Wisdom’s Table With Rachel Wortman

Let's wage war on the lies that are holding you back today. Take a moment to pray with me!

One conversation can change everything. I’ve lived it, and in this episode I’m pulling back the curtain on two conversations that shifted the entire trajectory of my life.

So many of us are living isolated, trying to figure everything out on our own. Technology and AI can help, but something holy happens when two people made in the image of God sit across from each other and talk. I love how Ryan Lestrange puts it: “people are God’s transportation system.”

The first conversation happened in my early twenties. I had been carrying a spirit of rejection for years, and after one especially painful moment, my husband nudged me to go talk to our pastor. In that meeting, my pastor named the thing I had been fighting. That one moment of clarity became the beginning of my healing and my freedom.

The second conversation happened in 2012, right after my third baby was born. I sat down to lunch with Graham Cooke, a mentor whose teaching has shaped so much of my life, and I told him the truth. I was living my dream in ministry and motherhood, and I was miserable. His answer stopped me in my tracks: “You’ll get out of it when you learn to love it.” He helped me see that the love of God stays constant in every season, and that we can encounter Him even in our darkest moments.

Both of those conversations gave me relief in the moment and tools I still use today. And both started with the courage to be vulnerable and ask for help.

This is exactly why I love coaching. I get a front-row seat to these same breakthrough conversations with my clients, and I’m sharing a few of their stories with you too.

If you’re ready for your own, I would love to sit down with you for a strategy session. Your next life-changing conversation might be one courageous step away.

Ready to book your strategy call? CLICK HERE

Get Rachel's first book, "You'll Get Out Of It When You Learn To Love It" HERE

Start your week praying with me!

Have you experienced a betrayal in your business? Grab my free Breakthrough Guide HERE

In this episode of Wisdom's Table, we delve into the complex and often challenging topic of forgiveness, particularly from a Christian perspective. I begin by acknowledging the emotional weight that forgiveness carries for many of us, especially those who have experienced deep betrayal, trauma, or tragedy in their lives. I want to assure listeners that I understand the intricacies of this journey, as I have faced my own challenges in learning to forgive.

Our discussion is sparked by a recent conversation I had while visiting a freedom center in Athens, Greece, run by the nonprofit ministry A21. This organization focuses on rescuing victims of sex trafficking and helping them rebuild their lives. During our visit, a thought-provoking question arose: Are we really required to forgive those who inflict such pain and suffering? I explore this question, emphasizing that while the Bible commands us to forgive, it does not mean we must excuse the actions of those who have wronged us.

I clarify that forgiveness is distinct from trust, excusal, and the removal of consequences. Forgiveness does not imply indifference to the harm done or a restoration of unrestricted access to the offender. Instead, it is a spiritual act that acknowledges the complexities of human relationships and the spiritual battles at play. I discuss the biblical principle of sowing and reaping, highlighting that while we may receive forgiveness from God, we still face the consequences of our actions.

Throughout the episode, I outline three key reasons why we must forgive:

Agreement with the Enemy: When someone wrongs us, they may be acting in alignment with the enemy's agenda. By forgiving, we can release ourselves from the burden of their actions and recognize the spiritual warfare involved.

Lack of Complete Understanding: We often do not know the full story behind someone's actions. Forgiveness allows us to step back from the judgment seat and release ourselves from the role of judge, trusting that God has a justice system in place.

Following Jesus' Example: Ultimately, we forgive because Jesus forgives. His ability to forgive even in the face of extreme suffering serves as a model for us. I share a powerful story of a man who, while imprisoned and tortured, found the strength to forgive his captor, illustrating the supernatural nature of true forgiveness.

I also reflect on the story of Paul and Barnabas, emphasizing that forgiveness does not mean we must forget or ignore the consequences of someone's actions. Instead, we can forgive while still setting healthy boundaries. The episode concludes with a call to seek a deeper understanding of forgiveness, encouraging listeners to surround themselves with those who have navigated similar struggles and found healing.

Join me as we explore the transformative power of forgiveness and how it can lead us closer to the likeness of Christ. Until next time, be blessed.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00:00 - Introduction to Forgiveness

Join me in prayer as we start this week refocusing our minds on the steady growth God wants to bring into your life.

Christian business content is trending everywhere right now, and with that popularity comes a unique pressure. Many Christian business owners carry guilt that their business isn't "Christian enough." Whether that means not having Bible verses on the packaging, or no gospel presentation at checkout. Or maybe it is just a little feeling that you're missing "something."

In this episode of Wisdom's Table, I answer a question a woman asked me at a Money Mandate summit in Nashville: does being a Christian in business mean you have to run a Christian business? My answer may surprise you, and I believe it will set you free.

