Have you ever wondered, “if I am free, how come I can’t move forward”? Moving forward in freedom means that you have to remember you are free! After the Israelites left Egypt, they started complaining that they had it so good when they were slaves. When they were slaves they had food to eat and were taken care of. As entrepreneurs or women or mamas or just humans in Christ, you have to remember you are free. You are no longer a slave. God took care of that for you by dying on the cross. Thank you, Jesus! So often, so many of us go back to a slave mentality. A slave mentality tells you that you are to be fearful, hoard, think we never have enough, and live in a posture of lack. So, if you are free, why can’t you move forward?
Believe and Achieve: Belief vs. Knowledge
You are free, but do you believe you are free? Believing and knowing are two different things. When you know something, it is an understanding of knowledge. For instance, you can know God, but having a relationship with him is different. So do you believe God; do you take him at his word and stand on his promises? When things get hard, will He will pull you through? Your belief needs to be stronger than your disbelieve.
Your Past Will Set you Free
To move forward in freedom, you have to break the strongholds of past trauma. If you have experienced trauma, which most of us have. You have to revisit the trauma to move forward. Revisiting the past might be painful. Up until now, maybe you have been masking it, pretending that everything is fine when it isn’t, or even following behavior that doesn’t align with what God wants for you. The gift in all this is that he is waiting for you to lead, broken, humble and raw. Because sis, when you get to that point where you just can’t put on the mask anymore, God comes in, picks up all your broken pieces, and puts them back together for his glory. He uses every experience, every struggle, and triumph to teach others through your brokenness. God has already given you freedom, broke every bond to a former life you had, so stop holding yourself captive from the abundance that is waiting for you. Start doing the things he called you to do, so he can give you the life he already created you for.
You are free, but you will go through trials. The first few verses of James demonstrate, being joyful when your faith is being tested. He wants us to know you can grow in endurance and build a strong character that can withstand anything. So, sis, trials are part of being human. If you never suffered, you would never know how to endure, how to be patient, how to withstand the things that are to come, and ultimately how to lead others back to Jesus.
As Christians, you have to go through some stuff to follow the path the creator has set for you. No one said following Jesus would be easy. You are set apart. You are the minority trying to lead the unpopular idea to the ones who will listen.
Give up to Get
In Galatians 2:19-20, Paul says, “for when I tried to keep the law, I realized I could never keep God’s approval, so I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ”. The idea of dying to something to be made new is Jesus’ upside-down approach doesn’t make sense in the world, but it does for the Kingdom. A life with Christ is dying to yourself over and over. The hard part is figuring out what you need to die to, then letting go of all the ways the world taught you and following His teachings. It sounds so simple, but to actually walk with Jesus for the sake of the journey is hard.
Giving up the control you think you have will take courage and strength. I pray for God’s supernatural strength and his hedge of protection for your journey. The way to be lead by Christ is to continually die to yourself. What do you need to die to today?
Conclusion
You are already free in Christ, so let go of any insecurities or past trauma in order to move forward into the life God planned for you. Let God dwell inside you so that you may know the direction you are supposed to go. Let community, prayers, and your foundation in the Bible build you up as you pursue your Godly purpose.
Pursue Your Godly Purpose
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At the beginning of my Christian entrepreneurial journey, I wasn’t sure how to use affiliate marketing as a Christian. Did you know, making money and serving God can be simultaneous? A lot of us Christians have had issues with making money on a craft that serves God. However, I have come to realize, if we disregard God in the process of making money, then we have put the service of money over God. Ultimately. God will guide the path He wants for you.
One way God has guided my path as a Christian entrepreneur is through affiliate marketing. Wondering what affiliate marketing is? or How to use it as a Christian entrepreneur?
Here are a 5 ways to use affiliate marketing as a Christian to help your Christian Biz grow.
Affiliate marking is when you refer someone to a product or service; upon purchase, you earn a commission. Essentially, by becoming an affiliate, you are referring people to things that add value to their life. Here are five easy ways to use affiliate marketing as a Christian.
1. Make a list
List out all the sites you like or frequent. Lists help you visualize the services you use. Use paper, a google document, or a spreadsheet. Not sure where to start? Try my free Mega List for Christian entrepreneurs to get you started.
2. Get Your Ask On
Using affiliate marking as a Christian does not have to be scary. It just involves you being able to refer someone to a product or service you like.
Here is the tech side of using affiliate marketing as a Christian:
Step 1. Take the list you created in step 1 then, do a google search for specific companies that you would like to start to earn a commission from. For example, use a company from your list or my Mega List and add the word affiliate behind it.
So, in a google search, enter the words amazon affiliates or WordPress affiliates.
Remember, each company has its policy and directions on becoming an affiliate.
Step 2. Once the company has accepted you as an affiliate, you will be able to post your unique referral code to your social media, website, or email lists.
