Obedience Creates Abundance (Even When the Math Doesn't)

Sometimes God asks you to move before the numbers make sense. Before the bank account agrees. Before your friends understand. And that's usually exactly where abundance starts.

In this episode, we're talking about something we've lived not just taught.

The scary yeses. The prayer-soaked decisions. The doors we closed that were producing money but costing peace.

And the Kingdom principle most people miss: God grows capacity before He grows revenue.

Inside this conversation:

Why obedience isn't reckless leaps and how to tell the difference between God's nudge and your own urgency.

The real reason your income feels capped (hint: it's usually not your strategy)

Luke 16 and why faithfulness in little always precedes faithfulness in much.

Sometimes the most obedient move is stepping OUT of something misaligned.

4 questions to run every business decision through before you say yes
The relief vs. obedience test: relief makes quick decisions — obedience makes wise ones.

How obedience built our family a portable, mission-ready life we couldn't have manufactured on our own

Plus a journal exercise for this week to help you get honest about where God's been nudging you and what you've been delaying.

📖 Scripture referenced: Proverbs 3:5–6, Luke 16:10

⬇️ RESOURCES:
📚 Books we mentioned:
When Women Say Yes to God: https://amzn.to/4vcyYa7

💬 We'd love to hear from you: What's the yes you've been postponing?

Drop it in the comments sometimes saying it out loud is the first step of obedience.

If this stirred something in you, share it with a friend who's standing at the edge of her own scary yes. And subscribe so you don't miss what's coming this season.

Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Kingdom Life Unfiltered. I pray it encouraged you to live boldly, love deeply, and step into the ripple God has uniquely called you to create.

If today’s conversation spoke to you, please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and leave a review it helps us reach more faith-fueled women who are ready to walk in Kingdom purpose.

👉 Stay connected with us:
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👉First to know list ~ https://kingdomfamiliesonmission.com/first2know
🌐 Kingdom Mamas Travel - Income - Impact: https://www.abundancelivingco.com/freedom

👚Christian Family Merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/marinosonmission

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

All right, welcome back, guys. Today we are going to be talking about how obedience actually creates abundance. And this is even when it doesn't make sense, even when the math isn't mathing. A lot of the times God will call us to do things that don't make sense. In worldly eyes, God can see from a bird's eye, eagle's eye view, and he may ask you to do things that don't make sense on paper, that you don't feel qualified for, but just know that he's not gonna call you to something and not see you through. And remember that he doesn't call the qualified, he qualifies the called. So that is so key to understand, and that is proven over and over again in scripture. The people that God used were not perfect, but they were obedient. When they weren't, that there were things that happened, like they got swallowed by a whale. So make sure you're obedient. But today we are gonna be talking and diving into this a little bit more and talk about because it's something that we've lived. I'll never forget when I read the book, what is it? When women say yes to God and walk in obedience, walk in faith, walk in faith. That's what it was. It was such a pivotal moment for me of this idea of radical obedience. It was around that time that I was starting to learn how to hear the voice of God and how to really ask him for him to lead me in my business, in my life. And you know, there were times that he would ask us to step into something, you know, before it made sense and before I was comfortable. Let's just be honest. And so, you know, it's really important to know that like before your bank account agrees, before your friends understand, you know, it's really where abundance starts is obedience. So let's dive in. I'm so excited to talk about this.

SPEAKER_01 1:53

Yeah. And I think too, a lot of people will confuse the abundance with comfort. They think, well, it's gotta feel good or feel right or be the right time, but that's not biblical. Biblically, obedience is gonna come first, provision and often even the direction and next steps are gonna come after that. And I love what you said about that book. That's literally one of my favorite books, and by Lisa Turkers. And she has a prayer in there, and I don't remember it all exactly, but I did write it down in my journal, and it was basically saying like she wakes up and prays every day and says, Lord, before I know what's gonna happen today, I say yes to you. And so that I think is where we have to come from is like, okay, Lord, I'm ready for the day. What do you have for me?

SPEAKER_00 2:31

Yeah, absolutely. And Proverbs three, five through six says, you know, trust in the Lord with all your heart, and he will make your path straight. It doesn't say wait until you understand everything, it says trust. And there were seasons for us, not only seasons financially that things were tight, businesses were shifting, we were stepping into new things and traveling and living life on mission where things just did not always make sense for us. But man, did he come through and provide over and over again? And and not only that, but there's been so many times in my business or just in this journey of goodness, when I first got started in the online space, I was afraid to show, like I would have never done this, never, not in a million years. I remember just getting on a Zoom call with someone when it wasn't recorded, it wasn't shared with the world. I was shaking, I was sweating, I'd have to change my shirt afterwards. I mean, I would stutter over my words. It was so hard. I was, I remember saying, Why do you have me doing this? This is so hard and so uncomfortable. And it's crazy to me because now I like I love doing this. This is my favorite part. It's so wild to me to know that so many times we feel like we can't step into something because it's just not for us. It's not our personality. It's just, I'm not, I'm just not like you. I just can't do it because I'm not like you. But God doesn't say that. That's not something he says. And even when it comes into like stepping in and taking risks, he does not say, wait until you feel comfortable, wait until you got it figured out, wait till you have them. A lot of the fears that we have come up, those aren't from God.

