to share with you today to help you move into “an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you” (Ephesians 4:20-24 MSG). I’m constantly tweaking my branding agency. I’ve been helping businesses launch since 2005, but it hasn’t always stayed the same. I’ve changed my process, target market, and niche too many times to count. In 2019, I decided I wanted to target more doctors. All I did was started talking more about doctors on my blog posts and examples. I even created a new page on my website to target that market specifically. Yes, I still had other types of businesses calling me, but I was doing small things to move me into a new direction that I felt God calling me towards. We can all rebrand and redirect our focus because it’s human nature to be remade. We’re constantly shedding our skin and new skin is replacing it. God uses entrepreneurship to help us be remade into our new selves – what He created us to do. But He won’t force the change on us. He wants us to keep asking, keep listening, and keep working with Him. The bible says: “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. (Luke 11:9 NIV) Jesus says to ask, seek, and knock. That’s three ways of saying the same thing – be continuous and relentless in pursuing the things of God. God won’t reveal our true brand’s calling all at once. It’s a continuous process where He wants to guide and teach along the journey. God will identify our brand in a process and progression that builds on itself throughout our entrepreneurial career. For this reason, you shouldn’t get hung up or stressed about being stuck between your old business model and the new direction God wants to take you. He wants to work THROUGH the process. There’s no formula or timeline of how this works. However, when God gives us a calling in business that is unique to us, we have to treat that with the most extraordinary care. We can’t allow that vision to be lost or forgotten with the hustle and bustle of life. We have to have a system and process in place to constantly be revisiting the calling. Deciding on a niche to serve is a process of documenting what God reveals to us and consistently revisiting and revising them. If we keep our calling top of mind, we’ll always be focused on who we were really meant to become in the marketplace. How do we keep our calling top of mind so God brings our niche more into focus and action? I’ve created a Trello board and Google Document dedicated to the purpose of writing out what God reveals to me about my purpose and calling. The more I revisit this and analyze it based on my current circumstances, the more my niche is revealed. Constantly reading and tweaking resurfaces the feelings towards solving the problem I was born to fix Get a journal or open a document on your computer or phone and record what God has been revealing to you. Remember moments He spoke. Recall terrible client situations you never want to experience again and amazing clients you loved working with. Remember the situations you loved, products you were proud of. Bring back moments where you helped someone and it felt like you were in your zone. Write down Bible verses that impacted you and your business. Imagine if we all collected and compiled all of these things and revisited them every morning, even if it was just for 5 minutes. Let’s preserve and protect what God shows us because it will reveal the niche product or service you were called to bring to life. Simply keep returning again and again. God is faithful. He will bring the vision to life. #TargetMarketAndNiche Deciding On A Niche In 4 Steps to Deciding on a Niche for your Business, join Alex Miranda as he guides you to launch a brand with intention and purpose and decide on a niche already. Heard of the Godpreneur Academy? Grow Your Business, God’s Way! Bible-Based Video Courses for Entrepreneurs Putting God First In their Businesses Click here to create a Free Account

As Christian entrepreneurs, our hearts are shaped from before we were born to hurt for a particular wrong in this world. We don't know it from birth, we uncover it along the way. Entrepreneurship (God's way) is taking a risk to launch a venture that will solve that specific problem you were created to pain over. But with so many avenues to take and so many people we can help, how do we know the exact pain we were born to pour into? I've always been in the business of launching businesses, either for myself or for my clients. Before knowing anything about Christ, I've had a marketing and branding agency. But something weird happened when I started my relationship with God 5 years after launching my company. I began to "feel bad" for entrepreneurs that were coming to launch their business that I knew deep down the venture wasn't going to work out for them. Before knowing God, if you had an idea for a business, I would take your deposit and start working on whatever you had come to me asking to be done. But after knowing God, I began to question the client, "Are you sure this is the business you were born to do?" My relationship with God revealed to me a pain that I couldn't shake off: there are people launching businesses that they have no business launching. Furthermore, if this isn't the right business, then what exactly is the business he or she is supposed to be in. When we start our relationship with Christ and couple that with our vocation of entrepreneurship, God begins to shape our hearts to pain for the same things He pains for. God gives us a NEW heart-shaped like His. The Bible says "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." (EZEKIEL 36:26 NIV) The first clue to deciding on a niche is carefully analyzing how when certain problems come up; your heart is moved. The movement of your new heart is one way God teaches you what is your "thing" in the marketplace. Business books call it your unique selling proposition (USP): what you and your company uniquely solve, different from every other company on the planet. Your heart is made to notice, to care, to move more for certain people (target market) and particular needs (niche problem to solve): when their needs meet, your heart is satisfied; when they aren’t, your heart hurts with their heart. For me, it would pain me to see an entrepreneur try to be everything for everyone. It wouldn't sit right if the person launching the business were doing it off of a whim, or because there's "money" to be made. When I got my new heart, I grew a passion for helping people discover what they were born to do BEFORE launching their business. We can all become conscientious of the feelings our God-first heart gives off, and begin to meet the true needs or the people we're called to help so that we can not only find their joy but ours too. Also, take note that you're not moved by the same thing I'm moved for. It means you and I were uniquely created, and not all of us are shaped to solve the same thing. A second clue to deciding on a niche is understanding that although all of us Christian entrepreneurs are created for