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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. Well, hello everyone.
Edna Harding [00:00:49]:
Thank you for tuning in for another episode of the Estrepreneur podcast. My name is Edna Harding, and I'm nothing but a messenger of life. I just want to welcome you guys today. Thank you guys for just continuing to just encourage me as I share the nuggets of wisdom that the Lord has been showing me in the Bible for your business. So if you're an entrepreneur, you're a business leader, you're someone who's interested in entrepreneurship and want to incorporate strategies for the Bible, you are in the right place. So today we're going to talk about seven lies about favor that are keeping you from your breakthrough. Seven lies about favor that are keeping you from entering into the promises of God. And before I begin, I just want to say that favor is actually a term that I had meditated on and had.
Edna Harding [00:01:53]:
I had, like, identified with for a very long time, since I was 19 years old. In fact, my. My Instagram handle was highly favored. Edna, I studied favor for a while, and it's a subject that I truly, truly, truly believe that is un. What's that word? Not misguided, but not everybody knows the truth about favor. And it's. It's. Ms.
Edna Harding [00:02:30]:
What's that word, Holy Spirit, where it's like. It's like you think you know, but you really don't know. I can't think of the word, but that's basically what what I'm trying to say. Its favor is such a. It's written all over the Bible, but a lot of people can't discern it. All right, but so what better way to. To discern it by telling you what it. It is not? Okay, so let's just.
Edna Harding [00:02:58]:
Let me just pray real quick. So, Father God, we just welcome you, Holy Spirit. We thank you for this episode. We thank you for what you're going to share with us. I pray for my brother and sister listening on the other side. Side. I pray, oh God, that they will hear your voice and not mine. In Jesus name amen so let me confess the worst prayer I've ever prayed for, and that is God, if I really have your favor, why is everything falling apart? Does this relate to anybody? Like you're like, okay, God, I'm highly favored, Edna, but why does my life feel like it's the opposite of favor? Okay, I remember for many years I assumed that favor meant everything would be easy.
Edna Harding [00:03:48]:
But the thing about that is that is completely wrong. And in fact, that very belief that once you have favor, everything will be easy, that delayed my breakthrough. So today I'm going to expose those seven lies about favor that are actually sabotaging your business, your faith, and your next level. All right, so let's start off with the first slide. The first lie is favor means no opposition, when in reality, favor actually attracts warfare. Joseph's dreams got him thrown in a pit. David's anointing made Saul his enemy. The favor on Jesus's life stirred hate by the Pharisees and the Sadducees, the religious folks.
Edna Harding [00:04:40]:
Opposition is not a sign that you're off. In fact, it's proof that you're on. So in business, let's make it plain. If there's a lot of competition and you're getting a lot of opposition, like criticism, that's confirmation for you that you are in the right place. Okay, so the second lie I want to talk about is favor means instant results. But in reality, Abraham waited 25 years. Jesus waited 30 years. Remember in the scripture, it said if you read the Gospels, it talked about Jesus grew in wisdom and stature.
Edna Harding [00:05:26]:
Right, Wisdom and stature. So as a little child, obviously he had a lot of favor. But could he have started his ministry at 12 years old or at 5 years old or even 3 year old? Absolutely. But he waited 30 years. So one thing about favor, that thing is going to help you is favor doesn't mean fast. In fact, it means certain. So it doesn't mean quick, not microwave. It just means sure and guaranteed.
Edna Harding [00:06:01]:
So in your business, your launch, your growth, your breakthrough, all of these things, it's a process. And when you identify that process, you're not going to rush it, you're going to embrace it. I'm so glad I. And you know, it's so weird hearing me say this. I'm so glad that from the moment I knew, God had called me to business, which I was 16 years old, by the way. 16 years old, that it took me all these years. I'm 41 right now. It took all these years for me to actually have the fruits of my business.
Edna Harding [00:06:42]:
Meaning I'm finally seeing tangible results, tangible fruits, because I'm now mature enough to handle it. And I'm glad I waited. Because what I found is the process isn't meant to punish you. The process is meant to prepare you and equip you so that you can sustain in that position that God gave you. Right. So stop asking when and start asking God, what else do I need to do to prepare for that particular answer that God has been saying that is already ours. Does that make sense? All right, line number three. Favor means you deserve it.
