Success, Success, Success!

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     "I will be successful." I'd determined that in my heart and would let nothing stop me. For as long as I can remember, I've wanted to be successful. I dreamed of having a nice home, nice car, a great career- the American dream. A modern day Mrs. Clair Huxtable! Society teaches us all about success- go to school, get a degree so you can have a career. The more schooling you obtain, the more knowledgeable and skillful you become. The more knowledgeable and skillful, the more successful you are. Now I'm not against being successful, but my view/definition of success changed dramatically one day. I asked myself, what does it really mean to be successful? It was at the beginning of my junior year in college and I took a moment and evaluated my life. Where was I going? What's the purpose of what I'm doing? The desire to succeed then was based solely on my own desire and agenda..... until God opened my eyes. 
     At the start of my junior year at ULL, I'd grown tired of the world and only wanted more of God. I prayed a prayer that changed the course of my life, "Father, break my heart for the things that break yours. Give me the desires of your heart."  When you pray a prayer as such, be ready for change. God transformed my mind and I was no longer conformed to the world's way of thinking. I now had the mind of Christ. My idea of success changed from wanting nice things to a desire to see people coming to the full knowledge of Christ and the will of God in their lives. When you're no longer bound to the world's way of thinking, you can truly surrender your mind to Christ. *Nothing is wrong with nice things, but be sure having and obtaining material things is not an idol in your life. Go to school and get a degree, but don't let that define you. Instead allow it to be God's way of pushing you into your destiny by using your gifts and talents for His glory- whether's it's television broadcasting, lawyer, nurse, teacher, pro sports, etc..*
     One last question to ponder: Who's success are you chasing- God's or the world's? Are you saving souls or getting rich or going to die trying? Heed the words of a wise man, "Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches— Feed me with the food allotted to me; Lest I be full and deny You, And say, “Who is the Lord ?” Or lest I be poor and steal, And profane the name of my God." (Proverbs 30:8, 9 NKJV).  When Jesus walked the earth, his only concern was doing His Father's business. God has given us everything we need pertaining to life and godliness. He has a plan and purpose for each and everyone of us. A plan to prosper and not harm us (Jeremiah 29:11). Wherever you are in life, I encourage you to be content and enjoy where you are in life. It's so easy to miss out on being happy and rush our lives by looking forward to when things will get better or achieving the successful life we've conjured up for ourselves. There are many successful people in the world's standards that's not so successful spiritually. In the end, spiritual success trumps worldly success. (You can be successful in both) When you put your hope and trust fully in God and surrender your all to Him, now that's success! 

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6:33, NKJV) 

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