Beyond The Call of Duty

Drudgery, force, monotony, chore, work, labour, military service and slavery are some of the terms that come to mind when we think of the word duty, but is this what God is really calling us to?

Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken away from her (Luke 10: 41 – 42 paraphrased).

The word relationship is bandied about quite widely today, in reference to our relationship with Father God and although we say we are in relationship; what does this really mean? To be in relationship with God, the unseen lover of our souls.

Reading through parables like the ‘Talents’, ‘The labourers in the vineyard’ and others like this in the Gospels, we’re drawn to the urgency of the times. So much to do and truly the harvest is plentiful but the labourers few! So we panic and out of this place of unrest, drift into an unconscious service to God born out of duty and anxiety. Can you relate?

Reading the bible because that’s what we know is expected, or because we want things to go well for us today. Serving in our local fellowships because we’re seeking to earn God’s love, favour, protection and the approval of man.

This is love; not that we loved God, but that He loved us… (1John 4:10)

Our walk with God should be based on a foundation of His love towards us. Our worship, service and prayer; a response flowing out of a love that has been birthed in our hearts because we’ve tasted, experienced and been immersed in the overwhelming love that He has for us – ‘God showed His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us’…. (Romans 5: 8).

That’s while me and you were still hooked on porn, sleeping around with other people’s husbands, over-indulging in food, masturbating, hating our neighbours, murdering and living selfish lives; God looked at us and said, ‘I love you so deeply that I’m going to die in your place’! I mean, who does that?

If that doesn’t woo and draw our hearts towards Him in love, I don’t know if anything ever will. There is something about the ferocity of His love towards us that causes us to yield to Him in surrender, much like a woman surrendering to the desire and advances of her lover.

This love causes us to cry out for Him to fill us with more of His Spirit. We ache and long for more of Him, and when His love captivates and flows through our hearts, it causes us to be drawn  towards others in love.

We become filled with more of Him and are awakened to the needs of others around us and less concerned with our own needs, wants and desires.

We’re drawn to read His word because we long to hear what He’s saying and not because we have to read His word. We want to spend time with Him and sing songs of worship and praise to Him because we’re in love with Him, not because it’s a formula for making ‘the blessings come down!’.

‘Take me away with you! Let’s run off together! An elopement with my King – lover! We’ll celebrate, we’ll sing, we make great music. Yes! For your love is better than vintage wine. Everyone loves you- of course! And why not…..? (Song of Solomon 1: 4 – 6 MSG).

We serve Him because we’ve become intoxicated with His love… His love has captured our hearts; His perfect love casting the fear out, and we are enabled to serve out of a place of rest, of peace, love and of acceptance.

From this place, we are empowered and compelled to exceed anything we could ever have done out of a sense of duty; our hearts respond saying “here I am Lord, you gave me your life, I give you my all”

We are Sons, we’re accepted, and we are loved.

 

The watered down drink

With a group of young people, after a game of laser tag on a recent blazing hot day;  we popped into McDonald’s to get cold drinks. I chose a mango and pineapple iced smoothie. My expectation was greatly dampened when I took a first sip through my straw. Expecting my taste buds to be met with a burst of tropical flavours, I was horrified at the blandness of the taste of my smoothie (I’m not having a go at McDonald’s, honestly!)

The accounts and escapades recounted in the gospels are exciting and impelling, beyond our imagination and out of this world! Early disciples full of the Spirit of God brought God’s Kingdom to bear on the earth! Lives were transformed, weak men became bold to the point of martyrdom. Lepers were healed, the dead were raised, others were imprisoned, persecuted and killed for their faith; but what can be said about our faith (that’s if you have a living faith) today?!

Have we become like a watered down drink? What has happened to our flavour, our saltiness?

Photo by Jason Briscoe on Unsplash

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot – Matthew 5: 13 

I’m guessing it may be either of two things; the first being that we don’t really understand what this message is all about, and think that being a follower of Christ is nothing more than making a declaration of faith (saying that you’re a Christian).

