#059: How to Consult With God [Podcast]

May 1, 2013

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What if you could consult with God himself about your business? What if you could ask him questions, and get divinely inspired answers? What if you could ask God to introduce you to key people, or even to send you business? I believe all these things are possible, and in fact I practice them in my own business. And today, I'm going to show you exactly how you can do the same.

I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast.

Here are some other reasons to keep listening to this week's podcast episode:

An update on the “five things” productivity tactic (hint: five is too many).
An alternative to BaseCamp that works.
Plus, our feature presentation… How to Consult With God

Tip Of The Week

Update on “5 Things”… it's now “1 Thing”. From The ONE Thing by Gary Keller, Jay Papasan…

“What’s the ONE Thing you can do this week such that by doing it everything else would be easier or unnecessary?”

While I do love (and use) BaseCamp, I am trying out a new tool for managing projects that could be even simpler. Meet BizPad.

Spiritual Foundations

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. James 1:5

Sometimes we think God is only interested in “spiritual things”. That he has no interest in the material world, and neither should we.

This is not a Judeo-Christian idea. It is an idea that sprouts from Greek thinking, and specifically is at the root of a heresy known as Gnosticism. The Gnostics believed, among many things, that the material world was evil and that only the spiritual world could be pure and unsullied. This led them to believing that Jesus was a ghost, and not an actual man.

The truth is from the beginning God wanted to partner with human beings to comp is his purposes. This is why Adam and Eve were put in charge of the garden. They were given assignment, and this was before the fall. So work, and the material world, are not evil, and are not results of the fall.

What's my point?

When God created the world, he looked at his creation and said it was good. We should relax and enjoy the fact that we can have fun while working, that we are interested in what we do, and celebrate the fact that God made us the way he did. I think he enjoys what we enjoy. And thus, I think he's interested in every aspect of our lives. That he longs to give input, supply answers, and help us out. Just as we long to do the same for our own children.

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. John 16:13

Feature Segment: How to Consult With God

If you separate God from any part of your life, you are not having the full experience of God, nor of that part of your life. Business is no exception.

These days, if I am asked if I personally have a consultant for my business, my answer is yes. I have the very best consultant available. God.

Now, most people probably assume that I mean I run my business according to godly principles. Principles that I find in Scripture, or that I am taught by pastors and teachers. While this is true (to the best of my ability, and as God enables me), this is not really what I mean.

Or rather, it is not all that I mean.

I mean that I consult with my father in heaven every day about my business. I’m in constant dialogue with him about what things to work on, what to write, even how to solve specific challenges and problems I encounter along the way.

So how do you do it? How do you ask God for answers? How do you ask him for help? Here are five steps I have found useful

Know that God is interested, willing, and able. From Scripture we know that he has even counted the number of hairs on your head. We know that one man came to Jesus with the problem and said Jesus could heal him “if he was willing”… And another man came to Jesus and asked for help, “if you are able”… And the answer Jesus gave to both was yes. He was willing, he was able. He healed everyone who came to him.
Realize that you are qualified for God’s help. Jesus stepped into the gap between us and God. He solved the “sin problem” once and for all. So just place your faith in him, and know that you don’t have to “clean up your act” or “make amends” before he will be willing to help you.
Be intentional about what you are asking. If you are asking for an answer, be specific in your question. If you are asking for help, be specific in your request. I suggest writing down what you are asking for.
Offer thanks immediately. In Philippians we are told to make our requests known to God, with “prayer and thanksgiving”. Notice how many times Jesus thanked his father… before the miracle happened. There is a unique opportunity to thank God after your request has been made and before you've seen the answer with your eyes.
Expect and look for the answer. Whether you have asked God for an idea, a connection with a person, or just a miraculous infusion of money, so you can meet payroll… be looking for the answer. Have hope.

What if God doesn’t answer?

Or what if he says no?

First, I think the number of times God says “no” is much lower than we believe it is. For instance, when we pray for physical healing, it is clear from reading Scripture that it is always God’s will for us to be healed. He paid a high price so that this could be the case. So if the healing doesn’t come, there is some answer other than the one that puts God in the position of being a liar.

I believe that when we pray, something always happens. Always.

Maybe we don’t see it, maybe we don’t see it yet, or maybe it comes in a form that we don’t recognize.

It’s helpful to remember that God’s delays are not necessarily his denials.

A useful question that has helped me navigate these waters is one I learned from Graham Cook. When faced with a difficult situation, and no apparent answer from God, I ask him, “Who does God want to be for me in this situation?”

I have received some of the deepest answers to my own prayers by asking God that question.

You can ask for God’s help, for answers, and even for direct assistance. And he will answer you. Try it.

Listener Questions

We heard from these listeners this week:

Sonya Ramsey asks how to avoid making your business into an idol.
Anette Bone wants to know how we can be sure we are in God's will.
Summer Alexander asks if the changes she made to her business were really God-inspired.
Mary Rose Macguire wonders if she's really hearing God's voice, or her own.
Pam McCall has a great testimony of God's provision for one of her clients.
Laura Viviana when you ask God for something, but it hasn't come yet, how do you deal with it?
Rich Bradfield asks how we keep ourselves an alignment with what God is doing.
Tony Policci asks how we pose a question to God and get a specific answer.
Laura McClellan wonders how we know when we are motivated by profit, as opposed to being motivated by the spirit.
Ilene Saidel asks for my favorite scripture to pray for new customers.

For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:17)

One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it. (Proverbs 11:24-26)

Want To Be On Next Week's Show?

My topic for next week's show is “How to Attract Business”. If you have a question on that topic, you can ask by visiting my voicemail page (just click here to leave a message). This is a great way to promote your own website. First, make sure you have a great question, and then start off by saying your name and your website. If your question is used on the show, will even include a link back to your site in the show notes.

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And if you enjoy the podcast, I would consider it a great favor if you subscribe (and leave a review) in iTunes. This helps new people discover the podcast. You can also find the podcast on Stitcher.