I share a lesson from church history about what happened to Christianity when it became popular under Emperor Constantine, and why something being trending doesn't automatically make it godly. I also open up about how my husband and I approach faith in our real estate brokerage, an industry with clear legal boundaries, and the phrase he uses with clients: "We are not a Christian business. We are Christians who run a business."

In this episode, you'll learn:

Whether God has called you to make your business an open ministry or to quietly serve with excellence, kingdom entrepreneurship starts with obedience to what He has asked of you.

Connect with Rachel:

TIMESTAMPS

00:00:00 - Introduction to the Podcast and the Money Mandate

There's a prayer you've been afraid to pray. It's the one where you ask God to make you bold, because part of you worries that boldness and pride are the same thing.

They aren't. And today we're settling that in the presence of the Lord.

On this week's On Mondays We Pray, we're asking God for holy audacity. The kind of courage that owns what He placed in your hands and refuses to bury it. We're breaking agreement with false humility, the voice that keeps you small and calls it safe, and we're asking the Holy Spirit to make us faithful stewards of every gift, every skill, and every assignment He's entrusted to us.

Jesus knew exactly who He was, and He used it to serve. We're praying for that same security in our identity, so we can shine like a city on a hill and point every bit of the glory back to Him.

3 minutes. One prayer. Pray it with me and expect God to move.

Share this with someone you know will need this prayer.

You've accused yourself of pride more times than anyone has ever said it to your face.

So you shrink. You undercharge. You hold back the post, the price, the pitch, and you call it humility because staying small feels safer than being seen.

I lived there for a long time. I dimmed my light and told myself I was guarding my heart. When I finally got free of it, beautiful things started coming.

In this episode of Wisdom's Table, I'm naming false humility and the three ways it  cripples Christian entrepreneurs:

Romans 12:3 calls us to sober judgment. Accurate judgment. Owning your gift while knowing exactly where it came from is real humility, and it's what the parable of the talents asks of every one of us.

Here's the part I want you to sit with this week: "Pride takes the credit. Humility takes responsibility."

In other news, we are hosting an event for Christian entrepreneurs and business owners like you in Oklahoma City, OK. This is your chance to get in the room with us, encounter God together, and get filled up for the new year. Learn more HERE

TIMESTAMPS

00:00:00 - Introduction to False Humility

You've been working to earn a place you already have. Refreshing the numbers, adding one more task, pushing through exhaustion, all while wondering if God is disappointed in how far you still have to go. 

The new covenant speaks a better word over you. Through Jesus, God has written His law on your heart, forgiven your sin, and promised to remember it no more (Jeremiah 31:33-34, Hebrews 8:10-12). Your standing with Him was secured at the cross, and grace is the ground you build on (Ephesians 2:8-9).

In this episode, Rachel prays for the leader who is tired of proving and ready to receive. This prayer breaks agreement with striving, silences the voice that says you're never enough, and invites you into the rest Jesus offers to everyone who is weary and heavy laden (Matthew 11:28-30). Let His grace meet you in your business, your family, and the places you've been carrying alone.

Come to the table. Put down the weight. Receive what's already yours.

You say you want to grow. You've prayed for it. You've even sensed God calling you into it. And then, right when it's time to move, something in you backs down.

I know that place well. As a teenager reading Romans 9 in my NIV study Bible, I agreed with a lie that I was made for "ordinary use." It haunted me for close to 25 years. I would want the change, believe God was calling me to it, and then that lie about my worth would get in the way.

Here's what I've learned: growing is going to cost you something. Staying the same is going to cost you more.

Four things are required to create a change:

So let me ask you two questions. Where is God challenging you to grow? And what would happen if, a year from now, you stayed exactly where you are?

If belief is where you're stuck, start there. In my book The Expansion Mandate, I walk you through the four battles every Christian has to fight and win to fully step into their promised land. And it all begins with your ability to believe.

Your copy is waiting for you at HERE. Come take the first step with me. 📖

TIMESTAMP

00:00:01 - Welcome to Wisdom's Table

00:00:27 - The Cost of Growth

00:01:09 - The Principle of Exchange

00:04:09 - What Happens When We Don't Grow

00:04:40 - Four Components of Change

00:05:01 - Belief in Change

00:09:47 - Willingness to Act

00:10:29 - Acceptance of Being Nimble

00:10:39 - Perseverance to See It Through

00:12:12 - Consequences of Not Engaging

00:13:27 - No Neutrality in Growth

00:15:02 - Believing in Yourself

00:16:47 - Loving Yourself to Love Others

00:18:22 - The Cost of Staying the Same

00:20:08 - The Importance of New Environments

00:22:05 - Aging and Growth

00:24:26 - Your Potential for Growth

00:24:47 - Closing Thoughts