EXPERIENCING SUCCESS

GOD’S WAY

EXPERIENCING SUCCESS

GOD’S WAY

CHARLES

STANLEY

Copyright © 2000 by Charles Stanley

All rights reserved. Written permission must be secured from the publisher to use or reproduce any part of this book, except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles.

Published in Nashville,Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from THE NEW KING JAMES VERSION. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers.

Scriptures noted NASB are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, Copyright © The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission.

ISBN 0-7852-7292-5

Printed in the United States of America

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 QPK 05 04 03 02 01 00

CONTENTS

Introduction: God Wants You to Experience Success!

1. Defining Success—God’s Way

2. God’s Commitment to Your Success

3. Setting Godly Goals

4. God’s Personal Success Pattern for You

5. Pursuing God’s Goals

6. Money and Success

7. Hurdling the Roadblocks to Success

8. Successful Attitudes and Ideas

9. A Successful Use of Time

10. Persisting Until You Succeed

Conclusion: Well-Ordered Steps

INTRODUCTION

GOD WANTS YOU

TO EXPERIENCE

SUCCESS!

Some people are just born to be successful.”

“A Christian can’t really be a successful person—too many worldly things are required if a person is going to achieve major success.”

“God is interested in many things, but my success isn’t one of them.”

“I’m not sure I can count on God to help me succeed in reaching my goals.”

If you hold any of these attitudes, I want to share this good news with you. God does desire for you to be successful. He is deeply committed to your success, if you are willing to pursue success His way and to adopt His definition of success. And yes, Christians can be successful—including you.

Success does not belong only to those who are born with a certain degree of privilege or who achieve a basic level of education or social acceptance. Neither is success automatically to be associated with lying, cheating, dishonesty, or other actions that are apart from God’s commandments for Christian living.

Rather, success is God’s plan for Christians. Furthermore, most of the concepts the world calls “principles for success” are actually ones based upon God’s Word.

God’s Definition of Success

At the very outset of this study guide, I believe it is important for us to define success from God’s perspective and to compare that definition with the world’s definition.

From the world’s perspective, success is subject to a great deal of individual interpretation. A football coach might define success as winning a national championship. A college student might define success as earning a degree . . . a salesman, as being number one in the company . . . a parent, as raising godly children.

Definitions come and go, depending on whom you ask and when you ask. Generally speaking, many people define success as “setting a goal and accomplishing it.”

That definition, however, is very limited. A person might set an evil goal or a good goal. The nature of the goals we set is a key factor in success, and especially so, if we are dealing with God’s view of success.

As Christians, our goals must not be defined in terms of “my will,” but rather our goals must be rooted in what we know to be “God’s will.” Our human approach tends to say: “Here’s what I want to do and what I want to accomplish.” A Christian’s approach must be: “Here is what I believe God wants me to be and to do, and here’s how I can become that type of person and accomplish those tasks.” The Christian faces the challenge of being a godly person, then obeying God in His directives.

Our life as Christians is not to be wrapped up in what we earn or own. Life for the Christian is wrapped up in who we are in Christ Jesus.

The definition of success on which this study guide is based is this:

Success is to continue desiring to be the person God has called me to be and to achieve those goals that God has helped me to set.

Can an ungodly person be genuinely successful according to this definition? No. An ungodly person might amass a certain degree of material wealth, achieve a certain degree of fame, gain a certain number of degrees or awards, attain a certain level of social privilege or status, or acquire a certain degree of political or social power, but the ungodly person cannot be truly successful in his life because he does not desire to be the person God has called him to be. He is achieving his goals, not God’s goals. He is defining his life according to his own lusts, desires, and purposes rather than seeking to line up his life with God’s desires, plans, and purposes.

The world tends to sum up success as fame and fortune. God sums up success in terms of relationship, character, and obedience. He desires for us to succeed first and foremost in our relationship with Him, then in our relationships with others, and then in our vocations and ministries. The godly person who is pursuing God’s plan and purposes for his life certainly may experience wealth, prominence, and status as side benefits, but these are not to be the Christian’s primary goals and objectives.

The True Rewards of God-Based Success

The true rewards associated with God’s success are the intangibles that all people want. The self-focused person may think he desires fame and fortune. But in the end, every person has as his or her deepest desire inner peace, joy, contentment, health and wholeness (spirit, mind, and body), feelings of spiritual security, the hope of eternal life, family love, and a living relationship with God. On more than one occasion, I have heard a wealthy or famous person who is considered to be successful by others say, “I’d trade it all for a little tranquility and a secure hope that I know what is going to happen to me after I die.” I have heard so-called successful people say, “I’d trade everything I have acquired and earned for an hour of pure love, an hour without pain, or an hour of knowing that I have done what God created me to do.”

Those who limit their pursuit in life only to fame and fortune wind up frustrated, disappointed, and, in the end, with a gaping void in their lives that they cannot fill. Those who choose first to pursue the life for which God designed them and to which God calls them are those who experience the real “richness” of life and the hope of everlasting life.

The Most Important Question You Can Ask

The most important question you can ask about your success is this: “What is it that the Lord wants me to be and to do today?”

That is not only a question to ask once, but a question to ask every day. Success, according to our definition above, is an ongoing pursuit. It is establishing and accomplishing and forever seeking to establish and accomplish the God-given goals the Lord sets for our lives. It is refusing to become discouraged, disheartened, or dissuaded from God’s goals. It is a continuing desire to be the person God calls us to be and to achieve the goals that God helps us to set.

Just as no person can ever reach the horizon, so no person can ever truly achieve success. Success is not a quantity that can be measured or a concept that can be fully defined. Success is a concept embedded in a process. Our understanding of success grows as we mature in Christ. It is something that continually lies ahead of us and continually develops within us.

The Holy Spirit works in us in a unique way. He allows us to experience great joy and satisfaction in the present moment of our lives, and at the same time, He calls us to yet greater conformity to Christ Jesus, to greater desires for ministry, and to greater tasks in the establishing of God’s purposes on the earth.

The genuine Christian always has a hunger in his heart to be more like Christ, to draw nearer to the heart of God, and to know more about the truth God presents in His Word. A genuine Christian always has a thirst to experience more of the goodness of God, to serve Him with greater consistency and effectiveness, and to bear more and more eternal fruit.

The quest to satisfy that hunger and thirst is the quest of success. It is a lifelong quest. It is also the most satisfying way a person might ever live.

What Is Your Desire Today?

Genuine success—from God’s point of view—is rooted in what God sets as the goals for our lives. It is rooted in the relationship God desires to have with us. It begins within us the moment we say to the Lord, “It’s not what I want to be that matters—it’s who You want me to be. It’s not what I want to do that counts—it’s what You want me to do that is my goal.” What are your desires today regarding your own success? What are your answers to these three key questions:

1. Do you truly desire to be a success from God’s point of view?

2. Do you desire to be all that God calls you to be in Christ Jesus?

3. Do you desire to do all that the Lord directs you to do on a day-to-day basis?

ONE

DEFINING

SUCCESS—

GOD’S WAY

Countless books on success are on the market today. I’ve probably read two or three bookshelves worth of such books. Some of the authors have included God in their discussion of success, and a few have even put God at the center of a successful life. One thing I discovered in reading these books, however, is that without exception, every genuine success principle they describe can be found in the Bible. The principles of genuine success are not foreign to a godly life— rather, they are embedded in a godly life.

The world may think it has discovered this idea or that idea about success, but in truth, God is the author of all success and the Bible is the foremost “success book” you can ever read.

One of the key words that the Bible uses to describe success is prosperity. To prosper in all you do is to succeed in all you do. To be prosperous is to be successful. Any time we read in the Bible about the Lord prospering His people, we can be assured that the Lord is helping His people to succeed in all ways.

Another key concept related to Bible prosperity is whole-person prosperity. We read in 3 John 2, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”To prosper in all things is to prosper materially, socially, naturally, financially, materially, and also to prosper emotionally, spiritually, and in every creative endeavor.

God desires for the success principles of His Word to touch every aspect of your life—your spiritual walk, finances, vocation, service to the Lord, health, and relationships with family members and friends.

A third Bible concept about success that is important to recognize as you begin this study is this:We are told that we, as the Lord’s followers, will prosper outwardly as our souls prosper. Inner prosperity and success and wholeness lead to outer prosperity, success, and wholeness.

Many people approach success from the outside in. They look at the external trappings of success and conclude that a person surely must be experiencing inner peace, joy, hope, love, and faith. Not so. Genuine success begins on the inside and works its way out.

How many of us truly want to prosper to the degree that our souls are prospering? I suspect very few. Most people are seeking to prosper in their finances and material lives with very little regard to their souls prospering. The challenge of the Bible is to place greater emphasis on the inner state of our prosperity than on the outer. The challenge is to grow spiritually, and as we do, the outer manifestations of prosperity will appear in the form of fruitfulness and blessing.

Furthermore, the degree to which we prosper spiritually will be in direct proportion to the degree we will prosper materially, in our work, and in our relationships.

As you study God’s principles for prosperity and success, I encourage you to go again and again to your Bible and to underline phrases, highlight words or verses, and make notes in the margins of your Bible to record the specific ways God speaks to you. My Bible is well-marked with dates, notes, and insights. It is a “living reference” for me regarding God’s plans and purposes for my success in life.

God’s truth is for all people at all times, but the application of God’s truth to your life is always personal and direct. Take note of the specific ways in which God admonishes, encourages, or directs you. The principles of success in God’s Word do not change. But the application of those principles is always highly individualized under the direction of the Holy Spirit. Be aware as you read and study God’s Word that His Word is eternal, but also timely . . . universal, but also personal . . . absolute truth, but also practical in providing day-to-day advice as you face the unique situations and circumstances of your life.

For Personal or Group Study

This book can be used for small-group study or for personal study. If you are using this book for a personal Bible study, you will find places from time to time in which to note your insights or to respond to questions that are asked. If you are using the book for a small-group study, you also may use these questions and insight portions for group discussion.

At various times you will be asked to respond to the material in one of these ways:

• What new insights have you gained?

• Have you ever had a similar experience?

• How do you feel about the material presented?

• In what way do you feel challenged to respond or to act?

Insights

An insight is an “aha” moment regarding the meaning and application of the Bible. An insight is more than a mere fact or idea. It is seeing something as if it is new to you.

Most of us have had the experience of reading a passage of the Bible—perhaps dozens of times—and then suddenly saying one day, “I never saw that before!” It may be a particular word or phrase that seems to leap from the page with added meaning, giving a new understanding to a particular story or teaching. That is a spiritual insight.

Your insights are likely to be highly individualized and are often related to your personal life. They come as you relate what you are currently experiencing or encountering to the light of God’s Word. At other times, an insight may help you pull together your random reflections about a relationship, experience, or incident. At still other times, an insight may provide a cohesive answer to a question with which you have been struggling—you may have new understanding about what to do, how to think, or how to believe.

Ask the Lord to speak to you personally every time you open your Bible to read and study it. I believe He will be faithful in answering your prayer.

As you experience insights, make notes about them. Write them in the margins of your Bible or in a separate journal. I suggest this for two reasons: (1) The more you record insights, the more you are likely to have insights. It seems the more people look and listen for God to speak to them, the more He does! (2) In times of frustration, discouragement, doubt, or struggle, you will find it helpful to look back through your Bible or journal to see what the Lord has revealed to you in the past as His specific word to you. Your faith will grow. Your understanding will deepen. And I believe you will also experience the personal presence of God in a renewed way.

As you record your insights, make sure you are recording your personal response or insight, not just summarizing what someone else or your small group as a whole may have concluded. For an insight to be valid, it must be your insight.

Experience

We each come to God’s Word from a unique background. Nobody else has our particular set of experiences, relationships, or contexts for learning. We each come to God’s Word with a bank of ideas, opinions, and emotions. Therefore, we each have a unique perspective on what we read in the Bible.

Differing levels of experience may create problems in group Bible studies, although this is not necessarily so. Those who have gone to church all their lives or who have heard a great deal of teaching about God’s principles for success may come to a study on success from a different perspective than a new believer who is encountering the Bible’s success principles for the first time. Make sure that you acknowledge and accept different levels of experience in your group. No person should be made to feel left out.

Recognize, too, that what we hold in common in any group setting are “life experiences.”We each can point to times in our lives in which we have found the Bible to be applicable to us— perhaps in a convicting or challenging way, perhaps in an encouraging or comforting way. We have had experiences that caused us to conclude, “Here’s how the truth of that passage manifested itself in my life.”

Of course, our experiences do not make the Bible true. The Bible is truth, period. But our unique experiences do reveal how God’s truth can be applied in special, personal ways. Our experiences point out God’s awesome, unending creativity in dealing with each person individually and lovingly. We learn through sharing with others how God’s Word can be applied to very practical needs, questions, and situations.

Sharing experiences is significant for spiritual growth. The person who shares an experience grows in his ability to give testimony to God’s goodness. The person who hears another person share an experience grows in empathy and in understanding. If you are doing this study on your own, find someone with whom you can share your faith experiences. In return, be open to hearing about what the Lord has done in his or her life.

Emotional Response

Just as we each come to God’s Word with a unique set of life experiences, so we come to the Bible with our own set of emotional responses. What causes one person to feel encouragement or joy may cause another person to feel confusion, frustration, or conviction.

In dealing with the topic of success, one person may be very eager to experience success and approach success with the attitude, “I want all God has for me!” Another person may approach success with great caution, reserve, and even doubt, saying, “I’m not all that sure a Christian should be successful.” Yet a third person may say, “Well, I’m all for success . . . but too much of it is probably not good for a Christian.” Can enthusiasm for success, doubt about success, and caution regarding success coexist as responses in the same group? Yes—especially if you recognize that these are essentially emotional responses toward the topic of success more than they are rational, objective conclusions that are directly drawn from God’s Word. The underlying foundation for each of these responses is related to emotions a person feels regarding God’s love, grace, mercy, judgment, and commandments.

Allow each person in your group to express his or her emotional response without judgment. No one emotional response is “right.” Count every emotional expression as valuable, to both the hearers and the speaker.

Face your own emotions honestly. Learn to share your emotional responses with others. It may take courage for you to express an emotional response—if so, be courageous!

Ask yourself such questions as these:

• How do you feel when an ungodly person seems to be successful in the material and financial world, while a godly person seems to struggle materially or financially?

• How do you feel when you work hard and yet are not “rewarded” externally for your efforts?

• How do you feel when you read God’s promises about prosperity?

• How do you feel when others tell you to be “patient” regarding success?

• How do you feel when a person tells you that a Christian can never be successful?

