Season 2 (Episode 5): The Wealthy Crown: Healing From Divorce and Debt

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Hello everyone, welcome to Pain, Passion, and Purpose. Today we have a special guest. Her name is Minister Dalesha Artis.

Hello, hello, woman of God. Hello everyone, thank you so much. I appreciate the opportunity to share and just talk with you on today. I am really excited. Thank you for having me.

You're so welcome. I want to share with the audience a little bit about who you are. So as a mother, kingdom entrepreneur, author, and a voice called to carry the gospel, Minister D'Alicia Artis has experienced firsthand the supernatural power of God in her finances through a spiritual principle called Honor. By applying this spiritual financial strategy, she experienced a $20,000 income increase in 6 months and has since eradicated over $30,000 in debt.

Wow.

It's through her own failures and triumphs the Holy Spirit has distinctly anointed her for signs, wonders, and miracles related to financial breakthrough. Minister D'Alicia is the founder and CEO of the Wealthy Crown LLC, where they empower believers and kingdom entrepreneurs to become better financial stewards by teaching them how to apply both spiritual principles and practical money strategies to their finances. As the host of the Wealthy Crown podcast, she equips believers on a weekly basis with the financial wisdom and encouragement needed so that their hands would never lack what's in their heart to do for the kingdom of God. Minister D'Alicia is passionate about being available to serve God's people. As God continues to expand her territory, she remains a faithful servant to her local ministry, Abundant Life Church International, led by Apostle Edward Kirkpatrick and Lady Kimberly Kirkpatrick. You can learn more about her at www.thewealthycrown.com.

Glory to God. Thank you, woman of God. I appreciate that. All glory to God. Thank you, thank you.

You're so welcome.

And so I'm going to give you this, the floor, because I know you have a story to tell to the audience today.

Yes, yes.

So can you please share with us a particular pain point in your life that changed you forever?

