Success is often sold as the ultimate destination.

Work harder. Make more money. Build the business. Buy the house. Reach the next milestone.

Yet many people discover that after climbing the mountain, they still feel empty.

That was one of the powerful themes discussed when entrepreneur, investor, author, and speaker Eddie Austin joined the 2000 Cubit Rule podcast.

As the founder of JE Capital, Eddie has spent decades building businesses, investing in real estate, and helping others create wealth. But his story is about much more than money. It is about discovering the difference between financial success and true freedom.

From Welder to Wealth

Eddie’s journey started far from the world of investing.

Homeschooled as a teenager, he learned welding at just 12 years old and spent years working in the trades. Along the way, he noticed something that deeply impacted him.

Many of the men he worked beside had dreams.

They wanted to travel. Spend time with family. Enjoy retirement. Pursue the things they loved.

But too often, they postponed those dreams until “someday.”

Many worked their entire lives only to discover they lacked the money, health, or time to enjoy the freedom they had hoped for.

That realization planted a question in Eddie’s mind:

Is there a better way to build a life?

The Problem With Chasing Success

Like many entrepreneurs, Eddie became focused on achievement.

Business growth.

Financial goals.

Material success.

The next opportunity.

The next milestone.

But eventually he reached a point where he realized something wasn’t right.

Despite achieving many of the things he thought would bring fulfillment, he found himself feeling empty.

The cars, the accomplishments, and the financial wins could not provide what he was truly searching for.

Many business owners experience the same challenge.

They spend years building a successful life only to discover they neglected the relationships, purpose, and calling that mattered most.

The Turning Point

One of the most powerful moments from Eddie’s story happened during a difficult season.

Facing challenges in business and life, he found himself pulled over on the side of the road in prayer.

In that moment, he realized he had been trying to control everything.

He had been gripping the steering wheel tightly, convinced that success depended entirely on his own effort.

Then he surrendered.

He literally placed his hands in his lap and told God:

“I am taking my hands off the wheel.”

It became a defining moment in his journey.

Not because he stopped working.

Not because he stopped pursuing excellence.

But because he stopped believing everything depended on him.

The Missing Ingredient in Business

One lesson emerged repeatedly throughout the conversation:

Prayer is not a last resort.

It is a business strategy.

Eddie shared how he and his partners were working to save a struggling company while raising millions of dollars in investment capital.

During the process, they began praying together consistently.

Opportunities opened.

Relationships formed.

Funding appeared.

Then something interesting happened.

Once things started going well, they stopped praying as frequently.

Progress slowed.

Momentum disappeared.

Eventually they recognized what had changed.

The problem wasn’t effort.

The problem was dependence.

Prayer had shifted from being a daily necessity to an occasional activity.

The experience became a reminder that success should never replace dependence on God.

Wealth as Stewardship

One of the most refreshing aspects of Eddie’s approach is that he doesn’t view wealth as the end goal.

He views it as stewardship.

Money is a tool.

Investments are tools.

Businesses are tools.

Real estate is a tool.

The real question is whether those tools are being used for God’s purposes.

Biblical stewardship recognizes that everything ultimately belongs to God.

We are managers, not owners.

When viewed through that lens, wealth becomes less about accumulation and more about impact.

How can we help people?

How can we strengthen communities?

How can we create opportunities for others?

How can we advance God’s purposes in the marketplace?

Those questions change everything.

True Freedom Looks Different

Many people think freedom means having enough money to stop working.

But true freedom runs much deeper.

Freedom is living in alignment with God’s purpose.

Freedom is knowing your identity is not tied to your bank account.

Freedom is having peace regardless of market conditions.

Freedom is trusting God more than your circumstances.

Freedom is being obedient even when the outcome is uncertain.

That kind of freedom cannot be purchased.

It can only be discovered through relationship with God.

A Challenge for Christian Entrepreneurs

If you’re building a business, growing a ministry, or pursuing financial success, consider this question:

Are you building wealth, or are you building a life?

The two are not always the same.

Success is not measured by what you accumulate.

It is measured by faithfulness.

The businesses that leave the greatest impact are often led by people who understand that profits matter, but purpose matters more.

As Eddie reminded listeners, the goal is not simply to make money.

The goal is to live a life of stewardship, freedom, and obedience.

When those things are in place, success becomes a byproduct rather than the destination.

And that’s a wealth worth pursuing.

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It’s a new year, and if you’ve been in church for any length of time, you’ve probably heard the phrase “pray in the new year.” For some of us, that meant a late night at church, worship, prayer, and trying not to fall asleep before the clock hit midnight.