A lack of prosperity can cause a person to feel discouraged, fearful, anxious, and frustrated. Total provision and prosperity, on the other hand, can cause a person to feel elated, joyful, energetic, creative, hopeful, satisfied, and fulfilled. As a person moves from poverty to prosperity, issues associated with pride, greed, and envy may emerge. Own up to these emotions! Explore them. Discover God’s truth related to them.

Guard yourselves continually against a tendency to feel guilty about a lack of prosperity, or to feel smug about ways in which you have experienced prosperity.

Emotional responses do not give validity to the Scriptures. Nor should you trust emotions as a measuring device for your faith. Your faith must be based on what God says, not on how you feel. The value of recognizing emotional responses is that they provide a starting place for growth.

When we acknowledge an emotional response, we are in a much better position to explore the reasons underlying that emotional response. As we explore God’s Word about our emotional response, and then seek God’s forgiveness, remedy, or approval of our emotional response, we become more conformed to Christ. We grow spiritually. And spiritual growth should be the desired outcome for any Bible study!

In most small-group settings, I have found that it is much more beneficial for people to express emotions rather than opinions. Opinions tend to divide and to alienate. The sharing of emotional responses tends to unite and create empathy within a group. When we are vulnerable in sharing our feelings with one another, we open ourselves up to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. A sense of community develops, and we understand more clearly what it means to be “one in the Spirit.” It is through the sharing of joys and sorrows, assurances and doubts, hopes and fears, that we mature as individuals and as churches.

Challenges

Our experiences and emotional responses are unique. So, too, are the challenges we experience as the result of studying God’s Word. As we read and study the Bible on any topic, we inevitably come to a point of conviction. God seems to be speaking directly to us about something He desires for us to change, to do, or to strengthen.

God’s Word may challenge you to make a fresh start in your life, to stand firm or continue steadfastly in the direction you are going, or to alter your thinking on a particular topic. These moments of conviction can be very strong. They may occur once or repeatedly, but they are virtually impossible to escape or ignore completely.

The more practical the subject matter, the stronger the conviction seems to be. Perhaps that is because God’s message and meaning are so clear that there is little room to justify, explain away, or misinterpret what God is saying to you.

I am saying this to alert you to the fact that as you study God’s Word regarding success and prosperity, you are likely to feel challenged or convicted in rather powerful ways. Your first impulse may be to close your Bible, close this book, and walk away—feeling either elated or deflated! Don’t give in to that impulse. Stay with your study and get the whole of God’s message.

Many people seem to pick out two or three verses on success and call them their own. They often isolate these verses from the context of the Scriptures as a whole, and in that, they make a serious error. God’s Word is to be taken as a whole. Concepts build upon concepts. Truths reinforce truths. What we are aiming at in this Bible study is a look at the “whole” of God’s message on success. While we cannot cover every verse in the Bible on this subject matter, we are aiming at an understanding of God’s teaching as a whole.

I believe a person can gain a great deal by writing down specific ways in which he is feeling stretched, molded, called, or convicted by God. When we identify clearly and succinctly what God wants us to do and why, we are in a much better position to take action that is responsible, measured, and deliberate. We are to respond to God’s Word, not merely react to it.

God desires us to get into His Word so that His Word can get into us . . . and in turn, so that we might apply His Word to our lives. We are to live out God’s Word in all we say and do, and in the process, be witnesses to God’s love, mercy, and help. We are to be “living letters” about God’s plan for success and prosperity. It is not enough for us to note our insights, recall our past experiences, share our emotions, or write down the ways in which we feel challenged. We must actually do what God calls us to do. We must obey God’s Word and be doers of it (see James 1:22).

Specifically, it isn’t enough for you to become savvy about success. God calls you to be successful from the inside out.

Keep the Bible Central

I encourage you to keep the Bible at the center of your study. Don’t stray into what this expert or that success-guru has to say. A small-group study on success too easily can result in a financial-advice session. Stay focused on God’s Word. Let God use His Word to speak directly to each heart.

If you are doing a personal Bible study, you also must be diligent in staying focused on God’s Word. Keep in mind always that growing into the fullness of the stature of Christ Jesus is the goal. After all, Jesus was the most successful person who ever lived on this earth!

Prayer

I also encourage you to begin and end your Bible study sessions in prayer. Ask God to give you spiritual eyes to see what He wants you to see and spiritual ears to hear what He wants you to hear. Ask Him to give you new insights, to recall to your memory the experiences that are most helpful to your growth, and to help you identify your emotions clearly. Be bold in asking the Lord to reveal to you what He desires for you to do. Be sensitive to the next step you should take as you walk out His success plan for your life.

As you conclude a time of study, ask the Lord to seal to your heart and mind what you have learned so that you will never forget it. Ask Him to transform you more into the likeness of Christ Jesus every day. Ask Him to help you become truly successful in His eyes.

The Depth of God’s Word

Make success an ongoing study in your life. After ten lessons on this topic, you will have only begun to explore all that God desires to teach you on this topic. You’ll find evidence and examples related to prosperity in virtually every story in the Bible. Continue to grow and to apply what the Lord has revealed to you about success. As you receive blessing from the Lord, seek out practical and specific ways in which you might be a greater blessing to those around you.

• What questions do you presently have regarding success and God’s desire for you to be successful? Is there something specific you hope to gain from this study?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

• In what areas do you feel you are lacking or are failing to experience prosperity and success?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

• How do you feel about success? How do you feel when you hear someone say to you,“God wants you to be more successful”?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

• Do you truly desire to be successful from God’s perspective?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

TWO

GOD’S

COMMITMENT TO

YOUR SUCCESS

God not only desires your success, but He is committed to helping His people become successful. He desires for His people to be blessed and to experience whole-person prosperity.

Nehemiah was a man in the Bible who believed and claimed God’s success for himself. When he heard news that the walls and gates of Jerusalem lay in ruins, he began to fast and pray about the situation. The king noticed his sorrow, and upon hearing the reason for Nehemiah’s sadness, the king authorized Nehemiah to go to Jerusalem and make repairs to the city.

When Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, he immediately faced opposition from those who did not want him to succeed in the task before him. He responded to those who opposed him by saying:

The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no heritage or right or memorial in Jerusalem. (Neh. 2:20)

• Are you firmly convinced today that God desires for you to prosper?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

• Are there specific reasons why you believe God will not cause you to prosper? Are these reasons related to sin or to the pursuit of a goal that is contrary to God’s commandments? Are these reasons related to your feelings of failure, your past experience with failure, or your belief that only some of God’s children should prosper?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

Then Peter opened his

________________________

mouth and said: “In truth I

________________________

perceive that God shows no

________________________

partiality. But in every nation

________________________

whoever fears Him and works

________________________

righteousness is accepted by

________________________

Him.” (Acts 10:34–35)

________________________

Beloved, I pray that you may

________________________

prosper in all things and be

________________________

in health, just as your soul

________________________

prospers. (3 John 2)

________________________

Let them shout

________________________

for joy and be glad,

________________________

Who favor my righteous cause;

________________________

And let them say continually,

________________________

“Let the LORD be magnified,

________________________

Who has pleasure in the

________________________

prosperity of

________________________

His servant.” (Ps. 35:27)

________________________

Four Basic Aspects of God’s Commitment to Your Success

The Bible presents four basic concepts that are important for you to grasp if you are to understand God’s commitment to your success.

1. God desires for you to live successfully regardless of your outer circumstances. Perhaps no person in the Bible experienced more difficult circumstances in his life—for his entire life— than Daniel. Daniel was taken captive by the Babylonians when he was a young man. He was forced to live in an alien culture the rest of his life and to serve three heathen kings— Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus, and Darius. On several occasions, Daniel had to stand in opposition to the king’s magicians. On one occasion, his opposition resulted in his facing a den of lions. Yet we read in Daniel 6:28, “So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.” Daniel lived well and lived successfully in the midst of his circumstances.We are called to do the same.

Too often we look at our outward circumstances and we conclude, “God must not want to prosper me.”We must never look to outward circumstances, including our past failures, and use them as a reason to doubt God’s desire to prosper us. True prosperity begins in the heart and soul of a person. True prosperity is always a possibility for us because change and spiritual growth are always possible for the Christian.

2. Your success is directly related to your faith. For a person to be successful, a person must first believe he or she can be successful. The real question for the Christian is, “Believe in what? Have faith in whom?”When we identify the object of our faith, we truly know the foundation for our success. If you are putting your faith in God to help you define and become a success, then your foundation is as strong as He is!

• Do you BELIEVE today that God WILL lead you to greater success in your life?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

Without faith it is impossible to

________________________

please Him, for he who comes to

________________________

God must believe that He is, and

________________________

that He is a rewarder of those who

________________________

diligently seek Him. (Heb. 11:6)

________________________

If any of you lacks wisdom [or

________________________

any other aspect of whole-person

________________________

success], let him ask of God,

________________________

who gives to all liberally and

________________________

without reproach, and it will be

________________________

given to him. But let him ask in

________________________

faith, with no doubting, for he

________________________

who doubts is like a wave of the

________________________

sea driven and tossed by the

________________________

wind. For let not that man

________________________

suppose that he will receive

________________________

anything from the Lord; he is a

________________________

double-minded man, unstable

________________________

in all his ways. (James 1:5–8)

________________________

3. God’s commitment to our success is related to our courage and to our obedience in keeping His commandments. As Joshua prepared to lead the Israelites across the Jordan River to claim the Promised Land, God spoke these words to him:

Be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. (Josh. 1:7–9)

The issue for Christians is not whether God is committed to their success, but, rather, whether we are committed to keeping God’s commandments, having courage, using our faith, and choosing to believe for success regardless of the outer circumstances of our lives.

• What new insights do you have into Joshua 1:7–9?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

• Can you recall experiences in your life when your failing to obey God’s commandments, failing to use your faith, or failing to have courage led to a lack of success?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

4. The Bible presents success as a process, not a destination. Living successfully does not mean that you are going to live on the top of the mountain with a big grin on your face and a blue ribbon attached to your lapel every moment of every day of your life. High points may come. They may be frequent at times and virtually nonexistent at other times.

Success is to be found in the way in which we live out our lives day in and day out. It is to be found as we pursue what God calls us to be and to do. Success is not the end of a process. It is how we undertake the process called life.

• How do you feel about these principles related to your success? __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________

Four Reasons We Can Know God Desires Success for Us

God gives us abundant evidence in His Word that He desires for us to be successful. We see that evidence in at least four areas:

1. Each of us has a built-in desire for success. Every baby comes into this world goal-oriented. He has a built-in desire to get his needs met and to take control of his world. He has a desire to learn to communicate and to become mobile—to scoot, to crawl, to walk.

God has built a desire for success into us so we will act. This drive in us can motivate us toward the pursuit of the things of God or the things of our own flesh (the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—see 1 John 2:16). It is up to us how we will choose to act on the built-in desire God gives us toward success, satisfaction, and fulfillment.

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

As he thinks in his heart, so is

________________________

he. (Prov. 23:7)

________________________

Hear, my son, and be wise;

________________________

And guide your heart in the way.

________________________

(Prov. 23:19)

________________________

Depart from evil and do good;

________________________

Seek peace and pursue it.

________________________

(Ps. 34:14)

________________________

2. God has equipped you for success. God has given you one or more natural talents and abilities, as well as one or more spiritual gifts. These gifts have been grafted into your unique personality for one reason—so that you might use these gifts to the best of your ability and produce quality work that has a potential for both earthly and eternal reward. It is up to each of us to discover our gifts and then to develop them to the best of our ability. That takes practice and discipline—both of which God provides to us when we ask.

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

Now may He who supplies seed

________________________

to the sower, and bread for food,

________________________

supply and multiply the seed

________________________

you have sown and increase the

________________________

fruits of your righteousness.

________________________

(2 Cor. 9:10)

________________________

They glorify God for the

________________________

obedience of your confession

________________________

to the gospel of Christ, and for

________________________

your liberal sharing with them

________________________

and all men . . . the exceeding

________________________

grace of God in you. Thanks

________________________

be to God for His indescribable

________________________

gift! (2 Cor. 9:13–15)

________________________

Every good gift and every

________________________

perfect gift is from above, and

________________________

comes down from the Father of

________________________

lights. ( James 1:17)

________________________

3. The Lord has given us His Holy Spirit to help us succeed. The Holy Spirit has been given to every believer to

• perfect our gifts,

• give strength to us in our areas of weakness, and

• to give us daily guidance or “counsel” into the ways in which we should go, including the decisions we should make, the choices we should make, and the opportunities we should pursue.

The Holy Spirit works within us to renew our strength, sharpen our senses, and help us get the most amount of work done in the most efficient manner.

It is the Holy Spirit who causes the use of our gifts to be effective in helping or blessing others. The Holy Spirit also directs us toward those who need what we have been equipped to give. When we yield ourselves and our gifts to the Holy Spirit, it is the Holy Spirit who comforts us and reassures us that all things are working together for our good from God’s perspective (Rom. 8:28).

The Holy Spirit is God’s gift to us to enable our success.

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

Read Daniel 3 and focus

________________________

particularly on this verse:

________________________

Our God whom we serve is

________________________

able. (Dan. 3:17)

________________________

[ Jesus said,] “When He, the

________________________

Spirit of truth, has come, He

________________________

will guide you into all truth.”

________________________

( John 16:13)

________________________

Likewise the Spirit also helps

________________________

in our weaknesses. (Rom. 8:26)

________________________

He who is in you is greater

________________________

than he who is in the world.

________________________

(1 John 4:4)

________________________

Never dismiss or diminish the value of what the Lord has given you for your success.

We must refuse to discount the gifts we have been given, which is what we do when we say things such as

• “My race is against me.”

• “I don’t have enough formal education.”

• “I was born at the wrong time on the wrong side of the tracks.”

• “I’m too old.”

• “I’ve got circumstances that will forever keep me from being successful.”

God has uniquely gifted you to be a success in a unique calling He has for your life. No excuse is justified in His presence. In whatever area you may feel weak or inadequate, His presence and power are more than sufficient!

• Have you been using excuses for your lack of success? Are you willing to admit that the Holy Spirit in you is greater than any weakness or inhibiting factor you may have in your life?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

4. God has given you the power of prayer so you might use it to further your success. Every one of us has the privilege of bowing before God every morning of our lives and saying, “Lord, I need Your help. I need Your guidance. I need Your strength and wisdom.” The Lord delights in our prayers that request His help. He delights in our prayers that are expressions of our faith in Him to help us succeed at what He calls us to be and to do. Prayer is a powerful tool that God intends for you to use in becoming all that He desires for you to be.

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

The effective, fervent prayer of

________________________

a righteous man avails much.

________________________

Elijah was a man with a nature

________________________

like ours, and he prayed

________________________

earnestly that it would not rain;

________________________

and it did not rain on the land

________________________

for three years and six months.