Edna Harding [00:07:34]:
When in reality, favor is grace. To say that again, favor is grace. Favor is grace. It's not grind. It's not because you work hard. It's because of God's faithfulness. It's because of his love. It's not because of your effort.
Edna Harding [00:07:47]:
It's not because of your excellence. It's because God is good. He is kind. He is merciful. Pride will make you mishandle what only gratitude can sustain. I am so glad, my friends. I am so glad that God didn't give me the rewards of my labor early on. Because what I found is when you get so many successes in corporate, and I had a lot of success stories, a lot of proof, a lot of fruits, and then if I started my own business and let's say it, it took off right away and I didn't experience all those hardships, I honestly don't know if I would be as humble as I am today.
Edna Harding [00:08:37]:
And when I say humble, meaning, like, knowing that it's not from my hands but God's hands, it made me realize that it was God who increased me, it was God who showed me favor, not my own talents and gifts. And it, quite honestly, it's been kind of sombering. It's like a slap in your face. Okay, it's not me. It's definitely you. But I'm glad. I'm glad I know this so that when God takes me to all that he has for me, because I know, oh, my gosh, from the things he's shown me, it's ridiculous. And I'm just like, no, God, I don't know if I can handle all that.
Edna Harding [00:09:18]:
But it's because God wants to show me just how good he is, how faithful he is, how kind he is, how merciful it is. So I want you to ask yourself, are you taking credit for some wins that technically was not you, but all God? You need to hand the glory back to God. Okay, again, favor doesn't mean you deserve it. Favor is all Him. It's God's goodness. Now, I do have to say, he will reward you for your obedience, but a lot of times his reward is. Is bigger than what you deserve. Can everyone.
Edna Harding [00:09:56]:
Can anyone say amen to that? Like, a lot of the things he's done for me, I'm like, wow, God, this is crazy. Like, I'm, like, undone. Does that make sense? All right, Line number four. Favor means comfort. God's favor is not a cushion. In fact, it's a calling. A lot of times, the favor of God when it comes to your calling means, like, get ready to suffer. And I know it sounds so bad, but it's like, get ready for opposition.
Edna Harding [00:10:29]:
Get ready for challenges. And I wish someone told me this a long time ago, but then again, maybe if someone told me that, I probably would not say yes. I'll probably say, absolutely not. So I feel like sometimes, in a way, it's good that we don't know what we're about to face when we say yes to God. But hindsight is 2020 again, coming from the other side. And as I look back all these years, like, I realized, like, this was the best route because I have learned so much and I have matured so much in my walk with the Lord and my intimacy with God. And mind you, I don't have it all figured out, but I can say that I feel closer to Jesus more than ever. And I know his character like the back of my hand, and I know his voice.
Edna Harding [00:11:19]:
And it's. It was that pruning process. It was that learning process. It was. And mind you, I never want to get complacent to thinking and knowing that I know it all. And which is why every morning, I make it a priority to seek him first and truly, like, not let anything get in the way of my time with the Lord, whether if it's successes or, you know, blessings. It's not even, like, all bad things. It could be a lot of good things.
Edna Harding [00:11:51]:
Like, I make it a point to turn everything off so that I could hear his frequency, hear his voice, and he can. He and I can just have fellowship with one another, to talk with each other, to share what's on my heart and what's on his. It's a beautiful thing. It really is a beautiful thing. And. And I say all this to say that you have to understand that part of favor means you are going to experience challenges. And. But it's those challenges that's going to prepare you for the crowning.
Edna Harding [00:12:37]:
Right? So that you will know again that it's not you. It's him. Remember Joseph's favor put him over Egypt. David's favor carried a kingdom and Jesus favor carried a cross. All those things were not easy things. I mean, it was big things, I guess. I mean, you could look at it as like, you know, the glass is half full type of thing. But it came with a price.
