Success is a Choice

Success is a Choice

Success is not an accident; it is a choice. The Bible clearly lays out the things we need to do to be successful in life. 

1) Respond to the Word of God. 

Jesus taught us how to respond to the Word when he said, “ ‘Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty…Therefore hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.’” (Matthew 13:3-8, 18-23)

The seed of God’s Word always produces when it is allowed to. The soil of our hearts must welcome and nurture the seed until it produces. It is not the fault of God’s Word when we experience seed failure. It is the problem of our heart, our soul.

The Joshua Generation is people who have put God’s Word as first place in their lives.

2) Submit to the Word of God. 

Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5) Jesus was telling us that to the degree we submit to God’s Word, we will live in God’s victory. He was saying, “Blessed are the teachable, for they shall be taught.”

3) Value and Keep the Word of God. 

Psalm 1 gives us the picture of the man who values and keeps God’s Word. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.” (Psalm 1:1-3)

4) Fill Our Hearts and Minds with the Word of God. 

The Word of God brings success into our lives. When we fill our hearts and minds with God’s Word, God’s Word will change us and produce God’s nature in us. We read in Romans 12:2: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

5) Meditate on the Word of God. 

When we meditate day and night in God’s Word, our lives become transformed. This transformation is the very purpose of God’s Word. All of God’s Word is filled with God’s life and power, and will greatly benefit your life. According to 2 Timothy 3:16-17: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

6) Become Students and Disciples of the Word of God. 

To receive the full power and life of God’s Word, we must become students and disciples of the Word. This is pointed out when Paul told Timothy to “be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)

Jesus said this about being a disciple: “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’” (John 8:31-32) The disciple is one who “continues in God’s Word.” It is the disciple who knows the truth that sets him free. The casual, compromising Christian does not qualify as a disciple, and thus does not receive truth on a regular basis to bring freedom into his life. 

The Joshua Generation is disciples of the Word of God. They honor and obey the Word of God and give it first place and priority in their lives.