Preparing for the Beast: Ep. 9: Kingdom Wealth in the Age of Surveillance: Faith, Freedom, Finances

0:10 Welcome to the Diary of a Black Woman podcast, where we pray bold prayers, walk in bold faith, and expect a bold God to show up. I'm your host, Connie Morris, and we open every episode with the same unshakable confidence Jabez had in 1 Chronicles 4.10. Lord, bless me indeed, enlarge my territory. Let your hand be with me. Keep me from evil and keep me from causing pain. And the Bible says, God granted his request. So if you're here today, get ready, because we're praying big, believing big, and walking in everything God promised. Let's begin.

1:01 Hello and welcome back to the Diary of a Black Woman podcast, where faith meets real life and biblical wisdom speaks into the times we're living in. I'm your host Connie Morris and today we're talking about something that touches every single one of us, money, stewardship, and where our true security really comes from. That brings us to our final episode, episode nine, the biblical principles of wealth and stewardship. You know, this episode is interesting because when the beast comes, it's going to attack our wealth and our financial freedom. But we know that we have a God that prepares us for everything.

1:44 Everything. And so buckle up, put your seatbelt on, put your oxygen mask on, whatever you need to prepare for this final ride. I hope you have enjoyed this series as much as I have. You learn more the second time you study it and then you actually podcast it. And it seems like it sticks right in my gut where we are pretty much in a system of a casted system, but life Life is kind of going through, moving, and we're not paying attention. And I believe these episodes is helping us to pay attention. So when the system arrives, we don't slide into it by compromise, that we stand firm in what the Lord has already spoke to us.

2:29 If you haven't listened to episode eight, re-listen to it because all of them are powerful. But that one just shared how God wants us to endure in faith. But as the world shifts towards a digital currency, cashless systems and increased financial control is easy to feel uncertain about the future. But while economic systems evolve, God's principles never changes. Long before blockchain, bank cards or online payments, scripture already gave us a blueprint for handling wealth without letting it handle us. So in this episode, we're grounding ourselves in biblical truth about provision.

3:11 Contentment, and financial freedom. Because financial freedom in the kingdom of God doesn't mean having endless money. It means not being owned by it. It means trusting God as our source, honoring Him with what we have, and living with a generous, grounded, and unafraid heart. We're going to explore what it really means to trust God as our provider in uncertain times, to walk in contentment in a culture driven by comparison and consumption, and to practice stewardship that honors God, whether money is paper, plastic, or digital. Come on now. Keep our hearts free, even when financial systems feels controlling.

3:56 The world says, secure the bag. The kingdom says, guard your heart. Because at the end of the day, wealth is not about accumulation. It's about alignment. Alignment with God's will, God's priorities, and God's purpose for our lives. So if you ever wonder how to stay spiritually grounded while the financial world keeps shifting, This episode is for you, so let's get into it. I want to cover how do you stay financially free in a world that's becoming financially controlling. Financial freedom is the freedom to choose how to use one's resources without being enslaved to money or materialism.

4:38 This is a biblical principle that emphasizes the importance of contentment and trust in God rather than relying on wealth and financial systems. And the scripture comes to me, and I think Paul said it, that he learned to be content with and content without. It's kind of an attitude we have to have. And the way he was able to be content with much was God gave him much. And then when it came a point where he had to be content with less, he learned how to be content with less because God was there with him. Our trust in riches are not in material things. They are trust in God.

5:19 And the most richest things that I'm finding out as I've gotten older, is that if you really can understand the Bible and spend time with God, He's going to show you things that you won't find in your everyday walk, you know, in your everyday life without Him. And, you know, even in your dreams and in your relationship with Him, He has made a promise in His Word that He'll never leave us or forsake us. And that means that even when things get tight, if you trust them now, then how won't you trust them later? And so financial freedom is not always about having a lot of money. It's about your trust in God's providing for you. Let's go into provision.