________________________

And he prayed again, and the

________________________

heaven gave rain, and the earth

________________________

produced its fruit.

________________________

(James 5:16–18)

________________________

Whatever things you ask in

________________________

prayer, believing, you will receive.

________________________

(Matt. 21:22)

________________________

You do not have because you do

________________________

not ask. (James 4:2)

________________________

[Jesus said,] “Whatever you ask

________________________

the Father in My name He will

________________________

give you . . . Ask, and you will

________________________

receive, that your joy may be full.”

________________________

(John 16:23–24)

________________________

What wonderful gifts God has given to us! To each person, He has given a desire to succeed—in other words, He has given us the motivation we need to pursue success. He has given us talents and abilities—when we develop them and use them for His purposes, we can be assured of success. He has given us the Holy Spirit to strengthen us in our areas of weakness and to give us daily counsel into the right choices and decisions we should make in order to become successful. And He has given us the privilege of prayer so that we might activate our faith and use it to bring about the character and courage He desires for us to have.

God not only wants us to know how to be successful in theory. He has given us all we need to be successful in reality.

• What new insights do you have into God’s desire for you to be successful?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

• How do you feel about God’s commitment to your success?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

THREE

SETTING GODLY

GOALS

One of the most important questions you can ever ask is, “What goals does God desire for me to set and to achieve, and in the process, to be a success in His eyes?” Setting God’s goals for your life is a critical step toward being a success in God’s eyes.

One of the most goal-oriented people in the Bible is the apostle Paul. In writing to the Philippians, Paul said,

But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him . . . that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 3:7–14)

Paul was not a man who wasted time or energy. He was extremely focused in his life, and he had an overwhelming sense of purpose and direction. He clearly stated his life goals to the Philippians:

• to know Christ Jesus as intimately as possible,

• to experience the righteousness of Christ in his own life, and

• to be conformed to Christ in every way.

We know from the descriptions of Paul’s ministry in the book of Acts that he also had another goal: to reach as many people as possible with the message of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection, and to do so with a sense of urgency.

• What new insights do you have into the above passage from Philippians 3?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

Paul made no claim that he had achieved his life goals. Rather, he stated that he was continuing to press toward the goal of the prize of the “upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” To press, in this case, means “to diligently follow after.” Paul was zealous in following Christ.

• In your life, have you identified your main life goal? Is it a desire to be fully conformed to Christ Jesus?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

What Are Godly Goals?

A goal is an aim, a purpose, a sense of direction toward which a person moves all of his energies, desires, and efforts. Goals are the “targets” toward which we point our lives.

A goal involves an organized, planned “stretching” of your life. If you have already achieved something, it is no longer a goal—it is an accomplishment. A goal is a statement of intention, aimed at the future. It is a statement of how you desire to grow, develop, mature, or change in a positive, specific, and achievable way.

Every Christian is called to set “knowing and serving Christ” as his primary life goal. All other goals are to be placed under this broad umbrella goal.

Goals for the Christian are not based upon how we desire to live for our own pleasure and satisfaction. Rather, we live as unto the Lord. We are His possession, bought with a price— the precious blood of Jesus Christ. We belong to God, and our goals must be ones that bring pleasure to Him.

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

Or do you not know that your

________________________

body is the temple of the Holy

________________________

Spirit who is in you, whom you

________________________

have from God, and you are not

________________________

your own? For you were bought

________________________

at a price; therefore glorify God

________________________

in your body and in your spirit,

________________________

which are God’s.

________________________

(1 Cor. 6:19–20)

________________________

I have been crucified with

________________________

Christ; it is no longer I who live,

________________________

but Christ lives in me; and the

________________________

life which I now live in the flesh

________________________

I live by faith in the Son of God,

________________________

who loved me and gave Himself

________________________

for me. (Gal. 2:20)

________________________

Walk in love, as Christ also has

________________________

loved us and given Himself for

________________________

us, an offering and a sacrifice to

________________________

God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

________________________

(Eph. 5:2)

________________________

I beseech you therefore,

________________________

brethren, by the mercies of God,

________________________

that you present your bodies a

________________________

living sacrifice, holy, acceptable

________________________

to God, which is your reasonable

________________________

service. And do not be con-formed

________________________

to this world, but be

________________________

transformed by the renewing

________________________

of your mind, that you may

________________________

prove what is that good and

________________________

acceptable and perfect will of

________________________

God. (Rom. 12:1–2)

________________________

For whom He foreknew, He also

________________________

predestined to be conformed to

________________________

the image of His Son, that He

________________________

might be the firstborn among

________________________

many brethren. Moreover whom

________________________

He predestined, these He also

________________________

called; whom He called, these

________________________

He also justified; and whom He

________________________

justified, these He also glorified.

________________________

(Rom. 8:29–30)

________________________

I have found it very helpful in my life to identify and to write down my priority goal. It is this: “To know Christ as intimately and fully as possible.” My secondary goal, which sets the pattern for my life and determines the details of my daily schedule, is this: “To get the gospel of Jesus Christ to as many people as possible, as clearly as possible, as quickly as possible, as irresistibly as possible, by the power of the Holy Spirit and to the glory of God.” Period. That’s why I live.

I encourage you to reflect upon your priority goal in life, and to state your priority goal and your secondary goals in writing.

• In your life, have you identified a “priority goal”? Can you state it in concise terms?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

• In your life, have you identified your secondary goals?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

Goals help a person maintain focus. They help a person avoid stray topics, relationships, and activities that can become distractions and sometimes deterrents. They help a person set his schedule, not only over long periods of time, but daily. Goals help put life in balance. Take a look at the chart below and consider your own life:

Person with No Goals

Person with Goals

Adrift

Sense of direction

No excitement in living

Excitement in living

Accepts mediocrity

Pursues excellence

Critical of others who are successful

Appreciates others who are successsful

Disappointed with life

Strong sense of purpose, value, and worth

Settles for living in a rut

Seeks a creative, active life

Bad steward of God’s gifts of time, energy, resources

Seeks a balanced life marked by emotional and physical health

• How do you feel about your own life? Which type of person do you desire to be?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

Should Christians Set Goals for the Future?

There are those in the body of Christ who contend that Christians should not set goals. I want to take a look at two main passages of Scripture that critics of goal-setting often use to support their belief.

The Case for Contentment

The first passage often used to teach that goal-setting is not biblical is Hebrews 13:5, which says,

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

To be content, in the context of this verse, is in direct relationship to the statement, “Let your conduct be without covetousness.” We are never to covet what others have. Contentment is realizing that God is the Source of all that we need for our present happiness. It is being thankful for what the Lord is providing, even as we plan for our future. It is trusting that the Lord will never leave us nor forsake us. It is experiencing the peace of God in the midst of any circumstance or situation, even as we make our requests known to God.

Contentment is not settling for a settled-down life. Rather, it is a feeling of being at “rest” in our relationship with the Lord, even as we pursue greater wholeness and prosperity.

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

Not that I speak in regard to

________________________

need, for I have learned in

________________________

whatever state I am, to be

________________________

content. (Phil. 4:11)

________________________

You shall not covet your

________________________

neighbor’s house; you shall not

________________________

covet your neighbor’s wife,

________________________

nor his male servant, nor his

________________________

female servant, nor his ox, nor

________________________

his donkey, nor anything that is

________________________

your neighbor’s. (Ex. 20:17)

________________________

Be anxious for nothing, but in

________________________

everything by prayer and sup-plication,

________________________

with thanksgiving, let

________________________

your requests be made known

________________________

to God; and the peace of God,

________________________

which surpasses all under-standing,

________________________

will guard your

________________________

hearts and minds through

________________________

Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:6–7)

________________________

• What new insights do you have into the relationship between contentment and success?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

Living Each Day As It Comes

Matthew 6:31–34 is another passage that is often used to counteract a need for goal-setting:

[Jesus taught,] “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

This passage has nothing to do with planning or not planning. Rather, it is about feeling anxious about whether God will provide our day-to-day needs for food, shelter, and clothing.

This is also a great statement about our priorities. Note that Jesus says we are to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness is a goal. It is the foremost thing worth pursuing and worth establishing in one’s life.

Seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness does not happen automatically. It happens because we set our minds and hearts toward those things that build our inner character and that yield eternal reward.

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

Seek those things which are

________________________

above, where Christ is, sitting at

________________________

the right hand of God. Set your

________________________

mind on things above, not on

________________________

things on the earth. (Col. 3:1–2)

________________________

Pursue righteousness, godliness,

________________________

faith, love, patience, gentleness.

________________________

Fight the good fight of faith, lay

________________________

hold on eternal life, to which

________________________

you were also called and have

________________________

confessed. (1 Tim. 6:11–12)

________________________

Four Questions to Ask About the Goals You Set

As you set any goal in your life, ask yourself these four questions:

1. Why, Lord, is this important toYou? If you understand the answer to why a goal is important to the Lord, you’ll be in a good position to seek answers to other questions: How? When? Where? With whom?

2. Lord, does this fit into Your plan for my life? Some tasks may be good, but not be God’s best for you. Ask the Lord what fits you best, given your talents, abilities, and skills.

3. Is this goal totally in line with God’s Word? God will not lead you to pursue a goal that is contrary to the principles established in the Bible.

4. How might the accomplishment of this goal bring blessing to others? God gives us goals so He might do two things simultaneously—He desires to perform a refining work in our own lives, and, at the same time, to perform a work that will benefit others and be for their eternal good.

• In your life, which of your goals do NOT meet this four-fold criteria? Which ones do?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

[Jesus said,] “Ask, and it will

________________________

be given to you; seek, and you

________________________

will find; knock, and it will be

________________________

opened to you. For everyone

________________________

who asks receives, and he who

________________________

seeks finds, and to him who

________________________

knocks it will be opened.”

________________________

(Matt. 7:7–8)

________________________

Writing Down Your Goals

It is important that you write down your goals. The Lord spoke to Jeremiah: “Write in a book for yourself all the words that I have spoken to you” (Jer. 30:2; see also Jer. 36:2). The Lord said to the prophet Habakkuk,

Write the vision

And make it plain on tablets,

That he may run who reads it. (Hab. 2:2)

Put a Date with a Goal

Some goals are lifelong, but even lifelong goals can be broken down into smaller goals that can be accomplished in short-and medium-range time periods. Identify your goals that are

• immediate—things to be done each day, or that can be accomplished in a week or month;

• short-range—those goals that may take one to three months or even as long as a year; and

• long-range—those goals that may extend beyond a year.

Consider All Areas of Your Life

Goals can be set in each of life’s main areas:

1. Spiritual

2. Personal

3. Family

4.Vocation

5. Social

6. Financial

Take a look at the goals that you believe are God’s plan for you. Do you have goals in each of these areas? Do your goals tend to cluster mainly in one or two areas? If you are neglecting certain areas of your life, or are placing too much emphasis on one or two areas, your life is not truly balanced. Seek to establish wholeness.

• In your life, are you setting and seeking to accomplish goals in each area of your life?

__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________

Be Specific

State precisely what you intend to accomplish—avoid fuzzy generalities. When Jesus met Bartimaeus at the outskirts of Jericho, He asked Bartimaeus one simple question:“What do you want Me to do for you?” (Mark 10:51). Jesus could see that Bartimaeus was blind, yet Jesus asked Bartimaeus this question so that Bartimaeus might confront his need and face fully the prospect of his own healing. Do you truly want the specifics of the goals you have written down? Why do you want to accomplish what you have stated as goals? What are your motives? Do you truly want to live the way you would live if your goals were accomplished?

Set Goals You Cannot Reach on Your Own Strength and Ability

A truly God-given goal always has a “faith factor” to it. It is a goal that will stretch you, challenge you, cause you to grow in spirit, and that will cause you to rely on God for help, wisdom, strength, and results.

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

When I say to the righteous

________________________

that he shall surely live, but he

________________________

trusts in his own righteousness

________________________

and commits iniquity, none of

________________________

his righteous works shall be

________________________

remembered. (Ezek. 33:13)

________________________

Behold, God is my salvation,

________________________

I will trust and not be afraid;

________________________

“For Yah, the LORD, is my

________________________

strength and song;

________________________

He also has become

________________________

my salvation.”

________________________

(Isa. 12:2)

________________________

For I will not trust in my bow,

________________________

Nor shall my sword save me.

________________________

In God we boast all day long.

________________________

(Ps. 44:6, 8)

________________________

Take one step at a time as you establish your goals. Wait upon the Lord for His direction and guidance. Test your goals against the Scriptures and see if they endure over time. Few things worth attaining can be accomplished in a day. What matters most is our slow, steadfast, obedient pursuit of those goals to which God calls us. He is as concerned about our ongoing faithfulness, discipline, faith, obedience, and reliance upon Him as He is about our accomplishing the goals He helps us establish.

• What new insights do you have into the relationship between goals and godly success?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

• How do you feel about the goals you have set for your life?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

• In what ways are you being challenged to set new goals or revise old ones?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

FOUR

GOD’S PERSONAL

SUCCESS PATTERN

FOR YOU

One of the greatest differences between the world’s message about success and God’s plan for success is this: The world seeks one formula that produces one set of results for all people. God’s plan is far more creative, far more individualized, and far more personal. His principles don’t change. But God’s formula for success always takes into account your unique set of spiritual gifts, natural talents, personality, circumstances, and situations.

In this study, we are going to take a look at the lives of three men who portrayed distinctly different patterns of success.

God’s Pattern of Success for Joseph

Joseph, the eleventh of twelve sons born to Jacob, was a man who had an understanding of God’s personal “success plan” for his life in his youth. He was given divine insight into God’s plan for his future, which included great prominence, power, and prestige. His understanding of his personal future success was based upon two dreams God gave to him when he was only seventeen years old. (You can read about these dreams in Genesis 37:5–9.)

Like many people today, Joseph had a dream of success, but no plan for success. God had given him a glimpse of his future but had not provided the intervening details. It was up to Joseph to pursue God’s plan for success with faith and obedience in doing the things the Lord put in his path to do.

• In reflecting back over your life, was there a “dream” that God planted in your heart when you were a young person about what you would be and do in your future?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

God never asks any of us to sit down and wait idly for Him to vault us into success. He asks us to trust and obey Him day by day, day in and day out, and to learn the lessons He sets before us. Some of the work that God gives us to do may seem menial and totally unrelated to the end result of our success. What we often do not perceive is that God is building a strong pattern of experience, skill, trustworthiness, honesty, integrity, and character into us, so that when the time comes for us to be in a position of authority or influence, we will be ready.

