Joshua 1:8 “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”

Many people want the secret to success, and here it is expressed very clearly: get God’s word into you thoroughly, and do what it says. Anyone who fails to do this doesn’t succeed in all areas, however successful they might seem, because they don’t succeed in having a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. The current political campaign in the US is making it very clear how few genuine Christians are in the public eye, because of all the statements that are being made about how “extreme” or even “dangerous” certain candidates are for being forthright about their faith. “Why, they would pray and seek God’s guidance above any other! Horrors!” Such critics would be completely laughable if they weren’t so pathetic. The point is, whoever you are and whatever you are doing, success is in the hands of God. It generally requires our cooperation, as in actively seeking to make God’s Word the foundation of our lives, but as Solomon noted, time and chance happen to everyone, (Ecclesiastes 9:11) and anxiety won’t change that. Even many Christians are practical atheists in their daily lives, because they don’t consider what God wants them to do and fail to seek His guidance. That’s no way to succeed!

I’ve done better than many in this area, but I’m far from perfect. By God’s grace a lot of His Word is ingrained in me, but I could do better about seeking His guidance about the details of my life. The flip side of that is being active in obedience when I know what He wants me to do. It is an indication of the immaturity of my faith that I sometimes do things I know He doesn’t desire, and I sometimes fail to do things I know He desires. I am charged with leading others to grow in faith, but I must not forget how much room my own faith has to grow. Jesus is my example, and He perfectly listened to His Father and obeyed Him. As a result, nothing He did was a failure, however it looked to those around Him in the short term. The trial, scourging, and crucifixion were not failures, because they led up to His resurrection, which was the greatest success/victory of all eternity! I need to remember that, and let God be the judge of my success, trusting Him with who I am and what I do, for His glory.

Father, success feels good. Help me view it with Your eyes, and not those of the world. Help me be true to You and Your Word, so that at the end of my journey I may be able to say with Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith,” for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!