James 4:15-17: “Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’ As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”
Have you ever carefully planned to meet someone or attend an event, only for things to take an unexpected turn? Maybe traffic messed up your schedule, or a last-minute change forced you to cancel. It can be frustrating, even disappointing. But instead of seeing these moments as mere disruptions, what if we viewed them as opportunities to learn to trust God more?
What Lagos Can Teach You About Submitting to God
I’m sure my fellow Lagosians can relate to this. Living in Lagos has its perks, but if there is one thing this city will teach you, it is how to commit your ways to God. Because honestly, the moment you think about stepping out of your house, whether it is just down the street or across town, you instinctively add, “I will see you by God’s grace.”
Because ehn, Lagos traffic does not smile. It looks at you the way that Ibadan woman with a wrapper on her chest would, eyes squinted, arms folded, glasses sitting on her nose thinking, “This woman, who does she think she is?”
A trip that should take 30 minutes max can easily turn into a six-hour nightmare in Lagos. I kid you not. During my early days in Lagos, the city welcomed me in grand style, and by that, I mean it traumatized me. I spent seven hours on the road just trying to get from Ikeja City Mall to Wemco Junction. People of God, seven whole hours! On a route that should take no more than five minutes on a normal day, in a normal city! If you know that road, you understand why this still feels unbelievable. For months after that, I avoided it like a plague. Just the thought of that experience was enough to make me reconsider my life choices! Brethren, in Lagos, you must always say ‘by God’s grace’ o, before Lagos shows you who pass who!
Life has a way of reminding us that we’re not in control. No matter how much we plan, there will always be things beyond our power. That’s why the wisest thing we can do is submit our ideas, desires, and decisions to the One who knows all things. Instead of relying solely on our own understanding, we’re far better off allowing God to guide our steps, knowing His wisdom is perfect.
Planning without God is risky. It assumes we know exactly what the future holds. That was the mistake of the rich fool in Luke 12:16-21. He thought he had secured his future, his barns were full, and he was ready to sit back and enjoy life. But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” (Luke 12:20).
How often do we do the same? We make casual statements like, “I’ll buy this next week” or “Once I get paid, I’ll do that”; assuming tomorrow is guaranteed. But Proverbs 27:1 warns, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” As believers, we’re called to plan differently. Instead of relying on our own wisdom, we submit our plans to God, saying with humility, “By His grace.”
Turning Your Thoughts into Conversations with God
This attitude of daily submission shapes the way we live. It deepens our awareness of God’s presence and strengthens our prayer life. Many people struggle with the idea of “praying without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) because they see prayer as something rigid, something that happens only in a set place and time. But true prayer is simply ongoing conversation with God, an ever-present awareness that He is near.
Jesus told the Samaritan woman in John 4:21-24 that a time was coming when worship would no longer be confined to a particular location. Now, God’s presence is within us, making prayer an intimate and continuous dialogue. A simple way to pray without ceasing is to turn every thought into a conversation with God. Talk to Him as you would a close friend walking beside you. This keeps you spiritually alert, aligned with His will, and constantly refreshed, like receiving divine updates in real time.
Of course, there will be moments when you need to set aside focused time for deeper prayer. But in your daily life, if you truly desire to remain in the Spirit, the key is to turn even your thoughts into prayers.
Living with This Mindset
Living this way changes how we approach life. It makes us more mindful of opportunities to do good. Proverbs 3:27 instructs, “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.” Instead of putting things off for another day, we take action immediately. Proverbs 27:1 says “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.”
This mindset also reshapes our attitude toward wealth. Many people spend their lives chasing material possessions, only to realize too late how temporary they are. Ecclesiastes 2:18-19 says “I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish?”
That’s why Scripture repeatedly calls us to commit our ways to the Lord. (Proverbs 16:3). Even when God gives us glimpses of the future, it’s not so we can take control but so we can either prepare or be encouraged.
I believe the message today is summarily: living a life of daily submission to God isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s wisdom. It frees us from the illusion of control and anchors us in the certainty of God’s perfect will. Rather than rushing ahead with self-reliance, we learn to walk in step with God, acknowledging Him in all our ways so that He may direct our paths. This posture of humility keeps us sensitive to His voice, diligent in doing good, and focused on storing up treasures in heaven.
So as we live each day with surrendered hearts, we can boldly say, “By His grace, we will do this or that,” knowing that He alone holds our future.
