Author Business Plan, Vision Board, and Affirmations for 2025, the Christian way!

Are you ready to make 2025 the year you align your writing, business, and goals with God’s purpose?

In this episode, I’m sharing how to seek God’s guidance for your author business plan, whether vision boards are biblical (and how to create one that honors Him), and why speaking Scripture-based affirmations over your writing, books and Christian business is a game-changer.

If you’ve ever wondered how to combine faith and strategy in your author business to create a truly anointed year, stick around—this episode is packed with Bible verses, practical tips, and personal insights that will help you align your book publishing goals with God’s purpose so you can walk into the new year with faith and confidence.

👉 PLUS...I have an exclusive free 31-Day Christian Affirmations for Writers printable just for you!

Bring your coffee and notebook. You're not going to want to miss this one!

Transcript

Have you, like me, been feeling like this past year just hasn't gone your way? Or are you already feeling overwhelmed about setting goals for 2025?

If you've ever wondered how to align your goals, dreams and daily business practices with God's will, this episode is for you. Because today I'm sharing how I'll be changing up my business plan for next year and we'll also dive into what the Bible says about vision boards and affirmations and how we as Christian writers and entrepreneurs can use these practices to take our author businesses to a whole new level the God Honoring way. This is Episode seven.

I'm Urcelia Teixeira, ex real estate agent turned award winning author of Christian fiction. It wasn't that long ago that I wrote my first novel on a bucket list whim, setting the course for a spiritual journey that transformed my life.

But the journey through self publishing hasn't been easy as I soon found myself obsessing over book sales rankings and getting to the top of the shelves, all the while trying to stay rooted in Christ and live out my purpose.

But God has graciously been teaching me how to navigate the spiritual pitfalls of the brutal book publishing industry, and now I'm sharing them with you. Welcome to the Anointed Scribe podcast where each week I open my personal diary to share soul nourishing stories designed to inspire, uplift and equip you for your writing life.

If you're already a Christian author or one in the making trying to balance faith with business, you're in the right place. Because for such a time as this, you have been called to thrive as God's Anointed Scribe.

Are you ready? Let's get started.

Hey there, it's your author friend Urcelia and if you're tuning in today, I think you are going to be so blessed with what we're discussing today. Because up until about a month or so ago, I was gearing up to create my 2025 business plan and vision board in the same way I've been doing it for the past three to five years.

The same way that has left me feeling burnt out, exhausted, overwhelmed, and not even close to hitting the goals I had set for myself a year ago and every year before that.

And honestly, I have no idea how it's taken me this long to see where I've been going wrong.

Actually thinking about it now, I got caught up blindly following what everyone else was either doing or teaching me to do in pretty much every career I've ever had, including my writing career, because these are the methods and tools the world teachers are best practice if you ever want to be successful.

Are you feeling the same?

Have you, like me, pulled out that business plan template you once found in one of the author forums and jotted down a list of projects that are supposed to get you closer to your ideal life, only to instead leave you already doubting how you are going to make it happen?

Let's be real.

How many times have we started the new year with a laundry list of goals, only to feel completely overwhelmed by February?

I've been filling my planner with ambitious to do lists and plans that look great on paper for years now, stickers and all, only to now realize that I've been doing it back to front all this time.

So I'm switching things up for 2025 and in today's episode I'd love to share with you how I'm planning on tackling my goals this coming year.

But before we get stuck into everything I've learned and what the Bible teaches us about vision boards, using affirmations and creating a business plan that will truly transform how we approach the new year, I want to welcome you to the Anointed Scribe Tribe.

If this is the first time you're tuning in, I pray that God will use this episode and podcast to grow you in some way so that you will thrive in your calling as a Christian writer.

If you want to listen to any of the previous episodes, you'll find them on my website, anointedscribe.com and if you want access to my entire free resource library that has all sorts of downloadable writing tools and freebies to help you along the way in your faith led writing journey, including this very special printable 31 day affirmation plan I created specially with today's topic in mind.

You'll find the link for that in my show notes and description.

So scribe, pull out your notebook or download and save this episode right now so you can use it again next year and every year after that. I want 2025 to be the year everything changes for us.

