Money can be a surprisingly powerful influence in our lives. It can affect the choices we make, the way we see ourselves, our relationships, our work and even the way we relate to God.
Sometimes we can identify exactly what is causing a financial problem. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, we seem to keep repeating the same patterns. Financial Sozo provides an opportunity to bring those things before God and discover what He wants to say about them.
What is Financial Sozo?
Financial Sozo is a specialised form of Sozo that focuses specifically on our relationship with money, work, provision, purpose and identity.
A Financial Sozo can help you: identify unhealthy financial cycles and beliefs; explore questions of purpose and identity; identify possible root causes of being financially stuck; hear what God is saying about your circumstances; and develop a practical, personalised plan for moving forward.
The intention isn’t simply to tell you how to manage your money. It is to help you discover what may be happening underneath the surface and to invite God into the process.
What might we discover?
We all have beliefs about money. Some of them may have been formed through our upbringing, some through experiences we’ve had, some through things we’ve been told, and some may be beliefs we’ve never consciously examined.
Perhaps you find yourself continually struggling financially despite working hard; perhaps you have difficulty receiving; perhaps you feel that you always have to work harder to have enough; perhaps money creates anxiety, shame or conflict; perhaps you’re successful financially but still don’t feel secure, or perhaps you have dreams and a sense of purpose but can’t see how to move towards them.
Financial Sozo creates space to ask God about those things.
It’s about more than money
Financial Sozo isn’t simply about having a better bank balance. Financial health can touch much more than our finances. It can affect our sense of identity, our relationships, our family, our work, our sense of purpose, and our understanding of God’s provision.
The Financial Sozo process therefore looks beyond the immediate financial problem to explore what may be underneath it.
Hearing what God is saying
As with Bethel Sozo, Financial Sozo is based on the belief that God wants to communicate with us. Rather than simply being given advice, you’re encouraged to ask God questions and listen for what He wants to say.
The aim isn’t for the facilitator to tell you what God thinks. It’s to help you engage with Him for yourself.
That can sometimes reveal things you hadn’t previously recognised.
From discovery to action
Financial Sozo isn’t intended to leave you with interesting insights and no idea what to do next. As part of the process, you develop a Personalised Action Plan, using SMART goals to help turn what you’ve discovered into practical steps.
That means the session can move from: What is happening? to: What is underneath it? to: What is God saying? and finally: What am I going to do about it?
How long does it take?
A Financial Sozo normally takes between 60 and 90 minutes, depending on the individual circumstances and what needs to be explored. You don’t necessarily need a series of sessions.
The number of sessions depends on the individual and on how you progress with the goals and action plan that emerge from the process.
Can we come as a couple?
Yes. In fact, the Financial Sozo guidance recommends that married couples have a Financial Sozo together where appropriate. If deeper individual issues emerge during the session, an individual Sozo may then be recommended.
Financial Sozo can also be undertaken by individuals, and the ministry can work with businesses, families and groups.
Do I have to be a Christian?
No. You don’t have to be a Christian to have a Financial Sozo. You do need to be comfortable with the fact that the session involves prayer in Jesus’ name and asking Him for guidance.
Financial Sozo and Wonderfully Free
Financial Sozo is not a ministry we originated. It is an independent ministry developed by Stephen K De Silva Ministries, and Financial Sozo facilitators are trained and certified through that ministry. Financial Sozo and Sozo ministries often work together.
We offer Financial Sozo because we have seen the value of this specialised ministry and are part of the Financial Sozo team in the UK. That distinction matters to us. We want to be clear about what we have developed ourselves — such as Sozo for Couples — and what we offer because we believe in its value and have become involved in it.
Could Financial Sozo help you?
Perhaps you’re financially stuck and don’t understand why; perhaps you recognise recurring patterns that you would love to break; perhaps you have a dream but don’t know how to move towards it; perhaps your relationship with money has become connected with fear, shame, identity or your understanding of God, or perhaps you simply want to ask God:
“What do You want me to know about my finances?”
Financial Sozo could be a good place to start.
Find out more
If you’d like to know whether Financial Sozo is right for you, we’d be happy to talk.