Many Christians today labor under a misunderstanding that the
Bible teaches that we cannot be successful and still be faithful
to God. I believe that this is largely a misunderstanding of the
meaning of success.
I recently finished reading "Success God's Way: Achieving True
Contentment and Purpose" by Charles Stanley. It is a must-read
book for every Christian who feels that God must want something
more for his or her life.
In this book, Stanley clarifies the difference between the
world's definition of success and God's definition of success.
"Success is the continuing achievement of becoming the person
God wants you to be and accomplishing the goals God has helped
you set." -Charles F. Stanley
When success is viewed in this manner, it becomes clear that God
wants all of His children to become successful. So why, then,
are so many Christians struggling, feeling inadequate, or
engaging in self-defeating behaviors?
WHERE IS YOUR FOCUS?
The answer to the struggle that you may face as you pursue
success is simple: change your focus.
Focus is crucial. Whatever you focus on expands. Energy and
resources flow where you are focusing. Choosing to focus on the
wrong things or failure to focus at all will block God's ability
to equip you for success.
Here are some common problems that Christians encounter in
pursuing success. Do any of them apply to you?
Orphan Short-Term Goals: Many Christians fall into the habit of
setting only short-term goals. Although there is a payoff for
quick achievement of a goal, there is no lasting satisfaction.
It is only when a short-term goal is connected to God's purpose
for your life, or your lifetime goals, that lasting satisfaction
is found. If your short-term goals don't connect to your overall
purpose, they are To Do list items rather than goals. Ask God to
show you the distinction each day as you plan for the next day's
work.
Failure to Write Down Long-Term and Lifetime Goals: You will not
fully commit to a goal if you don't take the time and effort to
write it down on paper. In fact, if you haven't written it down,
it's very likely that your goal isn't clear. In order for you to
persevere toward achieving your goals, you must have absolute
clarity on what you are setting out to do. Writing the goal
down, keeping it in front of you every day in prayer and
meditation, and continually refining it keeps you fully
committed to the goal. Ask God to give you a clear vision of the
goals He helps you set for your life.
Poor Stewardship: If God has given you the goal, He expects you
to be a good steward of your time and resources in working
towards that goal. Many Christians fall prey to the worldly
habit of procrastination, wasting time on worldly pursuits. Just
as you do with your finances, budget some time for leisure
activities and some time towards working on your goal. When you
are working on your goal, do not procrastinate or allow yourself
to become distracted by other concerns. Constantly ask God to
strengthen your focus and determination for the task you are
working on.
Lack of faith: This is, perhaps, the root of all the other
problems I've written about so far. If you doubt that God wants
you to be successful; if you don't believe that you have any
special, God-given gifts; if you think that success is for other
people who have more or know more than you do, then you lack
faith in God and His promises. The very first thing you need to
do is confess your sin and ask God to strengthen your faith in
Him.
After you have done that, spend some time every day reading the
Bible. There you will find many stories of successful people,
many of whom were not the world's models for success. David was
the youngest son, a shepherd, who was never expected to amount
to much, yet God anointed him King of Israel. (1 Samuel 16)
David went through many trying times before he reached that
goal, but he never doubted.
There is also the story of Rahab, the prostitute who saved God's
men through her faith. What an unlikely success story! Because
of her faithfulness, her entire family was saved when Jericho
fell. (Joshua 2 and 6)
If God can elevate a lowly shepherd to kingship and use a
prostitute to win a critical battle, He can use you. There is
only one condition: you must be willing. Stop doubting and start
believing. God has a plan for your success. It is waiting for
you. Are you ready?
About the Author:
Liz Shaw is a Christian Life Coach who specializes in helping
people develop a successful and fulfilling lifestyle. Sign up
for her inspirational ezine, Wings To Soar, at
http://www.wingstosoaroverstorm.com/
God Has a Plan for Your Success