Yes, um, If I was to pinpoint one specific time, it's going to be maybe about, um, really 7 years ago. Um, at that time I was facing an unexpected divorce, and I want to give you a little bit of background before we get to that point. So, you know, I grew up in the church, grew up in a single parent home. My mom was a faithful servant of God, loved God. But of course, growing up, you saw things at the church, I saw things in the home, and it's just so funny how judgmental I was at that time. And I wasn't even trying to live right. At least they were trying. But of course, because of the things that I saw, I just made these declarations in my heart. Um, one, I thought that serving God meant that you were going to live paycheck to paycheck. So I told myself I was never going to serve God. And I also told myself I was going to be this big shot attorney, make it six figures a year. And I really wanted nothing to do with God. And so Of course, I went on this journey really pursuing law school. And one thing that I know is that when you're not in alignment with God's purpose and plan for your life, he leaves this hole in you, this void in you. And so as I continued on throughout my life, I graduated school, got married, I still had this void. And the closer and closer I got to the time where the Holy Spirit was like, listen, this is the point where I'm going to need you to submit to my plan, um, that void in my life began to express itself through discomfort. It seemed like I wasn't happy with my job anymore. I was in the legal field, and I was like, I don't like this job. I feel like there's just something more to my life. And I remember being so frustrated that I spoke with my mom, and she said, Delicia, it's not your job that's the problem. She says, your relationship with God. And I never thought to that point that that was the issue, that this is why there was a wrestle in my spirit. That although I was going on this path that I wanted to, I wasn't being fulfilled. And so throughout that process, I began to— the Holy Spirit began to deal with me about serving in my local ministry. And, um, I fought it for a while, and I began to have dreams, have the prophetic on my life. So he began to deal with me in dreams. He began to let me know, if you don't go this route, you're going to separate yourself not from his love, but just from his will for my life, his perfect will for my life. So I begin to open up and I begin to serve. And woman of God, as I begin to serve God— and when I talk about serve, I'm not talking about up front with the mic or the pulpit, I'm talking about in the background. My first area was serving in the outreach ministry. And I begin to serve, and then I realized I could organize things and I could create things, and I have this passion to really help people. And whenever my man or woman of God would ask me to do something It's like I was able to do it, but these were things that I didn't know I could do beforehand. And I realized there was a grace on my life, and I just became— it's like my life just opened up. I started doing announcements, and I just started doing all these myra things. It's like my spirit and the gifts and everything that lay dormant on the inside of me began to unlock, and I began to see advancement and promotion. Thank you, Holy Spirit, in my life. And also, you know, in my job, I just saw things begin to change. And I knew I was on the right path. And so when I knew I was on the right path, of course, we had our daughter. And throughout this time, there were some things, you know, obviously going on in the marriage. And it reached to a point where there was a conversation where divorce was mentioned. And in that conversation, what was mentioned to me is that I had to choose. I had to choose whether I was going to stay in the marriage or I was going to choose this path of serving God the way that I was serving. It was okay if I went to church and kind of did the Sunday, check it off my list, but being committed and, and, and being committed to the call of God upon my life I couldn't go no longer on that path. And it was said to me, you know, just to give clarity, that the things that were going on in our marriage could have been fixed. But that was the one thing that I had to choose on. And I remember being in our bedroom. And when he said that to me, I turned my face to the wall, and I just laid on the bed in silence. Because there was no way, you guys. I had spent my entire life searching and trying to fill this void and trying to figure out why was I born and trying to figure out what am I here for and going from job to job and place to place. And you get the job and you get this and you get the car. And I had the house and I had the car and I had all these things, but I still wasn't happy. I was missing the connecting piece, which was my relationship through Jesus Christ and really being committed to him. And so in that moment, I went to my car and, um, I went to God and I said, God, what's, what's going on? What is this? And God spoke to me out of my left ear. He said, don't fight it. I'm going to get the glory out of this. Let it go. And I want to be clear to the audience of today, God is for marriage. He is against divorce. I am against divorce. But a lot of times, we may find ourselves in situations where I didn't ask God about that marriage. You know, I didn't even know that asking God who my mate should be was even a thing. I was just— I lacked knowledge in a lot of areas. So I simply didn't know. And so I believe because of the decision of the other person, two people have to be willing to work in it. And because of the call of God upon my life, how could two people walk together except they agree? We weren't in agreement anymore because I made my decision that I'm going with Christ. I'm going to serve him with all of my heart, all of my mind, all my spirit, and that's it. I'm not taking it back from that. And so that divorce, that was, um, the moment that really caused the divine transformation that I am living out and experiencing on today. And so a part of that was not only feeling the pain of I mean, we were together for 10 years. Our baby girl was only 9 months old, just got into the world. And I grew up in a single-parent home, so I felt like when I was married, I made it, and I had the baby after. None of that. And so, um, that was the part of the emotional part. But then it was the financial— woman of God— it was the financial piece, because I only saw paycheck-to-paycheck living. So what you see growing up, typically that's what you're going to be living out, unless you get some type of revelation, insight, training, training, someone teaches you. No one knew around me. And so now I'm thinking, how am I going to take care of me and this 9-month-old? We live paycheck to paycheck together. How am I going to live with it just being me as a single mom? And so in that moment, I did what I only knew to do. I cried out to God. I said this, and I didn't— my heart wasn't fully in it because, um, in that moment I just needed God to do something. And I said, God, if you get me out of this situation, I promise you I will go back and help others. Because once the transition began to happen, and now I'm now taking care of the phone bill and the light bill, and now we got daycare, and I begin to look back at old bills, $70,000 worth of debt is what I was looking at. And so in that moment, I knew that I needed God's help. I was beyond man's help. Right? I needed the supernatural power of God in my finances. And so when I invited the Holy Spirit into my life, he became my best friend, he became my teacher, he became my financial advisor, he became my everything. He literally took my hand and said, I got you, I'm going to take you through this, and like I promise you, I'm gonna get the glory.

Listen, I hear so much in this what you just said, okay? The very first thing that came to me when you were speaking was Matthew chapter 10 it says, whoever finds their life will lose it, or whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. And that's what you did. My God, you found your life initially in your own way, trying to get married, have this career of being an attorney, lawyer, uh, having a baby, trying to create this life which you thought would make you so happy.

Yes.

And then you hit a cross point where you were starting to understand who you were in Christ.

Yes.