Now if you don't already know this about me, there's only one place I turn to whenever I want to better understand God's perspective on things. And that's of course the Bible, which is what I'd like you to do also whenever you listen to any of my episodes.

In fact, learn about it here, but then also take it to God in prayer so that he can show you how to apply it to your own journey. Because his plans for you are different from the plans he has for me.

We are each called to our own mission, so make sure you always go back to God about everything.

Okay, so let's get stuck in with a journal entry and verse that turned this entire perennial annual event on its head for me this year.
September 30th
What if 2025 is the year my author business truly transforms?
Not because I'm working harder and chasing every next best tool or method that promises a step closer to my dream life, but because I planned my year the biblical way.
What if I've been setting the wrong goals and the life I've been dreaming about and planning isn't what God has planned for me?

This is what I wrote in my journal just as we headed into Q4 this year, which is when I usually start thinking about where I'm at and the year ahead.

And boy, did these questions bring about a revelation in me.

I went on to write down the following verse next to it.

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. Proverbs 16:3 I cannot tell you how many times I've read this particular verse, but I'll tell you it's never quite clicked into place for me like it did this time around.

You see, in the past, I'd spent time looking at where I was in my author business, decide on my goals, even find scripture to root them in, then commit them to the Lord in prayer, trusting that my plans were aligned with God's will.

That's essentially what this verse tells us to do, right?

But it was when I continued with this chapter and got to verse nine that the penny started to drop.

Because verse nine teaches us this. In their hearts. humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. Meaning that people make plans for what they will do. Insert creating business plans and setting goals, but only God directs our actions.

So as I started to talk to God about my plans and what I envisioned my life to be at the end of 2025, it suddenly dawned on me that I'd been going at this business plan and goal thing all wrong.

You see, if I decide and write down what I hope to achieve during this next year and it's not in God's will, I will most likely reach the end of 25 with a list of goals I never achieved, and I will have strived after my goals, wasting time and energy I'm already short on for nothing.

Sure, there would be a few goals that I might have successfully achieved, and I might even feel like I've taken a step or two forward in my author business.

But in my experience so far, most of my plans and goals for my business were either achieved by sheer determination or strife, or likely both.

Because I am, after all, a hard worker and I do absolutely take my mission very seriously.

But there were quite a few goals I didn't achieve in the past years that left me feeling defeated and deflated every single year, including this year.

In fact, all they did was suck the time and energy from my life to the point where I started to not always enjoy the very thing God had called me to do in the first place: write.

Now, hear what I'm about to say, because it's all going to make a whole lot of sense for you in a minute.

Jeremiah 29:11 says for I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.

We all know this verse, right? It's on every fridge magnet and social media post everywhere this time of year. But pay close attention to this verse because this is where the revelation happened, friend.

If God alone created this prosperous plan for me, for a future that is glistening with hope, a future he created for me before I was even born, why on earth would I create my own plans and dreams for my life the way I see them, and then give them to God in the hope that they are the same plans God has already planned out for me in detail?

Does it not make more sense to ask God to first reveal his plans for me so that I can then put the necessary steps into place to then take whatever actions are necessary for them to come to fruition with God's blessing?

It's like baking a cake using whatever ingredients I think should be in it and then having no directions on how to get this cake to look and taste fantastic. I just hope and pray it turns out straight and edible.

It just doesn't make any sense, right?

I don't want to lead God to what my vision is for my life.

I want God to lead me to the vision he has already established for me.

God knows the plans he has for me, Jeremiah says.

Plans that are perfect and filled with hope and a future I can be certain I will love. Because Romans 8:28 assures me that all things come together for those who love God and who are called according to his purpose.

That's me and that's you. God's anointed scribes called to his purpose to entertain, inspire and build his kingdom with our gift of writing.

Now, knowing this does not mean I'm throwing out my goals and business planning. Proverbs 21:5 tells us that the plans of the diligent lead to profit.

So does Luke 14:28, which reads, Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won't you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?