Saying that you’re a Christian is just the beginning! Then comes the active surrendering of our ways of thinking, living and doing life. The realisation that there is nothing good in us. The letting go of and allowing God to change  desires that are opposed to the ways of His Kingdom. The resolution to become true disciples and followers of Christ, after all, our old ways of life ultimately lead to death – our self-focused, ‘me as the centre of the universe’ orientated lives. It’s a total upheaval of our former lives!

The second being that we probably haven’t been endowed with the power from on high – that’s what gave the early disciples the power, boldness, and ability to do the things recorded in the book of Acts (Acts 2: 1 – 4).

Although God wants us to do amazing things for His Kingdom, the power to do these things comes from Him, and may I add by the way, that He supplies the willingness to want to do these things as well (Philippians 2: 13). It all comes from Him. More and more I’m finding that a lot of people who profess to be following Christ have actually in reality, only taken on a form of religion – a way of trying to live a good life that pleases God.

THE TRUTH IS, with the best will in the world we can’t be good; no matter how hard we may try – that’s the whole point of the gospel, Jesus changing the hearts of men through HIS power. The world needs the life of God that is on the inside of us. They need to see the exploits, the miracles, the transformative power of God at work in us.

‘A city set on a hill cannot be hidden’ – Matthew 5: 14 

They shake their heads in mockery when we say that we’re Christians, but have nothing to show for it, no transformation, no power, no testimonies, no good news to share with them. No salt and light to brighten this worlds dark horizons. Child of God, aren’t you tired of living a life of insignificance, hypocrisy and mediocrity?

If anything you’ve read tugs at your heart strings, can I encourage you to pray this simple prayer…

Dear Father, I’m sorry. I know that I haven’t been true to you and really want to live each day for you. I realise that I can’t live the Christian life in my own power and ask you to live your life through me. Give me an understanding of what it really means to follow you. Fill me up with the power of your Spirit. Teach me, lead me, guide me and use me.

 

Are you blooming?

One thing I absolutely love about summer is seeing flowers in full bloom. The vibrant whites, reds, pinks, lilacs, purples and yellows, often captivate my attention, causing me to stop, stare, smell, and capture the beauty of a garden’s dazzling flower display on my iphone’s camera. I love the transition from Spring when flowers first begin to sprout and bud, to summer when flowers flaunt an array of beautiful colours. Then comes winter when the flowers shrivel up and die, having done what they were created to do.

I often wonder whether our lives cause God (and the people around us), to stop in amazement, and glory in the wonder of our unique creation. The life cycle of a flower can serve as a metaphor for our lives. Are we in full bloom? Are we doing the things that He has asked us to do? Have we allowed ourselves to be nourished  and fed by the rain of God’s Spirit and His word; like a seed needing the nourishment of sun and water to grow into a blossoming flower?

Are we sabotaging God’s plan to make us into a beautiful expression of His handiwork because we don’t understand the process He’s taking us through, and are not willing to stay the course? Or our we filling our hearts and minds with the filth and garbage of this world, that stunts our growth and prevents us from becoming the people that we were created to be?

Unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, disobedience, fear, sexual impurity, addictions; these are some of the weeds that can attach themselves to our hearts and hinder the process of our growth. Can God boast about us like He boasted to the devil about Job?

“Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”
– Job 1:8

We were created on purpose for God’s glory, to be put on display for Him. He’s created us to blossom, just like a flower in bloom. Have you ever looked in awe at the wonder of God’s creation? Niagara falls, the Alps, the Grand Canyon? The Beauty of God’s creation serves to point us to Him, and many people acknowledge the existence of God because of the wonder of His creation. Do our lives cause people to acknowledge the authenticity of God?

God also wants to boast and display His power and wisdom through us just like He did with Job; Ephesians 3:10 says –

So now through the church the multifaceted wisdom of God [in all its countless aspects] might now be made known [revealing the mystery] to the [angelic] rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
– Ephesians 3:10 

What has God created us for? As we seek to unravel this, in the working of God’s plans for us as individuals and members of His Church, let’s remind ourselves that all that we are and can ever hope to be, is for His glory to be seen and revealed in us as we yield to His purposes and allow ourselves to become a beautiful masterpiece…just like a flower in full bloom.

Wait!

