God's Guidelines for our Walk of Faith: God's View of Success

I want to go back in the book-study today with Victory Over the Darkness. Remember the 8 areas of our life we talked about a few weeks ago? Success, Significance, Fulfillment, Satisfaction, Happiness, Fun, Security, and Peace. These eight areas are how we determine our core values. Let's think about how these can be lived out in our lives when we allow the Word of God to be applied to them.

I don't want this to feel like "Psychology 101", but I DO know how much taking these concepts apart and really thinking and praying about them has changed my whole life. If you'll let God speak to you about these areas, you may be surprised at what He might be trying to say and show to you about living your daily life.


2 Peter 1:3-10

3. seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of [the] divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 5. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in [your] moral excellence, knowledge; 6. and in [your] knowledge, self-control, and in [your] self-control, perseverance, and in [your] perseverance, godliness; 7. and in [your] godliness, brotherly kindness, and in [your] brotherly kindness, love. 8. For if these [qualities] are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9. For he who lacks these [qualities] is blind [or] short-sighted, having forgotten [his] purification from his former sins. 10. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;
 
 
1. Success. Key concept: Goals

This has been a huge one for me, so I'll spend some time here with this one.

I never really had a lot of major life "goals" until about ten years ago. At that time, I had a radical season of God flooding my life. Baptised in the Holy Spirit. However you want to put it, my life drastically changed. He became the all consuming focus of my life. Ministry opportunities came about, miracles were happening, my life took on a whole new dimension in the Spiritual realm. I felt a huge tug and calling on my life and it looked like a personal "ministry" was developing. THEN...the dreaded heart attacks came along, and my life changed once more. After just a few weeks, I got back on my spiritual "feet" again, but because of my fragile health the momentum was lost. God's power was still in my life, I just wasn't out there "doing" things for Him in the same way I had been.

Some people said the devil had a victory in my life, or that I was somehow to blame for what happened with my health. That really hurt emotionally, because I had never been closer to God than I was at that specific time. I was not prideful or walking out of God's parameters. Life just "happened". God knew all along that this was waiting for me around the corner. Did He plan it? No, it just happened. God doesn't bring sickness or disease on His children, any more than WE would put sickness or disease on our OWN children. Is He with us as we walk through it? You KNOW it! He's right there with us.

For several years after I really was miserable. Praying and still wanting things to be the way they were before, but they weren't. I felt like I was literally banging my head on the floor in prayer. Why, oh why, had this happened? I had let God down, I was missing out on my life calling, etc. etc....

Then several years ago, I gradually came to the understanding that I needed to be grateful for my life, however it was that I was living it. I wasn't a failure in God's eyes and I shouldn't consider myself one in my own eyes. I was alive, I have my family, God is providing...I'm still walking in faith. Maybe it's not what I "envisioned", but it's where I am right now. God had given me a "watchman's anointing" to see what is coming. It hasn't changed. But in my personal life I can now get up everyday, be thankful, and ask to be doing God's will, whatever that may entail.

We might never be "famous", rich, or powerful. We might never get to Paris. We may not be riding the wave, so to speak, but if we look to God and let Him lead us EVERYDAY, then we will be doing what God is asking of us. And when you get down to it, isn't that what it's all about anyway? A personal relationship with Jesus Christ that honors Him in our daily life. Then He can use us. Use us in ways we never imagined...but we have to be willing to set aside our personal agenda, and live our lives as God truly has called us. everyday. amen.

I'm asking for your prayers for health, healing, and peace for Debbie and Danny York. We all know them as "Trash" and "Cat Daddy". Debbie reads this blog faithfully and I consider her a dear friend, soulmate, and Christian Sis. I've never met her, but I know her. CD has been in the hospital since Sunday with a staph infection. Please be in agreement with all of us that he will be well soon and that they will find peace and rest in God's hands.

Update on the prayer request: Cat Daddy is out of the hospital and doing well.
God stepped in and sounds like Danny's getting back to his ornery self!!
Thank you everyone for your prayers!

love,

Debra