What's The Secret To Your SUCCESS?

People often ask me "Kubi, what are the things that you have done to become a success? How have you built your brand and garnered notoriety in your field?" And whilst I could, and often do, tell them about the necessity to be strategic, build a network, garnish influence and have a relentless work ethic. I also feel compelled to them that prayer is my secret source!

For me, prayer brings peace. It allows me to carve out time from the hustle and craziness of life to just sit with God and talk. Prayer has been the game changer as I seek clarity on the hard decisions, and gain insights for what to do next. Prayer has literally changed my life.

As an example, when I decided to move from London to Dubai, after being in the city on holiday. I prayed, and whilst it seemed crazy to everyone else, God confirmed the move. He made it super clear, that irrespective of how it looked, I need to move to Dubai. After one month of prayer and fasting, I stayed. Yes you read right, I came to Dubai on a Christmas holiday and never went back. I literally packed up my belongings on zoom and moved country as a single mum, with a then 10 year old daughter. And honestly, it has been the best decision I have ever made. But it was made....off the back of prayer.

But how do you pray?

For me, my prayer life has developed over time, today I would describe it as a real and honest conversation with God. One where I bring my good, bad and ugly to him. I literally pull up an empty chair on my balcony and say 'Hey God...can we talk?"

According to the dictionary definition; prayer is a spiritual communion with God, and according to Google; Prayer is an invocation or act that seeks to activate a rapport with an object of worship through deliberate communication. For me, that 'object' is our Lord Jesus Christ and that communication is often me with a cup of coffee, where I seek out answers.

But prayer is so much more than just solution finding, whilst its important, its not the only way to pray. There are in-fact 5 types of prayer that we can delve into below:

Supplication

The bible tells us in Matthew 7:7-12 that we need to "ask and we will receive". I take that very seriously. I am ok with talking to God and telling Him exactly what I need and when I need it. Then, I wait with complete anticipation to watch and see it come through. Of course, sometimes it takes a minute to land, but despite the wait, asking is something I will for sure do! lol

I therefore encourage you to 'ask', not complain about your problems. But ask for a solution. My experience with God is that I never actually get the thing I am asking for, I normally get the solution to the thing. For example, if I ask for more money, he normally gives me a business idea that can make money. Money itself, never just lands from the sky!

Thanksgiving

Pslam 100:4 tells us to "enter the gate with thanksgiving". We are designed to worship God, to adorn Him and to praise Him. When we think about all that He has done, it becomes easy to give thanks.

Whether that be thanking Him for the child you prayed for, the career you desired, the man you thought was cute, or just for waking you up this very morning. Praising God is and should always be part of our prayer life.

For me, thanksgiving always comes at the start of my prayers. I don't like to ask God for more (supplicate) until I have first acknowledged all that he has already done.

Adoration

Not everyone likes the idea that God is Lord over their life, but for me, God is literally the CEO of my business. He is my north star in life, and my protector to both me and my daughter. So adoring God feels beautiful to me. Not just thanking Him, but exalting Him in prayer brings magic into our life.

I often think of it like this, when my natural father does something for me I thank him, but when he does it again and again, I adore him for the consistency of love he shows me. Its the same with God.

Confession

...and not the Usher album! lol

This type of prayer is where you lay it all down and say "hands up, I did it...." sometimes adding the 'again' at the end of that statement.

Confessing allows me to take the barriers off. It's where I get to be honest with God. To go to Him as His precious daughter with all my mess-ups and hick-ups (aka sins) and tell all. In doing so, I walk away lighter, and once I repent (which means to turn away from the sin) I feel refreshed.

God wants to hear our confessions, His grace is sufficient, so don't try and hide (because he is all seeing anyway) bring it openly and ask for help in dealing with it. As it says in Pslams 51:1-2

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

Intercession

As Believers we are meant to intercede for others and an intercessory prayer is exactly that...we are praying on behalf of others. That could be our family members, our friends, our lover, our co-worker...even our enemy. Yes you read right, pray for them sis!

This is a biblical pattern we see throughout the Old and New Testament. Moses interceded for Israel (Exodus 32), Job interceded for his friends (Job 42:10), Paul interceded for the Ephesian church (Ephesians 1:15-23), and Jesus intercedes for us (Romans 8:34).

So the next time you pray, think about all five prayer styles, and if you are not already doing it, try them and watch your life be transformed, and your business take new heights.

Love Kubi

(Click HERE to read Kubi's May Editors Letter)