The success we achieve is never of our own doing. God’s hand is always in both the process and the results. Joseph knew this. And when he finally did persevere with faith in God through abandonment by his brothers, slavery in a foreign land, false accusations, and imprisonment, he was prepared to exercise authority with wisdom. Not only did Joseph make wise decisions, but he gave God the glory for bringing him to a position in which he could help his family and countless others. He said to his brothers later in his life,

God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. (Gen. 45:7–8)

• In reflecting back over your life, can you see how the Lord has used various experiences to teach you trust and obedience? Can you cite specific instances that He has used to build your character and integrity?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

The success plan for Joseph’s life might be summarized like this:

Vision

followed by years of

faithful preparation, trust, and obedience

resulting in years of

service, authority, and reward

• Is this the pattern for success that the Lord seems to be implementing in your life or in the life of someone you know? At which stage are you presently? How do you feel about this pattern for success?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

You meant evil against me; but

________________________

God meant it for good, in order

________________________

to bring it about as it is this day,

________________________

to save many people alive.

________________________

(Gen. 50:20)

________________________

We know that all things work

________________________

together for good to those who

________________________

love God, to those who are the

________________________

called according to His purpose.

________________________

(Rom. 8:28)

________________________

[The apostle Paul said,] “I was

________________________

not disobedient to the heavenly

________________________

vision.” (Acts 26:19)

________________________

[The Lord said through Isaiah,]

________________________

“I am God, and there is no

________________________

other;

________________________

I am God, and there

________________________

is none like Me. . .

________________________

My counsel shall stand,

________________________

And I will do all My pleasure. . .

________________________

I will also bring it to pass.

________________________

I have purposed it;

________________________

I will also do it.” (Isa. 46:9–11)

________________________

God’s Pattern of Success for Moses

The pattern for success that we see in Moses’ life is very different from that of Joseph. Moses did not have a vision for success early in his life, although he experienced a certain degree of privilege as an adopted son of Pharaoh. He grew up separated from his people. After murdering an Egyptian, he ran for his life to the remote desert region of Midian, and there he married and spent nearly forty years tending sheep.

Then the day came when the Lord revealed Himself to Moses and gave him a specific mission for his life.

Many people today grow up knowing “about” the Lord but not knowing the Lord personally. They go through difficult and sometimes devastating experiences in their lives, and then one day, they come face-to-face with the reality of God and the reality of their own lives. Moses argued with God about his worthiness to pursue the goals God set before him. He eventually relented and went to Pharaoh with the message from God, “Let My people go.”

For forty years, Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, across the wilderness, to the promised land. The success pattern that the Lord seemed to have for him was this:

Seemingly unrelated events

without the person having a vision of success followed by a

definite and specific call of God

followed by

faithful obedience and trust

• Is this the pattern of success that God seems to be implementing in your life or in the life of someone you know? Where are you in this process? How do you feel about God’s success pattern for you?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

A similar pattern might be seen in the life of the apostle Paul. Paul grew up studying God’s Law and being the best Pharisee and Roman citizen he could possibly be. Then came his experience on the Damascus Road in which he surrendered his life to Christ. Suddenly Paul’s life began to make sense. He could see ways in which he had been perfectly prepared for the plan God had for him. He knew the Scriptures so he could explain with depth and clarity how Christ Jesus fulfilled them. He had the freedom to travel and speak freely throughout the Roman empire. He knew the Jews and their customs and had access to their synagogues. He also knew that God could redeem even the most hardened sinful heart, and therefore, he was quick to extend the mercy of God to the Gentiles.

• In reflecting back over your life, can you see ways in which the Lord has “built into you” the abilities, skills, and readiness to take on the challenges He is now presenting to you?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

For I know the thoughts that I

________________________

think toward you, says the LORD,

________________________

thoughts of peace and not of

________________________

evil, to give you a future and

________________________

a hope. ( Jer. 29:11)

________________________

[Jesus said,] “But when the

________________________

Helper comes, whom I shall

________________________

send to you from the Father,

________________________

the Spirit of truth who proceeds

________________________

from the Father, He will testify

________________________

of Me. And you also will bear

________________________

witness.” ( John 15:26–27)

________________________

Show me Your ways, O LORD;

________________________

Teach me Your paths.

________________________

Lead me in Your truth

________________________

and teach me,

________________________

For You are the God

________________________

of my salvation;

________________________

On You I wait all the day.

________________________

(Ps. 25:4 –5)

________________________

God’s Pattern of Success for David

There is a third pattern of success we see in the life of King David. He was a man who came to a knowledge of the Lord as a youngster, was anointed by God for a great future as a teenager, and experienced a series of visible and outward successes throughout his life, one building upon another.

This does not mean that David did not encounter difficult times. These situations, however, were ones that strengthened David and further prepared him for greater things ahead. How was it that David was not defeated by jealousy, exile, warring enemies, traitorous followers, rebellious children, or even his own sinfulness? He was not defeated because in each instance, David turned to the Lord in repentance and in trust. Any detours or mistakes were quickly reversed through David’s repentant heart, his humility before the Lord, and his desire to serve God fully. David never stopped acknowledging God as the Source of his strength.

The pattern of David’s success might be described this way:

Anointing by God

followed by

success built upon success

• Is this the pattern of success that the Lord seems to be implementing in your life or in the life of someone you know?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

The apostle Peter seems to have experienced a similar pattern for success in his life. Peter was a successful fisherman when Jesus first met him, and he continued to enjoy a great deal of success as he followed Jesus. He was one of Jesus’ inner circle, along with James and John, and he was the apostle to whom Jesus spoke the most.

Peter certainly had failures and made mistakes. He rebuked Jesus when Jesus spoke of His crucifixion, he failed in his faith when it came to calming a storm, he relied on his own strength when he cut off the ear of a high priest’s servant, and he denied Jesus three times after Jesus’ arrest. But these were all incidents of which Peter quickly repented.

After the resurrection of Jesus, it was Peter who became the leader of the church. It was Peter who preached a sermon on the Day of Pentecost that resulted in three thousand members being added to the newly established church. It was Peter who brought healing to the lame man at the Beautiful Gate, who raised a paralyzed man from his bed, and who raised Dorcas from the dead—all in the name of Jesus. It was Peter who opened the door to the Gentiles, defended the rights of the Gentile Christians, and who established the earliest believers in the “way” of Jesus.

Many Christians today are raised in godly homes, and they come to know the Lord early in their lives. Then the Lord seems to direct them into a very specific avenue of ministry or service. They continue to grow and mature, becoming increasingly conformed to Christ. Their effectiveness as witnesses to Christ also continues to grow. Their life pattern is one that reflects a pattern of moving from strength to strength.

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

The LORD is my light

________________________

and my salvation. . .

________________________

The LORD is the strength

________________________

of my life. (Ps. 27:1)

________________________

The hope of the righteous

________________________

will be gladness. . .

________________________

The way of the LORD

________________________

is strength for the upright.

________________________

(Prov. 10:28–29)

________________________

For whom He foreknew, He also

________________________

predestined to be conformed to

________________________

the image of His Son, that He

________________________

might be the firstborn among

________________________

many brethren. Moreover whom

________________________

He predestined, these He also

________________________

called; whom He called, these

________________________

He also justified; and whom He

________________________

justified, these He also glorified.

________________________

(Rom. 8:29–30)

________________________

He who walks righteously

________________________

and speaks uprightly,

________________________

He who despises the gain

________________________

of oppressions,

________________________

Who gestures with his hands,

________________________

refusing bribes,

________________________

Who stops his ears from

________________________

hearing of bloodshed,

________________________

And shuts his eyes from seeing evil:

________________________

He will dwell on high;

________________________

His place of defense will

________________________

be the fortress of rocks;

________________________

Bread will be given him,

________________________

His water will be sure.

________________________

(Isa. 33:15–16)

________________________

A Unique Pattern for Each Person

Was Joseph more successful than Moses? Was King David more successful than Joseph? No! Each was successful in his own life according to the pattern that God had established for him.

God does not deal with any one of us exactly as He deals or has dealt with another person. Even if God seems to be implementing one of the three patterns described in this lesson, the exact circumstances and situations that He allows in our lives and the call to which He calls us is unique.

Never covet another person’s success. Never discount what the Lord is doing in your life. To do so is to greatly hinder the work that God desires to do in you and stall the fulfillment of God’s success plan for your life.

• What new insights do you have into the way God works in a life to bring about success?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

• How do you feel about the success that may still lie ahead for you?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

• In reflecting back over your life, are there specific ways in which you are feeling challenged to take a “next step” in pursuing the goals God has led you to establish? Are there specific things of which you need to repent or specific changes you need to make in your life?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

FIVE

PURSUING GOD’S

GOALS

If I were to draw a line in front of you today and I said, “Step over this line, and your life will be better, beginning today,” would you step over that line? I feel certain you would! I give you that challenge today regarding the pursuit of your own goals because it is not enough for a person to set goals or to recognize the ways in which God is working in their life. We each must make a decision to pursue God’s goals and to pursue them God’s way.

Doing Things God’s Way

God not only deals in terms of what and who, but He also deals in “how.” How we reach our goals is critical to our being successful, not only in attaining the goals God helps us set, but in developing the character that God wants us to have. The principles for how to reach our God-given goals can be found in the story of David and Goliath.

Let me give you a little background. The army of the Philistines was encamped on one side of a valley, and the army of Israel was on the other side. For forty consecutive days, the “champion” of the Philistines—Goliath, their number-one warrior—had come out and stood in front of his army and shouted to the Israelites, “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together” (1 Sam. 17:10).

Goliath and the Philistines set the terms for the battle. They wanted the contest to be one man versus one man, with the outcome being that if the Philistine won, all the Israelites would become their servants. A great deal was at stake.

Day after day, the Israelites failed to respond to Goliath’s challenge.

Many of us find ourselves in the same position when it comes to the pursuit of our goals. We see a giant obstacle standing between where we are at present and where we want to be. That obstacle fills us with fear; it holds out the prospect of defeat and loss. We fail to act.

• In your life, can you cite instances in which fear kept you from pursuing godly goals?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

Ten Aspects of Pursuing a Goal God’s Way

David arrived on the scene and was angered by what he heard and saw. He immediately established a goal that he believed with his whole heart was a goal that God desired for him to accomplish. There are ten important aspects of David’s goal setting:

1. A Clear Picture of the Goal and Its Rewards

Upon hearing Goliath’s challenge, David asked, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Sam. 17:26).

David’s statement is firmly rooted in his belief that Goliath needed to be defeated, could be defeated, and would be defeated. He saw the killing of Goliath as an achievable goal and certainly one that must have rewards associated with it.

At this time, David had already been anointed to be the next king of Israel, although only David and the prophet Samuel knew about his anointing. For David, the victory over Goliath was not a personal act of bravery as much as it was an act of a future king on behalf of his people. David fully expected to be successful in his pursuit of God’s goals for his life, and he expected to rule a people who were free of the Philistines, not slaves to them.

• In your life, are your goals clear and concise? Are they relevant to God’s greater purposes for your life? Do they impact the “big picture” of your future in Christ Jesus?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

2. A Consuming Desire to Reach the Goal

David could not be talked out of pursuing his goal. His brothers tried to dissuade him, but David refused to leave, refused to be discouraged, and refused to quit talking about Goliath’s defeat.

If your goals are truly from the Lord, you will have a feeling deep within you that you must accomplish them in order to be obedient to the Lord and to bring benefit to others.

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

[The prophet Jeremiah said of

________________________

God’s call on his life,]

________________________

“His word was in my heart like

________________________

a burning fire

________________________

Shut up in my bones;

________________________

I was weary of holding it back,

________________________

And I could not.” ( Jer. 20:9)

________________________

Be kindly affectionate to one

________________________

another with brotherly love . . .

________________________

not lagging in diligence, fervent

________________________

in spirit, serving the Lord.

________________________

(Rom. 12:10–11)

________________________

It is good to be zealous in a

________________________

good thing always. (Gal. 4:18)

________________________

• Is the Lord challenging you today with something that is burning inside you—a goal that you MUST pursue?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

3. Confidence in the Lord’s Help

David had no doubt whatsoever that with the Lord’s help, he would be able to kill Goliath. He boldly said to King Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine” (1 Sam. 17:32). David wasn’t confident in his own ability. He said about his victory over a lion and bear while tending sheep, and about his upcoming victory over Goliath, “The LORD . . . will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine” (vs. 37).

David rushed down the mountainside toward Goliath crying, “This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand . . . that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give you into our hands” (1 Sam. 17:46–47).

• How do you feel as you read these words of David? How do you feel today about the Lord helping you to achieve your godly goals?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

I can do all things through Christ

________________________

who strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13)

________________________

The Lord is faithful, who will

________________________

establish you and guard you

________________________

from the evil one. And we have

________________________

confidence in the Lord con-cerning

________________________

you. (2 Thess. 3:3–4)

________________________

The LORD will be your

________________________

confidence,

________________________

And will keep your foot from

________________________

being caught. (Prov. 3:26)

________________________

4. A Course for Action

David didn’t go into battle without first getting Saul’s approval. He went through the right “channels” (see 1 Sam. 17:37). David then chose the right armor, or the right “method,” for the upcoming battle he faced. He went into battle with weapons that were right for his unique talents, abilities, experience, and skills.

Too often we try to accomplish our goals using man-made methods that may work for another person, but which are totally unsuited to our abilities and talents. Trust God to reveal to you His method for pursuing your success.

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

Teach me to do Your will,

________________________

For You are my God;

________________________

Your Spirit is good.

________________________

Lead me in the land of

________________________

uprightness. (Ps. 143:10)

________________________

Happy is the man

________________________

who finds wisdom,

________________________

And the man who

________________________

gains understanding.

________________________

Her ways are ways of pleasantness,

________________________

And all her paths are peace.

________________________

Prov. 3:13, 17)

________________________

It is God who arms me with

________________________

strength,

________________________

And makes my way perfect.

________________________

He makes my feet like the feet

________________________

of deer,

________________________

And sets me on my high

________________________

places. (Ps. 18:32–33)

________________________

5. No Delay in Pursuing an Immediate Goal

David did not procrastinate, make excuses, or stall. He took action.

• In your life, have you “delayed” in pursuing goals that you felt were immediate? What was the result?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

6. Cooperation

David sought and relied on the cooperation of others. The battle against the Philistines was not a one-man show. David may have fought Goliath one-on-one, but he did not take on the entire Philistine army single-handedly. Prior to facing Goliath, David had spread his own confidence throughout the Israelite camp. The soldiers were stirred up, ready to take on the battle as soon as David was victorious. The moment David cut off Goliath’s head, “the men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted, and pursued the Philistines as far as the entrance to the valley and to the gates of Ekron” (1 Sam. 17:52).

If the Lord has laid a goal on your heart, He is already working to prepare the hearts of others to help you reach your goal. Or, He may be working in you to help another person with a goal you share. Either way, we ultimately are to work together to spread the gospel, extend the kingdom of God, and build up the body of Christ.