Planning is good. Planning is biblical. I'm still going to draft a business plan because planning isn't a bad thing, provided we seek God's will in it.

But this year I'm letting God declare his plans for my business first before I write my business plan.

And here's how I'm going to do it. This is my step by step plan to letting God write my business plan this year, and I'd like to encourage you to do the same if God leads you to it.

Step one is to start with prayer, however long it takes, before we even think about our goals for 2025, we need to spend time in prayer so we can ask God questions like what is your purpose for my writing and business this year?

How can I use my writing to glorify you?

What should I let go of that's not in line with your will?

Or how about what should I do more of this year? Or what should I do less of this year?

Where do you want me to put my focus?

These are all questions you can explore and pray about.

Then the next step, according to Psalm 46, is to be still and listen.

This part is hard for many of us because we're so used to doing. But in the stillness God speaks, and we need to wait until God speaks.

It's when he's going to give us the answers to these questions we asked him in the first step. And it's important to take time to journal what you sense he's placing on your heart.

I will likely ask my husband to pray and listen with me just to be sure I'm hearing God's thoughts and not my own.

You might consider a friend or spiritual partner if you're not married, but that's entirely up to you.

Step number three is to align our goals with Scripture and to meditate on the Word of God. Because when our goals are rooted in God's Word, they take on eternal significance.

Now I know that as Christians, the word meditation can sometimes carry negative connotations because of how it's presented in secular or New Age practices.

But in the Bible, meditation is not about emptying your mind, it's about filling your heart with God's word.

Psalm 1:2 tells us to meditate on His Law day and night Here, meditation means dwelling deeply on Scripture, reflecting on God's truth and allowing it to transform your mind.

Joshua 1:8 reinforces this. It says, keep this book of the law always on your lips. Meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.

Then you'll be prosperous and successful.

Something I've also been doing every year for the past six years is asking for God to reveal my Word of the year.

This is oftentimes the jumping off point for me when I start to hear from God. And I use an amazing tool on the Dayspring website, which I'll drop the link to in the show notes below.

It's rooted in Scripture, which is exactly what this step is about. So do check that out.

Then the final step is to surrender the outcome.

This is the hardest step because as humans we naturally take control and jump in. At least I do. I am most definitely a doer and so I have to be reminded to follow through and surrendering everything I've planned to do and then to hold it loosely so God can move when he needs to and how he needs to.

Isaiah 55:8,9 tells us to trust that God's plans are always better than ours. So we need to always be fluid with our plans, but also guard against being distracted by the enemy because he will try to derail you.

So once I have my business plan in place, I also create a vision board, sometimes also called a dream board. And yes, some believe that visualization and vision boards are not biblical.

So let's talk about this quickly because I do understand why they might think vision boards aren't biblical.

They've become incredibly popular in the self help world and the world often uses vision boards for manifestation, focusing on self power. So as Christians, we do need to approach them carefully and not fall into the self power trap.

I'll be honest, I hesitated to create a vision board at first because I was worried about this very thing.

But here's the truth when I went to the Bible with it though.

Our power comes from the Holy Spirit, not from ourselves, right?

So we should tap into the Holy Spirit's power to help us bring to fruition what's on our boards by letting him work in and through us and always for God's glory, not our own.

So here's what the Bible says about vision boards. In Habakkuk 2:2 it says this.

Write the vision, make it plain on tablets so he may run who reads it?

God instructed Habakkuk to write down his vision so that others could carry it out.

This wasn't about manifesting personal desires. It was about fulfilling God's plan.

And here's the key.

A biblical vision board should reflect what God has revealed to you through prayer and Scripture, through the business plan and goals he revealed to you earlier.

And we approach creating our vision board in much the same way as we did with the business plan.

We don't look at the other people's lives, the rich and the famous, and then say, oh, I'll have what she's having.

No, we pray first and we ask God what vision he has for us.

Before we gather magazines or print pictures, we pray and ask God to show us what he wants on that board for us, the life he has planned for us.

The Bible is full of stories where God spoke in visions and dreams. So trust me, God will give you your vision if you seek him in it. And it's for his glory, for his purpose, for his plan.