And then your husband, whom you love, who you had no intention of divorcing, of leaving, who you love, I'm sure, very much.

Yes.

Gives you an ultimatum.

Yeah.

Either you're going to go and like stop doing what you're doing and then be with me to make me happy.

Yeah.

While you sit here and you like pretty much are suffering in silence. I can't tell you how many women go through that at this very— in this day. Who are having to feel suffocated, who can't really soar in their purpose because of their spouse. And it's very sad. It comes from insecurity, it comes from religion, it comes from so many different things. And so, honey, I know God has nothing but greater and greater and greater and greater and greater for you because you made the hardest decision that a woman can probably possibly make in their life. Yes, starting all over, and then you were in financial debt, okay? Not to mention you have also had needs, emotional needs, sexual needs. People don't talk about this stuff, you know? And you went against the grain of what you saw growing up as a child, going into territory that's untrodden in your family.

Yes, yes.

So like, I just— I'm just amazed. I know you— oh girl, listen, I mean, you got so many books in you, so much more in you to share. Because it's like, once you hit the ground, you hit the ground running. And you did it scared, afraid, crying, all the above. For Christ's sake.

Yes, yes.

That's what Christ desires from us.

It is. Um, the Bible talks about Um, straight is the gate and narrow is the way. And I remember, you know, the Bible talks about, you know, we all have a cross that we have to pick up and carry. And that was a part of my, my cross that I pick up and carry, like, Jesus, I choose you. And so a lot of times we don't choose purpose and we don't choose God because we want to be comfortable. And a lot of us unfortunately are going to die with purpose locked up in us because we don't want to be, um, in a place of being discomfortable. Purpose is not comfortable. The Bible talks about the word of God, it comes, it comes to divide and separate. Everybody that's with you in your life going the way of Jesus, they cannot go with you. You have to choose. And even the life that I have today, I'm so— although it was a very painful moment and it was a hard time for me emotionally, I woke up Every morning, can you imagine just rolling out of my bed and just rolling on the floor and immediately going into praying in the spirit? Because I needed to pull on the strength of the Holy Spirit to get up because I had to go back into the workforce. I had to put my baby in daycare. I mean, so many things. But I'm reminded out of Mark 10, I think it's 39, and it says, if any man gives up husband, wife, mother, father, sister, brother, homes, whatever you give up for the sake and for the name of Jesus, then you will receive a hundredfold of the same in this life and in that which is to come. And so that was the scripture that I anchored my life— we're talking about words— I anchored my life on the word of God, knowing that whatever I give up for the sake of Jesus, whatever I give up for the call of God upon my life, that there is harvest on the other side of it, and I'm going to see a hundredfold in this life and in that which is to come. And so that was the scripture that anchored me. And there were days of weeping and crying and not knowing, but I saw the hand of God. I was able to go back, and I talk about this in my book, get my job back. And they gave me, you know, the same salary, same benefits, like I never left. I saw the hand of God. I had to live through spiritual confirmation and not natural confirmation. Because in the natural my life was in shambles, but in the spirit realm, um, heaven was confirming to me, woman of God, daughter of the King, you're on the right path, keep going. I know you're in pain, I know you're hurting, I know you don't know and understand what you're feeling, what you're going through, but I'm with you. And if you stick with me, I promise— he said, you're gonna— I'm gonna get the glory out of this. What does that mean? That means God's goodness. And as I go throughout this journey now I'm getting to a place in my journey where I'm seeing the glory of God. Oh, I'm seeing the goodness of God in this thing. He makes all things work together, and I'm seeing it now work together. But I had to be faithful, and, um, that process really taught me that Jesus got to be it, you know, because at the end of the day, after this life, I'm gonna see him face to face. But whether I have a lot of money or not enough money, or whether I have best friends or husband, no husband, kids, no kids. Jesus is enough. And what that does, that sets me up in the spiritual realm that the enemy cannot come and kind of taunt me and allow me to live a life of compromise, because I've already in the realm of the spirit have stated my life belongs to Christ and that there's nothing that I won't do. And there's nothing, nothing in this world can cause me to compromise and want Jesus more because I have him and I'm satisfied with him, but I have a lot or whether I don't.

So powerful. So what would you say to the old version of yourself today?

