Edna Harding [00:00:03]: Welcome to Estrepreneur, a podcast for entrepreneurs and leaders doing business and life God's way. Each week we discuss biblical and practical tips to improve your mind, business, spirit, relationships, and finances. Listen along as I speak with special guests on how to thrive in all aspects of life. Hi, I'm Edna. Like many of you, I wear many hats. I'm a military wife, mother, author, certified John Maxwell business and executive coach, trainer, and founder of Favor and wealth, where we help the good guys win. So tune in as we bring on the light. Edna Harding [00:00:46]: Well, hello everyone. Thank you for tuning in for another episode of the estherpreneur podcast. My name is Estate Edna Harding, your host, and I'm super excited that you are here today. In today's episode, we are going to talk about the power of prophetic planning, when to fast, pray, and plan with precision, specifically when it comes to what business. Okay? So if you're like, let me go ahead and not listen to this because this is not going to help me, you know you're wrong. In fact, this is the very thing that's going to move the needle forward for you and your business. Okay? So humor me just for a little bit. Well, maybe 30, 45 minutes. Edna Harding [00:01:36]: And let us dig deep into how this secret weapon can truly transform your business from the inside out. Okay? So for those of you guys are New Year new here, my name is Edna again. And this podcast is a space where faith meets fierce business strategy. Okay? Faith meets fierce business strategy. Because I'm not here to play games. I'm not here to make you feel good. I'm actually here to help you be good, all right? Be able to produce fruits for the world to see that Jesus Christ is Lord in your business. So I'm going to ask you a question, and I want you to really think about this, okay? What if the only thing standing between your business breakthrough and burnout is the courage to fast, pray, and plan with prophetic precision, just like Queen Esther did? Now, if you guys are not familiar with Esther, I'm going to tell you a little bit about her. Edna Harding [00:02:50]: But Queen Esther is probably one of the characters in the Bible that a lot of women, a lot of girls love because of her courage. But I'm going to go ahead and start off and just kind of give you a play on play and like, what happened in Esther's life, okay? And it starts in Esther, chapter four, verse 15 to 16. And side note, guys, I'm losing my voice. Did you know that Esther is the only book in the Bible that doesn't mention God in it. But throughout the scriptures in Esther's, you see his wisdom, his, his intervention, his provision, his guidance, his hand in every aspect of the story. So if you haven't read it yet, you know, actually there are even movies or shows on YouTube, even the cartoons, ones like those are fantastic. My daughter's love Esther. Esther. Edna Harding [00:03:47]: And so please, if you don't know the whole story, go ahead and watch it from beginning to end. It's one of again, it's like probably my one, if not the, or I would say maybe the top three or four characters that I love in the Bible. Okay, okay, so back to Esther. Esther didn't move in haste, okay? She didn't like rush through things. What she did, and this is really going to help you entrepreneurs is she paused, she fasted, she prayed, then she planned again. Let me say it again. She paused, she fasted, she prayed, then she planned. Like right there, guys, that's like a mic drop. Edna Harding [00:04:38]: I just gave you this strategy in moving the needle forward. Okay, here are four truths from her strategy. Okay, number one, check this out. She delayed action for direction. So before she took action, before she made decisions based on feelings or based on intellect, she stopped. She stopped and she basically asked for direction not just from God, but from others as well, meaning Mordecai and the community. She asked them to ask God as well. So it was a collaborative thing. Edna Harding [00:05:22]: And I hope you hear me by way of the Spirit, because sorry guys, I think I. My back is too low. Okay? She didn't plan alone. She gathered a what a community to pray and fast with her. Okay, so two things that we just talked about. Okay, so she stopped first, wanted direction from God, but didn't just seek direction by herself. She asked the community to do the same thing. This is so important, my friends, because a lot of people do not surround themselves with like minded, spiritual, spirit filled spirit led right counsel. Edna Harding [00:06:06]: They bombard themselves with counsel from the world and expect to grow their business. That's just another side story. But being a tribe, whether if it's my tribe or another believer's tribe, ensure that you have similar values. Because that and not just values, beliefs in the word of God, the word of truth, beliefs in the Holy Spirit. Because that's truly going to taint the strategy and the wisdom you get. Okay, I can tell you time and time again