We should also include Scripture on our vision boards, specific verses that the Holy Spirit has highlighted for you when you meditated on God's Word. And we can include specific Bible verses that align with our words sorry with our goals.

For example, for boldness in writing, Joshua 1:9 is a great verse. For creativity, Exodus 35 verses 31, 32 or for provision Philippians 4:19.

Just ask God to point them out to you and then add them to your vision board so you can see them at a glance anytime during the year. It'll keep you rooted and on point.

Also ask God to help you visualize the impact you will have on his kingdom.

So instead of just putting up pictures of material success, include images or words that represent how your work will glorify God. Like a picture of a book with a cross to symbolize reaching readers with his message, for example. Whatever dream you have for your life, it always has to be God centered, not self centered.

How will it impact the kingdom or bring God glory? How will it help you fulfill your mission?

The outcome of your goal must always be centered around that.

And last but by no means least, I'd like to also touch on affirmations and using the power of words in your business.

This is a topic close to my heart. There was a time when negative self talk dominated my thoughts. I'd think things like I'm not good enough to write this or what if no one reads my books?

Then I discovered the power of speaking God's truth over myself.

But here's where things often get a bit blurry because the world has once again twisted this very Biblical principle into a new Age self reliant success recipe.

The world's affirmations often say things like I believe in myself and trust in my abilities to succeed in all I do.

But we know that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Philippians 4:13 tells us.
Psalm 119:105 says, your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

So when you declare God's word, you're speaking his promises into your life.

There's so much power in speaking scripture over your life and into your business.

Like these examples of Scriptural affirmations for writers.

I am equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:17 or God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love and of sound mind. That's 2 Timothy 17.

How about this one?

The Lord will establish the work of my hands. Psalm 90:17

When I started doing this daily, my mindset shifted.

I went from doubting my calling to walking in confidence because I was rooted in his promises.

If you're not sure where to start, then Download my free 31 day Christian affirmations for writers printable PDF from the resource library. It's free and the link will be in the show notes for you.

It's packed with scripture based affirmations to help you declare truth over your life and business.

Print it out, laminate it and stick it on the wall in front of you or next to you and just speak God's truth over your business daily and I promise you you will see massive transformation in 2025 and beyond.

Friend, 2025 isn't just another year, it's an opportunity for you to partner with God in your writing journey. Will you join me and seek his guidance for your business plan?

Create a vision board that reflects his will, not just your wishes and then speak His Word over your life and work knowing that his promises are true.

Remember, this isn't about striving, it's about surrendering.

God didn't call you to write to then just plunge you into self reliance and hustle culture.

So let's enter this new year with boldness, faith and a heart fully committed to his purpose.

You don't have to write your own destiny because it has already been written by the author of Life.

I'm grateful to you for spending this time with me today. I'm excited for 2025. How about you? Drop me a DM on Instagram or use the Message Me link in the show notes and let me know.

Remember to check out the Word of the Year Tool and if you want to let me know if you enjoyed this episode, please take a few seconds to rate and review this podcast on Apple.

I'd really appreciate it.

Until next time, stay rooted, keep writing and keep walking in his plans. And remember, for such a time as this, you have been called to thrive as God's Anointed Scribe.

I'll see you next year.

Thanks for listening to today's episode of the Anointed Scribe Podcast. I hope you're leaving feeling inspired, encouraged and on fire to step boldly into your calling as a writer chosen and set apart to fulfill a unique purpose.

God's Plan if you found value and liked today's episode, would you stop right now and share this episode with someone else who's struggling to balance their faith with building their author career?

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And if you want more, more of the lessons I learned in my personal journey. Good news because I drop new episodes every Friday, so go ahead and subscribe or follow this show so you don't miss the next one.

Then head on over to anointedscribe.com for today's show notes and free access to my entire resource library to keep you rooted and on course. There's also a link where you can shoot me a message or ask a question.

Or if there's a specific topic you'd like me to talk about in a future episode, you can use the message link for that too.

I look forward to our next episode together. And remember, for such a time as this, you have been called to thrive as God's Anointed Scribe. I'll see you next time.