good works, as individuals, we're not created for EVERY work. We're all called to help those in need in our marketplaces, but as individual companies, we're not called to meet EVERY need. It is especially difficult for realtors to grasp their heads around. They think because they have a license to service the entire state of Florida, that everyone is their target market. But that's impossible. I have to help them see that they were created to solve a particular niche need, and the process of deciding on a niche makes the difference between top earners and those that struggle. I have discovered my thing to do here in this world, and my prayer is that CHRIST teaches you what is yours! Don't look for your niche at a seminar or a YouTube video or because you saw someone else succeeding. Your niche will come from a heart after God's heart. Imagine if we all detached ourselves from our selfish desires and considered only our hearts. What specific group of people can we help with a particular need that uniquely moves us? That's our niche. #NewEntrepreneurs #FindMyCalling Deciding On A Niche In 4 Steps to Deciding on a Niche for your Business, join Alex Miranda as he guides you to launch a brand with intention and purpose and decide on a niche already. Heard of the Godpreneur Academy? Grow Your Business, God’s Way! Bible-Based Video Courses for Entrepreneurs Putting God First In their Businesses Click here to create a Free Account

I am a “seeing is believing” kinda guy. I grew up in the Catholic church but didn’t continue after high school. I spent all of my university life and into my late 20s totally away from any kind of relationship with God because I didn’t see Him in anything I was doing. He wasn’t relevant. His power wasn’t present. I was large and in charge and taking the reigns of my future. I didn’t see God anywhere in my college life, so I didn’t believe. I started my business as a non-Christian. My buddies and I got together to start a web and graphic design company. Things were great. We made a bunch of money and had tons of fun…without God. Life was good. I didn’t see God anywhere in my business life, so I didn’t believe. Then, my mother tells me to read a book called “The Secret” and my mind was opened up to an “unseen” world of power that’s all around us. Shortly thereafter, a friend shares the gospel with me and explained that this power has been there all along and we have access to it 24/7 and that God is the source of that power. And around the same time, a girlfriend of mine invites me to church and something stirred deep within my soul and I felt that this was the life I wanted to live. I began to see God in everything in my personal life, so I began to believe. A few years into my walk with Christ is when I realized that my business was an extension of myself and it was also in need of saving – my business needed Jesus to be in charge. It was the only area I had not let God fully control. It’s like I was holding on to a piece of my dark past. But the conviction was too great and I finally let it go to God. That’s when my business was completely transformed and I uncovered my true calling in business and in life. I began to see God in everything in my business life, and I believed even more! My faith went on fire! Jesus can save us personally and professionally. We entrepreneurs are really good at separating business from our personal life, but Jesus wants it all. I believe that there are Christian entrepreneurs out there that have given their personal life to God but haven’t surrendered their business lives. I know this is true because I was one of them. Maybe you don’t believe God can come into your business. Maybe you think it’s easier for others, but there’s no way God would care about you’re doing. The bible says Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29 NIV) Not seeing Jesus, and yet believing is a blessing from God. If you’re being convicted of sin in your business and the spirit is showing you the truth about Jesus being able to take control of your business, then let’s pray to save your business and turn it over to God. Pray this with me. Say: Lord Jesus, You are Son of the living God. You saved me and you save my business too. You mediate between me and God and you provide me the perfect example of how to lead my business. You offered yourself for the sins of my business and take that guilt from me. You are sinless and rose from the dead and are seated at the right hand or the father and are CEO over my business. Today, I repent of the sins I’ve committed in my business. I repent of the pride of ownership I have in trying to lead and fix everything on my own. I repent of looking at my products and services to save me. You alone can rescue me. I believe you lived, died, and rose to save me and my business from sin and death and replace it with passion, purpose, and a calling to witness you through my products and services. Jesus, I desire to lose my business to find a true venture in you. I place my faith in my business in you. Impart your power in my business so that I can Triumph over the enemy that doesn’t want me in my calling. I want to walk in my “Born to Do” identity. Empower me and my business for your mission to be a minister in my marketplace and that my products and services would witness to all nations that you are Lord over all. My friend, if you prayed this prayer, then I believe you’ve saved your business and are ready for Godpreneurship! Make sure you keep Jesus at the center of it all, read the Bible every morning before starting your business day, and get in a good Bible-based church. Welcome to being a Godpreneur. #BusinessBibleStudy #NewEntrepreneurs #GodpreneurAcademy

From elementary school, I can always remember being in some kind of leadership position. I liked to be president of the student government or captain of my team. And even now, I like to lead growth groups, lead my companies, and lead this Godpreneur movement. I enjoy being in the driver’s seat. But can I admit that I love NOT being the leader, too? Many times, leading is exhausting! And oftentimes, others are better suited for it than I am. Not leading gives me the opportunity to rest in someone else’s work, submit to their authority over the situation, and give them the credit for succeeding. As owners of our businesses, we entrepreneurs are so used to leading our organizations that we feel we have to lead everything. Oftentimes, I think this can lead to leadership fatigue, pride, and a slow-down in our true potential. God didn’t design us to lead alone. He designed is to follow his lead and be empowered to lead others through the spirit. We can find rest from our own feelings of leadership responsibility if we can understand that Jesus came to bring a message, and when he left, he left us with the ability to lead in peace by following him. The bible says God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. (Acts 2:32‭-‬33 NIV) When Jesus ascended into heaven, it started his leadership role as king over every