SPEAKER_01 4:10

And that makes me think of actually, it was really interesting because I just moved back to our hometown. I haven't been here for pretty much 18 years. Like we come and go, but we only see our family. Don't really know a lot of people or didn't at the time. And but I had this vision for so long that we would have some sort of a women's retreat, kind of like you and I, we we went to a women's retreat because we are in a conference called Activate and with what Kingdom Alliance does. And I always thought, like, man, I've learned so much in that time that I thought this is what people in my town need, like this is what women and locally, and I just really felt like God was like wanting to move the region. And so that was like a big vision that I thought would be like, okay, years down the road. And then I moved back. And it was funny because my sister-in-law and I had recently then went to an event called Equipping the Saints in Kentucky, and it just like totally blew her mind because she got to start experiencing that and seeing spiritual gifts in action. And so it literally just expanded her so much of like wanting more of God and wanting also more people to experience that. And I at the time kept feeling like this oh man, we should do something at our church, our local church here, College Corner, and host an event. But I thought, and I had literally been talking to somebody about it through a voice semester, like this idea I have, but I was like, I don't think like I'm gonna do it right now though, because I don't even know people here and don't think it could happen. And next thing I know, my sister-in-law was like, Hey, we're gonna host an equipping the saints here. Like I taught I went and talked to the founder of it, and she's gonna come. And I just was like blown away because I was like, here was a vision, and not necessarily for this, you know, I didn't know it was gonna be called equipping the saints at the time, but like here was something I had on my heart. Here was something the Lord kept kind of moving me into. People also asking me to get involved locally in my fears. I thought, no, I can't do right now. I don't know anybody. Like, we just moved, I don't have time, all the things, right? All the excuses. And because I was obedient, he gave that dream, you know, essentially to also someone else, thankfully, my sister-in-law. And then I got to partner with her in it and be on the prayer team and and things like that. But it just it made me realize, like, yeah, if you're not willing to be obedient, God will find somebody else who will and still get it done. But it confirmed for me that was just like a really great lesson that like it just confirmed that sometimes he's gonna give you the vision and the dream, right? And we have to be willing to say yes when we don't know what's all what you know, if we don't even feel capable, like you said, but he'll qualify us if we're willing to just take steps forward. And that was a time that I didn't, but he used it to teach me, like, yeah, this was me talking to you, like this is me pointing you in the direction that I wanted you to go. And so I just think that that was just an example I wanted to share. And also just reminding you guys that sometimes some of our biggest breakthroughs can come after those scariest yeses. Like when we decided Skylar was gonna quit his job and start in his film career full time, you know, he started getting deals with Kodiak, he was or Kodiak, Kodak, um motion films. He started like getting connections with people in New York and then in LA, and then he moved forward with making a movie, and then the next day got investors, and when we needed money, like literally, someone just randomly PayPaled us the exact amount we needed who knew nothing about what we were doing. They just said, Hey, I'm so grateful that you did this and included my son, wanted to gift you this. So it's like just really cool how God showed up because we were willing to take those steps of faith in the forward, you know, in the calling that he'd given us.

SPEAKER_00 7:35

Oh gosh, that's so good. I love that story. And I feel like what people don't see too is that prayer behind the decision, right? The the wrestling with God, the asking, like, all right, God, is this you? Are you sure? Is this fear? Is this something? Is it my own flesh, my own desires? What is it? And really diving into that and praying and fasting, or depending on the decision, it may take a little bit of wrestling with him to make sure we're on the right path, depending on how big the decision may be. And just knowing that so many people don't see that behind the scenes. And they also don't know what God's calling you to do because God didn't ask them to do it, he asked you to do it. So just know that that's that's normal. Step into that.

