When this year began I don’t think that anyone foresaw the circumstances that we are experiencing coming like they’re happening. Some of us foresaw some things, but nothing like what you see happening throughout the nation and the world today. Nobody foresaw the entire nation shutting down. Who imagined the entire world shutting down with schools, universities, jobs and companies closing, even the more with Churches closing in the midst of protests, riots and unfortunately so many deaths occurring from covid-19? The world is looking for leadership and guidance. There is no doubt that we are living in perilous times according to 2 Timothy 3:1. The question is, How do we navigate the unknown in these uncertain times?
James 4:13-15 says, Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” NIV
And now I have a word for you who brashly announce, “Today—at the latest, tomorrow—we’re off to such and such a city for the year. We’re going to start a business and make a lot of money.” You don’t know the first thing about tomorrow. You’re nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. Instead, make it a habit to say, “If the Master wills it and we’re still alive, we’ll do this or that.” James 4:13-15, Message Bible
James is telling us not to burden ourselves with tomorrow saying what we’re going to do, where we’re planning to go and what business we’re going to carry out. He’s letting us know that we are nothing but a mist of air, a vapor, a fog that is only here for a little while that will vanish and disappear. So, James surmises it by saying “if it is the Lord’s will, we’ll do this or that.” Ultimately, every plan we have has to be yielded to the Lord’s will. We’re never to boast about what we’ll do in our own strength and accord, but it’s by the grace of God that we’ll do whatever it is that we plan to do. James is letting us know that we don’t need to stress over anything. Don’t stress over plans we’ve made, but have been sidetracked due to the pandemic. Don’t panic, walk in fear or paranoia! Remember that God is in control of the entire process, season, day, year, decade and time that we are living in. Our reliance is upon Him for everything, and our expectation is of Him. Don’t sweat it! We need to commit all of our desires and plans unto Him and allow the Spirit of God to direct us knowing that His spiritual navigational system works much better than ours.
Proverbs 27:1, says, “Don’t brashly announce what you’re going to do tomorrow;
you don’t know the first thing about tomorrow.” MSG
“Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” Proverbs 27:1, KJV
We have been taught to decree a thing and it shall be established unto us according to Job 22:28, and we know that Habakkuk 2:2, instructs us to write the vision, make it plan so that he that readeth it can run with it. However, the emphasis and greater focus is on God’s sovereign authority, knowledge and wisdom to oversee and orchestrate our plans and lives according to what is best for us as it is in alignment with His will for us.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV
When we trust in God, we are relying on His strength and ability to keep, protect and guide us. We’re not relying and depending upon our own understanding, comprehension, intellect, mind, capability or mental capacity. Instead, we are acknowledging Him as the One that we rely on and trust with our lives and everything that pertains to us to give us guidance, direction and make our path clear so that we can successfully navigate our way through difficult and uncertain times and seasons of life. We need to humble ourselves before God everyday with understanding that God knows the end from the beginning. He knows what each day will hold before we even get there. That’s why we have to put our faith and trust in God, so that when things happen in the world that throw a monkey wrench in our plans we still have assurance that God’s plan will yet prevail, and His plan is much better than anything we can ever imagine.
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11, KJV
I believe that we’re living at a time in which the greatest innovative ideas, opportunities and inventions will arise within the hearts of God’s people that will change the trajectory of how we navigate and do things. New ideas will be launched that will enable us to reach the world in a much greater capacity and way that ever before. The Church has truly become a Church without walls. The body of Christ has been forced out of the pews to reach beyond it’s four walls to evangelize and disciple souls for the Kingdom of God. A great opportunity has presented itself before us as Kingdom minded people of God! Now, we are reaching 10’s of thousands of souls on a daily and weekly basis, and even 100’s of thousands on a monthly basis. If you can hear and see what God is revealing about where we are in history you won’t be discouraged. To the contrary, you’ll be more encouraged than ever before. It’s your set time of favor and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. (Psalm 102:13; Isaiah 60:1-5)
I decree that your days be filled with faith, hope and destiny. That good success and the joy of the Lord fill your heart, your home, family, finances, relationships and life in the mighty name of Jesus! I decree the supernatural power and grace of God upon your heart and mind that you will have fresh innovative ideas, wisdom and direction that will take you into a new place of victory and success in the Kingdom. I speak healing over your body, and Divine protection over your family in the mighty name of Jesus Christ! God is releasing greater glory for today, and you are a recipient of His divine inheritance according to Isaiah 60:1. Release your faith and receive it in Jesus Mighty Name!!! There’s new grace and glory for today and it is being released NOW!!! May God bless you and make you a thousand times more than you are today in Jesus name. Amen.