6:03 The Bible teaches that God is our provider and that our trust should be in him, not in the world's economy, economic system. Philippians 4.19 says, And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches in glory in Christ Jesus. This underscores the reality that our true provision comes from God. Regardless of what global economic systems, objects, technologies. Are in place. Contentment, what does that mean? 1 Timothy 6, 6-10, Paul describes that godliness with contentment is great gain. Christians are reminded that true wealth is not found in the accumulation of possessions, but in a relationship with God and spiritual fulfillment.

6:52 So we see here Our financial freedom comes from one, what? Understanding that we must trust in God. Number two, our provisions come from who? It says in Philippians 4.19, it comes from God as our provider. And then contentment is that godliness with contentment is with great gain. So that's that word again. We got resolve, but we also have the word Satan has nothing on us. But this one is this contentment. That contentment, if you've ever been content with something, God wants us to be content with Him. That He, in our relationship with Him, will fulfill you to the full, to the overflow.

7:34 That's John 10.10. But how do we get there? So how does this, how does Scripture, there's going to be a lot about Scriptures, about the Bible, so we can get a strong foundation. What the Word of God says about how He wants to provide and how we can honor Him during this time. But still, honor is important even when we're in a crisis, right? So Proverbs 3, 9 through 10 speaks on honoring God with our wealth. It reads, Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruit of all your crops. Then your barns will be filled to the overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

8:15 This passage speaks directly to stewardship and generosity, honoring God with wealth. In a world where artificial intelligence and cashless transactions dictate how we access goods and services. Christians must honor God by giving the first fruit of their wealth to Him, whether through tithing, offerings, or acts of generosity. Believers are called to recognize that God is the ultimate owner of all resources. Implications in a cashless society. In a cashless society, the means of giving may evolve through principles of honoring God with our wealth remain the same.

8:57 Whether we're using digital wallets, cryptocurrency, or bank transfers, the way we handle money should reflect God's sovereignty over all we possess. In Matthew 6, 24, serving God, not money, is the next point. Matthew 6, 24 says, no one can serve two masters. Either you will love, either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to one and despise the other. This teaches that our loyalty must not be divided between God and money. Serving God, not money. In today's world, as we become increasingly integrated into digital financial systems and surveillance economies, there is a constant temptation to prioritize money over all else, whether through cryptocurrency or state-backed digital currency.

9:51 Christians are reminded that money is a tool, not a master. Our ultimate devotion should be to God and his kingdom and not the systems and of the world. How does this apply today? In an era where financial participation may be influenced by global systems. Christians must carefully assess whether their allegiance to these systems compromises their devotion to God. Financial freedom does not come from the worldly wealth, but from loyalty to Christ. Just a quick review. We see here that we need to understand the power of money in a spiritual sense. And it comes first by honoring God with our wealth.

10:33 It also comes first by honoring God in our devotion to him and our trust in him, that our financial freedom doesn't come from serving money, but from what? Trusting God for the provision. And when we put that weight in, think about it's on a scale, money on a scale, like you see wads of $100 bills, your ultimate need. And then you have God on the other scale. And then you have to determine which one of those you're going to grab off. Yes, you can grab the cash because that's going to meet your immediate need. But will it meet your forever future need in a crisis?

11:13 Or you can grab Jesus, right, off the scale and just hope. You grab him with your faith and then you trust in him to meet every need. The Bible says he'll meet every need. Temporary need is what the evil wants. So take the cash now and live now or take Jesus and live forever in a financial stable environment, right? And many times, as you know, if you walk with Christ long enough, You don't really need money. God has a way of giving you favor. Favor is someone that to push the button and says, oh, you no longer owe that. You know, favor is walking with him and you don't need, like it's like the doors open automatically. Everything's open automatically.