SPEAKER_01 8:23

Yeah. And just remembering to like obedience is not always have to be impulsive, it's just gonna be like a surrendered mind, a surrendered heart to okay, God, like kind of like what she said, whatever you have for me today, Lord, I say yes to you. And so coming, you know, with the lens with that lens. So, and something we both learned along the way, too, is God grows capacity before he grows your revenue. And this is a big one. So I've seen a lot, we've worked with a lot of women in business and we mentor a lot of people. And um, so when I see that, and even ourselves, like when we've had our income and it felt capped, and I always think, okay, like Lord, what is kind of the reason behind that? It's not usually strategy, it's usually a person's capacity. I see a lot of women, they start a business, and then what happens? Things start to like life happens, right? Like they start to allow their job or kids or other things, like they're not sure how to expand their capacity to still keep doing and living the life that they have while also starting to build a business so that they can choose the life that they want. And so it's really often comes to that capacity, and God wants to grow your capacity, He wants to build that within you, and that's why that partnership with him is so important. And so, are you honoring God and how you manage what's already in your hands? Are you faithful to in those just small assignments that he's giving you? And even I think of the business. You prayed for more money, you prayed for more time, you prayed to be able to have adventure, whatever that is you're praying for. And God says, Okay, I've given you this, I opened this door, I connected you with people that could help you do that. But then we essentially allow excuses to stand in our way. And so we're not operating with full integrity, we're not operating into the best of our ability and stewarding faithfully what we've been given right then. And so we want to make sure we are, you know, working to grow that capacity and grow and do the things even when no one is watching.

SPEAKER_00 10:17

Oh, so good. And it's really just about that faithfulness. Even Luke 16 talks about the faithfulness in little provides the faithfulness in much. Like it precedes it, it happens before. And this is where obedience sometimes gets misunderstood because it's not necessarily reckless just leaps and rushing out and doing all the things, it's prayer-soaked decisions, it's really diving in, it's asking the Holy Spirit's closing doors sometimes that that may produce money but cost peace. It doesn't always make sense, but it is soaked in prayer. And sometimes we do have to say no to something that's good before we can say yes to something that's God and great.

SPEAKER_01 11:01

Yeah, that's really good. And that is because things might look right at the time. And so, but you're like, is this really what I'm supposed to say yes to? So, and sometimes the most obedient move isn't stepping into something new, it might be stepping out of something you're not aligned with, or it's letting go of the things that you thought, you know, well, this is what I was gonna be doing. I mean, I know we both experienced that, like we are in a rebuilding season and we've made pivots. But I always say, like, a pivot doesn't always mean it's a pivot in your vision, it's just that is where you were or what you were doing is now no longer aligned, or it was only meant for you in that time or season. And sometimes it's really hard to be obedient and stepping out of that. Yeah, God is saying, I need you to move so that I can now step you and move you into where I have you. Like that was too, I always say, like, right, don't despise your season of preparation is that preparation season that's continuing to God wants to use to propel you forward.

SPEAKER_00 11:52

Yeah, absolutely. And it's when it all kind of comes together, when your finances and your motives and your calendar and commitments come into an alignment and under the obedience, and that's when that increase starts to become more sustainable instead of stressful. And along that journey, remember that there's always going to be excuses. There's always reasons not to, and there's always reasons to. And you can focus on the excuses and not get anywhere, or you can focus on what God told you to do and and just do it anyways, do it despite of, and despite also the people that don't believe in you, and the people that are are rooting for you to not get it right. And and sometimes it's not that, sometimes it's just really, and I feel like the book The Dream Giver by Bruce Wilkinson is is one of my favorites on this because it talks about this, you know, guy, his name is Ordinary, and he's leaving the land of familiar to go to the promised land. And it's this incredible story. And along the way, he comes across these border bullies, and it's really like his mom, his best friend, his uncle, and and a lot of the time, their motives or their reasons for being like, you shouldn't go, it's too dangerous. Some of it is they're afraid because they have fear, some of it is because maybe they don't see what you see, or because they're not comfortable with change. And so just keeping in mind that they may have had an experience, but their experience isn't going to reflect your experience. God gave you the dream, he gave you the desire, and he is giving you the way. And so you have to listen to him and do not put weight on the opinions of people that are not where you want to be. It's so important. I see so many people worry about what other people think when they don't want to be where those other people are. Then why do you care what they think? So just make sure you're stepping into obedience and just focusing on God and what he wants you to do, even if it doesn't make sense. He'll make it work out.

