The Answers for Success

We strive everyday to be successful in what we do, whether it be Working a 9-5 job or raising a brood of kids. what we often forget and push to the wayside is that God has given us the keys to success. His inspired word shows what we need to do daily to be successful. While searching my heart for what to write about, God kept bringing me back to the book of Proverbs. In Proverbs chapter 3:1-12 God shares what we need to do, and what we should expect if we do these things. As we begin reading here God first calls us to keep his commandments, and he adds that if we do, he promises to add peace to us and a long life. as we read further God asks us to “Lean not on our own understanding” this tells us that we need to trust in God completely. We need to put our trust in Him alone, not in ourselves. When you truly trust in God you will “..by prayer and Supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God”(Philippians 4:6 KJV) and then it goes on to tell us in verse 7 that “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”(Philippians 4:7 KJV) This scripture shows us that when we trust in God and bring our needs to him, he will give us a peace about the situation. Back in Proverbs we see that if we acknowledge him he will direct our ways, he goes on to caution us to be humble,. We should repent(turn away from) our sins and follow him alone ,turning away from evil things of this world. If we do these things he says it will be beneficial to our health, which returns my eyes to Proverbs 3:2 where he promised a Long life if we follow his commands. God goes on to ask us to Honor him with our success, the success he has allowed us to have through him. This is asking us to use what God has given us to Glorify him more, because without him we are nothing. God then promises us that if we do these things our “barns will be filled with Plenty” this tells me that if we Glorify God with what we are given, he will allow us to receive more so that we can honor him. and finally in this passage God asks us to not despise the Correction of the Lord, that God only corrects or punishes us because he loves us. If we ask him to not correct us, we are truly asking him to Love us less. Throughout scripture, we see references of God’s hand or Rod of correction. God shows us the parallel throughout scripture of the loving father who corrects his children out of love alone. This embodies our God, God is our heavenly father who loves us and has to correct us at times so that we know we have done wrong.

In short, the key to success is that we need to trust in God and Follow him alone because he knows the ways we need to go. When we do these things God promises to give us a Long, Healthy, Successful Life so that we can Glorify Him. And if we do step off his appointed path for us, he will be there to correct us, like the loving Father he is. So I challenge you friend, Trust God and see where he leads you, I promise he has a Plan for you, a purpose you probably can’t even imagine at this stage of your life, but God will help grow you to that point in your walk that you can be an example for others to see where God can take you.

Are You a Contentious Wife?

I’m not writing this to say a fight between a couple is always the wife’s fault and I’m not writing this to say the wife is the only one that can be contentious. I’m writing this because it’s something I’ve struggled with and something I hope wives with be encouraged by.

I used to be known as the one who could argue with a sign post and when I got married, that didn’t change. I had to argue or spat about everything Miles said or done. Have you ever been there? Even though you have a good husband, you still want everything your way and you’re going to argue and fight until you get it your way? Yup, that was me! After I rededicated my life to Christ, God began to deal with my heart about the way I always argued with everything Miles said or done and how I wanted everything my way. Proverbs 25:24 came to my heart when God began to deal with me about the way I was toward Miles. I remember asking Miles if he felt like living on the roof and he was very honest and said he would rather live on the roof at times. Wow! That hit me like a ton of bricks! I was so contentious at times, that my husband would have rather lived on the roof. I couldn’t believe I was treating my wonderful husband this way! Miles is so good to me and I was being a horrible wife to such a good husband.

If you are a contentious wife, God can and will help you! First, ask God for forgiveness and then go to your husband and ask his forgiveness. Begin to pray for your husband and give him the respect he deserves and you will be surprised what a difference that will make in your marriage. Some of you are thinking, “well my husband doesn’t respect me or treat me like he needs too.” Here is my advice, (I’ll have another post about this soon) start showing him some respect and stop arguing and fighting with him all the time. Now don’t let your husband run over you and treat you like a dog, but do respect him. One more thing to do for your husband is pray for him! Every time you want to fight with your husband, pray for him. God can use you to be a Godly example to your husband. You are his wife, his best friend, and his helper. Start acting like it.

God has a Purpose for your Trials

As we all walk along life’s bumpy road we all have made mistakes, I know I haven't always been as devoted to the christian walk as I should have been through the years so Im sure you have had similar experiences through your daily walk. I recently had a co-worker mention about his pastor testifying for an extended period of time, this made him think about what life’s road had taken him through and what his testimony would be like. he seemed disheartened about the obstacles he had during his life, I offered him the story of a true transformation, Saul who became known as Paul after his transformation. Saul was said to a member of the Sanhedrin, a Pharisee and a Son of a Pharisee one of the most strict religious groups in Jewish culture at the time. Saul is first read about in Acts chapter 7. in this chapter we see the gruesome death of Stephen, at the hands of Saul. as we continue we see that Saul Continues to persecute the church of Christ, he obtains the blessings from the High Priest to send the christians to prison and send them to an eventual death. However God had other plans for Saul, Saul decided he was going to damascus to bound the christians and bring them back to jerusalem to stand trial. On the road to Damascus as he neared the city, Saul had a close experience with God. A great light surrounded Saul and he fell to the earth and heard a voice, the Son of God saying “Why are you prosecuting me Saul?” Saul trembling and astonished from the experience asked him “What shall I do?” Jesus said for him to go to the city and it will be told of you what to do. when the Saul got up he couldn't see, his group had to lead him into the city. Meanwhile God was working in the heart of Ananias and he instructed him to go to see Paul, Ananias was obviously skeptical of going to Saul because of his reputation, so he questioned God but God told him of the great work he will do for the Church. After Ananias spoke to Saul and through the power of God Healed him and them baptized him. Saul was a changed Man! so changed that he eventually went by the name Paul. Paul has a true Testimony the one who persecuted the church eventually became a strong part of the early church. Paul went forward to preach to the gentiles of God’s saving Grace. If this story doesn't get you excited then something is wrong. this story goes to show you that God can use anything in life to bring him Glory! Paul became a strong witness for Christ because of his past, He was “one of those guys” he saw the power of God and How he missed the mark in the beginning, but God used those events to build Paul’s Testimony. So the next time you get down in faith think about Paul and how you to have the opportunity to Glorify God through your past. Life is not about where you have been its about where your headed. Make the Best of the path God has Given you to walk, and Glorify him every chance you get. May God Bless you today!