So powerful. I love that question. Um, several things, you know, the usual, but I, I would say, you know, you're gonna make it, everything's gonna be okay. But I would tell her, you know, Delicia What God showed you and what God told you is true. What he showed you, what he told you is true. And he began to give me dreams and show me things. I'm like, how am I going to get there from here? It's true. And I also would tell her, congratulations, you said something, woman of God. I did, by the power of the Holy Spirit. I just— there was just a conviction. I had finally found purpose. And I think those years of not being in a true relationship with Christ made me thirsty. And when you hungry, oh, you do anything. Once I got a hit of Jesus, I was like, oh, this is it! Oh, I'm supposed to serve God's people. I ain't never letting this go. So although the enemy thought it was working, like I was going into his plan for my life, God said, no, no, no, I'm gonna use the very thing that you're trying to use her to go and try to draw her away from me, I'm going to use that thing. Because once she gets a taste of what I have for her, nothing's going to be able to turn her off. Nothing's going to be able to stop her. So I would say I'm proud of you, woman of God. I'm proud of you for doing and making that decision. Because along with that came with some natural things— single mom, I gotta take out the trash, things break down, you know, I have to take care of it or pay someone to do it. There's certain things that you know, come along with that decision. But I'd rather do that than to be unhappy and be outside of God's will. Because like you said, when I'm a woman of God, I would have been suffering in silence. And no, I want to reign in glory and reign in peace. That is God's portion for my life. And so whatever decision I have to make to get in alignment with that, that's what I was going to do.

And that is so beautiful because I know for a fact there are women out there who stay in a relationship or a marriage due to finance stresses, um, due to having children, due to responsibility, and the list goes on and the list goes on. But your story is just— my God, it's so layered. It's so multi-layered, so layered. And I'm pretty sure your podcast is full of lots of nuggets and lots of information about your story. So you guys, please go to her podcast, The Wealthy Crown. I know I should mention it at the end, but you guys know I want to mention it now.

Thank you, woman of God.

You're so welcome. And so we're going to take a quick break, you guys, and we're going to come back and talk about her perp— her passion and her purpose. So stay tuned. Hey, hey, hey, I hope you are enjoying this episode so far.

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Hi everyone, welcome back to Pain, Passion, and Purpose. So we are going into part 2 with Minister Dylesha Artis. In part 1, we discussed her going through a divorce, her being a single mom, her being in financial debt, her being able to tap in to understand who she is in God. And thank God for that. And she has birthed so much since saying yes and losing her life in Christ and losing what she thinks her life should be like. And for that, we're going to go into part 2 to talk more about her passion and more about her purpose. So, Miss D'Alicia, please share with us more about what you're passionate about.