where you know, of course the Lord would tell me to join different masterminds and different council groups and things like that. And I know because I know the word of God when they give me advice I'm like, oh, can't do that because that's going against God's word. But a lot of people are ignorant of God's ways. Edna Harding [00:06:56]: Okay? I've been studying, gosh, the, you know, biblical principles in the Bible since I was 19 years old, actually 16 technically, but 19 years old when I finally fully embrace and grasp how important the Bible is and how much it could truly separate me from my peers. And so I know the word of God like the back of my hand, right? It's something that I've been studying for a very long time. And it's so a lot of people in the church, they only know certain scriptures. They don't know the full context. So, you know, the funny thing is the enemy can use the scriptures against you, right? The enemy, in fact can deceive you because the enemy knows the word of God, okay? He knows he knows the word of God more than Christians even. Isn't that sad? So he'll say, he'll. You're thinking it's God because it's a scripture that's, you know, verbat, like in your verbalizing, in your ears. But it's the enemy twisting the words of God, right? So that you're deceived and make the wrong decision specifically for your business. Edna Harding [00:08:00]: Okay? So I can't emphasize that enough. Like, surround yourself with what? Like minded, spirit led, spirit filled community. It doesn't have to be mine, but it has to be some sort of like minded spirit food, spirit led communion. I feel like the Lord wants me to emphasize that because you really need to check yourself right now and ask yourself, where are you getting your counsel from? Where are you truly getting your, your advice from? Are they people who know the word of God who are surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ? If not, my suggestion is to ask the Holy Spirit, where do you need to go to? Okay. And specifically, I'm not talking about like spiritual counsel. I'm talking about biblical business wisdom. Okay. Because pastors, I mean, I love them, they don't really know business because they don't have a business. Edna Harding [00:08:57]: Right? So you need to talk to people who are already doing what you're doing. Okay. If that makes sense. Okay. Or who, whoever. Who are already doing what you want to do. Okay? All right. The third thing from this strategy where she paused, she fasted, she prayed, then she planned, was her boldness came after consecration. Edna Harding [00:09:18]: Okay? She was afraid at first. In fact, Mordecai, what did Mordecai do? She said, if you do not act, something about, you will perish. And basically, he said, sorry, I'm trying. I'm. I'm trying to remember what it is because I don't have the scripture in front of me. But essentially she said that, who knows? God put you for such a time as this, right? So she didn't become bold until after she consecrated herself to the Lord. And so if you're missing a lot of boldness, this is a time to consecrate yourself in the Lord. And the last part is she surrendered the outcome to obey the assignment, meaning she didn't care what happened to her. Edna Harding [00:10:00]: She said, if I perish, I perish. Instead, she disobeyed God what he told her to do, and she left the consequences to God. So a lot of us can relate to this, right? We need to learn how to surrender the outcome of the instruction that you obeyed to God and not figure out, you know, what's going to happen after this. Okay. All right, so let's continue on. I'm going to kind of ruffle some feathers here today because this is so challenging, and I struggle with this sometimes I have to really check myself is here's the reality, my friends. Oh, gosh, Lord, help me, Jesus. Okay, first of all, I love you all. Edna Harding [00:10:55]: Second of all, I have to speak truth in love, right? So here we go. How many of us are building funnels and running ads, but we haven't spent three days in prayer? How many of us trust Google or chat GPT more than God? Oh, come on, my friends. Come on, my friends. Honey, that ends today. That ends today. Okay, so we're gonna go ahead and talk about three pillars, prophetically, that's gonna enable you to get clarity and direction for the business that you've been praying for. All right, number one, you need to fast. You need to make space for clarity. Edna Harding [00:11:52]: Okay? Now, a lot of times when people think fasting, they think social media, they think opinions, they think income, pursuits, or opportunities. But I'm talking about specifically food. Food, food. There's a reason why the enemy gives you, like, the superficial band aid where you could fast from media or fast from this fast from food. My friends, the only type of fasting that you see in the Bible is what the Daniel fast and like a water fast, right? A full fast, right? Not eating. I don't know if it's not drinking, eating and drinking. I know that's what Jesus did. But this