As a Christian entrepreneur, you probably spend a good deal of time talking to God about your business.
•    “God, please help me find new clients.”
•    “Lord, show me how to unlock that perfect blend of marketing and advertising.”
•    “Father, direct me to the best alliance partners that will lead to faster growth.”

These are all noble prayers. I’ve prayed them myself, many times in fact. And if you’re like me, you have also felt the confusing disappointment when these sincere requests go unanswered. Truth is, one reason they may go unanswered is simple. And it’s found exactly within one of Christ’s teachings on prayer.

We all know the phrase — Ask, seek, and knock. It is one of several lessons Jesus taught on prayer. It’s likely you rely on its truth when focusing on business growth too. So what does it really mean?

The most accepted teaching on this apparently straightforward passage is prayer, start to finish.

• “Ask” means pray
• “Seek” means pray more
• “Knock” means pray even harder

What if I told you it actually means something much more? I would like to offer a different position, one that can help remove some blockers and realize business growth.

That’s right — “Ask, seek, knock” is a lesson beyond just prayer; it’s a lesson on action. And when it comes to entrepreneurial wisdom, this deeper meaning is profound.

The original Greek word for “ask” (aiteō) is used nearly 70 times in the New Testament and connotes verbal speech between two or more beings. The second word is “seek” (zētēo) and is used over 110 times in the New Testament and demonstrates vigorous activity … not more prayer. The final word is “knock” (krouō) and is used only nine times in the New Testament and accompanies physical activity requiring tangible interaction … again, not pertaining to prayer.

So, how can this help your business grow?

We oftentimes want success just by praying to God. After all, He is sovereign and could allow success with little more than a prayer offered in faith. And yet that’s not how we see Him work throughout the rest of Christendom or even within His sacred word.

No, if we want our business to grow, it will require prayer first, then research, then specific and intentional action based on the depth of research we’ve accomplished. This is how God works, through diligent hands.

Proverbs 21:5 (NIV)
The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.

You know what it takes to get your business growing. God is now calling you to action. Once you have prayed, look for solutions with all your heart then apply what you’ve learned, with vigorous energy. Make this a model for ongoing expansion and see where God takes your business … to his glory.

About Shawn Sommerkamp

Shawn Sommerkamp is a certified professional coach with a career spanning six years in the Navy submarine service, 20 in Fortune 100 America, and a dream to bring the virtues of Christ into the marketplace.

Shawn is also an amateur theologian who teaches God’s word to local New England churches.

Shawn created a trademarked tool that helps Christian professionals instantly unblock themselves in any situation — Thought Tuning™. Using a six step, self-talk process combined with a knowledge of one’s Core Values, Christians can now achieve what they’ve always believed as the power of positive thinking but were unable to create lasting results.

As founder of Motivationeer™ Christian Coaching, he blends business experience, corporate leadership, Bible truths, and Thought Tuning™ to help Christians professionally and financially excel through transformational thinking.