These are the top two reasons for saying no to finding out what God wrote in your heart.
- I’m too busy, my business is going great.
- I already know my purpose, nothing needed here.
- And the unstated one, “Talking about the desires of my heart feels too intrusive.”
Sound familiar? We all use them. Here three reasons why they are a “dodge” that holds you back from the rocket fuel that resides in your clear, written purpose statement that reflects your Father’s heart.
#1 You’re a son, not a servant – “God told me to do it” makes about as much sense as “the devil made me do it.” Kingdom sons understand the why in their own heart and their Father’s heart. God just doesn’t pass out a daily to-do list for servants to live by. I know there is a religious spirit that swears by this approach, but if you’ve been in business, you know God sets the course but expects you to manage the ship. He even engages us in setting the course! The obedience mentality of a servant works in sermons, but not in the Kingdom. Sons have conversations with their Father. Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers (Heb. 2:11) and tell us to do even greater works.
John 15:15-17 – I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit — fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. NIV
Sons are forgiven, free, creative, prosperous, optimistic, entrepreneurial, courageous, outspoken, honest, patriotic, disciplined, focused, proactive (Lions of Judah). Those attributes don’t come out of servant mentality, and they are precisely the attributes that make a business work!
What is the Will of God? – We all start as servants who conceive of the will of God as principles (rules to live by via obedience). Kingdom is a transition to a relationship of sonship. The will of God is His heart and what is in the Father’s heart is known through a conversation with His sons. Our lives and businesses are much more than turning stones into bread (manufacturing money). Our life and vitality are new every morning when we are delighted by the why that delights God’s heart.
Matt 4:3-4 – “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” NIV (Deut. 8:3)
If obedience to rules and application of principles describes our relationship with God, domineering and doctrinaire will describe our business relationships with people. We will become mundane managers of performance instead of connecting with hearts and being leaders who share purpose and enthusiasm.
#2 The mission isn’t magic – when people tell us they already know their purpose, they are usually telling us they are busy with their mission (how they turn stones into bread). Then they launch into sharing what they do and how they do it expecting us to be excited – we’re usually not!
You may have a successful and well-oiled business with visibility, ministry, fruit, and money. When you say, “It works,” others often hear, “It’s works.” Hearts (including God’s) want to know why you do all that before they will listen to your vision. Even your own heart is asking that question, “Why are we doing all this anyway?” If you can’t give a good answer (that your Father shares), you will eventually go through the motions without your heart – it will quit!
The devil would gladly trade fame, visibility, and fortune for the why God wrote in your heart. Maybe all your what’s and how’s are just fine – you won’t know until you’re clear on your “why.”
#3 Your Why is Contagious – If the purpose of your heart has these two things, it will resonate with other people:
- Is the why in your purpose clear? (brief, memorable, and in writing?)
- Is it prophetically accurate? (Does it makes anyone’s baby leap?)
You can easily connect your prophetic why into your marketing message. Your purpose is not just a revelation. It is the engine for the value you create on earth that blesses people; they are motivated by your why and happy to buy your product. Marketing is simply communicating the value of your why. When people ask what you do, they are really asking, “What can you do for me?” “Can you help me realize my aspirations?”
You can articulate your why clearly and distinguish it from the muddiness of all your what’s and how’s, impressive as they may be. You may have a purpose, but if you can’t explain it in clear and compelling language, it’s about the same as not having one. Your why is contagious! It ignites hearts when you get it right
What’s the next step? – Get the Nail Your Purpose Field Guide and go through the simple exercises. Make the connection with why part of your business culture; be intentional about helping others connect with their purpose. You’ll put your why in the middle of a mind map of your what’s and how’s. If you get stuck, the Online Heart Plan is the answer. Let’s start with a conversation. Your fear is that God will take away your business baby. He really wants to put your life and business on steroids and grow it beyond your expectations!
You will get prophetic and practical 1-on-1 help with the most important question of your life, “Why am I here?” You are not too busy to spend time with the Father to clarify that purpose. You may not fully articulate it with simplicity and the prophetic genius God wrote in your heart. We can help.
PS: Your business has a purpose too. Let’s pull the curtain back and see what that is. Your clients and customers want to know!
Proverbs 20:5 – The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.
