The Whole Truth

Do not doubt that God wants you to succeed. o not be afraid to strive toward your goal. Fear ne gates faith.You must trust that you are not an accident with God and that He has a plan and a purpose for your life (Jeremiah 29:11, 12).You must believe that as a Christian, God is with you and He will help you find your success. Isaiah 41:10 states,“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yes, I will help thee; yes, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Saints are not lucky; we are blessed. According to the dictionary, to be bless ed is to be “divinely or supremely favored; fortunate; blissfully happy or contented.” Success is ours.“The plans of the diligent lead to profit” (Proverbs 21:5). You do not have to lie, cheat, steal, or manipulate to get what God has for you. However, you do have to study your craft for the ministry, career, or goal to which you have been called and appointed (2 Timothy 2:15).To quote Les Brown,“I’d rather be prepared for an opportunity and not have it, then to have an opportunity and not be prepared.” Or as Oprah Winfrey said,“Luck is preparation meeting the mo - ment of opportunity.Without the preparation, when the opportunity shows up and you are not ready, it means nothing.” One version of the Church Of God In Christ theme song states: “This is the Church Of God In Christ We are anointed, by God appointed This is the Church Of God In Christ” Your success comes from where God appoints you. “Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). TWT

The Bible is replete with wonderful stories about people who found great success when they followed the leading of God. Queen Esther saved her people from oppression. Joshua believed God and led his people across the Jordan River into the land God told him to possess. Moses led the people across the Red Sea. Jericho blew the trumpet and the walls tumbled down. Hannah prayed and successfully had a child. Ruth married a wealthy man. Deborah was a judge, and the list goes on. You do not have to be perfect for God to use you.Adam and Eve were disobedient, yet they were the father and mother of all civilization. Abraham was a liar, yet God made him the father of a great nation. Joseph had an attitude, but saved his people from starvation. David was an adulterer, but became a King. It is said that Elijah was bipolar and that Peter was a liar. Martha was jealous of her sister Mary, and Apostle Paul had a disability. Many Christians accept that Jesus died for their sins. They believe their healing was provided through the shedding of Christ’s blood on the Cross.Yet, they fail to understand that the same Blood of Jesus Christ made provision for their success. 3 John 1:2 states,“I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.” Some Christians become discouraged because they have waited a long time to achieve the success God promised. Philippi ans 4:6 tells us,“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanks giving, present your request to God.” Do not give up. You must remember that de lay is not denial. Proverbs 16:3 states,“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. This is a promise from God. God cannot lie (Num bers 23:19).What God promised, He will perform. Proverbs 3:6 states,“In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”You do not need fame to be considered successful.Your success may simply be as an encourager of others, a comedian that brings joy and laughter, a role model for a young person, a missionary, a teacher, a homemaker, etc.You are successful when you are in the will of God. Psalm 32:8 states,“I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go; I will counsel you and watch over you.”

Marion McNair is an Evangelist-Missionary at West Angeles COGIC (Los Angeles, CA).

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