living thing, including me and you. He triumphed over Satan, sin, and death. He left us his holy spirit and sits to the right hand of God to lead us all. This is significant to you because you don’t have to do anything in your business to earn God’s love. You and your business are redeemed to God and you can freely transact in the marketplace with honor and glory as a child of God. Jesus’ ascension means that you don’t have to battle your sins and kill your demons… Jesus does that because he rules over all. It means that you don’t have to try to kick that habit or keep trying to top that unethical thing you’re doing in your business…. Jesus does that for us. We just need to submit to his authority and let him lead every area of our personal and business life. Jesus’ new authority means that we don’t have to be the leaders of everything! It frees us Godpreneurs to let someone else finally lead! I don’t know about you, but that’s a big relief to me! The holy spirit within us can now do the heavy lifting while we focus on doing what we were born to do – God’s purpose for our existence. When we take the passenger seat let Jesus drive our businesses we can rest. Work doesn’t have to be the stressful, draining workout that it oftentimes is when we feel all alone. When we give up our authority and let Jesus be the CEO, we submit to his plans and stop having to stress over decision-making and worrying about going in the wrong direction. We can now ask ourselves “Is Jesus Lord over this business decision?” It’s like asking “based on what I know about my CEO, would he approve this?” I don’t know about you, but this relieves a lot of stress in my life. The more I let go and let God lead, the better leader I become to my followers. When I stop trying to figure out things on my own and realize that God already ordained my calling, it frees me up to only do what I was born to do – which is to be the light of God in a marketplace that needs to see more of Him. Every Godpreneur’s primary calling is to be a witness of the transformation that is available to everyone who follows Christ. When our products and services have to reflect this, we are set up to feel the meaning and significance of entrepreneurship and true living. Imagine the day where we are all so spirit-filled that the marketplace is flooded with leaders who are all following the authority of Jesus and empowers to create amazing products and services the spirit? It’s already happening. We know when we’re doing business with a company that’s spirit-filled because the fruit is evident in their products and services. Think Chick-fil-A. #NewEntrepreneurs #BusinessBibleStudy #GodpreneurAcademy

I was talking with some entrepreneur friends of mine the other day about the different gurus out there and the impact these wise people have. I brought up about modern-day figures still living like Tony Robbins and how much impact he’s had. My friends also brought up some dead guys like Martin Luther King Jr. and how awesome it is to have his teachings in libraries, autobiographies, and even some videos. My friends asked me who do I like learning from most, dead people or living people. It took me a few seconds to think about it. Then I was ready. My answer was “I like learning from a dead person that is very much alive today.” They were intrigued but had no idea what I was talking about until I said “I like learning from the teachings of Jesus Christ. Although crucified and buried, he rose from the grave, defeated death, and is alive in me working through me in my business and personal life!” This isn’t a concept most of us entrepreneurs really understand too well. How does Jesus’ resurrection give us hope in our business? How can our businesses be dead AND alive? This is probably the most fascinating concept we Godpreneurs can experience! This means that we don’t need to follow every living guru expert or wise person that lived. This means that we are closer than ever to THE guru of gurus… THE expert of experts… THE authority of authorities! This means that the same inspiration that lived in Jesus didn’t die with him, but instead resurrected and lives within us! We have a LIVING GUIDE! We could all agree that reading a book can give us some insight, but side-by-side with someone day in and day out in our businesses would be a lot more powerful, right? Especially if this guide is seated at the right hand of God, voguing for us, rooting for us, and talking to God about us! The bible says Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:1‭-‬4 NIV) The resurrection of Jesus means he’s alive, you can connect with him and his teachings today, tomorrow, and forever. Unlike the gurus on Instagram and the wise dead people, following Jesus is different because he’s WITH us, been through what we’ve been through (and worst…even death by being nailed to a cross), and wants us to run businesses that we were born to do. Jesus was born to do something…and he wants to set us free to do what we were born to do too! The resurrection of Jesus is so pivotal in history because it means he wasn’t a fraud. It means he did what he said would happen. His message is authentic and those of us that believe it will also die, be born again, and one day physically walks with Jesus. If Jesus wouldn’t have died and been resurrected, he’d be just another dead wise person that made his mark in history. We’d be running businesses with little to no regard of law. Business with no thought of afterlife leaves a purposeless business that’s only our for selfish pleasures and personal gain. Survival of the fittest in full effect. But Jesus did walk out of that grave, giving me and you the opportunity to run our businesses God’s way! God’s plan to redeem us worked and for the last 2000 years, humanity turned from a society of tribes killing each other to a community under God’s plan to bring heaven to earth. And for the last 2000 years, Godpreneurs have been acting on behalf of God and creating, re-creating, bringing things to life, and collaborating in bringing life to people around us who also seek him. Our old business is dead. Our new business in Christ Jesus is alive! Our new business lives free us from sins and seeking earthy pursuits and worldly passions. Because of the resurrection, we now have the power to live wholly for Jesus and set our minds on what God wants us to do while we’re still here… What we were born to do. #BusinessBibleStudy #NewEntrepreneurs #GodpreneurAcademy

