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The Estherpreneur is a weekly chat about doing business and life God’s way. Join your host, Edna Harding as she offers biblical strategies and practical applications to improve your mind, business, spirit, relationships, and finances. Listen along as she talks with guests on how to thrive in all areas of life. Edna is a Wife, Mother, Growth Strategist, Author, Minister, Certified Maxwell Business Consultant and Executive Coach, an accredited Master Mindset Coach, and Speaker whose message of hope, truth, and wisdom reaches people all around the world. FavorandWealth.com Estherpreneur.com
Edna Harding [00:00:03]:
Welcome to Estrepreneur, a podcast for entrepreneurs and leaders doing business and life God's way. Each week we discuss biblical and practical tips to improve your mind, business, spirit, relationships and finances. Listen along as I speak with special guests on how to thrive in all aspects of life. Hi, I'm Edna. Like many of you, I wear many hats. I'm a military wife, mother, author, certified John Maxwell business and executive coach, trainer and founder of Favor and wealth, where we help the good guys win. So tune in as we bring on the light.
Edna [00:00:46]:
Well, hello everyone. Thank you for tuning in for another episode of the Esspreneur podcast. My name is Edna Harding and I'm so glad that you are joining us today. I believe that if you are tuning in, God has a fresh word for you. A fresh, a fresh, fresh, fresh revelation for you guys today. And so welcome, welcome, welcome. Now, today's episode, we're going to talk about the Holy Spirit, who is my favorite person in the world. He is my best friend.
Edna [00:01:20]:
He is truly my guide, my comforter, my secret weapon, like my, I don't know, my defender, my protector, like I don't know else what to explain you, Holy Spirit. Like he has been the reason why I am where I am today. And I'm so grateful to be able to share this message to you guys this morning or this afternoon, this evening, wherever you guys are joining. And, and I guess today I want to talk about what does an actual spirit led business look like, right? We hear this a lot. You know, God told me to launch this product or I received prophetic word about a million dollar revenue or maybe the Holy Spirit gave me this strategy. And then other times you hear people and you'll say, well, you know, that's manipulation disguised as prophecy or business decisions should be data driven, not mystical. Like you got to look at the facts like they're not real or that's not your spirit, that's your ego, right? Have you heard of that? Or sometimes you'll say stuff and they're looking at you with dear lights and you're like, what are you talking about? Like, they're looking like you're crazy. And both camps have valid concerns and both of them miss something crucial.
Edna [00:02:33]:
And I'm hoping to talk about that today because what I found is I've encountered spirit led entrepreneurs who made decision that made no logical sense at all, but also saw supernatural results. But I've also seen manipulation disguised as prophecy and ego mask as revelation and also wishful thinking. Baptized as God told me this, right? And in reality the opposite happened. It's like, well, if you said God told you, then why did this happen? And sometimes it's just part of the journey, sometimes it's a part of the process. But the truth of the matter is, Holy spirit Definitely, absolutely, 100% works in business. But here's a caution. Not every prophetic word is about. Not every, not every prophetic word about your business is actually from God.
Edna [00:03:31]:
Okay? I've seen this time and time again in my life. And you're thinking it's going this way because someone told you this, but then reality, it was something else. So, yes, I can't tell you how many times I like I write. One thing about me is I write prophetic words in my journal and I. And if it's audio, I have it still same. In fact, I still listen to prophetic words from 2017, from 2016, and I meditate on it. And even the ones on my journal, I meditate on it. And I ask the Lord, is this from you? Is this from the enemy? Is this my flesh? Like, what is it? And so that's what we're going to talk about today.
Edna [00:04:08]:
Okay? Now mind you all, I am not. I have to look at the clock because as always, I got to pick up my girls from school. So the question is, how do we know what to do? How do we discern? How do we engage wisely? Okay, so first let's talk about scriptures, okay? In. In Exodus 31, okay, I'm not going to have time to go to the. I don't have time to read it. But if you look at Exodus 31, Bezalel and Oholiab carried the spirit to craft. In Genesis 41, Joseph used divine insight and practical strategy. Okay, so spiritual gifts are operating in business, right? And they're not exotic extras.
Edna [00:05:00]:
They're actually built in. So for example, these could be like a word of knowledge, like a sudden business insight, discernment, knowing that a partnership is a trap, or knowing this person, not the person you want to work with, or knowing that's not a customer that you want to have faith, which means you're moving when metrics don't agree. Even though your financial statement saying, don't buy this, but God told you to buy it, you'll still buy it. But the problem with this is even though you have all these gifts that are operating obviously today, gifts don't replace wisdom. They actually intensify it. And so this is the thing that I want you guys to discern revelation from reaction. Okay? So number one, beware of God told me statements. Because God told me statements are meant to shut down questions.
