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Your Best Life Now
Author: Joel Osteen
Publisher: Warner Books
Prepared By: Lori Pisani
Seminar:
MUMC Adult Sunday Forum
January, 2006
“Happy, successful, fulfilled individuals have learned how to live their
best lives now. They make the most of the present moment and thereby enhance their futures. You
can too.”
Joel Osteen
INTRODUCTION
There are seven
steps to improve your life, regardless of your current success or lack of it.
1.
Enlarge your vision
2.
Develop a healthy self image
3.
Discover the power of your thoughts and words
4.
Let go of the past
5.
Find strength through adversity
6.
Live to give
7.
Choose to be happy
To be the best
you can be:
1. Rid
yourself of some negative mindsets that are holding you back
2. Start
enlarging your vision
3.
See yourself as doing more, enjoying more, and being more
CHAPTER 1 - ENLARGING YOUR VISION
We must
conceive it on the inside before we’re ever going to receive it on the outside. Your own wrong
thinking can keep you from God’s best.
To live your best
life now, you must start looking at your life through eyes of faith, seeing yourself rise to new
levels. To conceive this, you must have an image on the inside of the life you want to live on
the outside. This image has to become a part of you, in your thoughts, your conversations, deep
down in your subconscious mind, in your actions, in every part of your being.( Ex. pgs.4-5,
beauty contest winner.)
What you keep
before your eyes will affect you. You will produce what you’re continually seeing in your mind.
Scripture says that God wants to pour out “His far and beyond favor.” Jesus said, “You cannot
put new wine into old wineskins.” Jesus was saying that you cannot live a larger life with
restricted attitudes. (Ex. Pg. 6)
God is constantly
trying to plant new seeds in your heart. He’s constantly trying to get you to conceive, to give
up antiquated ideas, and spawn new bursts of creativity within. The key is to believe, to
let the seed take root so it can grow.
God says, “Behold
I am doing a new thing. Do you not perceive it?” Are you making room in your own thinking? Are
you believing for increase? It’s not going to be by your own power. God said it’s going to be by
his spirit. The power of the Most High God shall come upon you and cause it to happen.
Jesus said, “If you believe, then all things are possible.”
CHAPTER 2 - RAISING YOUR LEVEL OF EXPECTANCY
Your
life will follow your expectancy. You have to change your thinking before you can ever change
your living. It’s important that you program your mind for success.
The
bible says, “Set your mind and keep it set on the higher things.”
Start your day with faith and expectancy and then go out anticipating good things. The
bible says, “Faith is a substance of things hoped for.” God usually meets us at our
level of expectancy. Jesus said, “According to your faith…be it done to you.”
You must make a conscious decision, an act of your will to maintain an attitude
of expectancy and keep your mind filled with thoughts of hope.
Maybe you need to
change your environment. Quit sitting around feeling sorry for yourself. Quit worrying about how
nothing is ever going to get better in your life. Instead, go out and find somewhere you can
dream. Find a place where people will encourage and inspire you, and challenge you to be the
best you can be. The bible says, “If you walk with wise men, then
you’re going to become wise.”
CHAPTER 3 - GOD HAS MORE IN STORE
What you
receive is directly connected to how you believe. Believe that God has
more in store for you. God is not limited your education or lack of it. He is not limited by
what you have or what you don’t have. God can do anything, if you believe. God is limited only
by our own lack of faith. He can do anything if you simply stop limiting Him in your thinking.
Too often we get
comfortable with where we are, and we use that as an excuse to remain in mediocrity. We
affect the generations to come with the decisions that we make today. God wants each
generation to go further than the previous one. He wants each generation to be more blessed, to
experience His love, goodness, and His influence on the world. He doesn’t want you to stay where
you are.
You have to say
“Enough is enough. I’m not going to pass these negative attitudes down to my children. I’m going
to break out of this cycle and change my expectations. I’m going to start believing in God for
bigger and better things.” (pg. 27)
God has more in
store for you. But if you are going to believe bigger and better things, you will have to break
some of the barriers of your past.
CHAPTER 4 - BREAKING THE BARRIERS OF THE PAST
Barriers
are in your mind. You will never go beyond the barriers in your mind.
Scripture calls this a “stronghold.” It’s a wrong thinking pattern that keeps us imprisoned in
defeat. And that’s why its’ so important that we think positive thoughts of hope, faith, and
victory.
