Keys to Success

This week I had several conversations about the topic of success.  What is considered success?   How do you achieve it?  What does it take to get there?  And, why are we so obsessed with attaining it?

There are some people who define success by the amount of money in their bank account.  Others define success as achieving a certain level of distinction in their field.  Still there are those, that see success as becoming a better, stronger, and smarter person than they were yesterday.  I believe these are the people who are truly able to find the key.  Those that are not in competition with others, but rather are in competition with themselves.  They are focused on bettering themselves, and helping others do the same.

As I began to study the topic of success, I found myself in the Bible in the book of Joshua.  As I began to read in chapter one, I was tickled to find God's recipe for a successful and prosperous life.  I love when that happens.  No one can tell me that the Bible is irrelevant...you don't want to have that argument with me.  (I WILL WIN!)  No matter what I am thinking about or searching out, there is always an answer in the Word.  Anyway, I digress.

The Lord was talking to Joshua in this passage.  Moses had died and now Joshua was left with the task of leading the Israelites into the promised land.  He was in a new job, filling some really big shoes, and the Lord is letting him know that he is not alone.  He gives him very specific instructions for success.

Joshua 1:5b-9

"As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.  Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.  Be strong and courageous.  Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.  Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips, meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.  Then you will be prosperous and successful.  Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

First thing is first, a reminder that you are not alone.  Just as the Lord is speaking to Joshua, He is speaking to you today.  "I will never leave you nor forsake you."  No matter what God is calling you to do, He is not sending you in alone.  He is there to lead and guide you every step of the way.  Sometimes in the middle of the some of the most difficult challenges in our lives, we feel alone.  Why is that do you think?  I can only answer this question for myself.  I have the tendency, especially in business, to take on the challenge without first asking for God's help and guidance.  Why is it we only ask for help once we have jumped into something and gotten in way over our heads?  Perhaps if we had begun the task with God's help, we wouldn't be struggling.  

Then the Lord begins to repeat himself.  "Be strong and courageous...Be strong and courageous...Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous"  I would say the next step to success would probably be to "be strong and courageous."  We cannot walk in fear.  We must have faith and believe that no matter what we go through, God will get us through it.  David had courage as he faced Goliath.  The three Hebrew children had courage as they faced the fiery furnace.  Daniel had courage as he was lowered into a den of lions.  I could go on and on.  If they can, we can.  God was with them, and he will be with you too.

The next key to success is knowledge and obedience of the Word of God.  We must spend time in our Bibles everyday.  We must memorize scripture so that it is living in us when we need it most.  Too often when life gets busy and we see "success" on the horizon, we get too busy to spend time with God.  It becomes the first thing to fall off our to do list.  This is the biggest mistake we can make.  Discouragement, fear, depression, loneliness...all symptoms of a lack of devotional time with God.  You want to know why you struggle?  When was the last time you put God first?  We all struggle with this, myself included.  I love to be busy.  I love a little stress in my life.  It keeps me going.  But without God, I can't do it.  No matter how hard I try.  

Success and prosperity will follow if we remember these things.  These are the keys.  When you try to measure your success, check these areas.  Are you spending time in the Word?  Are you stepping out strong and courageous?  Do you realize you are not alone?  Are you stronger today than you were yesterday?  If you follow God's Word you will be a success.  Perhaps not in the way the World measures success, but who cares?  If I can look myself in the mirror and know that I did my best for God today, I'm a success.  That is the only thing that really matters.  

Blessings!

Are You Ready?

The last few days no matter what book, bible, or devotional I touched, they all pointed me to one portion of scripture.  At this point, I really can't ignore what God is saying.  I wasn't consciously ignoring Him, but there are times we let life distract us from even those things that God is making painfully obvious.  And, I know I'm not alone in that.

Joel 2:28-32 (Also quoted by Paul in Acts 2:16-21)

"And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.  Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke.  The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.  And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, even among the survivors whom the Lord calls."

Joel prophesied the day of Pentecost, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon God's people.  It is available today to all those who believe.  I feel like there are days we operate as though we are on this earth alone.  He didn't leave us alone.  And I believe with my whole heart, that we are gearing up for another outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  The question I have for you is, are you ready?

On the day of Pentecost, God's people were gathered together in unity.  Since I was little I always pictured it as the greatest worship service the World had ever seen to that point, everyone fully immersed in prayer and worship.  They were not distracted by the worries of every day life.  They were 100% focused on their mighty God.  And then, in the middle of their insatiable worship, God invaded that space and changed the church forever.

Do it again Lord!  I don't know about you, but I am ready to see God pour out His Spirit upon the Earth in a powerful life altering way.  The question is, can we put away our pride and selfishness and unite as one church, one voice.  Can we stop trying to come up with excuses, busyness to distract us from time in prayer, reading of the Word, and worship?  Can we stop worrying about the things that we can't control and begin putting our faith in a God who loves us and wants what is best for us?

God loves you and has amazing plans for your life.  Stop trying to control everything and put God back into the driver's seat.  I have to admit that this is my biggest fault.  I try to control my life, as if that were even possible, instead of just following God where He leads me.  To look at my life, things don't make a lot of sense.  The trajectory of my life seems out of whack, but this is due large in part to my desperate need to continually grab the steering wheel.  Does that mean God can't use me?  On the contrary, He is using me right now.  I don't want others to make the same mistakes.  Allow God to lead you and open the right doors.  You don't have to go out and knock them down.  Let go and Let God be in control.

As I have said to others many times before, "What God placed in you at birth was enough to change the World."  The question is are you going to allow Him to use you or are you going to continue to walk your own way?  I surrender all.  I am letting go of my own agenda, and I am going to let God direct me.  I am going to make sure that everyday I give God my time, my ear, and my heart so that He can use me.  I want God to give me visions and dreams.  I want to see people miraculously healed and financial burdens miraculously lifted.  I am making a passionate pursuit of God my number one priority.

Are you ready?  Can you let go of your own agenda and allow God to guide you?  Are you prepared to be used by God in ways you never imagined?  I believe, with all my heart, that when the Church does this, the World will see an outpouring of the Holy Spirit that they could have only imagined on the day of Pentecost.

Please pray for me, and I will be praying over you!

Blessings!