Seek out those with whom you can work toward a common goal.

7. Consistency in Pursuing the Goal

David did not lose sight of the big goal of his life, which was to serve God as king of Israel. After defeating Goliath, he took the head of Goliath back to Jerusalem as a signal to all the people that the Lord had delivered them from their enemy. He also took the armor of Goliath into his own tent as a constant reminder of what the Lord had enabled him to do. David knew that in the years ahead, he would need to be reminded that God was bigger than any problem he faced. He knew that the Israelites needed to be encouraged to trust the Lord more.

Don’t lose sight of your long-range goals, even as you throw your energies into accomplishing your short-term or immediate goals.

Paul encouraged Titus that believers are to “maintain good works” even as they “meet urgent needs”—to get caught up in urgent needs and to fail to maintain the overall good work of our life is to be “unfruitful” (see Titus 3:14).

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

You shall walk in all the ways

________________________

which the LORD your God has

________________________

commanded you, that you may

________________________

live and that it may be well with

________________________

you, and that you may prolong

________________________

your days in the land which you

________________________

shall possess. (Deut. 5:33)

________________________

Beware lest you also fall from

________________________

your own steadfastness, being led

________________________

away with the error of the wicked;

________________________

but grow in the grace and knowl-edge

________________________

of our Lord and Savior

________________________

Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:17–18)

________________________

8. Emotions Kept Under Control

David could have become frustrated or angry at the opposition his brothers gave him. He could have become embroiled in arguments with the other soldiers. He could have become discouraged and gone back home. David didn’t give in to any of these options. He saved all of his emotional energy for the battle.

As you pursue your God-given goals, make a decision to save your emotional energy for those moments, decisions, and actions that are truly important for you to reach your goal. There are many things that can, and must, be overlooked or not blown out of proportion.

Keep your focus on God’s love, God’s call, God’s help, God’s approval, and God’s rewards. He will not disappoint you or fail you, if you continue to pursue the goals He sets for your life with focus and determination.

• As you reflect back over your life, are there experiences you have had in which you allowed emotions to get out of control, with the end result being that you were deterred or “detoured” away from your major goals?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

As we pursue our goals, we each will face situations that can cause us to experience fear. Take charge over fear! Encourage yourself in the Lord. Choose to encourage others around you and to associate with upbeat, faith-filled people who can encourage you daily.

Later in David’s life, he faced a defeat. Amalekites entered David’s stronghold at Ziklag while David and his men were out of the city, and they set fire to the city and took captive all of the women and children. We read in 1 Samuel 30:6, “Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.”

David encouraged himself in the Lord. He focused on what God was able to do rather than on what man had done. He asked the Lord if he should pursue the troops that had done evil to him and his men, and the Lord said, “Pursue.” So David and four hundred of his men went in pursuit, and “David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away” (vs. 18). I encourage you to read this entire story in 1 Samuel 30.

• What new insights do you have into 1 Samuel 30 and into the ways in which the Lord may be calling you to encourage yourself in Him after a setback or defeat?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

9. Courage Developed Over Time

David had courage that had been developed over years and through a variety of experiences. David did not suddenly awaken one morning and have courage to confront Goliath. He had developed courage as a shepherd boy, protecting his father’s flocks against the elements and against predatory animals, including a lion and a bear. David no doubt had experienced many moments in which he’d had to stare down his own fears while alone with his flocks in wilderness areas.

Ask the Lord today to give you the daily courage you need as you face the tasks and temptations before you. Ask Him to give you courage to accomplish the immediate and short-range goals you have set. That will be your best possible means of developing the courage you will need when major crises or obstacles arise.

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

Behave courageously, and the

________________________

LORD will be with the good.

________________________

(2 Chron. 19:11)

________________________

Wait on the LORD;

________________________

Be of good courage,

________________________

And He shall strengthen

________________________

your heart;

________________________

Wait, I say, on the LORD!

________________________

(Ps. 27:14)

________________________

For God has not given us a

________________________

spirit of fear, but of power and

________________________

of love and of a sound mind.

________________________

(2 Tim. 1:7)

________________________

10. A Conscious Dependence on God at All Times

Throughout the story of David’s battle with Goliath we find references to the Lord. David had a conscious, openly expressed dependence on God.

Let your conversations and your statements to others reflect your dependence upon the Lord. Remember at all times that none of us can accomplish anything of eternal benefit in our own strength.

• What new insights do you have into the WAY in which God desires for you to pursue the goals He has laid on your heart?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

• How do you feel today as you look at the goals you have set? What “course of action” do you believe is best for you to take immediately?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

• In what ways are you feeling challenged in your spirit regarding the way you have pursued, are pursuing, and intend to pursue your God-given goals?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

SIX

MONEY AND

SUCCESS

One of the greatest deceptions in our nation today is that success equals wealth. Becoming the person God wants you to be and achieving the goals He sets for your life are what make a person genuinely successful.

Wealth has virtually nothing to do with your becoming the person God wants you to be. And wealth, solely for the sake of acquiring wealth, is not a goal that God sets for a person’s life. You will find no admonition of God in the Bible for a person to seek and strive to become rich materially.

Does this mean a rich person cannot be successful in God’s eyes? Does it mean that God never blesses a person with material wealth or nice possessions? No. It means that wealth is not the gauge by which we are to determine success. God has different standards of measurement.

In this lesson, we are going to take a look at what the Bible says about money. (If this topic is of special interest to you, I encourage you to read the study guide in this series titled Understanding Financial Stewardship.)

What the Bible Teaches About Money

The Bible has more verses devoted to finances and money, and our proper use of them, than to verses about heaven! God knew money was a practical matter that would require our attention on a daily basis. Money is a vital part of our lives.

For the most part, the Bible regards money as simply a medium of exchange. It is intended to be used for good and righteous purposes. It is a blessing of God given to us so that we might be stewards of a portion of the Lord’s bountiful supply. In many cases, it is a tool that God uses to test our trust and faithfulness. The apostle Paul taught,

We urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing. (1 Thess. 4:10–12)

These verses have a two-fold message:

First, the Lord expects us to work so we are not in financial or material need.

Second, the Lord desires for us to increase more and more.

• What new insights do you have into 1 Thessalonians 4:10–12?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

• How do you feel as you read this passage of Scripture?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

Three Key Principles

The Bible has three overriding principles regarding money and material wealth. We are wise to keep them in mind always.

1. God Is the Source of All Blessings

All wealth comes from God. Anytime we look at what we have in terms of possessions or financial holdings, we should be quick to say, “God is the One who has given me this.”

• In your experience, what tends to be your first response when you receive a raise, promotion, or unexpected financial windfall? Is your first response to thank and praise God, or is it to feel self-satisfaction at what you have accomplished?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

2. There Is No Lasting Ownership of Anything Material

Even those things that you believe you have bought and paid for are not things that you will own forever. None of us can take any material blessing from this life into eternity.

• In your experience, can you recall a time when you “lost” something— property, a possession, an heirloom, an inheritance—that you had thought would be yours for your entire life?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

3. We Are Privileged by God to Use Things to Bless People

God allows certain amounts of wealth and certain possessions to come into our hands so that we might use them to bring blessing to others. We are to be a “funnel” for God’s blessings, not a container in which to hoard them. We must always be determined to use things and love people, rather than love things and use people!

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

As for every man to whom

________________________

God has given riches and

________________________

wealth, and given him power to

________________________

eat of it, to receive his heritage

________________________

and rejoice in his labor—this is

________________________

the gift of God. (Eccl. 5:19)

________________________

Beware that you do not forget

________________________

the LORD your God by not keep-ing

________________________

His commandments . . .

________________________

lest—when you have eaten and

________________________

are full, and have built beautiful

________________________

houses and dwell in them . . .

________________________

you say in your heart, “My

________________________

power and the might of my hand

________________________

have gained me this wealth.”

________________________

And you shall remember the

________________________

LORD your God, for it is He who

________________________

gives you power to get wealth,

________________________

that He may establish His

________________________

covenant which He swore

________________________

to your fathers, as it is this day.

________________________

(Deut. 8:11–12, 17–18)

________________________

Five Things Jesus Taught About Money

Many people conclude that Jesus favored poverty and had very little good to say about wealth. Let’s take a closer look at five things Jesus taught about money.

1. The Pursuit of Wealth Must Never Be Our Number-One Priority

Jesus gave us this very solemn warning about a love for money: “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. 16:26). Jesus plainly taught that we are to seek first the kingdom of God and that those who make the acquisition of wealth their top priority will find it very difficult to gain heavenly reward.

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

[ Jesus taught,] “Assuredly, I say

________________________

to you that it is hard for a rich

________________________

man to enter the kingdom of

________________________

heaven. And again I say to you,

________________________

it is easier for a camel to go

________________________

through the eye of a needle than

________________________

for a rich man to enter the king-dom

________________________

of God.” (Matt. 19:23–24)

________________________

[ Jesus said,] “Seek first the

________________________

kingdom of God and His

________________________

righteousness, and all these

________________________

things shall be added to you.”

________________________

(Matt. 6:33)

________________________

[ Jesus taught,] “Do not lay up

________________________

for yourselves treasures on earth,

________________________

where moth and rust destroy

________________________

and where thieves break in and

________________________

steal; but lay up for yourselves

________________________

treasures in heaven, where nei-ther

________________________

moth nor rust destroys

________________________

and where thieves do not break

________________________

in and steal. For where your

________________________

treasure is, there your heart will

________________________

be also.” (Matt. 6:19–21)

________________________

2. We Err Greatly When We Hoard Our Wealth and Fail to Give Generously to Those in Need

One day a man came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Jesus replied,

“Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” (Luke 12:14–15)

• Can you recall an experience in your life, or in the life of someone you know, in which hoarding led to loss rather than to increase or blessing? Can you recall an instance in which something that was hoarded was destroyed or lost before it could be of any use?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

[ Jesus taught,] “The ground

________________________

of a certain rich man yielded

________________________

plentifully. And he thought

________________________

within himself, saying, ‘What

________________________

shall I do, since I have no room

________________________

to store my crops?’ So he said,

________________________

‘I will do this: I will pull down

________________________

my barns and build greater, and

________________________

there I will store all my crops

________________________

and my goods. And I will say to

________________________

my soul, “Soul, you have many

________________________

goods laid up for many years;

________________________

take your ease; eat, drink, and

________________________

be merry.”’ But God said to

________________________

him, ‘Fool! This night your soul

________________________

will be required of you; then

________________________

whose will those things be

________________________

which you have provided?’”

________________________

So is he who lays up treasure for

________________________

himself, and is not rich toward

________________________

God.” (Luke 12:16–21)

________________________

3. Those Who Give Generously to the Lord Will Receive Generously from the Lord

Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38).

• What new insights do you have into Luke 6:38?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

• Can you recall an experience in your life when God met your needs through someone other than a person to whom you had given generously?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

Whatever we give—love, time, material substance, friendship, ideas, money, creativity, effort—the Lord returns to us in the form of what we need. The Lord not only gives us precisely what we need, but He gives it in overflowing supply. Furthermore, He very often gives to us through people other than those to whom we have given.

Are you looking today for God to pour out to you an abundant, overflowing return on your giving? Are you willing to give to God in a generous way and according to what is commanded in God’s Word?

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

[ Jesus taught,] “With the same

________________________

measure that you use, it will be

________________________

measured back to you.”

________________________

(Luke 6:38)

________________________

[The Lord said to His people

________________________

through the prophet Malachi:]

________________________

“Will a man rob God?

________________________

Yet you have robbed Me!

________________________

But you say,

________________________

‘In what way have we robbed You?’

________________________

In tithes and offerings.

________________________

You are cursed with a curse,

________________________

For you have robbed Me,

________________________

Even this whole nation.

________________________

Bring all the tithes into the

________________________

storehouse,

________________________

That there may be food

________________________

in My house,

________________________

And try Me now in this,”

________________________

Says the LORD of hosts,

________________________

“If I will not open for you the

________________________

windows of heaven

________________________

And pour out for you

________________________

such blessing

________________________

That there will not be room

________________________

enough to receive it.

________________________

And I will rebuke the devourer

________________________

for your sakes,

________________________

So that he will not destroy the

________________________

fruit of your ground,

________________________

Nor shall the vine fail to bear

________________________

fruit for you in the field,”

________________________

Says the LORD of hosts;

________________________

“And all nations will call you

________________________

blessed,

________________________

For you will be a delightful land,”

________________________

Says the LORD of hosts.

________________________

(Mal. 3:8–12)

________________________

• In what ways are you feeling challenged in your spirit regarding your giving to God and receiving from God?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

4. We Are to Be Faithful Stewards of All That We Have Regardless of How Much We Have

Jesus said, “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?” (Luke 16:10–12).

• What new insights do you have into Luke 16:10–12?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

When people hear a sermon about tithing or giving, too often they respond, “Well, I’ll tithe when I make more money.”The sad fact is that they won’t. The person who is faithful in tithing on one dollar, two dollars, five dollars, and a hundred dollars will be the one faithful in tithing when he earns much more.

Material wealth is not limited to money, dollars, or stocks and bonds. Your house or apartment is a form of material wealth. The car you drive and the things you own are aspects of your material wealth. When we take good care of the things the Lord has already given to us, He can entrust us with His greater riches, which include inner riches such as spiritual leadership.

5. Our Stewardship Is Directly Related to What We Worship or What We Serve

Jesus said, “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Luke 16:13).

The thing that is at the center of your thinking or the center of your desire is the thing you worship—it is the thing you serve, the thing you admire and respect the most, the thing for which you long the most. Those who place financial gain as their top priority in life are people who have given money the place that belongs to God. They are guilty of idolatry.

The greedy person—the person who is never satisfied with the financial blessing he has been given—is a person who desires the “blessing” of money more than he desires the “Giver” of all blessings. He is a person who cannot be satisfied and who is never truly thankful for what the Lord has given.

• In your experience, can you recall a time or instance in which you found yourself serving something or someone other than God? What were the results? How did you feel?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

For the love of money is a root

________________________

of all kinds of evil, for which

________________________

some have strayed from the faith

________________________

in their greediness, and pierced

________________________

themselves through with many

________________________

sorrows. (1 Tim. 6:10)

________________________

Those who desire to be rich

________________________

fall into temptation and a

________________________

snare, and into many foolish

________________________

and harmful lusts which

________________________

drown men in destruction

________________________

and perdition. (1 Tim. 6:9)

________________________

The more you earn and the more you acquire, the more you need to be in the Word of God, seeking direction and wisdom and guidance about how to use the money the Lord has given to you.

