“…Go ahead and make all the plans you want, but it’s the Lord who will ultimately direct your steps…” – Proverbs 16:1
We are all in the process of figuring out what on earth we are going to do after this latest crisis or problem. Whether you suddenly find yourself a single parent, or your employer closed down, or you are walking out of a pandemic… in the end it is all the same problem: What do I do now?
Proverbs, has become one of my favorite books over the last few years, you can literally read it in a day, or read one chapter per day and complete it in a month, or study one concept per day and finish it in a year. But however you read it, you will always walk away with wise guidance!
So I look to Proverbs today for my 5-step solution…
1. Is your trust in God?
The very first question you have to answer. Are you trusting God to supply your needs, or trusting your paycheck? Your business? Are you about to ask God to bless your plans, bless your business so that you do not need to trust in Him?
Then I am sorry… it ain’t gonna happen. Your business might be a rockstar success but somewhere it will fail you… but God Never Fails!
“…Before you do anything, put your trust totally in God and not in yourself. Then every plan you make will succeed….”
(Proverbs 16:3)
2. What is your motive with your next step?
So when you take your next step, or plan your next project… what is your motives behind it? Growing your company is not a bad motive, growing it at the cost of others is probably not a great idea.
In Galatians 6, the bible teaches us that we will reap what we sow. And what we reap reveals the seeds we planted. If you plant corruption, you will reap corruption, if you plant in greed, your will be consumed by another’s greed. It’s a natural law. If you plant beans, beans will come up.
But don’t worry if the seeds you sow takes a while to shoot up, they will and they will be strong!
“… But the Lord is in the midst of us, testing and probing our every motive…”
(Proverbs 16:2)
3. Opinions are not truths…
Just because you think it is, doesn’t mean it is. Test your thoughts and opinions just like God tests your motives.
“…We are all in love with our own opinions, convinced they’re correct…”
(Proverbs 16:2)
4. When it all goes pear shaped…
When you have been walking with God every day, and putting your trust in Him. You have made sure your motives are pure, and your plans are based on actual facts and not opinions, but it all still goes wrong … Do Not Fear!
“… The Lord works everything together to accomplish his purpose. Even the wicked are included in his plans!”
(Proverbs 16:4)
…see step #1!
And as a bonus:
“… When the Lord is pleased with the decisions you’ve made, He activates grace to turn enemies into friends…”
(Proverbs 16:7)
5. Repeat again. Trust more…
God is faithful and pick you up and build you up in baby-steps, and as He invests in you, give back. Give seeds away for other to sow.
Read that slowly: Give Away not invest in… just as God gave you grace…freely! Give to others, freely, without expectation! And no… this is not your tithe!