Waiting seems to be a thing of the past in today’s world. Our microwave society has conditioned us to want everything now! Instant gratification! No one queues or waits their turn at bus Stops anymore, we have movies on demand, instant dating apps, sex before commitment in marriage, drive through restaurants, buy now pay later, we’ve become a bunch of impatient people who don’t know how to wait on or trust God.

My thoughts turn to Joseph, a young man God made promises to in the book of Genesis (Genesis Chapter 37 – 41). God intended to make Joseph Prime Minister of Egypt, but his journey to that destination took him all of 13 years. God had a process that He wanted him to go through before He made Him prime Minister. He was betrayed by His brothers, sold as a slave, accused falsely, thrown in prison, then forgotten, but at God’s appointed time, Pharaoh made Him the Prime Minister of Egypt (exactly as God intended). He was seventeen when God first made the promise to Him.

God’s plans for us are big, His plans are meant to exceed our expectation, but many times we don’t experience the great, because we settle for the less. Anything of lasting value takes time to materialise, especially if it’s authentic and will stand the test of time.

If all you want is a a large instagram or twitter following to give you a false sense of security, a quick fix, or a one hit wonder, then this post may not be for you.

We serve a real King, are citizens of a real Kingdom – Heaven, and God is our Father. He tests our hearts severely because He wants our faith to be genuine, just like gold is tested and purified by fire. He wants our work to be of good quality, to remain, and to be authentic.

Remember, each man’s work will be tested by fire, and God will reveal the real motive behind each person’s work (And the quality of each person’s work will be seen when the Day of Christ exposes it. For on that Day fire will reveal everyone’s work; the fire will test it and show its real quality – 1 Cor 3:13), so don’t be in a hurry, give yourself over to God’s plans and processes and don’t be afraid to let Him take the reigns.

Has He given you a promise of a vision for your future, the promise of a unique business idea to benefit the lives of others, the promise of a great work He has called you to do, the promise of a husband or a child, a promise of healing? Has He asked you to wait? Does it seem as if everyone else is sprinting ahead, but you’re on a slow treadmill? Do you feel as if people have used and taken advantage of you? Does it seem as if what He promised you will never come to pass?

Wait patiently for Him, He’s faithfully working behind the scenes to take you beyond your wildest dreams…

Death as bitter-sweet

Before I lost my husband to a sudden death, I was a self-centred person who claimed to be a Christian, singing songs about God’s love Sunday after Sunday, but living for myself. Unapologetically self-absorbed (who says the selfie tendency only began with the onslaught of social media?)

I lived oblivious to the needs of the people I came into contact with on a daily basis… my work colleagues, my neighbours, the retail assistants in the stores where I did my weekly shopping, the parents at my children’s Schools – they were all faceless.

Had the truth expressed in the songs I was singing truly penetrated my heart? They certainly hadn’t moved me to step outside the realm of my comfortable place. Foremost in my mind was me and my tight-knit family unit. I had met a man who really loved me, who completed our family unit; that’s what mattered most.

Photo by Fernanda Marin on Unsplash

The shakings of God have a way of  revealing the true foundation that our lives are built on (a bit like having the rug pulled out from beneath you). I can’t say I wasn’t a Christian, but I can say that my faith had scarcely any work attached to it, and like James said in James 2: 14 – 17, ‘faith without works is dead!’ That kind of faith can’t save a person.

That’s why I always refer to this experience in my life’s journey as bitter-sweet. The loss of a husband’s love, the loss of life for the ones left behind is a very painful experience, but when God uses a painful loss to reveal a love that surpasses all loves, the pain and bitterness becomes sweet.

At the point of loss, I was forced to look outside of myself. I had to  look up to the one that I knew was greater than me. I had needs and at that point, nothing earthly could satisfy them.

I  was forced to cry out to the one I had been singing about, and boy did He show up! Oh He had been there all the time, waiting patiently, quietly, hoping to catch my attention, and Bam! In the middle of the storm of loss, I  finally heard His voice… He said, “it is I, do not be afraid” (John 6:20).

I was suddenly alert to the fact that Jesus had been there all the time, but my distracted heart and mind, clogged up by everything earthly and mundane – was desensitised towards God. I couldn’t hear or see Him clearly, that is until the storm raged.