11:53 And it's not based on cash. It's based on who you know. And in the world of riches, it's all based on, I don't think they even carry money sometimes. We used to be with a whole bunch of money in their pocket. That means that's all they have. I learned that when I was a police officer. That's all they had. They got all that money and that's it. They just showing it and flashing it. But the people who don't have a lot of money, who has a lot of money, but they keep their riches hidden and put it in investments and savings and let it draw interest. Because money don't draw interest in your pocket. Come on now. Money is drawing interest in the banks, right? Money is drawing interest in investments. And so that's pretty much the rule. If you want cash, get cash.

12:35 But if you want God's love and his trust, he's going to provide for you in ways that you can't even ask or think. The wisdom that he would give you to resolve problems, the wisdom he would give you even to create financial wealth for you is so much powerful than just a temporary fix. So let's continue. How do we have stewardship in a controlled economic world? Reconciliation of stewardship with technological realities. How do we have stewardship in a controlled economic world? We must understand first that God is the ruler of the world. The second thing is, are you connected with God or are you connected with the systems of the world?

13:18 So stewardship means managing the resources God has entrusted to us in a way that honors him. The rise of the artificial intelligence-driven financial system. Cashless transactions, and surveillance economies present a challenge to traditional ideas of stewardship. Transparency and control in a cashless society, every transaction is tracked. As a result, there may be loss of anonymity and privacy and concerns about data privacy may arise. For Christians, this necessitates careful stewardship of both financial resources and personal information, ensuring that we do not compromise our integrity or faith by engaging with systems that may encourage the idolatry of wealth or compel participation in unbiblical ideologies.

14:12 So we see here, how do we reconcile the reconciliation of stewardship with technological realities. We entrust God. We're talking about God here, that we honor him. Even in a castless society, we still follow the same stewardship principles. Second part of that is that you want to use wisdom regarding your privacy. And not be drawn into wealth through unbiblical ideologies. Number two, generosity and tithing in the digital age. Generosity in the Bible is about more than just giving money. It's about having a heart of compassion and a willingness to share with others.

14:57 1 Timothy 6, 17 to 18 teaches that those who are rich should be generous. It reads, command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, whose richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. We see here first, generosity does not change. Tithing does not change in the digital age. And as the financial international systems evolve. Christian's are still called to give generously and support the work of the kingdom.

15:42 While we may use digital methods for tithing or helping those in need, the heart of generosity remains the same. And then here, how do you maintain financial independence in a world of exclusion? As artificial intelligence and the social credit system evolve, Christians may face exclusion from certain economic opportunities or services for their faith. A cashless society could easily be manipulated to exclude those who refuse to comply with certain global systems, such as participating in a social credit score or using state-controlled digital currency.

16:24 Financial independence in a world where access to financial systems can be restricted based on compliance. Christians are encouraged to maintain financial independence, not in the sense of relying solely on material wealth, but by maintaining a trust in God's provision, whether through small businesses, community sharing, alternative economies. Christians are called to seek ways to live out their faith without depending on a system that might force them to compromise their convictions. So we see the three points here, how to live financially free in a control economic world. Stewardship is still important. Faithfulness to God and not unbiblical ideologies.

17:12 Being generous and still tithing even in the digital age. And also developing a way to be financially independent from the systems, like having your own business, having your own community sharing platform, and finding an alternate economy so that you can be able to be free in a way or not controlled by a system that's set in place by the beast system. So let's talk about navigating financial control with kingdom values. Remember, just because we're going through a crisis, we don't erase all the things we learn on how to be a good Christian, right? To walk in holiness.

17:53 So the Bible teaches us that we have to maintain our spiritual freedom by how that our treasures should not be in earthly wealth, but in heavenly riches. Matthew 6, 19 through 21 says, do not store for yourself treasures on earth where moths and vermin destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but store up for yourself treasures in heaven for where your treasure is there, your heart will be also. And as a global financial system becomes increasingly controlled and surveil, we are reminded that our freedom is found in Christ, not in the systems of this world. Financial independence is not the ability to live without money, but the ability to trust in God's provision.