Back in 2007, I got into some huge tax problems. I had hired a bunch of employees, but I wasn’t sending their personal taxes to the IRS like I should have been. It turns out I needed $14,000 to repay the IRS or I could face more penalties or even jail. I had no idea I was breaking a law at the time. It wasn’t until my accountant pointed it out that I realized what I was doing was not only wrong, it was illegal. I was basically stealing from my employees and the government. I was in big trouble and I needed $14,000 quickly or the trouble was going to get worst. Embarrassed and ashamed, I told my parents about the issues I was facing. Without hesitation, they agreed to pay the debt off for me. I was now free from that weight on my shoulders! The price of my mistake was paid by my loving parents. Of course, I promised I had learned my lesson and I wasn’t going to let that happen again. We all have areas in our business life where we break the law, bend the rules, or even unknowingly do something wrong that eventually catches up to us. And if those sins we commit aren’t exposed and brought to justice, we will continue to do them for the rest of our business careers. Some of us are stuck in a pattern of sin in our businesses that we don’t have the power to break free from. We have a client that’s paying us illegally, but it works out because we’re saving money. We have business coming in from places that don’t honor God, and still willingly do it, even though we know it’s wrong. This is called sin. And until sin is put to death, we are dead businessmen transacting in a corrupt world. But… The bible says "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life". (John 3:16 NIV) The death of Jesus stands at the center of the solution to the very sin that traps you. On the cross, a sinless man pays the price of your sins in business so that you can be alive and free from all the sins that hold you down. Jesus’ death on the cross is both the most tragic evil done, but the greatest good of all time. All the sins you commit in your business have a penalty. And for every crime caught, there is a penalty. Like when I got caught not paying taxes when the penalty was paid, you say that justice has been served, and that’s a good thing. Whether you’ve been caught or not, our sins are a rebellion against God. Those sins still trap you in a world that God didn’t have planned for you to operate your business in. This sin that you have carries a penalty by God – death. It’s not just physical death, but a spiritual one too. When we’re spiritually dead, we’re separated from God, and we continue our sinful existence until our physical death. But like my parents paid my $14,000 IRS debt, Jesus paid the penalty for your sins in business when he died for us. This doesn’t mean you stop sinning, it means that the penalty of the sin was incurred for you, payment was made by Jesus himself, and you are now free to draw closer to God so that you can be freed from the grip of sin. Now you can begin the journey of letting go of the sins you’ve carried for years in your business because the price was paid. I remember when I found out about my IRS problems I was afraid, scared, and I didn’t even want to go into work. But when my parents paid the debt, I was free from those thoughts and able to take my business to new levels that God wanted to show me. Jesus’ death is one of the most important concepts a business owner must understand. I didn’t fully understand its significance, this is why I’m trying to illustrate it in different ways. See, I had committed a crime in my business and the penalty for that crime was $14,000 that I could not pay for. However, my parents could pay the penalty on my behalf. The penalty was paid. The IRS was restored. The cost was real. Yet because of the generosity and sacrifice of my parents, I’m not bound to pay the penalty. So, Jesus died for our business sins and paid the penalty for them out of His love and generosity, allowing us to avoid paying the penalty ourselves if we accept that. I believe the message of the gospel for entrepreneurs will be the hardest to do or understand because we’re the authority in our businesses. The bible says “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich [a successful businessman] to enter the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:25 NIV). As entrepreneurs, we tend to act on our own authority to choose between good and evil in our businesses instead of submitting to the ultimate authority of God. This rebellion is what curses us, causes us to sin, and we fall short of what God has planned for us. But we love our sin, we trapped, we’re separated from God, and we deserve to get caught and pay a price. But God, rich in mercy and love, pursued and saved us by substituting his Son in our place. For me, this means that now I’m free to do what I was Born to Do. And although I still sin, I’m not trapped because I’m forgiven and I can get up and continue to pursue my calling. So to us Godpreneurs, Jesus’ death is the best news in the world for our businesses. It’s the gospel—the good news that though we substituted ourselves in the place of God, God substituted his Son in our place that we might draw near to him in righteousness and continue to uncover and pursue our purpose and calling here on earth. If all of us business owners repent and believe in this, we can receive new life in Jesus, be reconciled to God, our business dealings cleansed from shame, our brands restored to honor, and given an eternal inheritance in the family of God! #BusinessBibleStudy #NewEntrepreneurs #GodpreneurAcademy

I never thought that God and business mixed. I never imagined that Jesus’ life here on earth would provide such a great example on me and how I should run my company. After all, he lived 2000 years ago when there weren’t nearly as many problems as there are today, right? It was difficult to relate to Jesus in any area of my life because I didn’t know him that well. I didn’t know God that well. I didn’t know the spirit that well. My limited understanding created the limitation on the influence. But as I’ve grown to learn more about Jesus, I can relate to him a lot more. I realized he was also human, just like me. He went through the same challenges I go through in my business almost daily – temptation, betrayal, loss, confusion, anger, frustration, thirst, and fatigue. We entrepreneurs sometimes feel alone in our fight. And although we believe in God and call ourselves followers of Christ, we always have more room to grow because we have a human Jesus that “gets” us. The bible says Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:14‭-‬16 NIV) Like no other person in history, Jesus was unique because he was both fully God and fully man. Only because he shared in our humanity is he the perfect person to follow. He’s the perfect pattern to follow when running a business. Jesus shared your complete entrepreneurial experience. He was born a baby, went through adolescence, grew up just like you did, and died. He went through trials and tribulations so that you would have an example of overcoming similar challenges in your business. You can emulate Jesus in your business because he shared the human experience too. Jesus chose to live entirely within his humanity as the true human who exemplified the Spirit-empowered life. For this reason, you’re able to relate to his teachings and bring them into your daily business life. Jesus’ humanity means that he “gets” us as Godpreneurs. He understands the different challenges we go through in business – loss, betrayal, abandonment, temptation. We can run to Jesus in the dark hours of our entrepreneurial journey knowing he lives to mediate for us and pour out mercy upon us. Jesus shows us how to run our business — a Spirit-filled venture. He walked depending on the same spirit we all have access to daily, making sure everything was God first. We can follow him as our primary example. Our business life will never be the same if we do so. #BusinessBibleStudy #NewEntrepreneurs #GodpreneurAcademy