Through my years of ministry, I have seen a number of people prosper in their businesses and acquire small fortunes. Unfortunately, some of these people didn’t have any idea how to handle large sums of money, and they lost the fortunes they had acquired.

Others who became increasingly wealthy knew how to handle their money, but they lost sight of God’s purposes in giving them money. Rather than use their money to support the work of the Lord and do good, they used their money for their own selfish pleasures. In the end, these people may not have lost their fortunes, but they lost sight of what truly mattered in life. They lost their peace of mind, their joy in the Lord, and their inner sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. They had money, but they were not genuinely successful.

Choose to be wise about money. It is a factor involved in success because it is a factor of our lives as a whole. But it is neither the definition of success nor should it ever be the foremost priority of our lives.

• What new insights do you have into the relationship between money and success?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

• In what ways are you feeling challenged in your spirit today?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

SEVEN

HURDLING THE

ROADBLOCKS TO

SUCCESS

Why do some people who set goals fail to reach them? Why does success seem to elude some people who truly want to be successful?

A wide variety of reasons have been suggested but I believe the true root reasons for a person to fail in fulfilling the God-given goals he has set for his life lie inside a person. They are not external, material, or circumstantial reasons.

Laying Aside Every Weight

Hebrews 12:1–2 gives us an important insight that can help us overcome the roadblocks that we encounter on our path toward success:

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The good news in this passage is that you are surrounded by a host of encouragers, both those who are living and those who have gone on to be with the Lord. There are countless saints of God who have lived successful lives in Christ Jesus— they can be, and should be, a great inspiration to us. Two of the greatest things you can do for yourself are (1) to read biographies of great Christian men and women, both those in history and those who are alive today, and (2) to associate with older and more mature Christians who are experiencing success God’s way.

• In your life, who has been most encouraging to you that a Christian can live a successful life, God’s way?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

The Lord Himself, of course, should always be our greatest encourager. He tells us in Hebrews 13:5, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” The Lord is present with us always to help us, teach us, guide us, comfort us, and empower us. He is the One who gives us the strength and ability to hurdle the roadblocks that lie in our path to success.

• Weights. Weights are those things that trouble us, weigh heavily on our minds, and cause us to be worried, frustrated, or discouraged.

• Sins. Sins are those things that entangle us and cause us to miss out on God’s blessings and opportunities.

Both are things we must put down. Nobody else can strip these things from our lives. We must take charge and lay aside those things that hold us back from our pursuit of godly goals. We are the ones who must choose to run with endurance the race the Lord sets before us.

• In your experience, have you found that certain things, habits, or associations became or are becoming “weights” to you? Are you being challenged in your spirit today to lay aside certain sins?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

• What other insights do you have into Hebrews 12:1–2?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

Seven Roadblocks to Success

In this lesson we are going to focus on seven roadblocks that keep us back from godly success.

1. The Roadblock of Gripping Fear

A gripping fear is one that paralyzes us with feelings that we are threatened, unable, incapable, or inadequate. It is not a normal, natural fear, such as the fear of falling, or the fear that a child should have about walking out into busy traffic on a major highway. This is fear that keeps us bottled up and stagnant.

Gripping fears may cause us to become defensive and look for excuses about why we are not succeeding. These fears can cause us to want to flee from our goals or to dismiss our goals as being unimportant or invalid.

Faith is the opposite of fear. It is the solution for fear. In order to hurdle this roadblock, you are going to have to do things that build up your faith.

The first and best thing any of us can do to build up our faith is to get our eyes off our problem and off ourselves and, instead, onto Jesus. He is the One who is utterly reliable and who possesses all knowledge, authority, power, ability, wisdom, and strength. I encourage you to immerse yourself in reading and memorizing Scriptures that will build up your faith. Anytime a gripping fear takes hold of you, speak aloud faith-building verses. Ask the Lord to manifest the truth of these verses in your life.

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

The LORD is my helper;

________________________

I will not fear.

________________________

What can man do to me?

________________________

(Heb. 13:6)

________________________

Fear not, for I am with you;

________________________

Be not dismayed, for I am your

________________________

God.

________________________

I will strengthen you,

________________________

Yes, I will help you,

________________________

I will uphold you with My

________________________

righteous right hand.

________________________

Behold, all those who were

________________________

incensed against you

________________________

Shall be ashamed and

________________________

disgraced;

________________________

They shall be as nothing,

________________________

And those who strive with you

________________________

shall perish.

________________________

You shall seek them and not

________________________

find them—

________________________

Those who contended with you.

________________________

Those who war against you

________________________

Shall be as nothing,

________________________

As a nonexistent thing.

________________________

For I, the LORD your God, will

________________________

hold your right hand,

________________________

Saying to you, “Fear not, I will

________________________

help you.”

________________________

(Isa. 41:10–13)

________________________

2. The Roadblock of Nagging Doubt

A success roadblock closely related to fear is doubt. Doubt is a lack of assurance. When we doubt, we become unsteady, tentative, and wavering in our pursuit of a goal. We may not become paralyzed or be put into “flight” mode as with fear, but we may become bogged down and fail to miss important opportunities for advancement.

Hebrews 11:6 tells us, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

How is it that we please God? By receiving His Son, Jesus Christ, as our Savior, and by obeying Him day by day. The exercise of our faith requires daily obedience to what God tells us to do, not only in His commandments, but in the pursuit of the goals He has designed for our lives.

One of the main reasons people doubt is because they lack understanding that God is with them always. Anytime you experience momentary doubt, I encourage you to get on your knees, open your Bible, and begin to read God’s Word aloud back to God, saying, “Lord, this is what You have said in Your Word. I am trusting You to do this in my life.”

• In your experience, have you had a struggle with nagging doubts? What has been most helpful to you in overcoming those doubts?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

[ Jesus taught,] “Have faith in

________________________

God. For assuredly, I say to

________________________

you, whoever says to this

________________________

mountain, ‘Be removed and be

________________________

cast into the sea,’ and does not

________________________

doubt in his heart, but believes

________________________

that those things he says will

________________________

be done, he will have whatever

________________________

he says. Therefore I say to you,

________________________

whatever things you ask when

________________________

you pray, believe that you

________________________

receive them, and you will have

________________________

them.” (Mark 11:22–24)

________________________

We walk by faith, not by sight.

________________________

(2 Cor. 5:7)

________________________

The life which I now live in the

________________________

flesh I live by faith in the Son

________________________

of God, who loved me and gave

________________________

Himself for me. (Gal. 2:20)

________________________

3. The Roadblock of Excuse-itis

Excuse-itis is an infection of self-justifications and excuses that takes root and rots away at a person’s desire to pursue godly goals. It is the habit of offering an excuse at every turn for not doing what a person knows to do. It is the cornerstone of the “blame game”—blaming this person or that, this condition or that situation, this lack or that inadequacy—in order to make ourselves “feel better” about our failure to pursue godly goals.

Jesus told a parable about a rich man who went on a journey and entrusted his wealth to three servants. To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to a third just one talent. When the master returned, he found that the first two servants had doubled his money in his absence. The third servant, however, got into excuse-itis. He said, “Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours” (Matt. 25:24–25).

This servant attempted to blame his master for his failure to do anything with the talent he had been given! The master called this servant “wicked and lazy” and took the talent from him and gave it to the one who had produced ten talents.

Never try to blame another person for your failures. Redirect that energy into getting started on the pursuit of your God-given goals!

One of the best ways to overcome excuse-itis is to get involved in an accountability group or relationship. The support and prayers of others can be an encouragement to you, and also provide a “reality check” for you to keep you from playing the blame game.

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

Pray for one another, that you

________________________

may be healed. (James 5:16)

________________________

For if anyone thinks himself to

________________________

be something, when he is noth-ing,

________________________

he deceives himself. But let

________________________

each one examine his own work,

________________________

and then he will have rejoicing

________________________

in himself alone, and not in

________________________

another. For each one shall bear

________________________

his own load. (Gal. 6:3–5)

________________________

[Note: This verse is also true for

________________________

those who think they are nothing

________________________

when they are something! They

________________________

are also deceived. Part of exam-ining

________________________

our own work includes

________________________

taking responsibility for our own

________________________

work, so that whether it is good

________________________

or bad, we are the foremost

________________________

judges of what we do in the light

________________________

of God’s Word.]

________________________

Comfort each other and edify

________________________

one another. (1 Thess. 5:11)

________________________

4. The Roadblock of Procrastination

Procrastination is putting off until tomorrow what you know you should do today. Two main types of people are prone to procrastination:

1. Perfectionists. The first type of person prone to procrastination is the perfectionist. The perfectionist is not simply a person who does the best he can at the things he undertakes— the perfectionist feels driven to do everything perfectly. The perfectionist, therefore, often procrastinates from undertaking projects because he anticipates the possibility of failure or the inevitability of falling short of perfection.

2. Discomfort-dodgers. The second type of person prone to procrastination is the “discomfort-dodger.”This person knows that accomplishing goals takes effort, energy, saying “no” to frivolous pleasures and fleshly lusts—all of which can lead to discomfort from a life of ease.

If you are a perfectionist or a discomfort-dodger, ask the Lord to help you overcome these detrimental traits. The fact is, nobody is perfect except God. God knows all about your imperfections and still chooses to reside in you by the power of the Holy Spirit to help you overcome your imperfections. The perfecting work is His, not yours. The fact is also that God will help you overcome emotional laziness, but you must do the work of setting rewards for yourself, motivating yourself, and choosing to expend energy and effort. God will do for you what you cannot do, but not what you choose not to do.

One of the best ways to overcome procrastination is to set a limited number of very specific, doable daily goals. Write them down, and every morning ask the Lord to help you accomplish the things you have identified on your list.

• In your experience, have you encountered the roadblock of procrastination? What did you do to hurdle this roadblock?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

Take heed to the ministry

________________________

which you have received in the

________________________

Lord, that you may fulfill it.

________________________

(Col. 4:17)

________________________

See then that you walk

________________________

circumspectly, not as fools but

________________________

as wise, redeeming the time.

________________________

(Eph. 5:15)

________________________

5. The Roadblock of Insatiable Greed

Greed is an insatiable hunger or craving for acquiring more than a person needs. Greed has no bottom to it. It can never be satisfied. Nothing is ever “enough.”

How does greed become a stumbling block? Greed functions in the natural world. It causes a person to want more and more of what is material and financial. The greedy person pursues just one more dollar, one more acquisition, one more dress or suit, one more fix or pill, one more piece of property. The more the person pursues that “one more thing,” the less the person has eyes for true spiritual concerns and riches.

The pursuit of the natural world eventually supersedes all desire to pursue the things of God. When that happens, a person’s life falls out of balance, and genuine, God-given goals take a backseat. No person who is bound by the natural world can be truly successful in God’s eyes. The Lord’s desire is always that we hunger and thirst for those things that He establishes as good and desirable for us and for others around us.

Furthermore, there is no way that a greedy person can practice greed without stepping on somebody’s toes or alienating other people. The greedy person tends to wall off other people whom he perceives as being in competition for what he desires. The greedy person also tends to misuse, abuse, and take advantage of other people in his unending quest to put more and more worldly goods under his control.

One of the best remedies for greed is to begin to give sacrificially— to give away a possession you value highly or to give to the degree that you eliminate a luxury you have come to think of as a necessity.

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

Beware, and be on your guard

________________________

against every form of greed; for

________________________

not even when one has an

________________________

abundance does his life consist

________________________

of his possessions.

________________________

(Luke 12:15 NASB)

________________________

Do not let immorality or any

________________________

impurity or greed even be

________________________

named among you, as is proper

________________________

among saints. (Eph. 5:3 NASB)

________________________

[ Jesus taught,] “Blessed are

________________________

those who hunger and thirst

________________________

for righteousness,

________________________

For they shall be filled.”

________________________

(Matt. 5:6)

________________________

Command those who are rich

________________________

in this present age not to be

________________________

haughty, nor to trust in uncer-tain

________________________

riches but in the living

________________________

God, who gives us richly all

________________________

things to enjoy. Let them do

________________________

________________________

good, that they be rich in good

________________________

works, ready to give, willing to

________________________

share, storing up for them-selves

________________________

a good foundation for

________________________

the time to come, that they

________________________

may lay hold on eternal life.

________________________

(1 Tim. 6:17–19)

________________________

6. The Roadblock of Sin

Another way of stating this roadblock is “the violation of our conscience.”Your conscience acts as an internal alarm system in your spirit and soul that you either have entered into or are about to enter into a “sin zone.”Your conscience warns you against dangers that can lead to moral and spiritual destruction.

The more a person violates his conscience, the less regard he has for the warning signals of his conscience. His understanding of what is right and wrong becomes cloudy and uncertain. His ability to discern evil becomes inoperative. Such a person is more prone to embark on detours that can lead him away from genuine success.

• In your life, have you every had an experience in which you knowingly violated the warning signals from your own conscience? What were the results? How did you feel?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

Some will depart from the

________________________

faith . . . speaking lies in

________________________

hypocrisy, having their own

________________________

conscience seared with a hot

________________________

iron. (1 Tim. 4:1–2)

________________________

Examine yourselves as to

________________________

whether you are in the faith.

________________________

Test yourselves. Do you not

________________________

know yourselves, that Jesus

________________________

Christ is in you? (2 Cor. 13:5)

________________________

Do not let sin reign in your

________________________

mortal body, that you should

________________________

obey it in its lusts. And do not

________________________

present your members as

________________________

instruments of unrighteousness

________________________

to sin, but present yourselves

________________________

to God as being alive from the

________________________

dead, and your members as

________________________

instruments of righteousness

________________________

to God. (Rom. 6:12–13)

________________________

For the wages of sin is death,

________________________

but the gift of God is eternal

________________________

life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

________________________

(Rom. 6:23)

________________________

7. The Roadblock of Slothfulness

Slothfulness is a big term for “lazy.” In the Bible, being slothful is contrasted to being industrious or working diligently. The slothful person is a person who does as little as possible, and who seeks to get by in life with minimal effort, minimal expenditure of creativity and energy, and minimal involvement with others. None of these behaviors are associated with godly success!

The pursuit of godly goals takes energy. The building of godly relationships takes diligence and effort. The pursuit of godly success takes an expenditure of time and creativity.

If you struggle with slothfulness, I encourage you to reevaluate your goals. Perhaps you haven’t identified goals that have a sense of God-given urgency about them. Perhaps you haven’t identified goals toward which you feel a strong compulsion to act. Set goals that motivate you. And then insist within yourself that you will get up each morning and pursue them to the best of your ability!

