I’m happy to welcome my friend, author Alicia Terry to the #BeBoldGirl series today. Alicia shares how letting go of the fear of what others think allowed her to be a light in her mainstream business. Welcome, Alicia! After reading, scroll all the way to the bottom and leave Alicia a comment.
“I’m the one, this is the place, and now is the time. And through Christ, I can make a difference in my world!”
In two short sentences, Jentezen Franklin, in his book Right People, Right Place, Right Plan, summarized what has taken me more than a decade to surrender to and act upon – I am the one to use my gifts, talents and faith to accomplish what God has laid on my heart to do. Fear of what others may think or say and uncertainty about my ability to get things done are voices that need to be cut off.
Yet, I find myself in the battlefield of my mind wondering:
“How am I supposed to turn a business into something that builds up people and glorifies God? I’ve worked on my business since 2002. I’ve built my brand and am known for my communications and training expertise. What I offer is mainstream and safe. It doesn’t require me to take a stand.”
That’s the conversation I kept having with myself when God was asking more of me. He wanted me to be courageous, but I wanted to be comfortable and safe.
The Truth of the Matter
I didn’t want to be seen as a Jesus freak, a holy roller or kin in any way to The Simpson’s Ned Flanders. I didn’t want the weird looks and reactions like the woman whose face went sour and body went stiff as though she started playing the mannequin challenge and forgot to tell me. Encounters like that can make a person feel a bit self-conscious.
Thankfully, God is persistent and has a way of getting us to see things His way and eventually I did. I discovered my business is not about business at all. It’s about working alongside God to create a conduit to bring heaven to earth. We are His hands in the world and it is through His calling we live and leave a lasting legacy that impacts the lives of others.
If we are to accomplish what God has called us to do we must summon up the courage to lean on Him, trust Him, believe His Word and act on it even when we don’t fully understand all that’s going on.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV)
Answering the Call
I recognize it’s time for me to get out of my own way to be a #BeBoldGirl and act. So, I have decided that I am the one to:
- Help business owners demonstrate Christ in the workplace;
- Train teens to use their gifts and talents to build up broken places in society; and
- Teach women how to win the identity war and embrace their worth and value.
What about you? What is your #BeBoldGirl calling? What are you the one to do? I’d love to know. Share your I am the one declaration below.
I am the one to…
Alicia Terry is a communications marketing and training professional. She is also the owner and founder of Idea Haven, a training and development practice serving entrepreneurs, teens and women. You can learn more about Alicia at aliciaterry.com. You can connect with her on Facebook.
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