Blessed Be Your Business
Ways to pray for your business (and all creative projects!)
Part 1 this week! Part 2 to continue next week. :)
Hello friends! This week, I wanted to talk about ways you can pray for your creative business as well as your creative projects in general (if you create as a hobby as opposed to a business).
For those who are new to the Trinity Tree community, my name is Allison Ramirez, and I recently launched my official small business, Trinity Tree Publishing, in January of this year. I indie-publish my books, as well as support other Christian writers who are indie publishing through my editing and writing coaching services. I’m so glad you are here!
A quick definition: Operating a creative business means you are selling products and/or services, and your business is a source of income for you (be that a supplemental or primary stream). Being a creative hobbyist means you are creating for fun and not selling or intending to make money off of your creative work.
As Christian creatives and business owners, it is important to constantly keep prayer at the forefront of our efforts. Why? Because God is the first and ultimate creator, and our creative endeavors are a way to give Him glory and honor, even if what we’re creating isn’t explicitly faith-based. Just as we would pray for any area of our life, we should pray for our creative work. And our business is a way we are looking to support ourselves or our families, build a vision and mission, and positively impact the lives of those who will invest in our creative work.
Ask for the Graces
Each day, I pray, “God grant me all the graces I need for my particular state in life.” Grace is a supernatural gift from God. Graces are free and undeserved, and they enable us to participate in the divine life. God’s grace can assist us in our needs, strengthen us, encourage us, and console us. Many of the saints speak to the abundance of graces God desires to lavish upon souls, if only they would ask. So, ask Him, daily and often, for all the graces necessary for you to carry out your creative and business work well.
Spend time with the Saints
The saints are there to pray for and with you! The saints are interceding from heaven on our behalf, and each saint has a unique patronage that is representative of their life. St. Francis of Assisi, pictured below, is known as the patron of animals; I ask for his prayers for the well-being of my pets. In particular, I have a little icon of St. Theresa of Avila on my writing desk, whom I have invited to be my patron saint for my writing. I also often pray to St. Therese of Lisieux and Mother Mary.
What about you? Can you ask a specific saint or saints to be your heavenly companions on your creative journey?
Prayer Box
If you have particular intentions, struggles, or desires for your creative projects or business at large, you can designate a dresser top with a box where you write your intentions on paper and place them in the box. You can go back and reread the intentions to remind yourself of your prayers, and remove intentions from the box when they are granted or alter prayers as needed, as you discern.
Prayer Requests!
Speaking of prayer, I would love to keep you in my prayers, be those prayers for your writing, other creative work, business, or any personal intentions. I believe in the power of prayer and interceding for one another. If you have a particular prayer request, please reply to this post, and I promise I will pray personally for your request!