I got accepted into an MBA program. I’ve wanted an MBA for years. I’ve talked about it since I was around 25. I haven’t pursued it as much as I could have even though I’m intensely interested in the business world. I have read more than 60 books on the subject, subscribe to many-a blog, and consume tons of content through podcasts, online forums, and YouTube. But, recently I found an online program that could be completed in 13 months and cost less than $10,000. When they accepted me, they included a scholarship that lowered the price to less $5,000. It seemed like the perfect opportunity. I need to go for it right?
Well, I’ve also recently built an Advisory Team. This is a group of people who have gone way further than I have in virtually every aspect of my life. They’ve built bigger businesses, planted stronger churches, mentored and coach more people to grow in bigger ways than I could even imagine. The purpose of this team is to come together and discern what God is saying. They take time to listen to what’s going on with me personally, in our family, and in our ministries. They bring their experience, insight, and attentiveness to God’s voice to bear on the situations I’m facing. I sought them out. I feel it’s quite valuable to have a group of people cheering you on, pointing out new opportunities, and most importantly of all, challenging you.
So, I brought this decision to the team and asked them to weigh in on it. What would they see as a benefit? How would they see me responding to this situation.
At one point, one of the members commented,
Avoid the MBA. If you do it, you’ll likely be stretching yourself too thin and won’t be able to do things well. Ask God about the meaning of the MBA to you. What does it mean in the Spirit? The MBA connects, but you’re already connected in the Spirit. God will give you super-provision, and it doesn’t come from a full brain. He can multiply your 10 hours. Let go and make room for God.
So, I decided to defer my start until 2022, and pursue a Holy Spirit MBA, or HSMBA, first.
I started asking God what an HSMBA was going to include. I felt God started giving me insight. I was praying and inviting Holy Spirit. I felt like God was speaking to me about things to come, although nothing extremely specific at this initial point. What’s exciting to me is considering how this is about a journey and a process. It’s about trusting God in the steps. It’s fresh.
Then, as I opened my Bible, I turned to two different passages: 1 Corinthians 2:7-16 and John 16:13-15.
In 1 Corinthians 2, Paul says there’s wisdom, revelation, thoughts, impartation, truths, and discernment available to believers, because of the Spirit of God.
7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written,“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him” 10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.[d] 14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
In these verses, we see God’s goal: for us to be fully equipped. In fact, 1 Corinthians 1:7 says, “You are not lacking in any gift.” God’s desire is for us to have all we need.
As I turned to John 16:13-15, I saw how Jesus says Holy Spirit is going to take everything from Father and Son and give it to us, including “the things to come.”
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
Think about that for a moment. In the context of perfect relationship between Father, Son and Spirit, there is intimate sharing. There is intense exchange of information, totally free-flowing. All that Father has, He’s willing to share with the Son. And the Spirit is going to share all of that… with us! This is mind-boggling. As believers, we have so much access. You’ve probably heard someone say before, “God isn’t surprised.” We believe in the doctrine of the omniscience of God. If that’s true, we have a lot of access. We’re even talking about things that are to come. What would it look like to know the future through connection with God. How would that apply to business?
I sat for a while longer, and have subsequently processed a few of the “classes” I plan on taking during my HSMBA. I felt like God said HSMBA includes:
- Get five hours per week of downloads from Me. You have to make space for it. You have to quiet yourself and your other inputs, and just listen to me.
- Learn how to speak life and cast vision into your team.
- Learn how to read reports with HS highlights. If you’ll look at the reports with My Eyes, you’ll see.
- Go after strategic development, making a plan. You’ll see where to focus when you seek My Face.
- Learn operations and delegation. You’ll see how to delegate operations and empower people around you when you tune into the way I see things.
- Discern when to run, and when to rest – HS rhythms.
I feel God challenged me to “Ask questions just like you would in class. Listen well. Take notes.” For some of you, this might sound a little crazy. I think it’s going to be challenging. It’s going to take rewiring my brain. It’s going to take setting that time aside. It’s going to take allowing myself to see things in a new way. For me, it’s exactly the MBA I want to start this year.
If you want to hear some of the things I’m learning from my HSMBA, make sure to subscribe, send me an email, DM on social, do whatever you gotta do to get connected. Let’s run together and see where our HSMBA’s can take us!
Chris O'Dell 