• In your life, have you ever struggled with slothfulness? What motivated you to act?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

He who is slothful in his work

________________________

Is a brother to him who is a

________________________

great destroyer. (Prov. 18:9)

________________________

Because of laziness the build-ing

________________________

decays,

________________________

And through idleness of hands

________________________

the house leaks. (Eccl. 10:18)

________________________

I went by the field of the lazy

________________________

man,

________________________

And by the vineyard of the

________________________

man devoid of understanding;

________________________

And there it was, all overgrown

________________________

with thorns;

________________________

Its surface was covered with

________________________

nettles;

________________________

Its stone wall was broken down.

________________________

When I saw it, I considered it

________________________

well;

________________________

I looked on it and received

________________________

instruction:

________________________

A little sleep, a little slumber,

________________________

A little folding of the hands

________________________

to rest;

________________________

So shall your poverty come like

________________________

a prowler,

________________________

And your need like an armed

________________________

man. (Prov. 24:30–34)

________________________

Keeping Your Sights on the Future Ahead

Never let a roadblock cloud your ultimate desire or vision of godly success. Don’t allow yourself to become so immersed in solving an immediate problem or overcoming an immediate obstacle that you lose sight of the big picture of your most important goals.

Ask the Lord to help you keep your focus on Him and on what He desires for you to be and do in your life. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you as you take action to remove or to hurdle these roadblocks to your success. The Holy Spirit will not override your personal will or sovereignly remove these “weights and sins” from your path, but when you invite Him to help you, He will do so!

• What new insights do you have into the reasons you may not have been as successful as you desired? What new insights do you have into the inner roadblocks that you need to remove from your path toward godly success?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

• How do you feel about the “work” that lies ahead for you to do in pursuing success?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

• In what ways are you feeling challenged in your spirit to take immediate action steps?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

EIGHT

SUCCESSFUL

ATTITUDES AND

IDEAS

Have you ever stopped to think that everything around you first began with a thought? It either began as a thought in the mind of God or as a thought in the mind of a man or woman. What an awesome, creative power lies in our minds, the organ of thinking and the seat of opinions and attitudes.

Few of us ever stop to consider fully the power of our own thoughts and attitudes, but the Bible proclaims about a man, “As he thinks in his heart, so is he” (Prov. 23:7).

How is it that we are to think in order to become the person God desires for us to be? We are to think as Jesus thinks. The apostle Paul wrote, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5).

The Bible is very specific about the “thought life” we are to have as believers—the thought life that leads to our being who the Lord created us to be, and which leads to our doing what He created us to do.

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

Therefore put to death your

________________________

members which are on the

________________________

earth: fornication, uncleanness,

________________________

passion, evil desire, and cov-etousness,

________________________

which is idolatry.

________________________

Because of these things the

________________________

wrath of God is coming upon

________________________

the sons of disobedience, in

________________________

which you yourselves once

________________________

walked when you lived in them.

________________________

But now you yourselves are to

________________________

put off all these: anger, wrath,

________________________

malice, blasphemy, filthy lan-guage

________________________

out of your mouth. Do

________________________

not lie to one another, since you

________________________

have put off the old man with

________________________

his deeds, and have put on the

________________________

new man who is renewed in

________________________

knowledge according to the

________________________

image of Him who created him.

________________________

(Col. 3:5–10)

________________________

Brethren, whatever things are

________________________

true . . . noble . . . just . . .

________________________

pure . . . lovely . . . of good

________________________

report, if there is any virtue

________________________

and if there is anything praise-worthy—

________________________

meditate on these

________________________

things. (Phil. 4:8)

________________________

Monitoring Your Own Thought Life

There are four main areas of your thought life that are important for you to monitor diligently.

1. What Are You Thinking About Yourself? How Do You Feel About Yourself?

How you think or feel about yourself is going to be projected into the way you behave, including the choices you make and the way you approach problems. A negative perception will manifest itself in your speech, usually in the form of criticism and negative comments. It will manifest itself in your body language, perhaps in the form of a limp handshake, a slouchy walk, a drooped head, downcast eyes, or a sad expression. It will manifest itself in the way you work—if you don’t value yourself, you are more likely to produce less work or lower quality.

When you change the way you think about yourself, very often you change the way others think about you, and that, in turn, often changes the circumstances and situations in which you find yourself.

• How do you feel about yourself? What do you think of yourself? ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

I will praise You, for I am fear-fully

________________________

and wonderfully made;

________________________

Marvelous are Your works,

________________________

And that my soul knows very well.

________________________

My frame was not hidden

________________________

from You,

________________________

When I was made in secret,

________________________

And skillfully wrought in the

________________________

lowest parts of the earth.

________________________

Your eyes saw my substance,

________________________

being yet unformed.

________________________

And in Your book they all

________________________

were written,

________________________

The days fashioned for me,

________________________

When as yet there were none

________________________

of them.

________________________

How precious also are Your

________________________

thoughts to me, O God!

________________________

How great is the sum of them!

________________________

(Ps. 139:14–17)

________________________

2. What Are You Thinking and Feeling About Your Circumstances?

How do you feel about your home . . . your place of employment . . . your neighborhood? The way you think and feel about your environment is going to affect how you behave, treat your possessions, schedule your time, manage your money, and communicate with others who share your home, workplace, or community. Your perceptions about your environment will alter your perceptions about your own potential for success.

• How do you feel—what do you think—about your home, workplace, and neighborhood?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

[The men Moses sent to spy

________________________

out the land of Canaan

________________________

returned and said to Moses,]

________________________

“We went to the land where

________________________

you sent us. It truly flows with

________________________

milk and honey, and this is its

________________________

fruit. Nevertheless the people

________________________

who dwell in the land are

________________________

strong; the cities are fortified

________________________

and very large; moreover we

________________________

saw the descendants of Anak

________________________

there. The Amalekites dwell in

________________________

the land of the South; the Hit-tites,

________________________

the Jebusites, and the

________________________

Amorites dwell in the moun-tains;

________________________

and the Canaanites dwell

________________________

by the sea and along the banks

________________________

of the Jordan” . . . “The land

________________________

through which we have gone as

________________________

spies is a land that devours its

________________________

inhabitants, and all the people

________________________

whom we saw in it are men of

________________________

great stature . . . we were like

________________________

grasshoppers in our own sight,

________________________

and so we were in their sight.”

________________________

So all the congregation lifted

________________________

up their voices and cried, and

________________________

the people wept that night.

________________________

(Num. 13:27–29, 32–33, 14:1)

________________________

[Note: Read Numbers 14 to see

________________________

what happened as a result of

________________________

what the people THOUGHT

________________________

about the Promised Land.]

________________________

3. What Are You Thinking About Other People?

Are there certain classes or groups of people that you don’t like “in general”? Your thoughts and feelings about other people determine your relationships. People tend to cluster around commonly held beliefs or a mutually held perspective on life. To a great extent, what you think influences your choice of friends, spouse, business associates, and mentors. All of these key relationships, in turn, impact your progress toward becoming and doing what God desires for you to be and do.

Especially consider the thoughts and feelings you have toward your family and children. Do you see them as a gift of God to your life?

• How do you feel about other people? What prejudices are you willing to admit? What is the attitude that you believe others perceive in you?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

• What specific thoughts and feelings do you have about your spouse and children?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

Therefore if there is any conso-lation

________________________

in Christ, if any comfort

________________________

of love, if any fellowship of the

________________________

Spirit, if any affection and

________________________

mercy, fulfill my joy by being

________________________

like-minded, having the same

________________________

love, being of one accord, of

________________________

one mind. Let nothing be done

________________________

through selfish ambition or con-ceit,

________________________

but in lowliness of mind let

________________________

each esteem others better than

________________________

himself. Let each of you look

________________________

out not only for his own inter-ests,

________________________

but also for the interests

________________________

of others. (Phil. 2:1–4)

________________________

Be kind to one another, ten-derhearted,

________________________

forgiving one

________________________

another, even as God in Christ

________________________

forgave you. (Eph. 4:32)

________________________

There is neither Jew nor

________________________

Greek, there is neither slave

________________________

nor free, there is neither male

________________________

nor female; for you are all one

________________________

in Christ Jesus. (Gal. 3:28)

________________________

4. What Do You Think About God? How Do You Feel Toward God?

Your thoughts and feelings determine your relationship with God. If you think of God as a judge who is keeping score continually about your behavior and judging you guilty and unworthy at every turn, you are far less likely to want to spend time with God in prayer or to meditate on His Word. On the other hand, if you think of God as a loving Father, you are much more likely to desire to spend time reading His Word and communicating with Him.

Your thoughts are directly related to your faith.

• How do you feel about God today—honestly? What ten words would you use to describe God? Your choice of words reflects your feelings and thoughts about God.

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

Hear, O Israel:The LORD our

________________________

God, the LORD is one! You

________________________

shall love the LORD your God

________________________

with all your heart, with all

________________________

your soul, and with all your

________________________

strength. (Deut. 6:4–5)

________________________

God spoke all these words,

________________________

saying: “I am the LORD your

________________________

God, who brought you out of

________________________

the land of Egypt, out of the

________________________

house of bondage. You shall

________________________

have no other gods before

________________________

Me . . . For I, the LORD your

________________________

God, am a jealous God,

________________________

visiting the iniquity of the

________________________

fathers upon the children to

________________________

the third and fourth genera-tions

________________________

of those who hate Me,

________________________

but showing mercy to thou-sands,

________________________

to those who love Me

________________________

and keep My commandments.

________________________

(Ex. 20:1–6)

________________________

God’s Challenge to Think Positively

Is a negative response to the life God sets before us ever warranted? No. Of all the people we encounter in the New Testament, the apostle Paul probably had the greatest reason to develop negative thinking. He encountered a host of negative situations and responses to his preaching of the gospel. The last years of his life were spent in confinement. Even so, read what Paul wrote to the Philippians from his prison chamber in Rome:

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me . . .

I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:10–13, 18–19)

Even though he was in prison, Paul wrote with an attitude of thanksgiving, encouragement, contentment, and faith in the Lord to supply not only his needs, but the needs of the Philip-pians. Paul was a man who chose to think God’s way—that adversity does not mean defeat—and to believe for God’s highest and best at all times. He was a man who chose to remain positive and hopeful about his future and the future of others.

Was Paul an idealist or a fantasizer? No. He was a realist. He didn’t deny that he faced problems or that he was in prison. Paul recognized, however, as we must, that life is never totally negative or totally positive. We can choose which side of life to think about, to believe for, and to aim at.

• What additional insights do you have into the verses above from Philippians 4?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

Lining Up Our Thinking and Feeling with God’s Word

We each are challenged to line up our thinking and our attitudes with God’s Word. Many of us have been “programmed” to think and to respond to life in ways that are contrary to God’s best. Paul wrote to the Romans:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Rom. 12:1–2)

The transformation of our minds to be conformed to the things of God is our responsibility, nobody else’s. The word for “renewing” the mind is a word that means “to make a change.” We each must choose to change the way we think so that our thoughts and feelings are in line with God’s truth.

• What insights do you have into this passage?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

• Reflecting back over your life since you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, identify several specific ways in which you have been “transformed by the renewing of your mind” so that you have a better understanding of what is pleasing to God.

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

Your word I have hidden in my

________________________

heart,

________________________

That I might not sin against

________________________

You. (Ps. 119:11)

________________________

Set your mind on things above,

________________________

not on things on the earth.

________________________

(Col. 3:2)

________________________

• What new insights do you have into the impact that your thoughts and emotions have on your pursuit of success?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

• In what ways are you feeling challenged in your spirit to change your attitudes or thoughts?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

NINE

A SUCCESSFUL

USE OF TIME

Success can not be separated from a wise use of time. Many people attempt to be successful without any thought to time, but those who truly attain success are those who have learned to respect and honor time in their lives. The apostle Paul had this to say about time management:

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (Eph. 5:15–16)

To “walk circumspectly” is to be careful in the way one lives. It is to live an intentional life—not a life of following every whim, but to pursue a course in life that is purposeful. It is to recognize that moments are important.

To the Galatians, Paul wrote, “Let us not grow weary while doing good . . . as we have opportunity, let us do good to all” (Gal. 6:9–10). The word for “opportunity” means “making the most of your time.” Time and opportunity are vitally linked to success.

• Reflect back over your life. Cite instances when you have been keenly aware of making the most of a particular time. Can you cite experiences in which you did not give due regard to time? What were the results?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

Time Is a Gift from God

God has given to each of us a length of time on this earth in which to fulfill His plan and purpose for us. Time is a gift to us. Our time on this earth is an unknown quantity. We cannot regain lost moments or relive hours. It is up to each of us to ask the Lord, “How can I use my talents and gifts from You in the time you are giving to me in order to best fulfill Your purpose?”

An Urgency About Time

Throughout the Bible we find references to the brevity of life and the swift movement of our lives through time. Rather than be discouraged about the brevity of the time we have on this earth, we should be all the more eager to make the most of every moment.

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

What is your life? It is even a

________________________

vapor that appears for a little

________________________

time and then vanishes away.

________________________

( James 4:14)

________________________

[ Job said,] “My days are

________________________

swifter than a weaver’s shut-tle.”

________________________

( Job 7:6)

________________________

A Call to Manage Time Wisely

The Lord expects us to manage our time wisely: creating a balance between work and rest . . . setting aside times for family and for being with Him, and making prayer and Bible reading a priority in our daily schedules. No person is asked to be a workaholic. To lead a nonstop work life is to live in disobedience to God’s commandment: “Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God” (Ex. 20:9–10).

Nothing is a waste of time if it is part of a balanced plan for time—a plan that is developed for the fulfillment of God’s purposes and for maximum usefulness, productivity, and efficiency in the use of a person’s talents and gifts.

Five Keys to Good Time Management

The Bible gives us five important and practical principles for good time management:

1. Seek God’s Guidance

God has ordained for you a series of good works to accomplish. Ask the Lord each morning to help you identify the good works that He has planned for you on that particular day. Ask the Lord to show you how and when and to whom you might minister by using the good gifts and talents He has given you.

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

We are His workmanship,

________________________

created in Christ Jesus for good

________________________

works, which God prepared

________________________

beforehand that we should walk

________________________

in them. (Eph. 2:10)

________________________

He no longer should live the

________________________

rest of his time in the flesh for

________________________

the lusts of men, but for the

________________________

will of God. For we have spent

________________________

enough of our past lifetime in

________________________

doing the will of the Gentiles . . .

________________________

As each one has received a

________________________

gift, minister it to one another,

________________________

as good stewards of the mani-fold

________________________

grace of God.

________________________

(1 Peter 4:2–3, 10)

________________________

2. Plan Your Schedule

Months can go by without your making any progress toward the fulfillment of your God-given goals if you don’t plan your schedule and set your God-given goals and dreams into the context of deadlines.

Ask the Lord to show you how to set your schedule for any given day, week, or year to allow for a good balance of work and rest, alone time and family time, input and output.