Edna [00:05:52]:
And if they're shutting you down, like, one thing I, I love is when I tell them, God told me this. They asked me questions, and it made me really think, okay, well, how do I answer that? Like, it's. It's good. The questioning is good. Right? There were times in particular when I know that I know that I know, and he already told me that. Don't say anything, God. I. I don't know.
Edna [00:06:14]:
Like, there's some things, if I look back, I have to do a really, a deep analysis on which of these times were really from God or was that my flesh? And the reason why I didn't want to say it, because I didn't want to get wisdom. Like, for example, the scam with the church. Like, if I talk to people, even though God told me certain things, I probably would have not done it because people are going to talk me out of it or maybe think about it. I don't know. I really don't know. I don't know. But that's not the point of this particular episode. I guess the point is when someone says, God told me or God said this statements.
Edna [00:06:51]:
It's okay for you to ask questions. I fact, I want you to ask questions. Okay? Prophecies where the speaker benefits. So, for example, if they say, I want you to invest in this thing. Yes. Yeah, that's probably not a. A good flag. Now, mind you, there are times when the Lord will use people to be the solution.
Edna [00:07:14]:
So there are times I was like, okay, the Holy Spirit told me to tell you this, but that's why I don't like saying the Holy Spirit. Even though people who know me, they know that I know that I have a relationship with the Holy Spirit, that I do hear from the Holy Spirit. But there are new folks who don't really know me that if I say that, they might be freaked out. Okay? But you got to be aware of that even for people like me, right, who know who has a relationship with the Holy Spirit. Make sure you hear from the Holy Spirit, not just them, okay? The third thing is claims of guarantee if you only partner with the prophet, okay? Like saying, okay, for example, there are times when they're like, I see that if you leave this church, this, this, and this is going to happen. And, and mind you, the person who's telling me that is the pastor of that church. Like, that's not like, you have to be careful for those things. Okay? All right.
Edna [00:08:04]:
Sorry, guys. If I'm not making sense, but I hope by way of the Spirit I am. So here's a simple test. What is your answer to all these questions? I have six questions I want you to ask. Number one, does this align with scripture? Number two, do trusted advisors confirm it? Number three, does it produce peace or does it produce pressure? Number four, who truly benefits from this? Number five, is it them or is it you? Is it their kingdom or is it God's kingdom? You hear me? What's the track record? What do you know about this person's character? What do you know about, you know, their fruits, right? What is your inner witness saying? What is your spirit, inner man saying to you? If you can't say yes to these, you may be moving from hype and not the Holy Spirit. Okay, so how do we get practical? How do we implement this? Number one, always start your day with the Holy Spirit, not priorities alone. And mind you, I'm not always good at this. Sometimes I'm like, I can go straight to the Holy Spirit.
Edna [00:09:21]:
And I really, my phone is the hardest thing because I always check the time or always see what time it is and then I see all these email alerts. I probably just need to throw my phone down on the ground. That's something I'm still working on. However, I always get back on track. So it's a hit or miss for me. I'm still not there, but at least I'm doing better than I was before. Number two, pause before major decisions, ask Holy Spirit, what's next? Number three, track what you sense. Review outcomes.
Edna [00:09:47]:
Review outcomes. Number four, maintain community of believers who do business with God. This is so important. I don't care if you're not part of my community, but you need to be part of a community specific. Especially if you're in business. You want to be part of a group that is filled with kingdom minded entrepreneurs. Like that is a must. Okay, that is a must, Must, must.
Edna [00:10:10]:
Even take for example, I have my group that I'm leading, but I also am part of other groups that I'm not leading. Does that make sense? Like this is so important. If you can't get anything out of this episode, find a community of believers who to do, who do business with God and connect with them, link with them, partner with them, because that's what you want. The last thing you want to do is say no when required, but always with clarity and honor. Don't be judgmental. Speak truth in love. Like I always say and, and say no. Say I'm sorry, but that's, I I, I, I don't, I don't, it doesn't sit well with me.
Edna [00:10:44]:
Or, or you could say something like, I just don't feel led to be part of this. Okay? So this is really, really good, my friends. This is really going to help you. Okay? Always, always, always ask the Holy Spirit, like, what do you want me to do? There were many times in my life where I really want to help someone. And even though he told me, don't help this person, I still help. And guess what? I got hurt in the end. Right? Or it could be a time the Holy Spirit is really warning me, like, I'm being a certain way towards my husband. Like, the way I'm talking is hurting him, and I still keep going.