is crucial if you want clarity, if you want power, fast from food, okay? Because what it does, it focus, sharpens, it fades fears, and it also rises up your faith from the inside. Edna Harding [00:13:07]: All right? The second thing you need to do is not just fast, but you need to pray. Now, my friends, this is not a diet, okay? You have to actually pray during the times you're supposed to be eating, right. You gotta ask God for direction. There are five prayer postures. Okay, here we go. First one, praise. Second one, confession. Third one, thank. Edna Harding [00:13:35]: Fourth one, ask. Fifth one, listen. Okay? Those are the five postures you need when you pray. Okay? Here's some tools that you could use. You could use a prayer journal for your business, right? So I have a. Basically a journal for my business and life. I put it all in one. By the way, my friends, I do have. Edna Harding [00:13:58]: I don't know why I mentioned this, but I do have. I'm creating a business journal planner that is currently being built right now. And I can't wait to put that in my store sometime in the next couple months. So I'm super excited about that. So be on the lookout for that. Meditate on scriptures and intercede utilizing your prayer language. I can't emphasize that enough. If you don't have a prayer language, reach out to me and I'll give you some biblical scriptures to meditate on and ask the Holy Spirit to give you that gift, because that truly is a secret weapon of believers. Edna Harding [00:14:36]: And for those of you guys, you know, we just finished Pentecost last week. I don't know when this is going to be published, but it was on June 8th. And so definitely, definitely, definitely utilize that gift, because that is a secret weapon that a lot of people don't use. All right? And the last part is, you have to plan, okay? Proverbs 16, 9. Proverbs 69 is something that you need to meditate on. And I don't know why I don't have my scriptures, my Bible here. I guess I was rushing. So let me just look it up real quick. Edna Harding [00:15:17]: Ah, Proverbs 16, 9. I want to read this scripture. So you know what that is? Oh, that's right. A man plants their course, but the Lord is the one that established their steps. Okay, so that's how you need to have a planner, right? So you need to ask yourself, is this specific thing aligned with my assignment for the kingdom? Okay. Whatever it is that you're going to do on your business. The second thing is, am I stewarding what I already have? Okay. Do you really need another thing or do you need to be faithful with a little. Edna Harding [00:15:55]: Oh, come on. This is huge, my friends. Here's the thing, guys. Marketers and gurus are always Going to sell you the next best thing. Focus on what you currently have, and use that to the full. I can't tell you, like, I realize how much software I have that I'm not utilizing. And so now what I'm doing is I'm truly ensuring that I'm utilizing every single one of my software and my tools as effectively as possible. And I'm hiring help. Edna Harding [00:16:25]: I am literally hiring help right now, okay? To a va. So three assistants, okay? For my marketing, my admin stuff, as well as my tech stuff, because it's just too much. So I could focus more on what, serving my clients well and basically getting on these sales conversations because I can't serve them well if they're not a client. Right. So that is what I'm focused on. Okay. All right. And the last question I want you to ask yourself is, have I received clear timing, confirmation? Because there is a timing. Edna Harding [00:17:00]: Sometimes God will give you an instruction, but it's not at that time. So we have to be prayerful and ask, lord, is this for now? Is this for later? Was that yesterday? Like, when is this specific task for. Okay, all right. So these are the. How do you know when to launch something? How do you know when you're supposed to go, like, you know, kind of like, we have to learn, you know, have you ever played that game Red Light, Green Light, Red light, green light, red light, green light. Okay. It's kind of like that. The Holy Spirit is amazing. Edna Harding [00:17:32]: He likes to give us, like, previews, but it doesn't necessarily mean. And the good thing about God is he's so faithful, he's so merciful, he's so gracious. You know, he knows that we're. We're learning his voice, we're learning how to discern Him. And it's part of, like, his technique, I guess, so that we could continue to mature into the sons and daughters that he called us to be. And so I want to give you some tips on what are some green lights and what are some red lights. Okay, Number one, green light. Okay. Edna Harding [00:18:02]: How do you know? I'm not one, but here are some options. Here are some things to look out for as green lights for you to go ahead and take that. Go, like, go ahead and make that action. Number one, you have peace. Number two, you have scriptural confirmation. Number three, you have prophetic affirmation, right? Meaning, like, there are so