I’ve been checking my heart a lot more to see if the things I’m doing in my business are lined up with the way God would want me to lead. I’ll admit, it looks ugly sometimes. I’ve taken on clients I shouldn’t have because the lure of money was there. I’ve neglected certain people in my company, I’ve talked down to others, and I’ve pursued certain ventures at the prospect of making tons of money, even though I wouldn’t be passionate about it. In short, I’m still a work in progress. Left to myself, I’d be pursuing all types of crazy stuff. Who knows, I might even still be a nightclub promoter! But then I came to know Jesus, and he saved me from my sin. For us entrepreneurs, sin always has our greatest downfall in business. We’ve all sinned against God one way or another in our ventures. We’ve done something that’s broken his commands and stepped over his boundaries. There are moments we haven’t treasured him above all else in our business as the God above everything that deserves our full praise and devotion. There are times we haven’t loved him with all of our minds, hearts, and souls. But we come back to Jesus, we’re reminded once again that left alone, we’re dead, but because of Jesus’ power to save, we and our businesses are kept alive! The bible says But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. (Luke 2:10‭-‬11 NIV) Jesus came to save you and your business. His birth is called good news because God himself came down to intervene in your life and business affairs to save you from yourself. Your company has an identity and mission, right? Your company is here on earth to accomplish something, right? You’ve seen some wrong in the marketplace, and your products and services make the wrong right, right? Jesus’ identity and mission was to come and save you. That was God’s vision all along. God saw the depravity of man and came to save us from ourselves so we can live and run businesses free from the negative mindset that sin entangled us in. Sin in our businesses separates us from God and each other. When we come down too harshly on an employee, it alienates us. When we take on a project and do something unethical, we try to hide from God. We separate ourselves for some time and hide in our shame while as we delight in our sin. Our hearts are chaotic and we go off and bring that chaos into our company culture. And despite all the best-selling self-help books, 10X growth conferences, and motivational Tony Robbins seminars, we still don’t know how to deal with our sin and shame in business. We alone, and even with the help of the great gurus of business, are unable to bring about what we need most – freedom from our sinful hearts. But Jesus alone was born to do what we’re powerless to do in our business and in our lives. He saves us from ourselves, therefore he saves our businesses. He lets our mission keep going because his mission was complete when he came as our savior. God’s plan worked! Whenever we feel crushed or defeated…whenever sin has us pinned down and feeling condemned, remember that Jesus came to bring life to the dead businessman, hope to the depressed entrepreneurs, and healing to the broken risk-takers. Jesus lives to save us, sinners. God is here today, with us and our businesses. This keeps our businesses free from sin. #NewEntrepreneurs #BusinessBibleStudy #GodpreneurAcademy

I’ve known about Jesus my whole life. My parents brought me up Catholic. I eventually came to have a more personal relationship with him. That’s when I began to scratch the surface on who he really was. As an entrepreneur getting to know Jesus, here is what I saw. I saw a man with tremendous influence. I saw him praised for his message, yet punished. I saw him desired for what he was offering, yet despised. I saw him as chosen and called, but beaten and condemned as a criminal. We entrepreneurs all have our view of who Jesus is. Even different religions see him in different ways. The people of his day saw him a totally different way. Heck, his own family saw him a completely different way. But who we say Jesus is has a profound impact on every level of our business. From the financial to the strategic and personal aspects of our ventures, our understanding of who he is will either make our business life rich with him or full of our selves. And although everyone has an opinion on who Jesus is, Jesus isn’t concerned about public opinion. He is concerned about how we (me and you individually) say he is. The bible says When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. (Matthew 16:13‭-‬17 NIV) Here we see Jesus is less consumed about what the public thinks and more concerned about who his own followers think he is. Peter says “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” and gets the answer right. For me and you, our entire business lives hinges on this question too. And getting to the place in our lives where we can only know Jesus as the Son of the living God will change every aspect of the way our businesses, products, and services minister in the marketplace. Your pastor can reveal truth, my blogs can teach business ethics, inventors and creatives can bring about change, but only Jesus who came to save the world can offer you the hope of eternal life. Leading up to Easter, I wanted to get to know more foundational truths about the identity of Jesus. I think all of us entrepreneurs should consider how his identity transforms us, and thus affects our businesses. I know my business is completely different today than it was back in 2008, but I still feel I’m scratching the surface on and how this change occurs. If you too do not yet know what you believe about this man named Jesus, I invite you to take a small step of faith with me and ask God to make the truth about him plain for us: Let’s pray. Dear Heavenly Father, We are hungry for your truth. We have been called to lead businesses and minister in your marketplaces. We want the truth about who Jesus really is. Use your word to convince us and change us as we seek the truth. Amen. #NewEntrepreneurs #BusinessBibleStudy #GodpreneurAcademy

