Praying About The “Big WHY” For Your Kingdom Business

The “Big WHY.” Almost every entrepreneur or businessperson has heard this term.

Our “Big WHY?” is the question we must continually and thoughtfully ask ourselves. What are our intentions in business as a partner with God? A writer from The Huffington Post defines the Big WHY as “a compelling purpose that propels you through your life, forcing you out of bed every day, and fueling your passion.” To achieve God’s level of success in our businesses, we need to know what compels us to do the things that we do. Being prayerful about our motives in business (and in life) becomes the anchor that helps us stick with our assignment when things become challenging. This sense of resolve will enable us to “rise up and take [our] journey and…begin to possess [or dominate our industry mountain(s)]…” (Deuteronomy 2:24 AMPC).

God is very interested in our intentions. They fuel how we pursue a goal. Intention speaks back to divine purpose. The Scriptures tell us in Ephesians 3:10 AMP that “now through the Church (that’s us) the multifaceted (or shines like a diamond, my emphasis) wisdom of God [in all its countless aspects] might now be made known (or demonstrated, my emphasis) [revealing the mystery] to the [angelic] rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.”

Our intent is our “why,” or the reason or motivation that leads us to do things. We must regularly hold ourselves accountable to the Holy Spirit and ask ourselves, “WHY am I in business?” “WHY am I on this assignment?”

Though my career has been varied, I’ve seen God intentionally develop my “Big WHY.” From watching my parents own properties to the opportunity to help launch and manage three businesses to receiving God’s download for athleticism and coaching, God has sharpened my entrepreneurial intentions bit by bit. (Deuteronomy 7:22). Today, my wife and I are in business with God! If we submit to the process, God continues to teach us how to profit and leads us in the way we should go (Isaiah 48:17).

God sharpened my motives during this process. In the midst of praying for the growth and expansion of our businesses, God challenged me to increase our giving to the ministries we partner with significantly! Dr. Winston has brilliantly taught us that whenever we have a need, God talks to us about planting or sowing a seed. Teaching time was on pause, and now it was time for the exam. (No testimony comes without a test!)

It was like Jesus asking the woman to bring Him water and now bread too! I could feel my “choke-point” being expanded. If I really trusted God as my business partner, I had to obey Him implicitly. God instructed me to increase our partnership amount to a level where He would have to meet our other needs REGULARLY. Boy did the intensity of my prayer life change! I was serious about the manifestation of God’s Word in our lives now. Of course, God went over and above and poured out blessing after blessing. I grew more intentional about the truth of His Word! Coincidentally, my heart for the mission work we supported also changed. I felt more compelled than ever to help our ministry partners’ mission outreaches.

Then my “Big WHY” moment came. I thought of Abraham, the father of faith. I wondered; why did God pick Abraham? Why was he chosen over everyone else of his day? God showed me:

Reason #1 – Abraham was humble enough to believe, trust and obey God (Romans 4:3).

Reason #2 – God knew Abraham would teach his children (Genesis 18:19), another key trait for an entrepreneur. This habit creates generational wealth so the business would continue on throughout the ages.

Reason #3 – Abraham made a quality decision that he would be a blessing. Abraham was committed to GIVING BACK. No “us four and no more” mentality. What a triple-threat! What a winning combination!

This was an “ah-ha” moment for me. My “Big WHY” now became expanding our businesses so that we could help others in need globally. Everything in my heart shifted. This Big WHY was much larger than us, compelling us to go past our comfort zones. We had to partner with God to grow these businesses. God had a plan all along to use my wife and I to change our neighborhoods (desolate places) back to the Garden of Eden (Ezekiel 36:35).

We, as business owners who know (and are intimately acquainted with) our “Big WHY” are actually industry ministers that can change the moral decay of societies. As millionaire and billionaire moguls who embrace our “Big WHY,” we can eradicate poverty and abuse wherever we find it!

Let’s continue to pray about the “Big WHY” of our businesses because intentionality and laser focus can bring new godly energy, strength, and abundance to our enterprises!

Darnell Williams, Founder/CEO, Elijah Running Club/Elijah Road Racing