Don’t
let your past determine your future. Today is a new day, and God wants
to do a new thing in your life. The bible promises that God will give us “A twofold recompense
for former shame.” That means that if you’ll keep the right attitude, God will pay you back
double for your trouble. He’ll pay you back with twice as much joy, peace, and happiness.
God sees all the
hurts and injustices we have suffered, and He’s promised to take all the evil that’s come into
your life, turn it around, and use it for your good. He is called “El Shaddai” “The God of more
than enough.”
The bible says,
“Enlarge the place of your tent. Let the curtains of your habitation be stretched out. Spare
not. Lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes, for soon you will be bursting at the
seams.”
God
works by faith. You must believe first, and then you’ll receive. God
is saying that if you make room for more of My blessings, I won’t disappoint you. Soon you’ll be
bursting at the seams. God wants you to be the one to rise up and put an end to that mind-set of
defeat in your family. Maybe you have been living with things that have been in your family for
two or more generations (abuse, alcoholism, etc). You have the opportunity to break the negative
cycle. You can choose to rise up and say, “With God’s help I’m
turning the tide. I’m trusting God, and taking responsibility for my own actions. I’m setting a
new standard.”
Keep your mind
focused on God’s goodness. Stay in an attitude of faith and victory, and you will no longer live
under the bondage that has been passed down from previous generations.
CHAPTER 5 - INCREASING IN FAVOR
The fourth aspect
of developing a fresh vision for your life is discovering how to experience more of God’s favor.
The bible clearly states that “God has crowned us with glory and honor.”
Honor can be translated into favor, and favor means “to assist, to provide with
special advantages, and to receive preferential treatment.”
If we are going
to experience more of God’s favor, we must live more “favor minded.” To be more “favor minded”
means that we expect God’s special help, and we are releasing our faith, knowing that God wants
to assist us.
Declare God’s Favor
Every
morning before you leave the house, say something like this- “Father, I thank You that I have
Your favor. Your favor is opening doors of opportunity. Your favor is bringing success into my
life. Your favor is causing people to want to help me.” Anytime
you get into a situation where you need favor, learn to declare it.
The
scripture promises “All things work for good to them that love the Lord.”
If you love God, he’s working life to your advantage and it will all work out for your good.
CHAPTER 6 - LIVING FAVOR MINDED
God wants to help
you in every area of your life, not just the big matters. God’s goodness is in the every day
ordinary details of your life. When you are living favor minded the
bible says that, “God’s blessings are going to chase you down and overtake you.”
The favor of God
can bring you out of your difficulties, and turn your adversities around for good. David said,
“The favor of God keeps my enemies from triumphing over me.” (pg. 49)
Live with an Attitude of Faith
Is someone
mistreating you today? Start saying, “Father, I thank You that Your
favor is coming on me in a new way, and it’s going to turn things around. It’s going to cause
people to start treating me well.”
If you are
struggling financially, say something like, “Father, I thank You
that you are causing me to be at the right place at the right time. You are bringing wonderful
financial opportunities my way.”
If you learn to
stay in an attitude of faith, and in your darkest hour boldly declare the favor of God, then
nothing is going to keep you down. The bible says, “Hope to the end
for the Divine favor that is coming to you.” Regardless of your circumstances, keep boldly
declaring “God, I know your favor is coming my way.”
Part II – Develop a Healthy Self-Image
Chapter 7 -Who Do You Think You Are
To develop a
healthy self-image, you must base your self-image on what God’s Word says about you. How you see
yourself and how you feel about yourself will have a tremendous impact on how far you go in life
and whether or not you fulfill your destiny. “You will never rise above the image you
have of yourself in your own mind.” Your self-image is who and what you picture yourself
to be.
God wants us to
have healthy positive self-images, to see ourselves as priceless treasures. He knows we’re not
perfect, but he loves us anyway. He created us in his self-image. He is continually shaping us,
and conforming us to His character, and consequently we must learn to love ourselves, faults and
all. God sees you as strong and courageous, as a man or woman with great honor and valor.
Start seeing yourself as God sees you. “Don’t focus on your weaknesses, focus on your
God.” Paul said, “When we are weak, God is strong.” Example – pgs.
60-61.
