E.P 2 – We discuss what the scriptures say about success, why God wants us to succeed and how can we align our goals with His purpose. By understanding God’s plan for us, we can navigate the journey of success with meaning and a sense of purpose.
Is it wrong to desire success?
You know, when I was growing up, I used to ponder a lot about something: “Is it wrong to desire success?” It’s a question many of us ask ourselves. We all want to do well, but sometimes we worry if it’s the right thing to aim for. We might feel a bit lost, not sure how to balance our dreams of success with our faith.
And guess what? I still ask myself that very question today. Even as I write this, I’m having a little chat with God, asking, “Can we really succeed in all parts of our lives?” I’m pretty sure you’ve had these thoughts too, especially when life throws those curveballs at us.
But here’s the thing I’ve come to realize: The word “failure” is just something we humans made up to describe when things don’t go as planned.
You see, as Christians, it is actually God’s plan for us to succeed. Just think about it for a moment: If God cares for us so much, would He want us to fail? But the real issue here is that sometimes we don’t really understand or want to accept God’s plan for our lives.
God's plan for us
In our first episode, we talked about something important: God’s desire for us to be spiritually saved (1 Peter 3:9-10) and physically blessed (Jeremiah 29:11, Proverbs 10:22). But what does this really mean? Well, let’s dive in.
God’s original plan, from the very beginning of creation, was for us to be like Him, to reflect His image and likeness, just like a child resembles their parent.
Genesis 1:28 (AMP) states that “God blessed them [granting them certain authority] and said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subjugate it [putting it under your power]; and rule over (dominate) the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and every living thing that moves upon the earth.”
Now, these words like “fruitful,” “multiply,” “subjugate” (which means to conquer), and “dominate” aren’t just about having lots of kids or being in charge of animals. They represent unique qualities that are meant to be part of the life of every true Christian.
When God’s nature fully takes over your life, you become a part of a family of “overcomers” known as Believers. And within this family, God’s blessings and promises are more than sufficient for each of us. This means that even when it may seem like you’re failing, in God’s eyes, you are more than a conqueror.
Embracing Christ
Today, many folks want to receive God’s blessings, but they’re not so keen on embracing His suffering. It’s crucial to grasp that success doesn’t mean a life free of problems, difficulties, trials, temptations, and mistakes. Actually, real success includes all these challenges, just like we see in the life of Christ (1 Peter 2:21).
Here’s the deal: God’s blessings and His suffering are like two sides of the same coin. If you’re aiming for prosperity in Christ, get ready to face discomfort, hatred, false accusations, persecution, isolation, and rejection. They are part of the package.
Now, God wants to bless us. But here’s the catch: God does not want to be one of your priorities; He wants to be your ONLY priority. When you align your life with God’s values and principles, your success gets redefined by His standards.
Salvation is Key
I’ve got a little secret to share with you today. Take it with a pinch of salt, but when I felt called to start this online platform, I kept asking God to help me truly understand the concept of “Success” according to His standards.
Here’s what I’ve come to realize: God isn’t as concerned about our success or failures as He is about our Salvation. That’s right, He’s all about ensuring we stay on the path of Salvation.
But here’s the kicker: Sometimes, challenges are the very things that keep us on that path. God looks at our journey, and if He sees that a particular blessing might lead us away from Him, He might just delay it or even put a stop to it. Why? Because He loves us that much, and He knows what’s best for our souls. So, don’t be discouraged by setbacks; sometimes, they’re blessings in disguise, guiding us toward our ultimate success—Salvation.
Remember what we talked about in the last episode? Joseph, despite all his troubles, found favor in the eyes of God and man. Tough times can reshape our character, desires, and intentions. And that’s what helps us maintain God’s blessings when they finally come.
More like Jesus
Let’s get a lil practical here. God, in His endless kindness, knows all our needs even before we open our mouths (Matthew 6:8, 2 Peter 1:3). Sounds kind of crazy, right? But He still wants us to ask Him. Why? Because asking is a way of showing humility and acknowledging that we rely on Him for everything.
So, what’s the next step? Well, from my own experience, I’ve learned to ask God for things a little less and pray more for God’s nature to fill me up. Just think about it: If God has everything we need, wouldn’t you want to have His nature within you?
Here’s a challenge for you today: Take a moment and meditate on these words, “God, I need more of you”. If you can, I encourage to play this song along side “Less like me” by Zack Williams.
I can’t even count how many times I say these words in my heart each day. You’ll be amazed at what God can do in your life when you invite His nature to shine through you. It’s a game-changer!
Next Episode
God's Blessing -
Do you consistently give glory to God for His countless blessings in your life? Join us in our next episode as we delve into the topic of God’s blessings and why we must give thanks to God always.
