Are you tired of struggling with the same old repeated patterns that threaten to sabotage your relationships, business success, and your ability to overcome things? I hope today you’ll consider soul work and the benefits it offers you as a Christian entrepreneur.
What is soul work, you say? In the dynamic landscape of Christian entrepreneurship, where ambition, hustle, influence, and competition often reign, the call for the Christian entrepreneur goes beyond mere business acumen. It invites a deeper journey—one of soul work, a spiritual and practical work that harmonizes faith in God with the responsibilities of service, humility, obedience, and leadership.
This article explores what I define as soul work, a spiritual growth tool in your arsenal for achieving success and transformation, God’s way. By applying the Word of God, you’ll be in the rhythm of caring for and allowing the Spirit to renew your soul through intentional growth work. You’ll display a rich outward expression of the Lord’s truth, which not only nourishes your spirit but also directly impacts your effectiveness in the marketplace.
In the prior teachings, “What is the Cure for My Soul” parts 1 and 2, we took steps to assess the condition of our souls and to honestly prioritize soul health. Since the entrepreneurial path is no small feat or walk in the park, the Lord Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit to help us live spiritually successful and disciplined lives. Therefore, our spiritual and soul well-being, as reflected in the decisions we make and the attitudes we embody, resonates far beyond our endeavors. Through the lens of soul work, we can align our business practices with God’s purposes without compromise.
What is Soul Work
I define soul work in my book, The Acceleration Cure, a must-have for every Christian leader and business owner, where I dive into spiritual and practical solutions for life and business with biblical principles. Soul work is submission and co-laboring with the Holy Spirit’s sanctification to remove unaligned habits and strongholds plaguing the soul for transformation. It’s working out and through the blessing of the soul-salvation we’ve received by grace through faith in our precious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Psalm 16:2, 7-8,11 NIV I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. 8 I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 11 You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Matthew Henry expresses in Matthew Henry’s commentary on the Whole Bible, He encourages them to be diligent and serious in their Christian journey: Strive for your own salvation. It pertains to the salvation of our souls (1 Pt. 1:9), and refers to our eternal salvation (Heb. 5:9), encompassing liberation from all the evils that sin has brought upon us and exposed us to, as well as the attainment of every good thing needed for our complete and ultimate happiness. Note that it is crucial for us to prioritize the well-being of our souls: regardless of what happens with other matters, we must focus on our own best interests. It is our personal salvation, the salvation of our own souls.”
Psalm 16:2, 7-8,11 NIV I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. 8 I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 11 You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Because of your joy in the Lord and gratitude for your redemption, you must work the Word of God so it can work in and through your spirit and soul. This means becoming a student of truth, embracing the right theology of God, and adhering to sound doctrine, so that you can learn the truth of what God says about the matters that pertain to righteous living.
Prepare for Soul Work
How do you prepare to do the soul work? Doing the soul work involves developing spiritual disciplines and habits that deepen your faith and trust in God through His Word. When you have a habit of practicing a correct hermeneutical framework for understanding Scriptures, you’ll hone in on what God’s Word says.
Roy B. Zuck shares in Basic Bible Interpretation, he poses the question, “Why is Bible Interpretation Important? It is essential for understanding and teaching the bible properly. We must know the meaning of the Bible before we can know its message for today. We must understand its sense for then before we can see its significance for now. Without hermeneutics (the science and art of interpreting the Bible), we are jumping over and missing out on an indispensable step in Bible study.”
I recommend that you add Roy’s book to your book collection and knowledge bank as you seek to exegete the text properly, rather than imposing your own meaning when reading it. You’ll want to avoid “What is this text saying to me” as a primary way of reading and learning the Bible. Instead, don’t skip reading the introductions and background information of each book. Ask questions about the text, such as who wrote this book, to whom it was written, what its purpose is, and what kind of writing it employs.
The more you grow in the knowledge of the Scriptures, the more their effects overflow into every area of your life and business. For example, when you pray according to the Scriptures, there’s no doubt you’ll grow spiritually. The growth and seeing the answered prayers will astonish and amaze you. You’ll then desire to continue feasting on the Word of God and never want to feel undernourished from missing out on it again.