Learn to guard
your mind, control your thoughts in life, and begin to dwell on the good things of God. If you
always think little, believe little and expect little, then you will receive little. You must
break out of that poverty mentality and change that negative self-image.
Chapter 8 – Understanding Your Value
God focuses on the
things you’re doing right. He sees the best in you. As long as you are pressing forward, you can
hold your head up high knowing you are a work in progress, and God is in the process of changing
you.
Your sense of
value should be based solely on the fact that you are a child of the Most High God. Learn to be
happy with who God made you to be. The scripture says, “We are God’s workmanship.” The
word workmanship implies that you are not yet a finished product; you are a “work in progress.”
Our value is
intrinsic. It is not something you or I have earned; indeed we cannot earn it. God built value
into us when He created us. To God, we are His ultimate creations. The great thing is that God
knows everything about you, both good and bad, and He still loves you and values you
unconditionally. Don’t let other people, systems or circumstances influence your estimation of
your value. David wrote, “God has lifted me out of the horrible pit
and He set my feet upon a rock and He put a new song in my heart.”
Your dreams may
have not turned out exactly as you’d hoped for, but the Bible says that God’s ways are better
and higher than our ways. Even when everybody else rejects you, remember, God stands before you
with His arms open wide.
Chapter 9 – Become What You Believe
We receive what
we believe. The old adage, “Life is a self-fulfilling prophecy” can remain true in your
life as well. If you expect the worse, expect defeat, failure and mediocrity, you will get what
you expect. You become what you believe.
Believe for good
things. Even if the bottom falls out of your life, your attitude should be, “God I believe
that You’re going to bring me out stronger than ever before.” Understand this: God will help
you, but you cast the deciding vote. If you choose to stay focused on negative elements in your
life, if you focus on what you can’t do and what you don’t have, then by your own choice you are
agreeing to be defeated. On the other hand, if you get into agreement with God, if you’ll focus
on your possibilities, your faith can cause God to show up and work supernaturally in your life.
Your faith will help you overcome your obstacles and allow you to reach new levels of victory.
Example, pg. 75.
Dare to believe
for greater things. God wants you to have a good life, a life filled with love, joy, peace and
fulfillment. “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him.” God
said to Abraham, “I am going to bless you so that you can be a blessing to others.” God is
saying the same thing to you. He wants to bless you with abundance, so that you can turn around
and be a blessing to other people. You must get your hopes up. If you don’t have hope, you
won’t have faith. And if you don’t have faith, you can’t please God, and you won’t see His power
revealed in your life.
The Bible says
about God, “Be confident in this: He that began a good work in you will continue to perform it
until it’s perfectly complete.” The scripture says, “Many are the afflictions of the
righteous, but the Lord delivers them out of them all.” Phillipians 1:6
“There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started the
great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ
Jesus appears.”
Remember,
“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Look into the invisible world, into the supernatural world, and through your eyes of faith, see
that situation turning around. See your joy and peace restored. Stop limiting God with your
narrow-minded thinking. Learn how to conceive. Keep the image of what you want to become in
front of you. The Bible says, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with
God.” Your job is to be a believer. Your job is live with faith and expectancy.
The Bible says, “God’s ways are not our ways. They are higher and better than our
ways.”
Chapter 10- Developing a Prosperous
Mind-Set
Understand that
God has already equipped you to with everything you need to live a prosperous life. He planted
seeds inside of you filled with possibilities, incredible potential,, creative ideas, and
dreams. You have to start tapping into them. You have to believe beyond a shadow of a doubt
that you have what it takes. The Bible says, “God has blessed you with every spiritual
blessing.” You have to believe that you are blessed, seeing yourself as blessed, acting as
though you are blessed. You must remember that you are child of the Most High God. Example
Pg. 85-86.
You may have made
some bad mistakes in your life, but if you have honestly repented and done your best to do right
since then, you no longer have to live with guilt and shame. That does not change God’s
convenant with you. You are still a child of the Most High God. He still has great things in
store for you. You have to be bold and claim what belongs to you. You don’t have to live in
guilt and condemnation any longer; you don’t have to go
through life
worried and full of fear. The price has been paid.
