A Recipe For Success

 Who doesn't want a recipe for success?

I cannot think of a single person who does not want to succeed. From the most aggressive, goal driven mover and shaker to the meekest, come-what-may dreamer I know--everyone wants to succeed at something. The mover and shaker wants to make life happen. The dreamer wishes for nothing more than peace and quiet to allow her imagination to explore. I am somewhere in the middle.

Everybody has a goal, and desires to know how to get there.

In God's hands, your plan will succeed.

That sounds great! There is, however, a catch. You have to commit to the Lord whatever you do. Why is that a catch? Because so much of what we do is not committed to the Lord in any way, shape, or form. Not even close.

That business deal--why do you want it to succeed? Will it glorify God? Will His kingdom grow because of it? Or that relationship you so want to see flourish--why? Are you going to be closer to God, or farther away if it gets more serious?

Committing your plans to the Lord means letting His will be done, not yours. That might mean what you want isn't what happens. That's not failure--that's God succeeding.

Success is defined by God, not us.

We tend to define success as achieving what we set out to do. I don't think that's what Solomon meant when he wrote Proverb 16:3. The wisest man in the world understood that success can only be measured by God. Sometimes when we fail to get what we want, God succeeds. Jesus prayed that He would not have to face the cross, but also prayed for God's will to be done. Jesus didn't get what He asked for, but God certainly succeeded. Understand?

So it is with us. Committing whatever we do to the Lord means putting it in His capable hands and letting Him define success. Romans 8:28 says, And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. When God works things out for our good, that is success. Even if, in our eyes, we fail. Let Him decide what it means to succeed.

Whatever it is, give it to God.

Apart from Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5), but with Him, we can do anything (Philippians 4:13). So whatever you do, commit it to the Lord, and let Him lead you to His success.