These days, I think “praying in the new year” can mean something even more practical. It can mean starting the year with God at the center of your work, not just your weekends. Not just your personal life, but your calendar, your decisions, your team, your clients, your finances, and your next steps.

On the January 6, 2026 episode of the 2000 Cubit Rule Podcast, I sat down with Dayn Benson, co-founder of PrayingBusiness.com, to talk about exactly that: how Christian business owners can begin the year with prayer that produces clarity, peace, and real alignment with heaven.

This is what stood out most, plus a simple prayer rhythm you can use starting today.

Why praying in the new year matters for business

A lot of business planning starts from the same place: last year’s numbers and this year’s pressure.

• “We did X last year, can we do 10% more?”
• “What if we lose momentum?”
• “What if payroll gets tight?”
• “What if the market shifts?”
• “What if competitors outpace us?”

Some of that is normal leadership responsibility. But Dayn said something that hit me hard.

If the initiative is coming from fear, even subtly, it shapes everything. Your goals, your tone, your relationships, your stress level, and how you treat the people around you.

Praying in the new year is an invitation to let heaven set the initiative, not fear.

The shift: from goals to listening

Dayn pointed to Habakkuk 2:2 in conversation, the idea of “write it down and make it plain.”

Here’s the key: the writing comes after the listening.

Not brainstorming first, then asking God to bless it. Not setting resolutions first, then hoping prayer will add power.

It’s stopping, listening, writing what you sense God saying, then moving forward with Him.

That rhythm is how business becomes partnership instead of performance.

A simple prayer rhythm for Christian business owners

If you want a practical way to “pray in the new year,” here’s a simple framework we talked around, and I’ll keep it straightforward.

1) Start with a listening question (not a lecture)

Try one of these:

• Lord, what do You want for my business in 2026?
• Jesus, what do You want me to focus on first?
• Holy Spirit, what am I missing that You want to highlight?
• Father, what needs to be simplified so we can run with it?

Then pause. Give it time. Don’t rush to fill the silence.

2) Write it down (make it plain)

This is where things change. Writing forces clarity.

Dayn shared that many business owners unintentionally create a “prayer journal” simply by keeping track of what they sense God saying and what they are asking Him for. Over time, that becomes a record of faith, answered prayers, direction, and growth.

If you’re not a natural journaler, don’t worry. You’re not trying to write poetry. You’re capturing guidance.

Write down:

• What you asked
• What you sensed
• Any scripture that comes to mind
• Next step (if one is clear)

3) Choose one obedient step

A lot of anxiety comes from trying to solve the whole year in January.

Instead, ask: What’s one obedient step for this week?

It might be a conversation you’ve been avoiding. A decision you’ve been delaying. A relationship you need to repair. A process you need to simplify. A habit you need to stop. A new initiative you need to begin.

4) Revisit weekly, and watch for God’s “nuggets”

Dayn said something that I think every leader needs to hear: encouragement is not optional.

God often strengthens us with little reminders:

• “Remember when you prayed for this?”
• “Look what I did there.”
• “I’m still with you.”

Those reminders keep you from drifting into discouragement or striving. If you track them, you build a personal library of God’s faithfulness.

Real-world testimonies: what prayer looks like in business

One of the most encouraging parts of the conversation was hearing what Dayn and his team are seeing through PrayingBusiness.com.

They pray for businesses weekly, and they’ve seen answers that range from simple to stunning, without needing to publicize private details.

Examples Dayn mentioned included:

• Provision arriving in time, including payroll situations that looked impossible on paper
• Physical healing, including backs, knees, and even heart-related breakthroughs over time
• Practical needs like rain in a region where power depended on water levels, and then rain arriving after months
• Favor and intervention at higher levels when businesses were dealing with corruption or obstacles outside their control

That’s not “business magic.” That’s God being God, and business leaders choosing to partner with Him.

The deeper issue: believing God wants to work with you

Dayn said something I’ve seen in my own journey too:

Some people know God wants to be involved in work, but they don’t believe it in a personal, lived way. That gap between “I know” and “I’m convinced” is where most of the struggle happens.

It takes surrender. It takes trust. It takes repeated practice.

But when it clicks, you stop seeing prayer as a religious add-on, and you start seeing it as the operating system.

Fear-based planning vs faith-led partnership

Here’s a helpful diagnostic question for January:

Is my plan being driven by fear, or by faith?

Fear says:

• “If I don’t control this, it will collapse.”
• “If I don’t hustle, I will fall behind.”
• “If I don’t protect myself, I’ll get hurt.”

