What is success?

 Last week I told one of our grandchildren that I wanted him to be successful in life. Later when I was praying I saw in my prayer book that I had written that as a prayer request for this grandchild. So I got to thinking what does that mean? What does it mean to be a successful person?

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I looked for a definition of success. This is what I found on the internet.

Success is the ability to reach your goals in life, whatever those goals may be. Other words used for success may be attainment, accomplishment, or progress. It is not necessarily a destination but a journey that helps develop the skills and resources you need to thrive.

There were five keys to success listed: Confidence, Perseverance, Organization, Getting Along, and Resilience.

There were four factors listed that contribute to or determine success: intelligence, social skills, work ethic, and luck.

Qualities of successful people were passion, optimism, persistence, creativity, self-discipline, a desire to improve, and a commitment to learning.

There were seven steps to happiness and success.
    Believe in yourself, and identify your natural talents and abilities…
    Develop a Vision. First, define your path and start working on your plan…
    Develop good habits. Happy and successful people choose good habits…
    Show gratitude…
    Take a chance…
    Give to others…
    Take responsibility…

These are all good points and thoughts and ideas for the world we live in but.......what about success in spiritual terms?

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I turned to Got Questions.org to see what this site said about spiritual success. This is what it said:

Riches? Pv. 22:2 says God makes both the rich and the poor. He is the giver of all things to all people.

Skills and abilities? I Cor. 4:7 “For who makes you to differ from anyone else? What do you have that you have not received?” Our abilities and skills come from God.

Influence and power? John 3:37 “A man can receive only what is given to him from heaven.’ If a man is successful it is only because God has given him or her that ability.

Things of the world? I Jn. 2:15-17 “Do not love the world or anything in the world.” If we love the world and what it provides more than we love God we will find our lives to be empty.

True success is to have salvation and to know God. Lk. 10:20 ‘…rejoice that your names are written in the book of life.’ When you have salvation you will have the promise of eternal life which is stated as not a length of time but a quality of life where you are known by God and are in His presence. We are not to rejoice because of our abilities, victories, and possessions in this world. True success in which we rejoice is: being saved, overcoming this world by His grace, and communion with Jesus.

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So as I recap about encouraging our grandson to be successful:
    I am thankful for his commitment to our Lord and his profession of faith…
    Now may he overcome the world by using what God has given him and keep his focus on Christ! May he and you and I be successful in God's eyes! May we truly follow and obey Him!

The 'Times' are unsettling...worrying won't help....

There is much to worry about here on the earth. I think I mostly worry about our family. Will this generation and the generations that follow know Christ as their personal Savior? But I also worry about this world….. it is a disaster! I like to know what is happening in the world but lately, it has about gotten me down.

I was talking with Gail and telling him that hearing of the world events, particularly the events in the USA, was making me anxious and nervous and stealing my joy and peace. He said he was just reading a book by Dr. David Jeremiah about the end times. Dr. Jeremiah said we know what is going on around us and it is bad. Evil is very prevalent. God’s ways are not heeded. So we especially now need to keep our eyes on God and know He is in charge. Be calm, have peace, and be confident. There are many verses in the Bible to remind us that God is with us. Deut 20:3,4 …”hear, O Israel, today you are drawing near for battle against your enemies; let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them, for the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.” We need to remember God is in charge and is with us fighting for us. Harm may physically come to us but spiritually nothing can snatch us from His hand.

I also read recently in a book by Dr. Robert Jeffress called Walking by Faith that ‘worry is assuming responsibility that God never intended us to have. It’s assuming responsibility that belongs to God. Whenever we start worrying about the things God is responsible for, we will get burdened with anxiety.’

I also heard a daily devotional from Charles Stanley that talked about the need for us to have joy.  The scripture used was from Zephaniah.  God told the Israelites that they needed to have joy, God was in charge, but difficult days would come.  

The devotion also used Hebrews 12:2 Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

It really impressed on me the hard time Jesus was facing.  It was much worse than anything we could face today!  God was with Him.  He is with us.  Have joy and trust our awesome God!

Worrying is carrying tomorrow's load with today's strength- carrying two days at once.  It is moving into tomorrow ahead of time.  Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength.  - Corrie ten Boom.