many. Like, I know, so funny. Because God will tell me something on my. Edna Harding [00:18:28]: My personal walk, and he will confirm it through what prophetic words from other prophets, doors Open supernaturally. It could be like you were looking for something and you just didn't have. Like, everything is just fitting well. Like, you're not even like, like for example, you're like, for me, for example, I know I needed help. I, I was like, I just don't have enough time. And all of a sudden someone reach out right on time and they happen to be Christ. So like, it's just flowing naturally. Provision flows. Edna Harding [00:18:59]: I have the money to pay these people. There is a support from the community, right? So like it's, it just feels like it's, it's. They're working with you, not against you. And you have boldness with clarity. Like you know that this is the right thing to do. Like, you have no doubts, okay. That those are green lights. Okay, let's talk about some red lights, okay? If you're making decisions based on what pressure, right? You have some unrest on the inside, you have some financial strain. Edna Harding [00:19:36]: Like, okay, I don't, I don't, like, I'm not really sure exactly how this is going to work out. Like, you're really stressed out financially. If you're really stressed out financially, it could be that, that might, it might not be the right time right now. Okay? So don't settle for less, right? You're forcing opportunities, right? And also you're isolated from wise counsel. So you can't. This happened to me with the scam, right? With the whole church situation. Like, I was scammed and unfortunately I paid a heavy price. Okay, Remember this? That David, what did he do? He waited years to step into his calling. Edna Harding [00:20:22]: And sometimes that might be for you as well. Okay? So don't jump up ahead. Don't jump ahead of God's timing. Okay? So let me give you guys a, A framework to use for 21 days as far as prophetic planning. Number week number one, I want you to fast and seek. So all you got to do is worship, read the word, right? Shut off business development stuff and listen up. Okay, listen up. Now mind you, for me, I did this when I first left my corporate job and I would basically actually, thank you, Holy Spirit. Edna Harding [00:21:06]: It wasn't just that. It was, oh my goodness, like the Holy Spirit's reminding me some stuff. You know, when I was, when I was working on my business part time and working for corporate full time, would basically take like quarterly retreats with the Holy Spirit and I would like go to a nice, you know, pure room hotel and just like don't leave the room and in my jammies and just like asking God for wisdom Asking God for instruction, asking God for strategies. And I would never leave the room. And I'm there stuck for weekends. And I would turn off my phone. I remember my husband now, when we were dating, he was like, I turned off the phone and he is like, he was saying something. I'm gonna think about it. Edna Harding [00:22:00]: I wonder if he thought I was cheating or something. So random. But he. He told. I guess he wasn't used to that. Like, someone like being on, being off the map. But that's how I am. Like, I'm like, so want to hear God's voice. Edna Harding [00:22:15]: I don't want any distract. I tell my parents, I tell my family, I tell my loved ones, hey, I'm be out of pocket for the weekend. This is a hotel I'm at. If you need me, you could call the hotel, but I'm turning off my phone. Okay, so this is an example of like really seeking and fasting, right? And just spending time with God and asking him for direction for your business. Right? Don't focus on business. Focus on God. The second thing you want to do is pray and plan. Edna Harding [00:22:41]: Okay, so maybe week two. And again, this is just some timeline to make it sound marketing friendly. But you could do, take however long as you want. You want to have some sort of spiritual discipline. Okay. Taking place. And have strategy sessions with the Holy Spirit. Okay. Edna Harding [00:23:01]: Pray before you plan. So a lot of time I would like, what are we doing? The whole. I was like, okay, what are we going to create today, Holy Spirit? I'll say stuff like that. Or. Or like, I would just have these conversations about my business with the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ. And it's just, you know, if you guys are listening on the other side, like, what in the world is she talking about? You know, I can't explain it except the fact that he talks to me on the daily about my business, how to make it better, how to improve it, how to, you know, utilize what I have. Remind me of stuff that I'm not using. I mean, it's just. Edna Harding [00:23:41]: That's the most amazing thing to know that God is with you, okay, in the. In the business, you know, growing phase. Right? And that's probably what differentiates me from a lot of my peers, is that I truly ask the Holy Spirit to guide every step for me. There are some times when the Holy