Readings:
Genesis 11:1-9
Psalm 33:10-15
Mark 8:34,9:1
SUCCESS IS EVERY YOUNG PERSON’S OBSESSION: It has to be an obsession to be worth it. Not everyone succeeds and it is not for lack of trying. But there are a number of factors that bear considering if a person is to execute their plans and succeed. When I speak of success, I am not referring to one aspect of life. To succeed in one thing and fail woefully in others, is no success. You have to succeed in the spiritual as much as in the mundane. All-round success is the goal of life. The word we use in the Christian faith to describe success is HOLINESS.
HOLINESS IS COMPLETE SUCCESS: To be whole is to achieve all-round discipline and perfection. In principle, holiness is not fully attained in this world. We strive towards holiness and hopefully we shall attain it in our final union with God in heaven. To attain holiness and all-round success, you need a plan. And Jesus has the winning formula: “If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34). But I am a Christian. Why do I keep failing? To be Christian is to follow Christ’s instruction above to the letter.
RENOUNCE YOURSELF: Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” As beautiful and as lofty as your ideas might be, you need to subject them to the test of what God expects of you. A lot of plans fail at this stage because we just want to do what we have in mind. And just like the men who wanted to build the tower of Babel so that they can go and overthrow God, your plans will only land you in confusion. So, seek God’s face and present your plans to Him. "Entrust your work to the Lord, and your plans will succeed." (Proverbs 16:3).
Pray: Lord, here are my plans. I place them in your hands. Guide my thoughts and actions. Guide me in the use of my time, talents and treasures. Let all that I do be in line with your perfect will. Amen.
TAKE UP YOUR CROSS: Galatians 6:14 – But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. The Cross is the teachings of Christ and His Church which serves as the roadmap for your journey through life. Rejection of the Cross means that you are guided by anti-Christian principles (persons, books, strange ideas from questionable sources etc.)
Pray: Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like yours. Amen.
FOLLOW ME: Matthew 4:19 – “…and I will make you fishers of men”.
Following Jesus means trusting Him daily with your plans and ensuring that you consciously live your life so that you guide others to Him. Your life belongs to God; you no longer live for yourself. You are a gift. Your life is given to you so that you may in turn give it to others. We fail woefully (even when we think we are becoming rich and popular) when we live only for ourselves.
YOU WERE BORN TO SUCCEED.
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness (2 Peter 1:3; NIV).
JUDE MARY OWOH
Prayer:
The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows His handy work. Glory be to God.
Lord I have no power of my own, all that I am, all that I own I surrender to your keeping, in Jesus name.
Father perfect all that concerns me, in Jesus name.
I pray that today, you will surrender your life to God. He will raise you up and establish you in grace and favour in Jesus’ name.
Father have mercy on your children that are hurting, that are labouring in hardship and there is nothing to show for it, that are at the cross roads, in Jesus name.
God of all flesh, in your mercy, use the situations in our nation to the glory of your holy name, in Jesus name.
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