You can be wise, discerning and have a clever plan, but if the Lord does not bless your efforts you will not be successful. On the other hand you can be an inexperienced leader, with an unproven plan and God can choose to bless you with success. It is His sovereign choice to determine who is successful and who is not. God’s will works. Is the Lord blessing your efforts? If not, what needs to change in your motives, beliefs and behavior?
I struggle with this, because I can set an objective and the goals to get there, but I don’t always see God bless my work with success. Why? One reason is I become infatuated with the plan, and lose my intimacy with the Almighty. Prayer drifts into a shallow ritual, instead of deep dependency on my Lord. He doesn’t need my skills, gifts and sacrifice. What He needs is my surrender, submission and obedience. I am learning in prayer to define success, as God defines success.
How does your Savior Jesus define success? This is the starting point in procuring His blessing. “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked… But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:1a-2). God’s blessing comes from embracing godly counsel and from learning the law of the Lord. Listen to those whose success God blessed, and search His Word daily for direction.
Lastly, God blesses those who persevere, “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12). Do not give up; stay focused on faith in Him. If He is blessing you, thank Him. If He is not blessing you, ask how you and your business and home can become bless-able. Lord how do I need to change, so I am in a position to be blessed by you? How can I get aligned with your pre-ordained plan for success? “If it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God” (Acts 5:39, NASB).
Related Readings: Job 5:17; Psalm 40:4; Jeremiah 17:7; Acts 4:27-28
Source: Seeking Daily the Heart of God Boyd Bailey
++++++++++++++++
My thoughts!
This is such a big thing to chew on 7:30am, but this is what really stood out to me:
- You can be wise, discerning and have a clever plan, but if the Lord does not bless your efforts you will not be successful.
- “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12)
No comments:
Post a Comment