18:39 Above all else. Number two, using technology ethically. Romans 12, 2 calls us not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. Christians must approach technology, including financial technologies, with discernment informed by biblical principles. We should use technology ethically, ensuring that it serves God's purposes and kingdom values, not the world system of control and manipulation. Ethical stewardship involves not just using resources wisely, but also avoiding systems that perpetrate injustice or ungodly control.

19:21 Christians should ask, does the technology we're gauging in aligns with biblical principles of freedom, justice, and integrity? Does it enhance our ability to serve God and others, or does it encourage idolatry, greed, or control? And living with a kingdom perspective. Colossians 3.1.2 reminds us that since then you have been raised with Christ. Set your hearts on things above where Christ is. Seated at the right hand of God, set your mind on things above and not on earthly things. True wealth is not measured by what we possess in this life, but by our faithfulness to God. As we navigate a world that may attempt to control us through economic systems, we must focus on eternal values, knowing that our citizenship is in God's kingdom, not in the world.

20:15 Just a reminder of what we just covered, how do we navigate financial control with kingdom values? We maintain our spiritual freedom by not getting caught up and holding our treasures in what we call earthly wealth, but in heavenly riches. We must trust that God is the provider above all else. We must use technology ethically. So we must not lose our kingdom values and compromise it into the worldly system. We keep our kingdom values by renewing our mind and not conforming to this world. We keep our ethical stewardship. How?

20:55 By avoiding systems that perpetrate injustice or ungodly control. So it's our responsibility to be alert, to be attentive on what's happening around us. And then we're told to live in what you call a kingdom perspective. That we keep our eyes and our heart. It says, set your heart on things above where Christ is seated. When you do that, you're not caught up in the world's way and understanding that true wealth is not measured by possessions in this life, but by our faithfulness to God. And who is measuring that? The world can't see that, but God sees it.

21:38 How faithful are we to God? As we move toward a world where economic systems and financial control are increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, digital currency, and surveillance technology. Christians are called to remain faithful to the biblical principles of wealth, stewardship, and freedom. We are reminded to keep our hearts set on things above, honor God with our will, and engage with technology in a way that reflects God's value. In times where financial exclusion may come, we are called to trust in God's provision, maintain financial independence from the world system, and continue to give generously to further the work of the kingdom of God.

22:22 Let us live with eternal perspective, knowing that our true treasure lives eyes in Christ, and that nothing in this world can take away the freedom we have in him. So as the world increasingly moves towards surveillance-based systems and capitalist economies, Christians may face significant challenges. Technological control, economic exclusion, and the marginalization of faith-based values are becoming more pronounced. In such a world, building and maintaining strong support of Christian communities is essential. These communities will provide the strength, encouragement, and resources necessary for believers to endure in the face of spiritual oppression pressure, economic marginalization, and a potential persecution.

23:10 This reality demands a closer examination of how we can build a resilient Christian communities following biblical examples of the early church, while also taking practical steps to support one another in our times of trial and difficulty. And so the question here is, how do we build a strong Christian communities? My church has what you call 242 groups where you get into your groups. Those are your groups. They're your neighbors. They're your friends from church, but they live closely to that area where the house is, where you go to a house for Bible study.

23:50 And so that might be your team. So when things get rough, you look around, you know them personally because you spend a lot of time with them in Bible study away from church, right? Nothing that you're forced to do is something that's recommended. And so how do we build this strong Christian community? We need to do it now though. So in an age dominated by digital surveillance and economic control where faithful Christians may be excluded from participating in basic societal functions like buying, selling, or assessing healthcare, community becomes an essential lifeline. In a cached society, believers who refuse to comply with certain digital systems might find themselves economically marginalized, excuse me, unable to access basic services or participate in global transactions.

