Thought for Thursday, February 23rd

February 23, 2012

The Success of Surrender

The plans of the heart belong to man; But the answer of the tongue is from Jehovah.  All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; But Jehovah weigheth the spirits.  Commit thy works unto Jehovah, And thy purposes shall be established.

Proverbs  16:1-3

I know that there is nothing better for them, than to rejoice, and to do good so long as they live.

Ecclesiastes 3:12

But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Hebrews 13:16

Quote of the Day

“Success is to laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty and find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived – this is to have succeeded.” – Ralph  Waldo Emerson

Today’s Thoughts and Insights

Success can be many things to many people: however for the Christians the greatest success in life comes and is attained in direct proportion to the individual’s willingness to surrender to God.

Real success comes when we can give up our goals, our ambitions and our desires so that they can be replaced with Gods.   While we would like to all believe that what we want is what God wants: sometimes the two are not the same.

Every moment that God gives is an opportunity for us to allow Him to use us to make someone else’s life better; to make a difference in the world around us; to turn hearts towards Him and to facilitate others in growing in their faith.

The interesting thing about surrendering to allow God to do these things through us is that in so doing we have allowed God to do the same and more in us.  Now that’s what I call success.

“Life is a succession of moments.  To live each one [In Christ] is to succeed.” – Corita Kent

Today’s Prayer

Father, you are the lily of the valley the bright and morning star and the secret to all the success I could ever hope to have.  Help me to be faithful to surrender so that I can experience ultimate success through You.

“The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.”

[God’ s Spirit having liberty to work in You]

-          Jimmy Johnson

“Word of God speak, pour down like rain…”

- from ‘Word of God Speak’ by Mercy Me