Edna Harding [00:13:09]:
And I think, sorry, guys, a lot of people don't realize the price I paid. I paid a heavy, heavy, heavy price. A heavy price. The. Because I said yes to Jesus. And a lot of people, I. I'm not just saying this for the sake of saying it, but a lot of people who know me will know, and they'll tell me, like, you didn't have to go on it. I didn't have to say yes.
Edna Harding [00:13:48]:
I didn't have to keep believing God. I didn't have to just continue to allow the Lord to prune me. But I did because I love him, because I believe him, and because I know at the end of it, he will get his glory. And maybe some of you are facing that pressure that seems like what seems like punishment? What seems like, was it worth it? I'm speaking from the other side of that obedience. It's worth it. Don't give up. Don't quit. Keep saying yes, keep obeying, keep trusting God.
Edna Harding [00:14:48]:
It's worth it. Because what good Lord is going to do through you, you and your life and your testimony is going to bring millions to the kingdom. So stop praying for ease and start praying for strength. Because I hate to say it to you, my brother and sister, you're gonna need it. I don't mean to laugh, but yeah, I. Gosh, Lord Jesus knows I prayed for strength, like on a regular. All right, number five. Favor means everyone will like you.
Edna Harding [00:15:26]:
That is a lie. Jesus had full favor and was crucified. Favor causes division, not universal applause. Remember that in business and in life, especially when you attract the favor of God, not everyone will get you. And it's okay. It's okay. The Lord is pleased with you. And really, that's all that matters.
Edna Harding [00:15:53]:
Line number six. Favor means she won't fail. When in reality, failure isn't disqualification. In fact, it's preparation. Remember, that favor is not about avoiding failures. It's not. If you think you know, I'm blessed, I'm favored. A highly favored.
Edna Harding [00:16:12]:
Yep, Failures will happen, but it would. It's what God builds through the failures that keeps you favored. Don't hide your failures. Leverage them. Leverage them. One thing that my clients know about me is I'm an open book. I Share the good, the bad and the ugly. Because I realized that it's those hard stories, those tough stories, those traumatic stories, those like dying to self stories are the ones that really will renew people's mind.
Edna Harding [00:16:51]:
Because a lot of times we care so much what people think instead of saying what God really did so that he will be glorified. Instead, you're so worried about what other people would think that you have to tweak your story or make your story sound good. When in reality, what people want is raw. They want raw. They want raw encounters, they want raw failures, they want rawness because it's in the realness, it's in your authenticity that the Lord will get glorified. Because people don't just want to hear the good, they want to hear the ugly side. That's another plugin for my book. I didn't expect that to happen.
Edna Harding [00:17:36]:
But there was an ugly side to the testimony of everybody. And it's okay to share that because that's honestly where I believe people can relate with the most is the ugly side, the dark side, the side that no one really wants to talk about, but it's truly the side that's going to heal people's soul. And number seven, the last lie is favor is about you. The favor of God is never about you. It's about other people's lives. It's always about other people, period. Joseph's favor saved lives. Jesus favor redeemed the world.
Edna Harding [00:18:15]:
Favor is for others, not for you. So your platform should create platforms. Your success should serve others and create other people's success. Your assignment should help people with their assignments. Okay, my challenge to you is be the resource this week and open a door for someone else. Just be a blessing just for the sake of being a blessing. Remember that favor means resistance. Favor means delay.
Edna Harding [00:18:54]:
Yes, favor means resistance. Favor means delay. Favor means struggle. All those things are needed because that's confirmation for you. That's preparation for you. That's building your strength and building your faith. And whatever influence you get after you pass this test, that's not for you, that's for others. Your favor is not gone.
Edna Harding [00:19:20]:
You're still highly favored in spite of this all. It's just misunderstood. This week I want to challenge you to name a lie that you believe, break that power and walk like you're favored even in the fight. Because, my friend, you are. You are blessed and highly favored in the fire. Embrace it. Embrace it and know that God is going to get the glory out of this. Well, God bless you guys and hope you have a wonderful week ahead.
Edna Harding [00:19:56]:
Take care. 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, we'd 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.