Guard Your Soul
God paid a hefty, invaluable price for your soul. Therefore, guard your heart while doing the work. Many false teachers and wolves have gone out on behalf of Satan, and they want nothing more than to deter and distract you from learning, obeying, and applying the truths of the Bible’s sound teachings to your life. He wants to keep you under false ministers seeking after something God never promised because you’re applying the Scripture out of context. These false ministers take a little truth and mix it with something demonic that feels good, but isn’t good for your soul. They have a lot of “God told me” statements and “I had dreams and visions.”
For example:
- Yoga and Guided Meditation
- Manifesting and the Law of Attraction
- New Age and New Thought
- Prosperity (Health and Wealth) Gospel
- New Apostolic Reformation (NAR)
- Roman Catholicism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormonism
Psalm 16:2, 7-8,11 NIV I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. 8 I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 11 You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Therefore, in seeking the cure for your soul and working out your salvation, whatever is essential to God must be the same for you, because He knows best and knows exactly what you need. As a child advances in age, so does the child’s physical and mental development. We expect to witness these advancements when a child is growing.
Likewise, when you become a believer, everyone watching your journey expects to see growth, which displays outwardly as fruit. That’s why you’ll want to evaluate and assess any distractions and unaligned commitments and remove them.
Frustrated with symptom management, but you need a cure?
Success in life and business starts with God's methods, His Word, and Soul work. The Soul Check-Up is a tool in your arsenal.
How to Do the Soul Work
Soul work involves a deep reflection on what nurtures and challenges your spirit. The soul check-up is the resource I use. It has questions to guide you and practical recommendations to nurture your self and soul. It’s crucial to be kind to yourself during this process and to find rest in the Lord as you address the issues in your life. Take your time, and allow yourself the grace to heal and grow. Doing the work involves approaching the throne of God’s grace for help and mercy.
Psalm 16:2, 7-8,11 NIV I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
Hebrews 4:15-16 NIV shares, For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
How is your soul? Is it striving for the things of God? Is it stressed, depressed, chaotic, or frantic? God cares about the condition of your heart and soul and wants to clean and transform you. When we dismiss and neglect the care of our souls, we can’t be as effective in leadership or growing a profitable business.
Soul work is also a confirmation that our heart and mind are humble and right before the Lord, as we ask Him to search our hearts for any unconfessed and hidden sins. I recommend that you grab a journal and use my Soul Check-Up as a practical way to help you get started, in addition to your regular Bible reading and study.
The Unsubmitted Soul
I understand that many professing Christians may struggle with the idea of fully surrendering to the will of the Father.
It can be challenging to let go, and I empathize with the feeling that this surrender might take away from the joys and fun they find in life. It’s a complex journey, and many are navigating their own personal challenges and fears in this process. I must say, what you gain with living in God’s peace is far more valuable now and eternally. Rebellion, stubbornness, and the willingness to lean on their understanding are not fruits of the Spirit. If what other teachers or I share does not feed their flesh and pleasures, it’s of no value to them. When there’s an imbalance of flesh and soul focus over spirit focus, there’s no spiritual growth for the unsubmitted soul.
For years, I’ve invested much time into my soul work, and I’ve been blessed to see God’s power strip many strongholds, such as anger, depression, fear, inferiority complex, imposter syndrome, impatience, hurt from rejection, and spiritual immaturity. I’ve watched him rebuild my faith on the Rock of Christ and grow me in ways I never considered.
When a business owner, leader, or parent is unsubmitted to the Lord, it affects everyone they influence. Other souls are at stake. The devil is content with where you are if you’re not growing. But it’s when you start to dig into God’s Word and apply it to your daily living that you become the enemy’s threat, and he’s bent on ravaging your soul. As a Christian entrepreneur, doing the soul work is not just about you overcoming by faith so you can strengthen those you serve and lead. But Jesus has already prayed for us not to be sifted like wheat.
Psalm 16:2, 7-8,11 NIV I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
Luke 22:31-32 NIV “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
conclusion
In conclusion, the journey of soul work for the Christian entrepreneur is essential for both personal and professional growth. By nurturing our minds, wills, and emotions through the truth of God’s Word, we can experience transformation that positively impacts our lives and businesses. Embracing our identity in Christ helps us to not only achieve success but to do so in a way that reflects His glory and purpose in the marketplace.
Soul work Actions:
Write down the gifts and talents you believe God placed in you!
Pray and share with God your desire to use your gifts and talents more.
Refuse to be a victim of false evidence appearing real.