Yes, so when it comes to passion, um, one of the things I could say that I'm really passionate about is really serving God's people. Serving God's people, but not only serving God's people, but being available. Because one thing that I learned, um, in the, you know, in the kingdom of God, and as I was committed to, you know, attending church and just learning, and I sit up under you know, apostolic covering. But, um, at the basis of it, my leader is a teacher of the word. Like, we go into service, we come in with the note— if you don't come in with a notebook, a pen, and your Bible, you in the wrong church. You're gonna be lost. Because he really wants to teach us, you know, the word of God, but so we can go back out and apply it to our lives so that we can experience victory and experience the presence of God outside of Sunday service and Wednesday night Bible study and prayer. Um, and so what I learned is that greatness in the kingdom of God is about your availability to God. That means I don't have to come to him perfect. I don't have to come to him having everything together. I don't have to come to him with money in the bank and a credit score and the perfect looks and the perfect thing. No, I could come to Jesus as I am, and as long as I make myself available to him that he will use a willing vessel, someone that is empty, someone that says, I don't know how to do this, I don't know what to do in this situation, but if you are willing to use me, I am available for you. And so I'm so passionate about serving God's people, being available, but I'm also passionate about seeing God's people win. You know, when I started my journey and just being a part of church and just being there, I wasn't experiencing, you know, breakthrough in my finances. Because even, you know, after the divorce, it's like, man, I'm here, I'm serving, I'm here every time the door open, I'm praising God, but why am I not getting victory in this area of my life? And it wasn't until, again, the Holy Spirit began to show me principles out of the word, but then also learning and investing in practical wisdom and money strategies. When I began to combine the two, because as a believer We have the tendency to lean on the spiritual. What do I mean by that? I mean we may get to a place where we're returning the tithe and 10%, but we don't manage the 90%. And what I learned is that the 90% is just as important as the 10%. I could return my tithe all day and still live paycheck to paycheck because I don't have practical money strategies. I don't have a money plan in place for the 90%. And a lot of us, we believe that the tithe, we are guaranteed increase. He didn't say that. He said, I'm going to release the blessing, I'm going to release the power and the ability upon your life. So that ability to increase is there, but it's what you do with the 90%. And what I realized is that my 90% was so tied up in debt and giving it to everyone else that I didn't have enough left over to apply Luke 6:38 that says, give and it shall be given unto thee, pressed down, shaken together, running over. That's after the tithe. But because I lack understanding and knowledge in the area, you know, I really wasn't winning. And so that's why the Holy Spirit began to show me— this is why the 90% is so important, baby. You gotta have something left to give. Listen, the kingdom of God is the only place where you can get 30, 60, 100-fold return. There's no bank, no stock market giving you that. And so that's why I had to do— and I do this with my clients We free up some breathing room. We got— I gotta go back and some financial commitments I made, we ain't gonna be able to do this no more because I have to get my seed. Keep your money in the kingdom of God is seed, right? Has the possibility to grow and to increase. But if you've given all your seed and all your money out to everybody else, you're not going to have anything to increase and see the principles of the word work. And you're going to think God's word doesn't work, and you're going to think this tithe thing don't work. No, you ain't working the word to the fullness that um, is required to see increase and abundance. So I am so excited now through what I've gone through and seeing, you know, um, the people of God see the light click on it. You have people who are fear and they're just afraid. That's where I was. I didn't even look at the numbers because I didn't know what to do with it. But now to see them learn the principles of the Bible and apply it, but also the practical things like money mindset money planning and saving and investing, learning those principles and applying it to their lives, I see the light bulb go off. You know, through these principles, like you stated earlier, I was able to see increase— $20,000 in 6 months— and I didn't even qualify for the job. It was God's favor that opened the door, you know. And so seeing them really experience the power of the word of God in their finances That's something that I'm tremendously passionate about.

Listen, you said a mouthful. Okay, let's go back to this 10%, 90% thing in the Bible called tithing. Okay, you said that 10% does not guarantee that you will be able to hold on to the 90% unless we know what to do with it and we apply the whole biblical truth to it and not just the tithing part. Girl, listen, and what I hear is boundaries, boundaries around your money, boundaries about what you're going to spend, and also understanding the word of God. I watch you on Facebook all the time, on Instagram all the time, and I'm like, I love when you share your client testimonials and how your clients are saying that, hey, you know, thank you so much, was able to get rid of some debt in this area, or I received this like, you know, unexpected financial harvest from God or miracle from God. Like, you guys, she is truly the real deal. So I hope you guys go to her website right now. Go now and visit her and see what she got to offer, because it's the truth, okay? You will see breakthrough if you apply what she teaches you, okay?

So, oh honey, okay, so let me, let me hush, okay?

So let's go into your purpose now, more into your purpose.

