Entrepreneurship is a wonderful thing- you are given the opportunity to pursue your own career, be your own boss, and generate income while creating your own work/life balance. Entrepreneurship can also be difficult- along the road, you will be tested, stretched and stressed. It can be easy to praise and thank God in the good times, but become too busy or tired and forget to pray in the rough times.

I have compiled a list of my 7 favorite bible scriptures to help you stay on course and encourage you along your entrepreneurial journey:

"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms." (1 Peter 4:10 New International Version)

It is possible to live life with passion and purpose. We are each uniquely blessed with talents and gifts, and in reality our businesses are an extension of ourselves. If you think of your business as a ministry tool or form of service, you will love your customers and clients and they will feel your love. Working in your gifts is exciting and your heart will feel fulfilled.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV)

TRUST. I know that trusting can be difficult at times, but in order to have a successful business, you must trust in the Lord. If God put your business dream into your heart, you need to trust that His will is what is best for you: good or bad. There will be times when you do not understand why things are happening in your business, but God is always trying to teach us and protect us.

"Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives." (Titus 3:14 NIV)

God helps those who help themselves. If you do nothing, nothing will happen. He can put a business dream in your heart, but He can't make you pursue it. He can connect you with someone knowledgeable in an area you are struggling in, but He can't make you ask for help. Focus each day on trying to be productive and purposeful. Seek His guidance on ways to learn, better yourself, and take action.

"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun." (Psalm 37:5-6 NIV)

No one can stop God’s anointing. There will be times in your life when people will try to discourage you, tell you that you are wasting your time, or flat out tell you that you won't make it through. No one can stop God's anointing on your life. If He gave you the idea for your business, He will bless it. Stay faithful, maintain integrity and focus on God's word and His promise. He can give you favor and open doors for you that appear impossible in the natural.

"In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but shows favor to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5 NIV)

Don't be afraid or too prideful to seek out Godly mentorship. Make sure to position yourself around people who can help you grow and mature both in your faith and in your business. There is a saying that you become the average of the five people you associate with most, choose wisely.

"But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31 New King James Version)

Business is not for the faint of heart, it is a marathon more than it is a sprint. If you choose to pursue God both personally and professionally, what He has in store for you will be amazing. He can dream bigger than you can, He knows where you will be 10 years from now. When I think about what my life was like just 3 years ago, I literally cry and thank God for giving me the strength to press through.

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans." (Proverbs 16:3 NIV)

Learn to wait. Whenever you have doubt, go to the Lord in prayer and wait on God to give you the answer. In the fast-food-technology-answers-at-the-palm-of-your-hand society we live in, we have become programmed for immediate expectations. Stop! It's OK to pause and wait. If you truly don't know which direction to take or what to do, pause and don't do anything. Remember that God speaks to us through visions and dreams, and sometimes He will send people who will speak His words to you. Pray and learn to discern what is part of God's plan and what is not.

If you are an entrepreneur, you will understand when I say that I am thankful every day for God's grace and mercy. I truly feel like I have been blessed with the world's greatest business investor. We will all have rough times where we will need to remember God’s purpose for our lives, my prayer for you is that you will continue to be brave enough to pursue Him, especially in those difficult times.

Scripture References:

7 Bible Verses for Entrepreneurs