Uncertainty can be unsettling. You do not know what lies ahead or what is going to happen next. The pandemic has caused many to face uncertainty, which has caused anxiety to build up within you, and its weight can be heavy to carry. You may try and think positive thoughts about your tomorrow, but the heaviness of anxiety cripples you. If you are facing anxiety or struggling with it, here are two prayers to help you through: Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for this beautiful day. I thank You for the gift of life. Where would I be without You? Where could I go without You? My God and My Lord, I am struggling with anxiety where its weight is too heavy to carry. Your word says that I am to come to You when I am weary and heavily burdened. Here I am, Lord. Bless me with Your peace that surpasses all human understanding. Let Your peace saturate every area of my life. Bless me with Your rest and refresh my soul from all anxiety. My God and my Lord, forgive me where I have doubted You and held onto my unbelief. Help me cast my burdens onto You; Your yoke is easy to bear, and Your burden is light. I know I can face any situation because You are with me, and You will never leave me nor forsake me. I pray this, in Jesus’ name, Amen. Dear Heavenly Father, I praise Your Holy Name. You are worthy of all praise and honor. You are faithful. You are good. You are the same yesterday, today, and forevermore. I ask that You replace the spirit of heaviness that is upon me with the garment of praise according to Isaiah 61:3. O Lord, divinely exchange my heaviness with praise to have thanksgiving upon my lips regardless of the situations I am living through. You are able, and nothing is impossible for You. O Lord, I surrender my will for Yours; let Your will be done in my life. You are Alpha and Omega. My beginning and end. You know what lies ahead. You have already prepared good works for me to do in advance. Guide me and lead me on straight paths. O Lord, I thank you in advance for this answered prayer, and I pray that Your face shines upon me now and forevermore. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. #DifferentiatingMyself

I could have chosen to write about so many things. I’m pretty good a lot of stuff, and excellent at a few things. Although I’m excellent at some things, I’m uniquely talented in being able to read something biblical and interpret it for entrepreneurs. I have the gift of teaching in metaphors and bringing a practical application to complicated concepts. Now, even within a business, there are many things to talk about, so you’ll notice I love to focus on discovering your calling and launching your business. My teachings are becoming even more aligned with my calling – to help people uncover what they were born to do, and bring it to life. Even this blog post about writing blog posts is aligned with my calling because it’s having my readers zero in on a niche that’s their calling. We all have a purpose and design. The God who manufactured us gave us an intended use that, if we can align ourselves properly too, will support us personally, financially, and strategically as we journey into the world of blogging and teaching. But, we can become unstable and lose our integrity if we were designed for one purpose, yet are doing a different thing. To keep integrity, we need to write ‘on purpose.’ When a blogger is in his or her zone, we can count on them to share amazing revelations and communicate in a way that brings about change in the readers’ minds. Why? Because we are in alignment with our calling. God designs and builds us to write for to a specific audience, about a specific subject, for a specific purpose. The bible says: God planned for us to do good things and to live as he has always wanted us to live. That’s why he sent Christ to make us what we are. Ephesians 2:10 You and I have hearts with unique passions and certain spiritual gifts and natural talents that differ from every other blogger on the planet. And He’s going to continue to shape you even more unique as you begin your writing journey. This means that the way you’ve built, your design, and your purpose are always aligned. God did that on purpose. He’s not trying to hide anything from you. You’re the one that has the choice whether you’re going to be in alignment or do your own thing. All we need to to do is ask the holy spirit to reveal to us what he wants us to teach about. This process of searching, listening, and discovering is the exact relationship God’s been seeking with us. He’s dreamt something up for us; now it’s time to allow ourselves to be used in the way He intended. We bring our blogs into full alignment when we search, and He answers. Just begin writing, the spirit will do the rest. Start small. Come up with something practical that you always find yourself helping others with. It’s probably something you just had a conversation with someone about. You’ve had this conversation 100 times. That’s the one. Even if someone else has written about it, your testimony is different than theirs. You’re going to say it uniquely. Plus, the reader doesn’t know that other person, they know YOU, and will relate to you more. Don’t wait. Get going on it. P.S. If you need help launching your blog, take my course in the Godpreneur Academy called 3 Steps to Launching your God-First Business. #BusinessBibleStudy #ChristianBloggers #GodprenerAcademy Keys to Successful Christian Blogging In this course, I'll give you some keys God taught me about how to write a successful Christian blog. Heard of the Godpreneur Academy? Grow Your Business, God’s Way! Bible-Based Video Courses for Entrepreneurs Putting God First In their Businesses Click here to create a Free Account

When a friend or family member asks me ‘how’s business’, its a natural reaction for me to say ‘GOOOOOOD, thanks for asking’! But if I was being honest, I’m replying with that because either I’m not interested in engaging in conversation or I just don’t want this person knowing what I’m REALLY going through. We’re entrepreneurs. There’s ALWAYS something wrong. Either internally in myself or externally in the business or world, there’s always something to improve upon. But if we were to just admit that we have some kinks here and there to fix, I believe that God can begin to work in our hearts and in our business through others. Proverbs 22:4 says, "The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life." Humility is having the courage to show that you’re not perfect and you don’t have it all together.  Its admitting (and admiring) your faults. As entrepreneurs, its the most underused tool to excel your business because it’s contrarian to what we want people to know about us. I learned years ago to humble myself in business because I realized there’s a whole world of people out there that have been through my struggles and can share their experiences of how they withstood, overcame and triumphed. When someone ask me how business is, I say a positive and then follow up with a current struggle. This way I’m not all bad news, but I show my real strength and weakness. Here’s the problem with always putting on a fake reply:  you don’t give others a chance to possibly say some encouraging words and maybe offer some timely advice. Godpreneur rule #73: showing humility will be much more influential to your business growth than hiding behind a false sense of self-sufficiency and perfection. #FindingMyPurpose #ShareYourTestimony

