Growthtrac Community

[sisi]

Hi,

The reason I ask this question is because I am thinking about starting a business but want to know if it is necessary to wait for a confirmation from God before going ahead with it. Is it better to wait for an answer, or to step out in faith and then speak success and prosperity over my business? Does starting a business have to line up with the purpose and plan the God has for my life in order to succeed?

I would appreciate any response you may have to my question(s)!

[rdsmith3]

What a thoughtful question. The fact that you are even asking it tells me that you have probably already asked God about His will for your life.

Does starting a business have to line up with the purpose and plan the God has for my life in order to succeed?

So I think you know that the answer to that is "yes."

My understanding is that you want to start a business, you have prayed about it, but you are unsure if this is what God really wants you to do because you have not received any sort of confirmation from Him.

My advice, and this is really just personal opinion, is that you should proceed with it provided that the business does not go against God's word in any way. I believe that if you have prayerfully consulted God, and you sincerely desire to do His will, then by all means go for it. I think He will close the door if He does not want you to proceed.

I pray for your success.

[j3anjean]

I think sometimes God wants us to step out in faith. I agree with Rdsmith. If you aren't receiving a definative NO and your business does not contrast God's will- I would the leap. Continue to pray for the Lord's guidance and wisdom. I'm praying for you.

[SAM]

Hard to wait on God for answers, isn't it?

My husband and I opened a business several years ago without waiting for a clear answer. It proved to be a very difficult journey for us. My husband was a wedding photographer.

Sometimes we want something so desperately, that we fail to watch for those little taps on the shoulder and nudges from the Holy Spirit where he sends us the warning signals that things just are not completely right. Something is off tilt.

If you have prayed for some time, and you have sought the wisdom and guidance of several trusted, older and wiser friends - and you have a sense of peace about moving forward - then watch and see if things fall into place as you start to move forward. If things seem chaotic, and there are obstacles that keep popping up - then you will know that God is not part of this decision. He puts those roadblocks up when it's not the direction he wants us to take. He opens doors and lets things fall into place with minute detail when it is his will.

We closed our photography business. Several years later, God showed us how he wanted us to do weddings his way. He brought us into a marriage ministry where we could be mentors to pre-married couples. Furthermore, my husband received approval from the elders to officiate, the weddings for the couples we mentor. It is the icing on the cake! It has been the most rewarding thing in our lives. It has grown our marriage and faith tremendously. Who would have guessed? I know we couldn't have.

[km]

We know that God has particular plans for our lives. We generally don't know precisely what they are (God told Noah to build an ark, with specific dimensions and specifications - few of the rest us get a set of blueprints for God's plan in our lives).

God wishes for you to live in full obedience to Him. If your business plan allows you to operate in full obedience to scripture, then you are free to pursue it. Many things are obviously not God's plan for you, say opening a bordello, for example, becuase the work requires you to depart from the teachings of scripture. Most others can be done in compliance to scritpture and you are free to pursue - if done obediantly.

[sisi]

Thank you all for your advice and prayers!