Thus, asking people to take a peek at something that can add value to their lives. When the customer buys the product or service that you have referred them to, you earn a commission on that sale.
3. Plan Ahead
Planning is important. It helps make everything run smoothly. Having a plan for which affiliates you will promote when is key in not bombarding your audience with so many sales. You want to give your audience meaningful content that serves them and keeps them coming back. Your goal in all this should be prayerfully serving your audience.
4. Keep searching
Once you have your base list of affiliates and you incorporate them into your workflow, be on the hunt for other services, conferences, and products you can promote.
5. Be Relatable
Let your audience know why they need this service. Relate to your audience why you started using the product and how it helped you. Of course, you will always want to try the product before you recommend it (so you can honestly refer to it).
In conclusion, here are five ways to help you use affiliate marketing as a Christian. Make a list, ask, plan ahead, keep searching, and be relatable are ways to help your Christian biz grow, thus helping His kingdom. I can not wait to see what affiliates you come up with to start serving others. If you need help at any time, drop me an email or connect with me about coaching services tailored to you!
Sara is a dark-chocolate, beach lover, wife, and mom of two. She believes every woman CAN live the life God designed you for. Sara is a Christian author, blogger, teacher, and speaker. As a woman of color, she has worked to grow diversity in the Christian writing community. Sara believes we are stronger together in Christ. Through her own personal struggle with self-limiting beliefs, Sara established Faithful Life Ministries in 2016, where she empowers you to live boldly for Christ to live your Godly purpose. You can read her wide range of books, devotionals, and resources on her blog sarachinakwe.com
One of the most asked questions I get is how do you hear God’s voice? Some of you may wonder if it’s your voice or God’s you think you hear. In an email to Dr. Charles Stanley, the writer asks the same question. “I have prayed for God to speak to me, but I don’t hear him. My faith is strong, and I know he will do for me and what the Bible promises. But I have never heard him say, go buy this gallon of milk, go buy this car, wait for what I have for you”. Am I not listening in the right way, or is He guiding my everyday decisions, but I don’t realize He is speaking?
Here are the 5 ways to hear God’s voice
1. My sheep hear my voice verse
John 10:27-28 says, my sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me. As Christians, remember that you are one of his sheep. Since you follow God, you can hear his voice. Believe that he will and does lead you, even though you may not see it yet.
2. Build your relationship
Go on a date with him. Create intimacy. Just like a relationship, it needs attention, or it will die out. The only way to hear his voice is to spend time with him. Spending time with him is crucial in hearing his voice. The more obedient you are, the more you will hear His voice. For example, going to the gym may not be the most enjoyable thing to do. However, the more you go, the more you build muscle, and you feel so much better. You have to flex the muscle to get muscles. You have to spend time to hear his voice. Create the space and time to make the habit. Then you will hear His voice which will lead you to what, where, and how.
3. Meditate on the scriptures
Joshua 1:8 says, Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. More verses in the Bible instruct on the benefits of meditating on God’s word too. Hearing God’s word requires diligence in staying in the world, to glean the understanding of God’s wants to you. He knows what you need when you need it, so let him share his wisdom with you. He will speak if you will listen.
4. Be Obedient to Hear His Voice
Being obedient to the word of God will set you up to hear him repeatedly. When you seek out His wisdom from the Bible and follow it is easier to hear what he says.
For instance, my friend Lauren at creativerecovery.net felt compelled to read all these books people would give her for her coaching business. She felt exhausted by all the books she thought she was supposed to read. Then she asked God what insights he wanted her to learn from each book. God showed what to glean from each book. Lauren is afforded more time because the reading load has lightened. Now, more time is allocated to doing the things that God actually wants her to do.
5. Be still to Hear His Voice
If you really want to hear God you have to get still. When there is so much chaos or business and distraction on the mind, you might find it hard to hear God’s voice. You have to learn how to declutter the brain to pursue what God wants you to hear.
In conclusion, be open to the way God will speak to you, his precious sheep. He will speak when you seek Him through the scriptures, become obedient, and are still enough to listen. Let God lead you because he wants you to succeed and prosper!
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I heard God whisper the words consistently faithful after praying about being a better leader. He told me how to be consistently faithful in a season when I focused on the strategy of marketing. As a result, I wasn’t consistently faithful to him.
Have you been in a season too, wrapped in getting the work done you have neglected the creator? As a Christian who leads herself or a group of people, you might think marketing, strategizing, or productivity in business will help you become more successful. However, God desires you to be consistently faithful to him first.
Be Consistent in Your Faith
Being consistent in your faith is to be fully in God’s presence. Further, not looking to the right or the left but continually focusing on him. Through being consistently faithful, the work that He has designed you for can take root.
As a Christian, you probably know the importance of God’s presence. Paul reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 5:16, “rejoice always, pray continually give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Focusing on Jesus seems counterproductive when you need to move closer to your goal or feel like you can not seek God through difficult moments. However, focusing on Jesus is the only way He can move you forward in the call he has for your life.