Spirit would tell me, just pick one. You know, he's not very particular. Like, I think it's come to the point where, like, I can honestly say that he trusts me because he knows my heart and he Knows that my. My level of output is a series of excellence and integrity. And so he'll correct me sometimes when I'm making the wrong mistake or he'll. Edna Harding [00:24:28]: He'll stop certain things. But I really, really love the relationship that I've developed with the Holy Spirit because I've been putting him first in business since the get go, since I started my business back in 2014. All right? And the third thing you want to do when it comes to prophetic planning. So the first is fast and seek. The second is pray and plan. The third thing is you want to execute with excellence, right? So you get instructions. Then just do it without. Without fear. Edna Harding [00:25:01]: Without. Without, like, hesitation. Just do it. It's kind of like what Esther did. If I perish, I perish. That's what you do. I'm like, okay, I know. Like, for me, for example, I just joined a mastermind program, right? Spent a lot of money on that. Edna Harding [00:25:18]: And then on top of that, I am hiring two VA's, okay? And mind you, I just have my existing clients. I haven't gotten any new clients. Although I have two meetings with potential clients this week. Like, I'm acting in faith, okay? Because I have that assurance that God has my back. And this is the time for me to build. Okay? All right. So I want you to avoid some traps. I'm going to be really quickly in trap number one. Edna Harding [00:25:48]: Waiting in the name of discernment, okay? Waiting in the name of discernment, my friends. Here you go, guys. Waiting in the name of discernment. We keep waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting. In reality, you're not discerning, you're fearful. Okay? What you need to do is you wait, you get instruction, and just do it. Right? Just do it. The second trap is praying without action. Edna Harding [00:26:21]: You pray, pray, pray, pray. You don't take action, my friends, strategy follows surrender. So you have to surrender to God and ask the Holy Spirit, give me the finisher anointing. Help me to finish what you want me to start, right? What I started. And the third thing is acting without counsel. Remember, isolation breeds deception. So get wise counsel, okay? Whether. If it's from the Holy Spirit, if it's something Holy Spirit, if it's something like simple. Edna Harding [00:26:54]: Yes. Get counsel from the Holy Spirit. If it's something that's a little bit more complex and it's going to affect a life or affect. That's something huge, get counsel, right? If it's affecting, like, I get counsel from my husband. I get counsel from. From mentors. I Get counsel from spiritual counselors, right? I have my own coaches. Like I get counsel. Edna Harding [00:27:15]: All right. Okay. So let's go ahead and close this episode up. I know. I hope this blessed you. Okay, so before your next move, before you make a decision on doing something for your business, number one, commit to a three day ester fast past. Okay? Second thing, I want you to share your vision with prayer partners and ask them to confirm whether or not this is the right move. Number three, map strategy through prayer. Edna Harding [00:27:43]: Okay? So seek God, pray in the Spirit. Whatever thoughts pop in your head, write it down. And then number four, step with holy bonus, knowing that God has gone before you and he's given you a green light. Look for signs. And a lot of times he will confirm through you, through prophetic words, through his prophets, what he's told you in your secret place. Proverbs 31:25 says, she is clothed with strength and dignity. She can laugh at days to come. I pray that for you, my friend, whether you're a man or a woman, okay? Be clothed with strength and dignity and laugh at days to come. Edna Harding [00:28:22]: Because telling you, my friends, we have great days ahead for the body of Christ who are truly living and doing God's ways and business. Remember, my friends, you're not just building a business, you're birthing a movement. And remember that movements don't start with metrics. They start with a mandate from God. So if you don't have a mandate from God yet, don't move. Because remember, provision only follows those that he assigned, not what you volunteered to do. All right, my friends, well, hope that blessed you. Until next time, keep shining. Edna Harding [00:29:00]: Have a wonderful day. Bye bye. Edna Harding [00:29:06]: Thanks for joining us this week on estrepreneur. Make sure to Visit our website favorandwealth.com for more information on our services. While you're at it, if you found value in this show, we'd appreciate a rating on itunes. Or if you simply tell a friend about the show, that would help me out, too. Also, check out my book, the Ugly side of Sales, available on Amazon, where I share share seven of my secrets on how to win and grow business the right way. Until next time, keep shining.