Yes, absolutely. So, um, you know, my purpose— and I remember maybe about last year, I remember this time really laying across my bed. And in that moment, the Holy Spirit began to show me the scripture, and it says that wealth is a crown for the wise. And basically what he was showing me in that moment— wisdom, the Bible says the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. That means love and reverence. And when we talk about love, that means honor. God says in 1 Samuel, I think 2:30, he said, if you honor me, that I will honor you. And so I began to really seeing that scripture that when you honor God, when you put him first in your finances, when you allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you when it relates to giving and when it relates to sowing and operating in those spiritual principles according to the word of God, when you do that, then wealth is something that is naturally— it's just going to be a part of your life. It's a crown, it's a statement piece for your life. And as, um, the people of God, well, that is a part of you know, our birthright is a part of our identity in the sense that when I talk about wealth, it, it's not just about money, right? It includes money, uh, but it also includes like in your marriage and with your children and your business and your ministry, like a thriving life. This is why Jesus came. He said, I came that you may live life and have it to the full, an abundant life. And so from that scripture came The Wealthy Crown. And so one thing that I know as a part of my purpose is— my first purpose is, and I think everyone's purpose is, is to bring glory to God, period. That's it, to bring glory to God, to make his name great in the earth. Um, but a part of that purpose is layered in the sense of carrying the word of God. This is why at The Wealthy Crown we teach, you know, financial literacy, but at the basis with biblical principles and the Bible, and the Bible being the foundation. But then we teach you how to apply the practical piece of it, you know. And so from that place, um, the Holy Spirit began to speak to me about the Wealthy Crown, and he began to speak to me about books. And we have the Wealthy Crown book collection, and I begin to share my story, I begin to share my testimony. Then birthed through that, we started doing financial breakthrough planning sessions, which are our one-on-ones. And, and now we have the Wealthy Crown Academy, which is our 8-week financial boot camp where we're teaching these things and, and really empowering believers as it relates to living God, God's best. Because as believers, as kingdom entrepreneurs, if you are a kingdom entrepreneur, you are called— there's a, a mantle of wealth that is called— that you're called to. Because we see the system of this world, they are shaking, the economy is unstable. But it's a danger for believers and kingdom entrepreneurs to not operate in the spiritual principles of the word when it relates to their finances, because you're now trying to operate on the world system without applying God's word. When you are a kingdom entrepreneur, you're on God's system now, and it's a danger for you to be out there and not know how to apply the principles of tithing and giving and sowing and being obedient to the Holy Spirit. You're not going to experience success in that arena. And so it's our goal here is to really teach believers how to apply the word of God. The word of God is where the power of God is. That's where you're going to see increase, that's where you're going to see breakthrough, and that's where you're going to experience, um, the abundance that the word of God talks about. So that's what we do through the Wealthy Crown. It is a— we, we, we teach, we train, and we support believers along this journey of becoming a better financial steward.

Listen, that was so beautiful. Um, the next question I want to ask you, I think you've already answered it in this sharing your story, was just how do you discover your purpose? And you did that.

I mean, you—

I can literally see how, you know, God walked with you and how the things you experienced in your pain, like how it was birthed and how it was like, you know, from faith to faith to glory to glory. And oftentimes I, you know, counsel people who say, oh, I know my purpose here. I'm like, start where you are. And that's what you did. You started with serving first with, you know, the— you know, with, you know, in your church, the leaders. And then from there, as God began to trust you, he'll begin to give you more.. And oftentimes people see, you know, us like on a platform or in a position where we're like, oh my God, they have all this success, they got all this going on, but they don't understand that it began with what?

A seed.

It began with a seed, right? And so do you want to add anything else to that?

Yes, the one thing that I would add, and that's something that we could get so caught up on, and what I, what I thought about when I think about that question is The key to finding your purpose is seeking Jesus and serving Jesus. Seeking Jesus speaks to your private life. Serving Jesus speaks to, you know, your public life. And the Bible declares that what you do privately, I'm going to reward you openly. So I love what you said, woman of God. Start where you are. Start with just your relationship. We got to think that Jesus, he has feelings, right? If we're just coming to him just to find out our purpose, that's not really a relationship. No, seek to get to know Jesus. Seek to get to know his word. Seek to have a consistent prayer life, you know. And I talk so much about the local ministry because it's so important. When you first get saved, you don't have the discipline of reading your Bible. You don't understand the importance of doing it and having a prayer life. So sometimes reading your Bible and opening it up every Sunday in front of your, you know, when your pastor's in the pulpit, that's what you need in that season until you can grow. Because as you go out into kingdom entrepreneurship and as God expands is your territory. That's, that's got— that's, that's love, you know, baby level stuff right there in terms of reading your Bible every day and praying every day. That's like a non-negotiable as you begin to mature in Christ. But when you first get started, that has to be your bread and butter, and it has to be your focus. So I would say that focus on your relationship with God. And what I think about with the Holy Spirit, he's like a, a good friend. You know, you catch up with each other, you just want to get to know one another, talk about things. And what I realized, as I love on the Father, I spend that dedicated time with the Holy Spirit. After I spend time with him, later on he'll start speaking to the things that he knows I want answers to. But I can't come to him with those things, that's not a relationship. So seek Jesus first, and as you're seeking him, he's going to reveal those things that you want to know.