As we make plans, we must always remain flexible to specific ways in which the Lord may redirect our paths. James said,

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow . . . Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” ( James 4:13–15)

•What new insights do you have into this passage from James?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

3. Stay Organized

Continually searching for missing documents or items is a waste of time. Stay organized as you work. Throughout the Bible, we find numerous references about doing things and maintaining things in an orderly fashion. (See Exodus 40:1–16 as an example.) Organization is a key to efficiency. And efficiency is an important ingredient related to the rate of progress you can make toward achieving your God-given goals.

Consider what happens to a flock of sheep when no shepherd is present to “organize” them and keep them together in an orderly fashion:

They were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered. (Ezek. 34:5)

A similar thing happens to us when we fail to organize the tasks, events, and projects that are put into our care. A lack of organization can lead to loss, struggle, and emotional turmoil.

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

For God is not the author of

________________________

confusion but of peace . . . Let

________________________

all things be done decently and

________________________

in order. (1 Cor. 14:33, 40)

________________________

Direct my steps by Your word,

________________________

And let no iniquity have domin-ion

________________________

over me. (Ps. 119:133)

________________________

[See Luke 9:10–17. Note in

________________________

particular verse 14 and the “order”

________________________

that Jesus established for this group.]

________________________

4. Eliminate the Unimportant

Many things are not worthy of your time. Let them go! Other things are vitally important to your purpose on the earth. Emphasize them!

I am absolutely convinced that if a person will choose to lay aside all those things that result in a derailment or a detour from the main purpose God has for a person’s life, that person will be highly productive, and in turn, more efficient, and in the end, very successful. The Lord said to Joshua about His plan for Joshua’s life, “Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go” (Josh. 1:7).

Stay focused in your use of time and your pursuit of your goals!

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

[ Jesus taught this about a life

________________________

that is “focused” on what is

________________________

truly important,] “Narrow is the

________________________

gate and difficult is the way

________________________

which leads to life, and there are

________________________

few who find it.” (Matt. 7:14)

________________________

I have this against you, that you

________________________

have left your first love. Remem-ber

________________________

therefore from where you

________________________

have fallen; repent and do the

________________________

first works. (Rev. 2:4–5)

________________________

5. Review Each Day

At the close of a day, review the way in which you have spent your time. Evaluate your schedule. Compare what you did with what you intended to do. Ask yourself:

• Did I make good use of my time?

• Did I procrastinate?

• Was I able to maintain concentration?

• Did I engage in activities that truly were priorities?

• Did I make progress (even a little) toward the accomplishment of my God-given goals?

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

May the Lord give you

________________________

understanding in all things.

________________________

(2 Tim. 2:7)

________________________

Therefore know this day, and

________________________

consider it in your heart.

________________________

(Deut. 4:39)

________________________

Thus says the LORD of hosts,

________________________

“Consider your ways!”

________________________

(Hag. 1:5)

________________________

A Disciplined, Diligent Life Leads to Success

Ultimately, the wise use of time is a mark of a disciplined life. And a disciplined life is a life that, when focused on godly goals, results in success. In the Bible, a disciplined life is often called a “diligent life.” As you read through the verses below, ask the Lord to reveal to you ways in which you need to be more diligent in your use of time.

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

The hand of the diligent makes

________________________

rich. (Prov. 10:4)

________________________

The hand of the diligent will

________________________

rule. (Prov. 12:24)

________________________

The soul of the diligent shall

________________________

be made rich. (Prov. 13:4)

________________________

The plans of the diligent lead

________________________

surely to plenty. (Prov. 21:5)

________________________

As you put the five principles of good time management covered in this study into action on a daily, consistent basis, you are going to discover that you are not only growing in self-esteem, but that you are moving closer and closer to the fulfillment of God’s purpose for your life. You will not only be doing what the Lord has set before you to do, but you will be in the process of becoming the disciplined person that the Lord desires for you to be.

• What new insights do you have into the relationship between success and the wise use of time?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

• In what ways are you feeling challenged in your spirit?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

TEN

PERSISTING UNTIL

YOU SUCCEED

I have never met a person who didn’t want to succeed at something. At the same time, I have met very few people who are succeeding at everything—or even most things— they believe to be God-given goals for their life. Most people seem to allow something, or someone, to deter them, disappoint them, dissuade them, or discourage them from persisting in the pursuit of their goals.

God’s plan and purpose for you is an ever-growing plan and purpose. You will never fully arrive at all you can be; you will never do all that you are capable of doing. But each day we are called to continue to press toward becoming what God sets out as the character pattern for our lives: the fullness of the maturity of Christ Jesus. We are to continue to endure in our faith journey toward the goals God has put before us. There is no justification in God’s Word for giving up.

Persistence is the one trait you are going to find in the life of every person who has achieved something worthwhile in life. It is a combination of strong desire and willpower. It is the capacity to continue on course in the face of all types of difficulties, obstacles, and problems . . . and not quit. Persistence is raw determination to move forward rather than to stop or slide backward.

• In your life or in the life of someone you know, can you cite an experience in which sheer persistence made the difference between success or failure?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

Is Quitting Ever Justified?

Is there ever a good enough reason to quit persisting in the pursuit of your goals? No.

The apostle Paul wrote this to the Corinthians:

Are they ministers of Christ? . . . I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. (2 Cor. 11:23–28)

Is there any person alive today who has gone through so much hardship, pain, and difficulty in the pursuit of his goal? If anybody had a justifiable reason to give up, Paul did. Yet, there’s no indication in any of his letters that Paul ever quit pressing toward his goals. God calls us to pursue our goals regardless of outer circumstances.

• What insights do you have into 2 Corinthians 11:23–28? How did you feel as you read this passage?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

Factors That Impact Persistence

Several factors impact how persistent we will be in pursuing godly success:

• Focus—Our goals must be well-defined.

• God-given—We must have certainty that God has helped us set our goals.

• High value—We must see great value in accomplishing our goals, either for our own selves or for the benefit of others.

• Love factor—When our goals are directly related to someone we love and want to help, we are much more likely to persist in pursuing them.

Focused goals that have a clearly defined, eternal benefit to someone we love are very motivating!

Jesus gave several parables in which persistence was a key factor. In Luke 15 we read these words of Jesus:

What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing . . . Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? . . . Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. (4–5, 8, 10)

• What new insights regarding persistence do you have after reading these two parables?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

No allowances are made in the Scriptures for “circumstances,” “situations,” or “retirement.”We are to continue to pursue

God’s goals for our lives every day of our lives, regardless of external factors.

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

The love of Christ compels us.

________________________

(2 Cor. 5:14)

________________________

Now it came to pass, when the

________________________

time had come for Him to be

________________________

received up, that He steadfastly

________________________

set His face to go to Jerusalem.

________________________

(Luke 9:51)

________________________

[Jesus said,] “No one, having

________________________

put his hand to the plow, and

________________________

looking back, is fit for the king-dom

________________________

of God.” (Luke 9:62)

________________________

[Note: Read this entire parable for

________________________

a greater understanding of the

________________________

context for this statement by Jesus.]

________________________

• What is it today that is compelling you to persist in pursuing your goals?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

What about Striving?

There are those who claim that we are to cease all striving and to “rest” in the Lord (see Ps. 46:10; 37:7). Do these admonitions mean we are not to persist or to press on with diligence and steadfastness? No. These verses about resting in the Lord are related to putting our trust in the Lord. We are to rest in Him completely, trusting Him with our whole heart.

Did Jesus struggle and strive to make things happen? No. He trusted the Father. But did Jesus continue to pursue the Father’s goals for His life? Absolutely yes—all the way to the cross.

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

Ruth said:

________________________

“Entreat me not to leave you,

________________________

Or to turn back from following

________________________

after you;

________________________

For wherever you go, I will go;

________________________

And wherever you lodge,

________________________

I will lodge;

________________________

Your people shall be my people,

________________________

And your God, my God.

________________________

Where you die, I will die.

________________________

And there will I be buried.

________________________

The LORD do so to me, and

________________________

more also,

________________________

If anything but death parts you

________________________

and me.”

________________________

When she [Naomi] saw that

________________________

she was determined to go with

________________________

her, she stopped speaking to

________________________

her [to try to convince her to

________________________

stay behind]. (Ruth 1:16–18)

________________________

I am with you in spirit, rejoicing

________________________

to see your good order and the

________________________

steadfastness of your faith in

________________________

Christ. As you therefore have

________________________

received Christ Jesus the Lord,

________________________

so walk in Him, rooted and built

________________________

up in Him and established in the

________________________

faith . . . abounding in it with

________________________

thanksgiving. (Col. 2:5–7)

________________________

Beware lest you also fall from

________________________

your own steadfastness, being

________________________

led away with the error of the

________________________

wicked. (2 Peter 3:17)

________________________

Why Persistence Is Required

Persistence is required if we are going to overcome certain things that come into the life of every person from time to time:

• Discouragement. We must persist in pursuing God’s success for us even when we don’t see much being accomplished or our efforts seem futile.

• Failures and Mistakes. All of us fail and make mistakes from time to time. We live in a fallen world, and there’s no getting away from the inevitability of error. We must learn from our failures and move on, determined to act more wisely in the future.

• Weariness. We must persist even when we become physically and emotionally tired. Take a rest, but don’t quit!

• Recall experiences in which you felt discouraged, failed, or felt weary. What did you do to renew your motivation to pursue your goals in life?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

Five Principles Related to Persistence

We must always keep in mind several principles that pertain to persistence:

1. A person is not a failure just because he fails. The difference between an unsuccessful and a successful person is this: The successful person keeps getting up each time he is knocked down. You aren’t a failure until you give up.

• Recall in your own life an experience in which you initially failed, but were later successful.

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

2. A “test” does not mean that we are to stop pursuing a goal. A test is an opportunity to learn a valuable lesson on your way to reaching your goals. It is not a “stop” sign, but very often a “yield more to the Lord” sign, a “caution” sign, or a “return to the main road” sign!

3. In every failure, you’ll find a seed of equivalent success. Choose to learn something from every mistake you make. Some of the most valuable lessons you will learn in life relate to “what doesn’t work” or “what not to do.”

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

Blessed is the man who endures

________________________

temptation; for when he has

________________________

been approved, he will receive

________________________

the crown of life which the Lord

________________________

has promised to those who love

________________________

Him. (James 1:12)

________________________

My brethren, count it all joy

________________________

when you fall into various

________________________

trials, knowing that the testing

________________________

of your faith produces patience.

________________________

But let patience have its perfect

________________________

work, that you may be perfect

________________________

and complete, lacking nothing.

________________________

(James 1:2–4)

________________________

Take the helmet of salvation,

________________________

and the sword of the Spirit,

________________________

which is the word of God;

________________________

praying always with all prayer

________________________

and supplication in the Spirit,

________________________

being watchful to this end with

________________________

all perseverance. (Eph. 6:17–18)

________________________

4. Bury your failures. Don’t frame your failures or keep revisiting them with remorse. Bury them and move on. If forgiveness is required, ask God to forgive you and ask others to forgive you. But then forgive yourself and get busy again in the pursuit of your God-given goals.

5. Be quick to forgive others. A person can get so caught up in the “blame game” or in scheming revenge that he loses all momentum in the pursuit of his goals. We each are responsible for our own actions, responses, and feelings. And there is never any justification in God’s Word for hurting someone else, harboring unforgiveness, or taking vengeance in our own hands. Ultimately, the “blame game” hurts us more than it hurts others.

What the Word Says

What the Word Says to Me

[Jesus said,] “Forgive, and you

________________________

will be forgiven.” (Luke 6:37)

________________________

[Jesus said,] “If you forgive men

________________________

their trespasses, your heavenly

________________________

Father will also forgive you. But

________________________

if you do not forgive men their

________________________

trespasses, neither will your

________________________

Father forgive your trespasses.”

________________________

(Matt. 6:14–15)

________________________

[Jesus said,] “Judge not, that

________________________

you be not judged. For with

________________________

what judgment you judge, you

________________________

will be judged; and with the

________________________

measure you use, it will be

________________________

measured back to you.”

________________________

(Matthew 7:1–2)

________________________

Keep Your Eyes on the Goal!

Periodically revisit your goals. Recall to your own mind the reasons your goals were important to you and to God. Rekindle your passion for reaching your God-given goals.

Refuse to listen to negative criticism. Good advice, rooted in a desire to see you succeed, and to do so with as few errors as possible, is highly valuable. But criticism—a tearing down of your idea, an effort to diminish the value of your goal, or an effort to thwart a good cause, service, or production of a good product—should never be heeded. Listen to what God says about you.

Surround yourself with people who will encourage you. You’ll find it much easier to persist in the pursuit of your goals if you are surrounded by people who are encouraging you onward and who believe, as you do, that God is with you and God will help you.

Remember always that God never gives up on you. He does not waver from His purposes and plans. Paul wrote to the Philippians, “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6). God is never going to give up on the perfecting work He has started in you. Did God give up on you when you were a sinner? No.

Did God give up on you when you blew it and failed in your witness? No.

Did God give up on you when you strayed from Him and began to pursue your own desires and lusts? No.

Did God give up on you when you gave up in discouragement on the goals He gave you? No.

Will God ever give up on you? No!

God is always ready and eager to help you begin again, to start over, and to make another attempt. Turn to Him and receive the help He so generously offers.

• What new insights do you have into the need for persistence if you are to reach your God-given goals?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

• In what ways are you feeling challenged in your spirit?

________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

CONCLUSION

WELL-ORDERED

STEPS

One of the most important marks of Christian maturity is an ongoing and continual recognition that the Lord is the One who makes possible all good things in our lives. It is the mature believer who proclaims in all circumstances, “Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father” (see James 1:17).

Even when things seem dark, times are tough, or life seems unsettled, we can know with assurance that God is in charge of our lives and He is working all things together for our good. The Bible tells us,

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD,

And He delights in his way. (Ps. 37:23)

In good times and bad, on mediocre days and exhilarating days, in periods of joy and periods of heavy toil, our stance before the Lord must be, “God,You’re in charge. God, I have no success other than what You help me achieve.”

Trust God today to order each step you take toward the success He desires for you. Trust Him to order your steps and arrange all the details of your journey as you walk in faith. If you are walking along God’s chosen path for you, and you are trusting Him to order each step, you will experience success— God’s way!

Table of Contents

Introduction: God Wants You to Experience Success!

1. Defining Success—God’s Way

2. God’s Commitment to Your Success

3. Setting Godly Goals

4. God’s Personal Success Pattern for You

5. Pursuing God’s Goals

6. Money and Success

7. Hurdling the Roadblocks to Success

8. Successful Attitudes and Ideas

9. A Successful Use of Time

10. Persisting Until You Succeed

Conclusion: Well-Ordered Steps