24:42 The rise of persecution, both social and economic, requires that the church step up and act as supportive refuse, whether financially, emotionally, or spiritually. Christians will need each other's support to withstand the challenges posed by a world where loyalty to Christian might result in exclusion or persecution. So how do we mimic the early days? First of all, we go to the book of Acts. The Christians face severe persecution for their faith, yet they manage to thrive and spread the gospel. The Acts 2.42-47 model provides a powerful example of how believers can build strong and supportive communities, even in the face of societal pressure.

25:32 I'm going to read the scripture Acts 2.42-47. And it reads, They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many followers and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts. Praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who So some of the key principles from the early church are devotion to teaching and fellowship.

26:20 The early Christians placed priority on spiritual teaching and fellowship. Their unity and spirit were central to their strength. In today's world, where digital surveillance and social media can isolate us, Christian communities must maintain a strong relationship and accountability. And so we see here in the early church that that fellowship created that unity in the spirit, which is powerful. Share resources is point two, is Christians shared what they had, ensuring that no one was in need In the context of economic exclusion, this principle remains essential. Christians are called to one another, especially when economic systems exclude those who refuse to comply to worldly powers.

27:06 We see here that it's important that we fellowship and we also share resources so no one will be in need. And number three, daily gathering and fellowship. The early church is met regularly for teaching, fellowship, and prayer. Even in an era where physical gatherings may become more challenged and regulated, Christians can still find ways to connect, encourage one another, and remain steadfast in faith. So meeting is important. Praising unity. Despite external opposition, the early Christians remain unified and joyful. Even in the face of persecution, the church today must also foster an atmosphere of hope, praise, and resilience, knowing that we serve a sovereign God.

27:55 So what are some of the key principles from the early church? That devotion to teaching and fellowship, shared resources, daily gathering and fellowship, and praise and unity, that bond is what's going to protect you when it comes time to endure. So you're not enduring as one individual, you're going to be enduring with a group. And that makes it a stronger bond. It's a stronger bond when you know that you can trust your fellow neighbor, right? That that person won't. You know, shout you out to the government who wants everybody that has a mark, but you have a group of people that's supportive to you. You don't have to worry about resources because you're sharing resources.

28:37 Spiritually emotional, right? You're sharing all that, physical resources. And so that does make a stronger bond. And so how do we endure in an economic system when the surveillance technologies begin to tighten and persecution becomes real. We just covered this, but I want to just reemphasize this. It says, Christians will face a new form of exclusion. Local churches and Christian organizations must adapt to these changing times by creating communities that support believers through these challenges. And so how do we do that as a church body. We saw what we do individually. What can the church do to develop these systems now?

29:20 And so if you don't have a system set in place now, what do you do? How do you do it? So you can be prepared by one, once again. Build strong interconnected networks, establish local and global networks of believers who can provide mutual support during times of economic or social persecution. This includes financial assistance, job support, resource sharing for individuals who face exclusion due to their faith. So you lose your job, you can go to these resources to help you find another way, another solution. A form of income, another income. Foster digital and physical fellowship. In an area where physical means may be limited due to surveillance or health protocols, churches can provide digital spaces for fellowship.

30:09 Prayer, and teaching while remaining committed to in-service gathering when possible. Utilizing secure communication platforms and encrypted channels for church activities may be necessary to provide the privacy and safety of believers. So this is talking about if the church needs to go underground, it can. You have one, which is an in-person service, which we have a lot of now. Then we have what you call our 240 groups, 242 groups, which are individual where people go to home to worship. But then there's preparing in a way that you have secure mentorship, secure communication platforms. If you want to have your service, maybe you keep it rotating where every time it's not predictable.

30:55 The only person know that's going to be on platform or in person, you're sharing that information and then you're on encrypted channels. So no one's monitoring you. Or they have to go through a whole, a lot of trouble to get to you. So that's powerful in itself to prepare for a plan B in case you can't meet in person, but you still get the word across. You can still support your congregation and create a culture of generosity because it's going to cost money, right? So financial exclusion could come in significant challenge for Christians who choose not to comply with a global digital system. Churches should model generosity, encouraging believers to support each other, particularly those marginalized by society, whether through tithing, community fundraisers, or direct support.

