The Secret to Success
“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
“Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.” 2 Corinthians 11:24-28
I don’t know your story, but I know mine. Seems like it’s been decades of one exceedingly hard thing after another. But my trials and tribulations have been NOTHING compared with those faced by most of this world. And NOTHING compared with the incredible trials faced by the apostle Paul!
How did he possibly live each day filled with love, joy, peace, contentment, thanksgiving, and relentless passion and dedication in loving and serving the Lord with all his heart and loving others as he gave up all the pleasures of this world to dedicate his life 100%, 24-7, to telling the world about the Lord Jesus Christ with unshakable fervor and faith?
The secret to his success was simple and three-fold:
- His trust for God’s forgiveness and his eternal future in heaven was in Jesus Christ alone.
- He held NOTHING back in living for God no matter the cost to his flesh and the price he paid by giving up the stuff and ways of this world.
- Where he LOOKED made ALL the difference!
What does LOOKING have to do with going through extraordinarily hard stuff? How can this be part of the secret to success in dealing with unbelievable seemingly insurmountable challenges? Paul didn’t keep the secret to himself. He tells us! We need to LOOK at God, to His Word, and to eternity with Him for those of us who repent of our sins, believe in Christ as Lord, and commit our lives to God and His ways! We need to get our hearts and eyes off our challenges and onto God! We need to train ourselves to do this, allowing the Holy Spirit to convict us when we have reverted our focus to the cares of this world and diligently, continually, dedicate ourselves to focusing on the Lord!
Need to change your focus?