SPEAKER_01 13:51

Yeah, that's so true. Um so, like, let's talk about how do we apply this, going a little bit deeper and getting that discernment for your next step. So, what could this look like for you? And this is something you could work through this week and take some time, especially if you are facing a big decision, um, or you're wanting just to seek God more and figure out kind of like where where are you, where you want to be next. So ask the Lord these questions. You can write down, does this honor God or just my urgency? Okay, that's a really big one. Will this bless my family or borrow from them? And so I think about like, is this gonna be so for example, right? Our business, yeah, we have to take time essentially kind of away from our family to focus on our business to do the things that we need to. But is that also blessing your family? And are you prioritizing all the different things and still time with them, or are you just taking from them to do the thing and there's not you're not staying in alignment with your core values? And so I think that that's kind of you know what you want to consider too, and asking God on that. And then does this require compromise, right? So that goes with our core values. Does this require compromise? Is it something you should compromise on? Because sometimes maybe you do need to compromise. Well, what but it depends on the situation, it depends on what it's asking you to compromise. So again, aligning that with your core values too. And then am I chasing relief or obedience? And I think that's a good one too, because thinking of like, are you doing something and it's just a shiny object syndrome and you think it's just it's gonna fix the problem, but you're not, it's not really maybe aligned, but you feel like, and so being be mindful of people's marketing tactics, like is that the right next step for you, right? And choosing obedience. So the last one is that you know, that one's definitely gonna be the important one because obedience is what makes helps us to make wise choices, right? And going into Proverbs, man, so much of that, right, talks about how important wisdom and getting knowledge and wisdom is um and discerning, you know, where God has you.

SPEAKER_00 15:51

Yeah, absolutely. And so for our family, obedience has has sometimes meant saying no to income streams that didn't fit our values or didn't fit the kind of life that God was calling us to live and and saying yes to things and building things that were portable and income that we could build up that we could take with us. And we want to make sure that we're discipling our kids well. And we want to serve overseas, we want to live life on mission and live with margin. And that choice doesn't always feel didn't always feel safe, you know. Like there were times I remember when we were first leaving to start traveling internationally, and we had a one-way ticket. And when my husband sold his business, it was like, okay, now the the regular paychecks are gone. Now we are stepping into this. And I remember being in a season of doing a business that wasn't residual. And even though it was working and we were profitable and it was going well, I remember when God asked me to shift, and it was not only for needing something that was more residual, but also like knowing that was gonna produce more peace to be able to build something that could be residual and continue to compound. And it it's remembering that as we do that and as we step into more with him, as we let go of what he asks us to let go of, he's gonna open more doors and he is going to put you where you're meant to be. And sometimes it is a bit of a journey, it doesn't always happen overnight. It's not a get-rich quick scheme just to obey God. Like, let me just make that perfectly clear. But he is going to grow you in the process, he's gonna lead you where you're meant to be, and you just have to say yes and make sure that you're not letting fear hold you back because the enemy is going to try to convince you to not do things, he's gonna try to make you feel like that doesn't make logical sense or that doesn't line up or whatever it is. But I'm just so grateful because it's led me to where we are now and what we're building, and you know, being able to be in a space where we're building this incredible kingdom-minded team that's all on fire for Jesus and all wanting to make an impact. And it's the most profitable residual plan on the market. I never would have seen this before. I honestly wouldn't have even looked at it, I wouldn't have even been open to it. And I'm just so grateful that God led us to this, to where we can now help people to create more memories and to live a priority life and do it in alignment with their values and build something that actually compounds and you know turns into true passive residual income, which doesn't mean not working for it. But it's just so often that God will lead us on this journey. And over time, that obedience produces that flexibility and global opportunity and provision that we couldn't manufacture on our own. And that breakthrough often waits behind obedience that we keep postponing. So lean in to what God is telling you and just keep doing it because you'll get there. Don't give up, don't let fear get in the way, don't let the enemy attack your mind. That's what he does. He tries to attack your mind and get you to drift and get you to just go along with the flow, the mainstream. And that's not we're not made for you. We were made for more. Love that.

SPEAKER_01 19:29

So, yeah, so we want you guys to step into that. You were made for more. You were made for breakthrough in your finances, you were made to really live the dreams that God's put in your heart. And so, yeah, not allowing the enemy or the fears of others to come upon you to keep you and derail you from where and what you're meant to be doing. So, and we would love to partner with you on that journey to help you in that because yeah, when you get around people and you rub shoulders with others that have the same vision and are going in the same direction and have those God's age dreams and you can talk about that stuff together, that is so much more motivating and aligned and allows you to stay on track versus listening to the noise, right? So definitely be a part of our community because that we can we can all run together that race that God's marked out for us. And so this week we already gave you some other journal prompts, but another practical exercise that you can do to just continue to see where God is leading you is asking these questions. Where am I sensing God's nudge? What have I been delaying? Are there areas of my finances that lack order? And you don't consider like what you know what you need to do next. And then what seat is God asking me to steward better? Okay, so um, we're excited to see, we'd love to hear, you know, where if you journal these and you guess some answers, come. We have our our Facebook group community. We want to have you come and be a part of with us. So join that group. There's a lot more resources in there and ways to connect. Um, but we'd love to hear, you know, if you take a step of obedience, what God shared with you, what steps are you taking, where can we support you? Um, and so come and be a part of that with us and check out any of the other resources that we have for you in the show notes. And thanks for being on this episode with us.

SPEAKER_00 21:14

Bye, guys.