31:43 The church must act as a financial lifeline for those in need. That was self-explanatory. And then number four, prepare for persecution and resistance. Churches should teach and equip believers to endure persecution by focusing on the biblical principles of steadfastness and joy in suffering, according to James 1, 2-4. Equip believers to understand that their ultimate allegiance is to God, not to worldly systems. And five, strengthen resilience through discipleship. Building resilience requires deep discipleship. Churches should provide spiritual mentoring and training to address emotional, social, and financial pressures.

32:30 This includes biblical training on ethics, spiritual practices, and community support to help those remain faithful in the face of persecution. So what can your church do to prepare for, the persecution and exclusion. We talked about building strong interconnected networks, both local and globally, that can support and assist the congregants in financial assistance, job support, and resource sharing. Number two, to foster digital and physical fellowship, be able to have in-person services, but also plan to have digital services.

33:11 Create a culture of generosity. Continue your tithing. Continue your giving. Prepare for persecution. Begin to teach on how to endure persecution. You know, it's kind of like a training ground. Church is a training ground. How do I endure persecution? How do I endure the principles of steadfastness and the joy and suffering according to the Word of God? How do I just make sure that my church group has It's an ultimate allegiance to God and not this worldly system. And then finally, how do we stay strengthened through discipleship? I mean, we're already learning. It's a continual learning about ethics, spiritual practice, and community support.

33:54 I mean, you don't wait until you're in a crisis to create discipleship. You need to do it now. And then I believe the final point I want to cover here is how do we support one another in a world of growing pressure? We talked about one way is to have the 242 group. The second way is to have a solid church preparedness system in place. And then thirdly is supporting one another when it gets really hard. How do we do that, right? Everybody handles pressure differently. And so we need to know how to do that. So as Christians, the external pressures of a world moving towards global economic control and digital surveillance will increase. The church role is...

34:40 In this age, it creates spaces of support where believers can not only survive, but thrive spiritually in a world that increasingly seeks to control and isolate them. You know, it's different in a world where you are striving to survive, but how about if you actually thrive both spiritually and economically in a world that's trying to close you out? And I have four points, and then we're going to close this out. Is mutual care and accountability. Galatians 6.2 urges us to carry each other's burden. Mutual care and accountability are foundational to maintaining strong Christian community. Amid external pressure, Christians should prioritize relationships within the body of Christ, especially those facing persecution or persecution for their faith.

35:31 Number two, spiritual mentoring and strengthening. Proverbs 27.17 says, iron sharpens iron. So one person sharpens another. In times of trial, stronger believers must come alongside weaker ones to provide spiritual mentorship and and practical support. Spiritual leaders must also guide believers in navigating the pressures to conform to a worldly system that opposes God's will. Number three, embrace God's sovereignty. Isaiah 41 10 reminds us, so do not fear for I am with you. Do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

36:13 As global systems of control intensify, Christians must remain anchored in truth of God's sovereignty. The church is called to be a place of refuge where believers are reminded that God rules over all circumstances, even those brought about by oppressive systems. And number four, resist conformity. Romans 12.2 calls us not to be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind. As Christians, we must resist the pressure to conform to the global systems of control. The church must empower believers to live distinctively from the world while standing firm in their commitment to Christ.

36:57 And as we go over these points, you can see that these points are very, very strong and it requires a resolvedness to happen before the crisis begin. And the church role, continuing in this episode, continuing in this section, talks about having mutual care and accountability. So the church cannot abandon their flock when things get really hard. They must begin now to build these relationships within the body of Christ. We all want to endure to the end. If we, and right now the tests, sometimes the tests even now are hard. Can we endure through that test? I always, when I go through major tests in my life.

