I’ve been thinking a lot about the heart. During a visualization exercise my coach was leading, I was given a gift.  This gift presented itself in the form of a stunning, silver filigreed, heart shape locket on a velvet ribbon.  In my excitement, I opened the locket to see what was inside.  A choir immediately burst into beautiful music.  I heard the words to an old, familiar hymn I hadn’t sung in years.  “There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God.  A place where sin cannot molest, near to the heart of God.”   

The Bible teaches us a lot about our hearts. Luke 6:45 (New Living Translation) says, “A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.” Proverbs 4:23 (New King James Version) admonishes, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”

Society says a lot about the heart also.  We hear things like:  “A women is the heart of the home.”  “You gotta have heart.”

Whether coach or client, one thing is certain.  Heart matters.  The condition of the heart matters.  The motive (values) of the heart matters.  The passion of the heart matters. 

Before focusing on our clients, let’s talk about us.  It’s important to consider condition and motive in regards to our Christian coaching practices.   We must guard our hearts in our lives and our work.  We can’t effectively coach others if our own heart is fettered.  Confessing our weakness to God is the first step to keeping our heart pure. Obeying God’s Word (Psalms 119:9) and having our own accountability partner will keep us on track. 

We also need to do routine checks on our motives.  We must make sure we are not manipulating or acting out of our own pride or selfish desires as we market ourselves.  People can spot someone who is not being honest.  Tricky gimmicks and working from only the financial perspective, will not serve us well in today’s economy.  Today’s world is crying for relationship and connection.  When we embrace those values we make our service valuable and one that no one wants to be without.  Spirit-led, heart based marketing is the way to go! 

The heart is the center of our emotions, personality attributes, and the place where we feel deeply and sincerely.  It’s a place of vulnerability.  Women are usually much more emotional then men.  They often define themselves, react, make choices, and live by how they feel. Helping woman find the connection that will move them beyond a simply emotional response to life is vital to success as a coach.  Assisting them in acknowledging the condition of their heart, identifying clear values, determining what motivates them, and unlocking their potential and passion is what coaching is about.   There are endless paths and processes we can use to achieve that result. The best results have come for me, when I have been instrumental in their connecting with God’s heart for them.  Using the principles and promises of God’s word as a guide, they find a new place of rest, security, and confidence moving forward. 

I can’t find who said this, but I often use this quote, “Snuggle, don’t struggle.  Nestle, don’t wrestle.” Near God’s heart is the place to be.  Connecting women to that place is what is important.  It is all about heart.  What are some of the methods you use to help women make that connection?

Marian Struble is the founder of Connected Life Ministries and a certified Christian Life Coach.

www.connectedlifecoaching.com