So this season of life, I urge you to the words “consistently faithful.” Try surrounding yourself in God’s love by being close to Him in your prayer. By focusing on being consistently faithful, you will cultivate a relationship with Him. Thus, your journey will be made clear.
He Will Consistently and Faithfully Take Care of You
Let God take care of you and help you become consistently faithful. As a Christian, you are not here to earn God’s love but to be consistent in your faith with Him. Let this season be the season you surround yourself with Him and let Him lead you to the fruit he has for you.
Want to go further in your journey book a free session with a Christian life coach!
Shame. Regret. Inadequacy is how I lived internally. I let my past mistakes define me. God has a way of pulling your deepest secrets to the light. He transforms your worst mistakes into His best glory.
On this particular day, I remember cleaning and listening to worship music. I felt a spirit wash over me. I slowly got down on my knees and asked God what this feeling was. With Jesus near, tears streamed down my closed eyes and ran onto my cheeks like water at baptism.
This was one of those divine intervention moments, I thought to myself. Jesus was calling me to take a hard look at my life.
Just then, God showed me who I really was.
His daughter.
His chosen.
His beloved.
However, I saw myself as a mistake-making 20 something version of my old self. Holding on to all the shame and guilt that went along with those mistakes. Up to that point, I let the past define me.
Can you relate? Have you been saddled with the weight of your past, unable to let it go?
Defining the Past
For nearly two decades, I let the past define me. I held it close like I was playing a card game, careful not to show anyone my cards. Building up walls so high, I closed myself off from who God was calling me to be.
My past left me with a hidden shame. It felt like I was wearing a mask that made it hard for me to see who I really was.
It was easy to get to the point where the past defines you. Yet, even harder to let it all go.
Identity Crisis
An identity crisis is not knowing who you are in Christ. Which was my problem at this time.
I realize now that the only cure for an identity crisis is spending time with the one who created you. Before I spent time with God, I thought he was judging me for not being obedient to God. I honestly thought I was not worthy of his love.
The truth is we are his creation. He continues to pursue.
Past Mistakes
In the book of Acts, we meet Saul headed to Damascus. His purpose was to capture his enemies (the disciples). Saul had an encounter with God.
The encounter shook up everything he knew about himself and the direction he was going.
When God appeared to Saul, every transgression melted away. He was transformed in God’s image.
Further, Saul’s name changed to Paul, and then he spent his life being an ambassador for Christ.
God used Saul (a murder) to proclaim His word.
I find it fascinating and encouraging that God used Saul in such a profound way.
God will continue to pursue you. God does not care about your past mistakes as much as you do.
Don’t Let Mistakes Define you
Think about your past mistakes. What are the horrible things that you think everyone will hate you for if you told them? What mistakes keep you up at night, keep looping in your head, causing you shame?
Those are the mistakes you need to confront with God by your side.
You need to acknowledge that you did them; without attributing any feeling to them.
Those mistakes don’t define you.
Think of acknowledging your mistakes as God’s way of starting your journey to healing your soul.
God knows you made mistakes. However, he doesn’t want you to bury yourself in the negative emotions that you feel.
Instead, forgive yourself.
He Forgives your Mistakes
The healing part of forgiving yourself or someone else starts when you take the first step in reaching out to God.
When you ask God to forgive, you become a new creation in Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:17 says I am Redeemed, therefore if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here.
He has already forgiven you and me. God’s job was to die for your sins, so you could find life in him (1 Peter 3:18.) The good news is that you do not have to hold yourself in bondage anymore.
Reuniting with Christ, who died on the cross, helps you trust him to wash away the mistakes you’ve made.
Essentially you are giving up the control you thought you had and submitting to God.
Your Defining Message
Once you let go of the strongholds the past has on you, you can walk in your truth. You now can work through the shame, hurt resentment, or whatever you attributed to the past.
When you finally realize your past mistakes don’t define you, they have no power over you. Then, you can stand in your truth and help others live their Godly purpose. Let your past mistakes be your message. Let your old stronghold be the connection you offer a friend who is suffering. Your new message is a light of encouragement for someone else. You can speak truth and love to your past, making sure it has no place in your future.
In conclusion, letting your past mistakes define you leads to an identity crisis. Remember, God sees you as His beloved daughter, not as your past mistakes. Let Jesus walk alongside you. When you do, it is easier to forgive past mistakes. Moreover, God can heal you for his glory. In doing this, you can deliver His message and glorify His kingdom.
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Sara Chinakwe is a Christian writer who believes every woman has the power to live out God’s plan for their lives. She enjoys helping other women shed the negative lies they think about themselves in order to live out God’s truth. Sara resides in Sacramento California with her husband and two kids. You can subscribe and read more on her blogLivingafaithfullife.com
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