Faith says:

• “God establishes my steps.”
• “God can give clarity in minutes that I can’t manufacture in months.”
• “God is not stressed about my year.”

Proverbs 16:9 says it plainly: we can plan, but the Lord directs the steps. The goal is not to stop planning. The goal is to plan with open hands and listen for direction.

A prayer you can pray today

If you want a simple prayer to start 2026, pray something like this:

Father, I want this year to be Your year in my work. Quiet the noise, remove fear, and give me clarity. Show me what You want me to focus on, and give me the faith to obey the next step. Establish my steps, and let my business produce fruit that lasts. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Practical next step: get prayer support and build the rhythm

If you’re a business owner and you want prayer support, Dayn and his team run a prayer registry at PrayingBusiness.com where businesses can request prayer.

Get Dayn and Heidi’s book, Wake Up At Work! Heaving God in the Office on Amazon.

He also mentioned a free resource they posted: “How to Pray for Your Kids.” Even though it’s written in a family context, the framework can apply to praying for people in general, and it’s a great reminder that business and family are often more connected than we like to admit.

Final thought: write it down so you can run

If there’s one takeaway I’d want you to keep, it’s this:

Don’t rush into the year with noise. Start with listening. Write it down. Then run with what God actually said.

That’s how you pray in the new year, and it’s how you build without burning out.

The post Dayn Benson – Praying in the New Year appeared first on SheepFeast.

Prayer as Strategy, Not Afterthought

What if your greatest business asset isn’t your product, your pitch, or your profit — but your prayer life?

That’s the conviction of Dayn Benson, co-founder of Praying.com, creator of the Business Prayer Planner, and the world’s first self-proclaimed Chief Prayer Officer.

For decades, Dayn was a successful entrepreneur helping people buy and sell companies. But in 2022, God asked him a question that changed everything: “Why don’t you trust Me?”

His journey since then has shown how daily prayer can transform businesses, marriages, and even governments.

From Chief Development Officer to Chief Prayer Officer

While trying to relaunch a post-COVID business, Dayn gave himself the title “Chief Development Officer.” But God had other plans:

“I don’t like that title. I want you to be Chief Prayer Officer.”

At first, Dayn argued. But eventually, he gave in. And with that yes, God began teaching him what it means to pray for businesses, not just individuals.

The Prayer Registry

Dayn and his co-founder Wyatt launched the Prayer Registry, where for-profit businesses can submit prayer requests. The only requirements?

• Be a registered for-profit business.
• Be willing to share prayer needs.

It’s free, and companies of all faith backgrounds — even atheists — are welcome. Twice a week, the team gathers to pray out loud over every business on the registry.

And God moves.

• A company on the brink of bankruptcy saw a complete turnaround — and is now hiring.
• Marriages have been restored, even though the team was praying for cash flow.
• In one case, government corruption in a foreign country was reversed after prayer, saving an entire company from closure.

The Business Prayer Planner

Dayn and his wife, Heidi, also co-authored the Business Prayer Planner, a practical tool for integrating daily prayer into your work life.

Each day offers:

• A Scripture passage.
• A simple prayer prompt.
• Space to listen and record what God is saying.

What begins as a 5–10 minute exercise often grows into deeper reflection, team conversations, and Spirit-led breakthroughs.

“Instead of asking God to bless what I’m doing, I’ve learned to ask, ‘Lord, where are You working, and how can I join You?’” — Dayn

Lessons in Spiritual Warfare

Business is not just financial or operational — it’s spiritual. Dayn has seen resistance increase when prayer begins. Anxiety, opposition, and unexpected setbacks often signal spiritual warfare.

But the antidote is simple:

• Pray out loud.
• Pray in community.
• Stand firm in Christ’s authority.

“Jesus gave us the authority not to live under fear. Work is meant to bring dignity and worship, not destruction.”

Why This Matters

Many believers live with a sacred/secular divide, keeping faith on Sundays and business from Monday to Friday. Dayn challenges that mindset:

• Paul’s tentmaking wasn’t separate from his ministry — it was his ministry.
• Business can be a place of worship, discipleship, and kingdom impact.
• Prayer is the bridge that integrates work and worship.

Get Involved

• Join the Prayer Registry: Free and open to any for-profit business.
• Use the Business Prayer Planner: Available on Amazon for just $6.95.
• Bring Prayer to Work: Start small — 5 minutes with your team, asking God where He’s already moving.

Learn more and register your business at PrayingBusiness.com.

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