That God loved me enough to snap me out of my slumber and awaken me to His presence was enough to bring me to my knees… God loved me!

And if you’re reading this and you’ve experienced the loss of a close loved one, GOD LOVES YOU TOO. You may not understand how He could, if He’s allowing you to go through the pain of loss, and you may even find it frustrating trying to work out where God is in all of this, but He’s there, in the middle of your storm. Don’t ever doubt it.

Just like the disciples in the boat, the storms of loss of life cause us to become fearful. We cry out to Him saying, “Jesus, don’t you care that I’m hurting, that I’m now a widow”? Questions rise up in our minds that we don’t have answers to, then there’s the practical side of things; “how am I going to pay the rent or mortgage on my own”? How will the children cope without their father? What about my sexual needs?

God is right there, and wants to walk us through the journey of loss to reveal something beyond our imagining to us…

“I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden wealth of secret places, so that you may know that it is I The Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name” – Isaiah 45: 3

God isn’t talking about money here, He’s talking about an intimate knowledge of God, the one who already knows us, the one who knew us before we were formed in our mother’s wombs (Jeremiah 1:5). Can anything be more precious than that?

There will be tears, there will be pain and confusion (I had my fair share of that), but if we reach out for the hand that God is holding out to us in the middle of our grief and search for Him, we will come out the other side with something more beautiful than anything we could have ever dreamed of…

 

 

 

 

The walking dead

I led a youth group where one of the young people was obsessed with the series ‘The walking dead’. Whenever I think about that phrase, zombies and Michael Jackson’s hit song ‘Thriller’, comes to mind, but how many of us are walking dead?

My aim here is not to be morbid, but seriously, how many of us are dead on the inside but portraying an exterior of being okay. How many of us have physical life, but no connection with the real source of Life – God?

What are the things that regularly occupy our minds? Love Island, how to look hotter and lose that extra weight, how to make more money, plans for our next holiday, the premier league? Not all of these things are wrong in and of themselves, but if these kinds of things regularly form the basis of our thoughts, I’d say we’re fairly shallow people.

Life can be pretty much superficial, and the media/social media glorifies externals, but are these the things that really matter, that we can cling to when our boats are rocked, or in times of adversity?

The world is constantly moving, and change is inevitable. Technology changes, the world’s climates are changing, we change, our bodies change, no matter how dedicated we are to trying to keep fit or stay young… the honest truth is eventually we die (a subject we are often loathsome to confront).

I’m reminded of a popular Bible passage recited as a children’s song –

The wise man built his house upon the Rock’ (x3)
And the rains came tumbling down
The rains came down and the floods came up (x3)
And the house on the Rock stood firm
The foolish man built his house upon the sand (x3)
And the rains came tumbling down
The rains came down and the floods came up (x3)
And the house on the sand went splat! – (Matt 7:24 – 27)

Now this might seem rather simplistic, but there is a truth that runs deep through this song. Where is our strength, what, or who do we turn to in times of adversity? Answering these questions may help us to gauge our foundation and judge whether we are truly alive. Do we turn to nicotine, cannabis, and the like, or do we run away from the reality and pain of life and immerse ourselves in pleasurable activities; another night out binge drinking, a frenzied moment of sexual pleasure, food porn?

Life happens, and sooner or later we are confronted with the truth about life – Life is a collection of ups and downs, highs and lows, beauty and ugliness. We crave for the ups, we look forward to the highs, but we need to anticipate and prepare for the lows, because they will come.

Who, or what will you turn to in your low time? I have chosen to have God as my foundation and turn to Him, and although sometimes I feel as if I’m wavering, He is my anchor and manages to keep me stable.

 

Merry CHRISTmas

“So here it is merry Christmas, everybody’s having fun”, but what is all the fuss really about? Why are people’s windows decked with lights that flicker, who is Santa Claus, and why is everyone going to be eating turkey and mince pies?

