Growing a business is always a challenge at the best of times. However, during these pandemic times it’s tough enough just to stay alive and thrive let alone grow. Changes appear to be coming from every side. How do you stay ahead of the curve? 

Today, we’re fighting off the threats of Covid 19. Back in New Testament times, the Colossians were fighting off dangerous teachings that threatened the life of the church.  We can learn from Paul’s insightful prayer to keep these young Christians from losing their faith. 
 
Paul’s 3 insights can provide us, as business leaders, some real hope and encouragement
during these tough times. Check out Paul’s prayer for the Colossians:

9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for
you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the
wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,[a] 10 so that you may live a life worthy of
the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the
knowledge of God. Colossians 1 (NIV) 

 
A closer look at these verses provide us a template for what we need during these difficult times. Let’s take a brief look at the three highlighted phrases above. 
   
Acquire God’s Knowledge 

Paul asks God “to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives.”  Relevant to his times, but ours also, the best place to begin is to ask God to show you His way forward.   
 
Our present situation hasn’t caught God off guard like it has us. He knows the future and can certainly guide us through it. He will provide us with the wisdom and understanding to navigate these tough days ahead.

Are we willing to listen to Him and

to learn His will for our businesses? 

Apply God’s Wisdom 

The purpose for Paul’s prayers is “so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord.” As we are all quite aware, knowledge has little value unless we use wisdom to apply it to our daily lives.  What we learn in our heads needs to be imprinted in our hearts and result in action that makes a difference in our businesses.

God’s Word is intended to bring about significant change in our lives. Otherwise, as it says in James 1: 22 "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

 
What action do you need to take now

based on the application of God’s wisdom? 
 

Account for God’s Pleasure 

Finally, Paul calls us to a clear accountability measure which is to strive to “please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.” Our ultimate goal in business is to please him and show the evidence good hard work based on the
knowledge that God provides for our taking.

 
How are you pleasing God through

the hard work you put into your business? 

When we acquire God’s knowledge and apply God’s wisdom, we’ll be able to account for bringing God pleasure through our businesses. 
 
Putting yourself in this kind of a learning posture will open you and your staff up to possibilities that God wants to provide to bring success to your business and pleasure to Him.