How many of us enjoy waiting? A delay makes us wait for a while, which stirs up uncomfortable emotions within us. An unanswered prayer makes us discontent and impatient. Many situations can be relayed here; however, we all know that waiting can be difficult. As business owners, we seek opportunities for business development and growth. These opportunities are beneficial and profitable. Unfortunately, some opportunities come quickly, while others seem to be out of our reach. Some feel like sealed doors that we have been knocking on for a long time. Therefore, what does one do when faced with closed doors? Five things to do while waiting for doors to open: Pray and ask God for fresh revelation: we often use old methods to get something new. Old ways cannot lead you to new paths. Old mindsets cannot enable you to think new thoughts that lead to new strategies. (Romans 12:2) Repent: repent for making the desired opportunity or blessing an idol. We can find ourselves elevating the blessing above the Blesser. God is the only One who takes the highest position in our lives. (Revelations 2:4) Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is our guide, and He knows the way. Let us humble ourselves before God and allow Him to direct our paths. We desperately want our way to be fulfilled, but God’s purposes for our lives will prevail. (Galatians 5:16) Be joyful: be grateful and ask the Holy Spirit to fill us up with joy. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and if we find ourselves lacking joy, let us ask the Holy Spirit to fill us up to the overflow. (Galatians 5:22) Learn: waiting seasons are not wasted seasons. We can take the time to learn and gain more knowledge about our industries. We can take a course to upskill and develop ourselves further. Additionally, we can spend more time in the word of God and learn more about Him and His Kingdom, which ultimately grows, matures, and perfects us for His glory and Name’s sake. The Bible says: Direct me, Yahweh, throughout my journey so I can experience your plans for my life.Reveal the life-paths that are pleasing to you. Escort me into your truth; take me by the hand and teach me. For you are the God of my salvation; I have wrapped my heart into yours all day long! (Psalms 25:4-5, TPT) As you let God direct your steps, you will navigate your waiting seasons with more peace, joy, and contentment. You will start seeing your waiting seasons as lessons to grow, mature, and become more like Jesus Christ. Additionally, waiting seasons deepen your trust in God because He knows where you are, what you need, and whom you need to connect with. He is our beginning, our end, and everything in between. #DifferentiatingMyself #WaitingOnGod

I've noticed that much of the focus about praying for men often focus on helping me be a better husband and father. There's a lot of praying for us as a protector and provider at home, but we can go a step further for the men leading God-First businesses. We all know a father, brother, son, cousin, friend, client, vendor, pastor, and other men that are kingdom-building in the marketplace right now. Praying for the ‘businessmen’ in our lives can be such an enriching experience. This way, we are taking a positive step towards their spiritual well-being, which is tied to their feeling of success and accomplishment. We can all stand in prayer for marketplace ministers, telling God that these men matter to us, they have a purpose, and we want the best for their businesses. Praying for these men can rain down God’s mercy and grace over their entrepreneurial journey. WHY ENTREPRENEURIAL MEN? Businessmen face many problems. We are burdened by societal expectations and pressures to provide. From little boys, men have been taught many unhealthy things about what it means to be a ‘man’ and how they should live their lives. No matter what trauma or bad parenting, men who are not experiencing life in the truth of what God says about them will have struggling businesses and often fail as entrepreneurs under the burden of conformity. Personally speaking, the expectations that fuel shame for me are rooted in childhood trauma and fed based on society's perception of a successful man of business – what should an accomplished man be, look like and act like. HOW TO PRAY FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL MEN From my research and personal experience, I decided to focus this post on seven areas of prayer for men because I believe they are integral to a man’s business life. However, there are many more areas. If you feel led, please leave comments to pray for as many areas and in as many ways as you are led to. Let's pray for: Purpose Direction Humility Wisdom Strength Provision Love SEVEN PRAYERS Before beginning to read these prayers, make a list of men in your life that own businesses. Think about men at church or in close circles. If it’s your husband, father, or brother, for example, then just focus on him. 1) PRAYER FOR PURPOSE God, your word says that many are the purposes of a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s will that stands. Lord, we pray that your entrepreneurial sons will put you first in their businesses and be attuned to your will. May they understand that their true worth, completeness, and the purpose of their business life can only be found in you. Father God, reveal your plans along their entrepreneurial journey and enable them to find meaning in all the products and services you set out for them to bring to the marketplace. May they no longer wander the business world without focus or meaning but look to you, the author and finisher of their faith. Amen “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 NIV “And we know that all things work together for good to those who over God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 2) PRAYER FOR DIRECTION Father God, I thank you for giving us your Word, which is a light to our path and a lamp to our feet. Lord, may your entrepreneurial sons experience your divine guidance and direction in their businesses. Lord, lead him to launch products and services that serve others and bring you glory. Guide his thoughts and actions at the office and let him hear you when you say to him, ‘this is the way; walk in it”. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. in all your ways, acknowledge him and he will direct your path.” Proverbs 3:5 3) PRAYER FOR HUMILITY Father, thank you so much for your entrepreneurial sons whom you created in your image and likeness. Lord Jesus, I pray that you teach them to be like you. To take on the mantle of service to their employees, vendors, and clients as unto the Lord. May they do nothing in business out of selfish ambition or need to impress others but focus on pleasing you and doing your will. Lord help them to run businesses out of humility every day. Teach them to continually deny the pride, greed, lust, and materialism of the flesh and to take on your spirit of patience, contentment, gentleness, and passionate love for others. Amen “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Ephesians 4:2 NIV “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” 1 Peter 5:6 NIV 4) PRAYER FOR WISDOM Lord, you are the source of all knowledge and wisdom. You created the world out of nothing and made man out of clay. Father, your Word says that we should ask for wisdom, and you will give to us without reproach. Oh, Jesus, I pray that you pour out your wisdom and grace on your entrepreneurial sons. Build them up in the power and knowledge of your Word. Give them the gift of discernment in their businesses, that they may be able to understand the times and seasons. Help them to remain responsive to your truth and your voice in the marketplace and set them on the path to true fulfillment in you. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5 NKJV “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” Ephesians 5:15-17 NIV 5) PRAYER FOR STRENGTH Lord God, thank you for your care and protection. You are our fortress and strength and the lifter of our heads. Father, we pray for your power and strength over your entrepreneurial sons. God, we know many of them are burdened by the pressures and demands of the business world upon them. They are struggling to do so much but can’t seem to catch a break! Lord, I pray that they cast their business burdens and cares on you. You are the one whose burden is light and yolk is easy. Oh Jesus, may they choose to live life on your terms. May they choose to hide their businesses under your shadow and lean into your strength, knowing that true strength comes from you. Like King David, may they be overcome by your power and strength within them. Amen “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah” Psalms 46:1-3 (NKJV) “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 (NLT) 6) PETITION FOR PROVISION Lord, you are the source of life and all good things. You are the generous and benevolent One who gives to all who ask. Lord, today I pray for the entrepreneurial men in my life. I pray that you meet them at the point of their needs. Father God, your word reminds us that you already know what we need even before we ask. Father, I may not know what they need in their business, but you do. Lord, provide bountifully for them, and more than anything, may they ascribe all glory and honor to your Holy Name across marketplaces globally. Amen “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” Philippians 4:6 (NLT) “For the lord shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19(NKJV) 7) PRAYER FOR LOVE Father, you are love! You are the epitome of all that is loving and good. You showed your love by sending your son, Jesus of Nazareth, to die for us. Lord, may your entrepreneurial sons forever experience this love. And may they never doubt how much you love them, how proud you are of them, and how much more love you want to show them through their businesses. More so, Father, I pray that your marketplace ministering sons become love. May they take on this image and likeness of their maker in interacting with their employees, vendors, contractors, clients, prospects, and even competitors! May they give your brand of love into their products and services without holding back – generously and unconditionally. May these kingdom-building men learn to love their wives as you love the church, to love their children, their friends, and especially their enemies. Let your love grow more abundant in their personal and business life, and help them shine the light of your love wherever they go along their entrepreneurial journey. Amen “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a NIV. FINAL THOUGHTS ON PRAYING FOR THE ENTREPRENEURIAL MEN IN YOUR LIFE I have faith that the above scripture verses and prayers will encourage you to pray for the businessmen in your life. Remember: these are suggested prayers. In the comments below, please add and amend as necessary. #DifferentiatingMyself

Before giving my life to Christ in 2014, my approach to business was self-reliance and self-centeredness. Back then, when fear, anxiety, and doubt ruled my thoughts, I thought self-control and “positive thinking” were the answer. I wish I could tell you that making Jesus my Savior eliminated those thoughts, but I’d be lying. Because the enemy seeks to get us drifting from purpose and swirling in distraction and doubt, and his battlefield is our mind! Today, I still struggle with “taking every thought captive,” but I find peace in the Lord’s instructions about our thought life in the Bible - and you can too! Do a google search for “mindset,” and you’ll find thousands of “self-help” resources available at your fingertips. Read any business or entrepreneurship book, and you’ll quickly find that 80% of success is based on how we think. Having more time to think, ponder and plan in 2020 was a gift for some, but for many, including myself, the space to think led to anxiety and worry. Sound like you? God’s goal is for us to transform into the likeness of Christ, to reflect His love and light to a broken world. As Romans 12:2 tells us, we are to be transformed by the renewal of our minds. For us Godpreneurs, the instructions for learning to manage our mindset are found in God’s instruction manual: The Bible. Struggling with some stinking thinking in your business? Here’s a map to find the treasure in God’s word to help: Caught up in the world’s thinking? Set your mind on things above, not on the earth (Colossians 3:2). In a mental fog of distraction, discontentment, and doubt? Meditate on His word (Joshua 1:8). Are you feeling anxious at decision crossroads? Take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5). That’s precisely why God gave us His Word (and instructs us to meditate on it day and night) - he’s not surprised by that swirling! I encourage you to memorize one of these scriptures and store it in your heart and mind for when you need to get a handle on your thoughts. Having that verse handy will give you an immediate sense of peace that clears the mind so you can focus on the next right action. In his book, Anxious for Nothing, Max Lucado puts it this way: we get to pick what we ponder. And what we think about - pray about - meditate on - contributes to our finding calm and operating our businesses God’s way! The greatest action God gave us - the one over which we have the freest will and which plays the biggest part in our success - is up to us. I find that when I’m most anxious, repeating my favorite scripture - Psalm 25:4-5 - immediately calms me and gives me space to think clearly. It’s like taking a deep breath or as a fog clearing. While it doesn’t change the circumstances around me, it does change my perspective of the circumstances, allowing me to take the next right step for my business. Imagine the impact that a calm, peaceful, even joyful mind can have on your business. Now think bigger: imagine how differently we can show up to the world and reflect Christ’s light in the marketplace when our thoughts align with His! #TrustOnGod #DifferentiatingMyself