So you’re stepping out on faith to start your own Christian coaching practice. I am sure you are excited and anxious at the same time. Are you hearing those voices yet?  You know those voices that are causing you to doubt whether you can really do this.  That voice that is asking, “Who do you think you are?” What about the voice that is boldly saying, “Hey, you are not enough to do this?” Have you heard in your mind that no one is going to hire you to coach them and if they do, they’re going to be disappointed?

Yep, these are the typical thoughts (imaginations) we often hear in our minds when we are about to take any BIG leap of faith.  

Guess what? There’s nothing new under sun, right? Every new Christian coach experiences doubt and fear. (I call these two nemeses Sister Doubt and Brother Fear). Sister Doubt and Brother Fear can convince you to the point of no movement at all. So, how do you overcome this doubt and fear? How do you put Sister Doubt and Brother Fear in their places? You need to handle them using both your spiritually authority and natural authority.

 

Renew Your Mind with the Truth

If you believe the Word of God, it says that we are God’s workmanship created for good works which God prepared beforehand so that we should walk in them. If God has given you an assignment to coach others, you best believe you have everything you need to carry this assignment out. Have courage. God has already prepared you.  Christian coaching is good works. Make a decision to take captive the thoughts that you cannot do this and renew your mind with the truth.

Take Your Focus Off of You

Being a Christian coach is not about you at all. It’s about who God wants you to help. He is just working through you. You have to understand that you are the vessel. According to 2 Corinthians 3:5, “We are not sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God.” God is going to do the work through you. Trust Him and not yourself.

Now Practically Speaking…

Practice Your Coaching Skills Every Chance You Get.

I heard someone say that practice makes progress.  I would not strive for perfection because you will be setting yourself up for disappointment. God wants us to do our best. He’ll do the rest. Don’t forget. We are human and God does not expect us to be perfect.

Offer Free Sessions: One thing that you can do is to offer a limited number of free sessions for a few clients so that you can get some experience coaching.  Journal your personal experience after the sessions to capture any areas that need improvement.

Practice with Friends or Family:  If you have some friends or family members that you could help with their problems, try coaching with them first. This will help you become more comfortable with yourself and your coaching ability. But don’t dwell here at free. You’ll need to launch out into the deep at some point.

Remind Yourself That You’re Supposed to be doing this: Finally, remind yourself of why you started your coaching practice in the first place. Remind yourself that you this is a path chosen by God.

Scripture Meditation:

2 Corinthians 3:5 –  Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God.

Ephesians 2:10 – For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Psalm 138:8 – The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.

2 Corinthians 10:5 – Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Romans 12:2 – And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 

Nanette Floyd Patterson, LPC & Master HIScoach™