37:41 It's hard. Don't get me wrong. But I wake up and if I'm breathing that mean, I'm still going to, this is going to be a win-win. You know, I'm winning because I've decided to not quit, right? Spiritual mentoring is always important, even now, not when things get into crisis. How are you being spiritually mentored or are you spiritually mentoring someone else? Because only as strong as the weakest link. And so we want to strengthen that weak link so that we all finish well together. And when we embrace God's sovereignty, remember God knows all things. And we must understand that if he tells us that he's going to provide and protect us, then we must know that the church should be a place of refuge and reminds us that God is in control.

38:31 We need to remind ourselves with that. Romans 12, 2, resist conformity. This has been the theme throughout the whole. Series is that do not be conformed to this world, but be transferred by the renewing of your mind. How do you renew your mind? You must take time out to renew your mind with the word of God. And as we conclude this session, this final episode, I want to leave you with this. In a world that's increasingly shaped by surveillance, economic control, and persecution for faithfulness to Christ. Building strong Christian communities become essential. The early church example of Acts 2.42-47 serves as a powerful model for how believers can live in unity, support one another, and endure persecution.

39:21 Churches and Christian organizations must be prepared to offer financial assistance, spiritual mentorship, and emotional support in times of marginalization and persecution by strengthening the body of Christ through discipleship, generosity, and accountability. Christians will be better equipped to navigate a world where their faith may result in economic exclusion. It's the responsibility of the church to get the Christians prepared. I call the Christians the sheep. Get them ready for what's to come. And as believers, let's remain faithful and resilient, knowing that God's sovereignty will sustain us through every challenge we face.

40:02 Every challenge we face. Is your Christian community discussing ways to stay resilient in a surveilled world? So these are just practical steps that you can use to prepare you for what is to come. And. It's been a great episode. It's been different. It's been a lot longer, been a lot more teaching and mentally preparing you for what's to come and even giving you examples on how to be successful in the world to come. And I put this out here for me too so I can just listen to it at my leisure to understand what should we do as we prepare for the B system.

40:45 And that about wraps up today's episode, of the Diary of Black Women podcast. I'm your host, Connie Morris. And family, remember this, money will change forms. Systems will shift. Economies will rise and fall. But God remains our source. Biblical stewardship isn't about fear of the future. It's about faithfulness in the present. When our hearts belong to God, our resources stay in the proper place. We don't serve money. We don't bow to systems. We serve, we steward what we have. trust who provides, and keep our freedom in Christ. This episode has encouraged you, helped you to reset your perspective, or gave you peace about finances at an uncertain time.

41:28 Share it with someone who needs that same reminder. And make sure you subscribe so you don't miss what's coming next. Because we're continuing to live kingdom-minded in a world that keeps trying to pull us out, pull us the other way. Until next time, stay rooted, stay discerning, and keep walking in truth. This is your host, Connie Morris, and you have been listening to The Diary of a Black Woman podcast.

42:09 Family, thank you for spending this time with me today. To every woman listening who has ever felt hidden, overlooked, or pushed aside, I want you to hear me clearly. God has not forgotten you, and neither have I. That's why I moved everything to our new home on PodPage, so you would have one place to connect with me, read the devotionals, listen to the podcast, and reach out whenever you need to. If you want to leave me a message, send an email, or simply find encouragement, it's all there at DiaryOfABlackWomanLLC.com. And if this podcast has blessed you and you want to support the work I'm doing, you'll find a Buy Me, a Ko-fi link on the site as well.

42:50 No pressure, just love and community. Before we leave, I want to speak the word that I close with every time because somebody needs this reminder today. It comes from Jeremiah 29, 11, 14. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord. Beloved, God has a plan for your life, a real one, a good one. And as long as you keep seeking him, you will find him even from the hidden places. I love you. I'm praying for you. And I'll meet you next time.