So beautiful. You guys hear that? Start with your relationship with God. Okay, so, um, D'Alicia, share with us like some shifts you had to make in your mindset when it came to going, you know, walking in purpose and dealing with your pain.

Absolutely. So some of the shifts that I had to make is really one, making sure that I understood how important the word of God is. We have a lot of financial educators out there, a lot of financial gurus, uh, but there's nobody out there like The Wealthy Crown. And the reason being is we don't sprinkle sprinkle Jesus in. No, Jesus and the word of God is the foundation. What we sprinkle in is the practical, you know, money strategies and money planning and things like that. So I had to realize how important it was to apply, um, the word of God to my finances, because without the word of God, you don't have the power of God. And when I went back to my job, I was making, what, $36,000 a year, but I had $70,000 worth of debt. If I didn't apply the kingdom principles to my finances, I would still be at that job trying to dig myself out of that hole. So that was the shift I had to make. Um, another shift I had to make was making sure that I was not only studying the word of God, but I was decreeing and declaring the word of God out of my mouth. I had to make sure that I created— and this is something we do in our local ministry, I apply it to my life— we decree and declare the word of God. What does that look like? When you find a scripture that says that my God shall supply all of my needs according to his riches and glory, Philippians 4:13, I think, if I'm, um, uh, the right scripture. And so yeah, you write that scripture out and then you begin to make declarations concerning that. God, I thank you that you already supply my needs. I thank you that the need that I have for this bill or this situation is already applied. I thank you, God, for open doors, and I thank you, God, that you're gonna give me opportunities for increase and all these other things. So you decree and declare the word of God. I also had to make shifts as it relates to my environment. The people that I'm around— I'm gonna tell you this right now, saints— everybody can't go. And if my situation or my story today does not shed any more light on that, it should. Like, everybody cannot go when God calls you to a thing. And when he calls you out and when he separates you, you have to know that you cannot remain in those same environments. So sometimes Sister Sally, you know, or your best friend Sherry, they may be good people But if they're not speaking in alignment with God's word and what he said about you, then that means we may have to limit our conversations. Because what that is doing, that's killing the seed of the word that the Holy Spirit is trying to work in your life. You're killing it with those negative words. And then also I would say investing, you know, um, learning the power. Because you don't have a lot, you know, the natural thing is to kind of hold on to it. Right? That's a poverty mindset. And so the Holy Spirit had to break me from that. He said giving and sowing is how you're going to break through on the other side. And you may say, I don't have enough. Giving it, that's leaving me with less. Yes, in the natural, but in the kingdom of God, in the spirit realm, when you give and when you sow, there's going to be increase— 30, 60, 100-fold. There's going to be increase off of what you give that's going to cause, you know, breakthrough in your life. So investing in the kingdom of God and then investing in myself, you know, I had to take a financial class and, you know, getting certain things together for me so that I could continue to grow, not only in the spiritual sense but in a practical sense. So getting used to investing in myself.

I love that. As a business owner, we do have to invest in ourselves a lot.

We really do.

And you kind of already answered my question, but, you know, season 2, the Lord gave me that your words carry weight, speak life, because I know at times you know, what you said before, what we see in the natural is contrary to what heaven is saying about you and what heaven is, you know, releasing on earth about your destiny, about where you go. Do you want to add anything else about, you know, your words and how they carry weight and importance of speaking life?

Yes, yes, your words are so important, but it's not so much that your words— it's so important that you're speaking the word of God. You got to be speaking the word of God because you could be saying words but ain't no power in that. There's power in the word of God. My apostle said something that was so powerful. He said the Bible is the only book that you can read that has the power to turn you into what it says. I'ma say that again. The Bible is the only book that you can read that has the power to turn you into what it says. Jesus says this The words that I speak to you, they are spirit and they are life. John 1:1. God is the word. And so we got to make sure that not only are we speaking the— you know, watching our words, but you got to make sure that you are speaking the word of God, that you're speaking what the word of God says about you, what the Holy Spirit is saying about you, because otherwise there is no power to change your situation outside of the word of God.