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Everything about this is very true because, as it says in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind”. So, we do not need to worry with what’s going in the world because God is still in control and He is still ordering our path. Thank you Dr. Bethtina for sharing this powerful blog.
In this powerful Blog Dr. Bethtina speaks to the heart of our present issues. We are presently living in a moment of innovation and navigation that will propel some to unparalleled levels of greatness, we just have to be able to see it. Trust is the commodity of this moment! The Bible in Proverbs 3:5-6, says that we are to trust in the Lord with all our hearts, and lean not to our own understanding. In all our ways we are to acknowledge Him and He will direct our paths. All our plans, ideas and innovations are to be submitted to God for His guidance. When we as believers possess this type of yieldedness and humility before God, He will make sure that we know what to do. No season is is without its challenges, and this season is no different. Our success in this season and any challenging season is trusting total in the faithfulness of the Lord thy God.
Thank you for imparting the wisdom and the knowledge of God through this blog Apostle. I have been very blessed by the message that you have written in your blog.
An excellent word of truth and clarity. I’m reminded of something I heard one time, “If you want to make God laugh tell Him your plans!” Even David when he saw and heard Goliath’s boasts didn’t rely on his on strength, prowess, nor skills. Nor did he accept or use king Saul’s wisdom, armor, or weapons. He relied on God, His Word, and his testimony that God had helped and delivered him (David) from The dangerous and deadly Foes of a lion and a bear. He remembered God and His covenant promises to David. He followed In and flowed with the Holy Spirit’s Guidance not only in Words but in deeds based on a faith filled relationship with His Faithfull God, Savior, and Deliverer. David got the victory over his and Israel’s Goliath through God in and love and by faith. Plan to always ask and seek God first and so shall you have good success!!!
So encouraging! God’s eyes are upon us to keep us in such an hour as this.(Psalm 33:18-19) He cares for us and is fully aware of how concerns for the provisions for our daily lives can be consuming. He not only gives us instruction on how to navigate through, but He also reassures us that He is in fact the solution.(Matthew 6:31-33) No one can; solve the impossible, bring peace in chaos, and cause the miraculous to manifest right on time…. but God! He will not fail. The greater the time, test, and trial, the greater the testimony.
This article is very relevant for our times. It is true, nations did not foresee the turmoil coming that now exist….a world turned upside down and leaders inept to immediately bring change. Chaos is now the order of the day and lives, indeed souls, are weighed in the balance. Yet God is still God! He is still sovereign. He has not changed. Indeed He knew from the beginning of time this day would come. Your blog taps into this omniscient and omnipotent God…who knows all and is all powerful. He has not been staggered by these winds of change. His mastery over the times and seasons has not wilted. He is still a faithful God…our faithful God. Our very help in a time of trouble! These are troubled times. Yet, these are also times of great opportunity! Seasons of despair BY FAITH are likened to the despair of a seed that has been left for dead in the ground….to the unbelieving, unfaithful onlooker, it is a deluge, a waste, a cause for great despair, but to the faithful and believing farmer, it is the planting, the very process that is necessary to bring that seed to its full potential! The farmer knows that the seed will never be the seed again, yet it will produce a harvest and from this harvest will come many new seeds! Your blog confirms that these difficult times are seeds to the faithful and wise. Thanks so much for sharing!
Apostle Stan and Apostle Beth are knowledgeable of the word of God. They preach and speak God’s word from an anointed biblical perspective. They have a heart for the people of God and desire to do God’s will. I am blessed tremendously by their, ministry.