For years I’ve happily done the Christmas routine; ‘decking my halls with boughs of holly’, but this year, as I stared at my rug depicting the smiling face of Santa Claus, I found myself questioning who Santa Claus is, wondering why on earth I venture into my loft year after year to drag out my Christmas tree, why my neighbour’s flickering lights were causing the disco effect on my ceiling and walls, and why a visit to the shops at this time of year is absolute torture; so I decided to carry out some research into the customs and traditions of Christmas.

No one knows the exact date that Christ was born, but it’s suggested that Christmas celebrations dating back to the 4th Century, were an early attempt by Christian leaders to import a pagan festival ‘saturnalia’, into a Christian celebration, after large numbers of pagans were converted to Christianity.

The mention of December 25th as the birth of Jesus, was said to have been linked to the mid-fourth century when a Roman Almanac stated the 25th of December as ‘natus Christus in Betleem Judeae’, meaning ‘Christ was born in Bethlehem of Judea’. Other sources say that Jesus was most likely born during the spring lambing season (March to May), when shepherds kept their flocks in the fields, and not in December when it was cold.

In recent years I’ve fallen out with the materialistic side of Christmas; businesses and shops cashing in on unsuspecting customers, many of whom have no idea that the real centre of Christmas is ‘Jesus Christ’, but I’ve cherished the opportunity the season gives to celebrate a saviour who was born, died and rose again to save humankind from sin.

Photo by Gareth Harper on Unsplash

‘For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given’ Isaiah 9:6 -7

Advertisers ensure that during the months, weeks, and days leading up to Christmas, we’re bombarded with enticements to spend, spend, spend; must-have toys, ‘Amazon Alexa’, iPhone XS max, perfumes galore, food items for the perfect traditional Christmas dinner (with all its trimmings), it’s easy to get sucked into the frenzy of it all.

This season, as you do your Christmas shopping, take time out to spend with family, unwrap your presents, and sit around the table for Christmas dinner together, can I encourage you to pause for a moment, and allow the true essence of Christmas to touch your heart… the gift of the peace, joy, and love of God – that’s the true meaning of Christmas…

‘For God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not die but have eternal life’ – John 3:16

Wishing you a wonderful CHRISTmas!

 

The faith app

I can’t begin to tell you how long it took me to understand what an app was. An app was a world closed to me. Although apps had been around for a while, I just didn’t get it. I even used apps on my iphone; WhatsApp, notes, Guitar Tuna, Bible, but couldn’t grasp the concept of an app, that is until I used a particular App created specifically to take users through a 30 day Challenge (The Nazirite Challenge).

While using this interactive App, suddenly the blinkers came off, and the veil was removed – I got it! I finally understood that an App was an application (small computer program), designed to enable the user to carry out specific functions. During the process of using an App I understood. Living by Faith is like that, you’ll never understand it, or how it works until you take a first step, until you exercise it. You’ll never experience the reality of God, and what He can do until you dare to trust Him.

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him – Hebrews 11:6

I never understood who the Holy Spirit was until I cried out to God asking for something more. I believed in God, and had received enough answers to prayer to know that He was real, but I found myself at a point where the shallow experience of God that I’d had wasn’t enough to satisfy the longings of my heart. I needed something deeper, something that all the world had offered me to date couldn’t give. He must have heard my cry, as soon after this, I experienced God in a way that I hadn’t known Him before; an ever-present awareness of God within, being really close to me, calming my fears, and comforting me. It was my personal Damascus Road experience.

God is real! He has the power to transform lives, to heal broken hearts, to repair, to set free, there is nothing impossible for Him, but many of us haven’t experienced the reality of God because we’re not using our ‘Faith App!’ In God’s Kingdom, ‘believing is seeing’; it’s opposite to the world’s philosophy of ‘seeing is believing’.

By default we all have faith in something, even just sitting on a chair suggests that we believe in the chairs ability to carry our weight. What are you putting your faith in?

James Hudson Taylor said –

“How many estimate difficulties in the light of their own resources, and thus attempt little and often fail in the little they attempt! All God’s giants have been weak men, who did great things for God because they reckoned on His being with them” ~ James Hudson Taylor

Today, as you use the many apps that have become a part of our normal way of carrying out various tasks, can I encourage you to pause and ask yourself if you’ve activated your faith app…

Have an amazing faith-filled day!