Yes, I love it. And as you were saying too, you know, speaking the word of God, ask God to show you. Okay, God, show me, you know, what it is that I need to be speaking. You guys, please make sure you pick up her book. It's called The Wealthy Crown: How Honoring God Unlocks Financial Breakthrough. And I want to share with you just her, her chapters. Um, the first one is Breaking Generational Curses.

Jesus.

The next one is I Feel Like I'm Dying. The next one is Unexpected Transition. The next one is A Miracle, the First of Many. Then Money Lessons, A Call to Honor, and The Power of Praying and Fasting. The next one is Opportunities for Increase. Sowing in Tears and Reaping in Joy. You got that? Sound good, right? That sounds so juicy. And I've been reading through her book too, you guys. It's very simple, it's easy to understand. So if you don't do nothing else, get this book and check out her academy. So, D'Alicia, please share with us where we can find you on social media and all that good stuff.

Yes, absolutely. So, um, Instagram is our playground of choice. Um, so you can follow us @thewealthycrown, and you can follow me personally, and it's @thewealthycrownceo. But that's where you're going to find us for all of our content, videos, things like that. Um, you can also head over to thewealthycrown.com. That's where you can learn more about our financial breakthrough planning sessions, which are our one-on-ones. Uh, we also have, as you stated, the Wealthy Crown Academy, which is now open. Doors close at the end of this month. Um, which is our 8-week financial boot camp for believers and kingdom entrepreneurs. Um, and then you also can tap into the Wealthy Crown Podcast, um, through the website as well. And so thank you so much, woman of God.

You're so welcome.

Yeah, if I was to share anything else, I think I would just encourage the people of God to trust God, but just make sure that you make the word of God just the foundation of your life. That's it. That's what I've learned the most, you know, in my journey, in my maturing and growing, even in the work that we get to do today. It's based on the foundation of the word of God, and the word of God does not change and it never fails. Everything in this world system, you know, the healthcare system, the economy, everything, the, you know, justice system, like everything is shaking, but nothing, nothing will shake once it's built on the foundation of the word. So build your life build your life on the word of God. And when you do that, you will be able to stand. In Jeremiah 17:7 says you won't worry when the heat comes, you have no fear when the leaves turn green, you're going to always bear fruit, you're going to be planted in the house and the courts of your God, you're going to continue to flourish no matter what's going on in, in Egypt, in the world. It's going to be light in Goshen, and you're going to excel, you're going to expand, you're going to see progress. Why? It's that word. The power of the word is working and thrusting you forward into the purpose and plan of God for your life.

Amen. I love it. So thank you guys so much for tuning in. We will talk to you guys on next week.

Listen, I don't know about you, but I thoroughly enjoyed my interview today. With Minister D'Alicia Artis. Listen, she shared so many nuggets with us about how to apply biblical principles to our finances. So as we said earlier during the episode, go to her website, purchase her book, look into her academy, because I am confident that if you choose to invest in yourself, God will continue to invest in you. Also, I want to remind you of the Faith and Mental Wellness Summit that I will be hosting in March of 2023. Yes, I know that it's only July, but listen, time goes by so fast, and I am definitely been seeking God, you know, looking for speakers. So if you're interested in speaking, you can apply on the website. I will accept proposals until the end of August, August 31st. I was going to do it a little bit later, but for time's sake, with holidays coming up and everything, I want to really give us time to be able to mark it and get everything in order, because I want to do this thing in excellence, okay? Because God is the one that gave me the vision, and I want my— and I want to do the best that I can to make sure that I'm honoring him and what he has given me to do. So again, thanks so much for listening today. Also, don't forget to visit www.empoweredpurposeacademy.com to learn more about what I offer as well in reference to, um, courses. And I have a mentorship program for aspiring and existing Christian therapists. So I will talk to you guys next time. I hope that you're enjoying season 2 thus far. We have some more amazing guests that are coming on to share with you their powerful stories. Okay, I cannot wait for you guys to hear. Talk to you soon.