Edna [00:11:19]:
And then, then there's friction in the house. And mind you, my husband and I always wake up. But the point is, like, I created unnecessary drama. So this applies to both business and your personal life. Right? Or sometimes I could be really mean to the my children because I'm having like a rough day or I'm tired or exhausted and the Holy Spirit upon me and I will still say stuff, and then I really hurt their hearts and I have to really, like, repent not just to the Holy Spirit, but to my children. Does that make sense? So when you're cultivating your listen, I want listening. I want you to walk ahead of what, Blah, blah. When you cultivate listening, you walk ahead of what you could have missed, right? So listen to the Holy Spirit.
Edna [00:12:05]:
Listen to the Holy Spirit. That doesn't even make sense. What I just wrote here. Like, what is, what does that mean? Okay, the point is build margin for the Holy Spirit. I don't, I don't even know why I wrote that. But when you cultivate listening, you walk ahead of what you could have missed. Okay? The point is, when you listen to the Holy Spirit, he'll help you navigate through storms. He'll help you avoid things that you don't really need to go through.
Edna [00:12:29]:
And he'll also show things to you that it's going to be a blessing, even though in your first initial instinct, it's not going to be a blessing. All right, so let's get practical. Spend 15 minutes in silence before work. Just be quiet and hear the Holy Spirit. And that is the hardest thing to do. But I try to do it regularly. It's a hit or miss for me. Okay, Number two, ask one business decision.
Edna [00:12:53]:
Is this aligning with my calling or is this just comfortable? Okay, Is this what I know? Is this what my intellect. Right. Is this what my experience is saying. Right. Number three, write down one sense you feel from God. Like what is it that you believe God is telling you to do? Write it down and then check what happened at the end of the month and see, was that God's voice? Because that's really going to help your tuning. Like you're learning from your trial and error. Right.
Edna [00:13:20]:
And the good thing about God is if you have a pure heart, he'll work with you. Right. And number four, share your process with a peer who. Like a peer. Not peer, peer, like someone who, like a friend, a colleague, someone that you trust, who also leads by the Holy Spirit, who, who's led by the Holy Spirit. Okay. Remember that the same Spirit who spoke to the prophets wants to empower your business. Not to bypass your work, but actually to enrich it.
Edna [00:13:53]:
Okay. Prophetic, the prophetic, the prophets. The prophetic word of God is operating today, even like back then. And that's a whole nother teaching because a lot of people don't believe prophets exist in a marketplace. A lot of people believe that prophets are dead. A lot of people believe that prophetic is no longer relevant. But, and that's comes from Revelation. And I, I don't blame people who don't believe in it because maybe they never really encountered the real prophetic.
Edna [00:14:19]:
Thank you, Holy Spirit. That's what's missing. And I really need to pray this out that people will encounter the real prophets, the real prophetic, the real men and women of God that hear the voice of God, that are being sent to give instructions to their people, to God's people, and to really just point them towards the right direction and also correct and dissipate. Because prophetic words aren't always supposed to be only good things. They're also supposed to point you to correct you. Like for example, Jonah, when people were living in sin, sin, God sent him to Nineveh. So be careful with those prophets, especially on YouTube, on Instagram or whatever, LinkedIn. There's only prophets on LinkedIn.
Edna [00:15:02]:
I haven't seen anyone yet. But on TikTok that all they do is release prophetic words that are good. There has to be. I don't know, I'm eerie about those, really eerie about those, because this is feel good messages and that's not what you want. I always say I'm not here to make you feel good. I'm actually here to help you be good. So I want you to ask who's leading your business? Is it you? Is it your intellect? Is your business advisor? Or is it God. Or maybe I should ask you another question.
Edna [00:15:31]:
Is your business leading you? Is your. Are you leading your business or is your business leading you? Okay, who is it? And if you're leading the business, who's leading you? Right? Is it God or is it your business? I know I'm asking you some questions. It's probably confusing right now, but these are questions you need to ask yourself. And you're thank you, Holy Spirit. And the best thing you could do in any circumstance is ask questions. God is not afraid of your questions. The Holy Spirit, Jesus and Abba can handle and love your questions. Even in doubt, even when you don't agree.
Edna [00:16:12]:
I always ask questions. I do. He wants a relationship, not a robot, right? All right. So hope this blessed you guys. Hope that this, this teaching I know was short, but I hope it blessed you and I hope it encouraged you to stir up your hunger for the Holy Spirit and learn more about him and be led by him in more ways than you are. Like he. I literally talk to him all the time. All the time.
Edna [00:16:43]:
And it makes life so fulfilling. All right, God bless you guys and I'll talk to you soon. Take care.
Speaker C [00:16:54]:
Thanks for joining us this week on Estrepreneur. Make sure to visit our website favorandwealth.com for more information on our services. While you're at it, if you found value in this show, would appreciate a rating on itunes. Or if you simply tell a friend about the show, that would help me out, too. Also, check out my book, the Ugly side of Sales, available on Amazon, where I share seven of my secrets on how to win and grow business the right way. Until next time, keep shining.