 

 

Who’s In Control?

Are you in control of your life? Us humans tend to think we are… I spoke to a passenger service agent at the station yesterday; I was querying a train journey on my oyster card, and while the agent (who seemed tense and curt), checked out my oyster journey history on his handheld device, I felt an inner nudge to tell Him that God loved Him.

Well for the next hour and a half, I was stood in conversation with this guy as he expressed His anger toward this God who had asked me to tell Him that He loved Him. His first response was “Na…don’t tell me that, I’m angry with God!”.

Being the evangelistic type that I am, I told Him that I understood exactly how he was feeling, because I had been mad at God the previous week (I get mad at God sometimes – it’s okay He can handle it!). He said “No, I don’t think you do, I’m almost ready to cross over to the dark side”.

I knew that whatever happened to him must have cut deep. I immediately understood the mannerisms I had picked up, as I initially approached him for help; I couldn’t quite put my finger on it at the time, but had sensed that something wasn’t right with him – he seemed tense and awkward.

The muscles of his face were contorted, and I could clearly see that anger and rage had gripped his heart. I can’t go into the detail of the reason for his anger, but because of this anger, his heart was closed to God. The conversation ended with him saying “I did a deal with God – I do what He wants, and He gives me what I want. He didn’t give me what I wanted, so I’m done!”

Do we trust God’s love for us even when He allows us to go through calamity, pain and hardship?

How do we react when things don’t pan out the way we want them to? Do we turn our backs on God because we didn’t get what we bargained for? Do we give in to frustration and anger? Have we made the mistake of assuming that we’re in control of our lives? Does the world really revolve around us?

Remember God’s response to Job who experienced a barrage of calamities, one after the other –

“Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them. Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much” -Job 38: 2-4

There’s always a bigger picture, just like there was in the events that played out in the life of Job, precipitated by God’s dialogue with the devil. Are we trusting enough to believe that God has a plan in all that He allows us to experience in our lives? God promised us that all things will work together for good, to those that love Him, and He prepared us for hard times by warning us that we would have troubles in this world.

Don’t despair when you face hardship, remember God told us to be of good cheer ‘because He has already overcome the world’ (John 16:33) – Are you going to believe Him?

 

 

Streamlined living for creatives

What is it about structure that causes a creative person to feel like a square peg in a round hole? If you’re anything like me; the free-flowing creative type, you have to work extra hard at being structured, organised, and setting goals for yourself, as this pushes you out of your comfort zone. At school I adored subjects like English Literature and English, where my mind was set free to explore and express, but felt hampered by subjects like maths which I found rigid, mechanical and limited.

Creative people need boundaries in the form of goal setting for their ideas, to help keep them streamlined and on track, or they’d end up never creating anything! God may have given us ideas, dreams and visions of what he wants to do with our creativity, but how are we ever going to complete the tasks that God has given us, if we don’t plan for them or set goals?

Photo by Estée Janssens on Unsplash

Yesterday, while shopping for specific items written down on a shopping list, God spoke to me about how setting goals can be likened to shopping for specific items on a list. Have you ever been shopping without a set plan, or an idea of what you were going to buy? I have, many times, and have ended up wasting precious time walking round the shopping aisles, overspending, and coming home with items that I didn’t really need!

 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Luke 14:28

What is it that God is asking you to do? Do you know? Have you got it written down? If God has given you the inspiration for a book, have you set yourself a weekly timetable to impel you to write it? If God has shown you He wants you to be a Forensic scientist, are you ready and prepared to get the training, and put in the necessary research and study needed? Do you want to see God’s plans for you become a reality? Or are you as some say ‘A free spirit?’

As creatives God has called us to walk in partnership with Him. He’ll help us live out the dreams He places in our hearts, but we have a part to play, especially now that we understand He expects us to put checks and balances in place to ensure that His vision for us becomes a reality.

God has the blueprint for our dreams, knows the exact timing, all the other intricacies, and has the overall say, but we need to be responsible to prepare, to research, to pray, to do the practical work, and anything else needed to align with God’s purpose for us.

Dear creative one, we don’t have forever, no more excuses, it’s time to act…

‘Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans’
Proverbs 16:3