Foundation Building--Kill to Heal; Break Down to Build Up

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up... Ecclesiastes 3:3

Aha! Are YOU really ready to build your business? I ask that because based upon my experience, many that say they are ready, in the short term, show that they are not necessarily ready to run forward. There can be any number of excuses for the delay; however, one very prevalent reason that continues to surface is that minds need to be renewed. As you move forward doing great things, you will no longer be able to operate from your comfort zones. It is not necessarily pleasant to go from the known to the unknown. However, if you expect great things, you must be prepared to do them, not just watch them happen in other people’s lives. So, you have to work on yourself first before you can effectively work on the business. Yes, right now you are working on YOU, next month you will work on the business. (Have you noticed when a new building is being built, the construction site is dug up before the foundation is laid?)

You may find it rather easy to run quickly and work in the business but delay working on the business because it requires that some things be done that you are not necessarily used to doing or want to do. When working in the business, you bring your gifts, talents, interests and skill sets to life. You are operating in your element of gifting, interest or expertise. However, working on the business requires you to do things and use gifts, interests and expertise that you may or may not have but that are foundational and will ultimately enable the business to grow and develop over the long term. Fortunately, you don’t have to do it alone; that is the purpose of having team members-to let other people’s visions help you reach your vision. However, you must trust in order to have a functional team.

Do everything in decency and order. At this time, the practical steps required to start, grow or develop your business are not being presented because many times we rush to do those things and the “mess” that is still on and within have not been addressed; and at some point, if not dealt with, will ultimately cause problems, delays and other issues. It is best to address these personal issues, hang-ups, and insecurities up front so that when they present themselves they’ll be recognized, arrested, and resolved.

Christians should be the standard bearers, therefore, like it or not, if we are going to operate in the Kingdom of God on earth, then we have to develop a whole new mindset. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God”-Romans 12:2. We have to unlearn years of the world system of operating and surviving. The thoughts, habits and actions of the world-those who trained us-have to be killed, broken down; then we have to heal in order to learn new habits which will enable us to take new actions-build up.

Some examples of the old versus the new:

Fear is the basis for all of the other manifestations. Fear of failure, fear of success, fear of rejection, fear of … It is absolutely amazing how these negatives can insidiously manifest themselves, take up residence in our lives and become strongholds that need to be killed, broken down. It’s often the opposite of what we think is actually happening. For example, both greed and frugality could be related to a poverty and lack spirit/mentality due to fear of not getting or having enough. Any extreme behavior is questionable, don’t be hoodwinked and bamboozled!

Another example of how these negatives manifest and prevent us from moving forward:

DISTRUST--One very evident area is in developing trust. As mentioned above, we need team members to walk out our vision. We may be slow to develop teams because we cannot trust. Who do we trust? What do we trust in? Why do we not trust? Our trust must first be in God and look to Him to orchestrate circumstances and situations to put us in contact with those with whom we should be teaming and developing alliances. “[It is] better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man”- -Psalms 118:8.

The list above could go on. This short list is presented to create awareness of what may lurk behind the scenes and to inspire you to deal with them. You can develop your list based upon your personal issues, hang-ups and insecurities. Just be true to yourself, because it really is between you and God. Some suggested ways to start the cleansing process is to ask God to reveal to you anything that is holding you back from moving forward to His good, acceptable, perfect will for your life. You can also read and meditate on the Books of Psalms and Proverbs. Let God minister to you and wash you through His Word.

Next month we will move on to working on the business with, Foundation Building-Beyond the Business Card.

Copyright© 2004 by Bonita M.W. Shelby, Used by permission, BlackandChristian.com
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Bonita M.W. Shelby is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Business Manager. A graduate of Howard University, Ms. Shelby is a member of Jericho City of Praise and a Breast Cancer survivor. She helped establish the Howard University Hospital Breast Cancer Support Group. Ms. Shelby is the principal and business life coach of Kingdom Business, Inc. Responses are encouraged and for more information, I invite you to visit our website or contact us:
http://www.kingdombusiness.biz
bonita.shelby@verizon.net
301-445-0398 (Tel)