Chapter 11 – Be Happy With Who You Are
You can dare to be
happy with who you are right now and accept yourself, faults and all. Most people are insecure
about who they are, so they constantly try to gain the approval of everybody around them so they
can feel better about themselves. They end up living to please other people, trying to fit into
their molds so they can be accepted. They live a life of pretense, wearing various masks, and
hoping to please everybody. They are not being true to anyone, especially themselves.
If you are going
to enjoy your life to the full, you must be confident in the individual God made you to be. You
were not created to mimic somebody else. You were created to be you. God has given us all
different gifts, talents, and personalities on purpose. You don’t really need anybody else’s
approval to do what you know God wants you to do. Your attitude should
be, “I am confident in who I am. I am not going to go around pretending, wishing I was something
else, trying to fit into everybody’s mold. I am free to run my own race.”
The truth is, we
must al learn to appreciate our differences. You need not feel insecure because you don’t have
the same physical, emotional, or intellectual traits that someone else has. Be happy with who
God made you to be. The scripture says, “Let each one examine his own work.” Be the best
you can be, then you can feel good about yourself. Example Pg. 95
When you face
difficult decisions or uncertain choices, it helps to seek counsel from someone you respect.
The Bible says, “There’s safety in a multitude of counselors.” We should always stay open
and be willing to take advice. But after you’ve prayed about something and looked at all of the
options, if you still don’t feel good about it, be bold enough to make a decision that is right
for you.
Part III
Discover the Power of Your Thoughts and Words
Chapter 12- Choosing the Right Thoughts
The third step you
must take if you want to live at your full potential is to discover the power of your thoughts
and words. Your enemy’s number one target area is the arena of your thoughts. Thoughts
determine actions, attitude and self-image. Really, thoughts determine destiny.
That’s why the Bible warns us to guard our minds. Your life will always follow
your thoughts.
Our thoughts also
affect our emotions. We will feel exactly the way we think. You will never be happy unless you
first think happy thoughts. Set your mind on higher things. We can choose our thoughts.
Nobody can make us think about something. You decide what you will entertain in your mind.
You can decide to cast out and dismiss negative thoughts from your mind. If you make a mistake
and dwell on it, that thought will affect your emotions and your attitude, and if you continue
to give it free reign in your mind, it will inevitably affect your actions. You will be much
more prone to discouragement and depression. You will lose your motivation to move forward in a
positive direction. The only person who can improve the situation is you! We must take
responsibility for our actions. As long as we keep making excuses and blaming others, we will
never be free and emotionally healthy. It’s time to think about what you’re thinking about.
Focus your
thoughts on the One who promised, “Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.” Jesus
said, “In this life you will have trouble, but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world.”
As you dwell on God’s Word, you will be filled with hope. You will develop a positive attitude
of faith, and you will draw in the victory. Scripture says, “Strip off the old nature and
put on the new man. Be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind, having a fresh mental and
spiritual attitude.” You must change your thought patterns and start dwelling on the good
things of God. “As a person thinks in his heart, so he will become.” When you think positive,
excellent thoughts, you will be propelled towards greatness, inevitably bound for increase
promotion, and God’s supernatural blessings. The Bible says, “Set your
minds on the things which are above.”
Paul said,
“Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things
are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue
and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.” If you choose to stay
focused on the positive and keep your mind set on the good things of God, all the forces of
darkness are not going to be able to keep you from moving forward and fulfilling your destiny.
Ex. Pgs.106-107.
When you get up
each day say, “Father, I’m excited about today. This is a day You have made; I am going to
rejoice and be glad in it. God I know You reward those who seek You, so I thank You in advance
for Your blessings, Your favor, and the victory in my life today.” Then go out and live
with expectancy, live with faith. The Bible says, “We should cast down
every wrong imagination and take into captivity every wrong thought.”
God longs to make
something great out of your life. He’ll take a nobody and shape that person into a somebody. But
you must cooperate with God’s plan; you must start thinking of yourself as the champion God made
you to be. God has confidence in you.
Chapter 13- Reprogramming Your Mental
Computer
Your mind is
similar to a computer. What you program into it dictates how it will function. Before we were
ever formed, God programmed us to live abundant lives, to be happy, healthy, and whole. God
made you, and He has programmed you for victory. The Bible says, “I have set before you life
and death, blessings and curses, positive and negative; therefore God sys choose life.” We
must choose to dwell on the good and the positive. Choose to dwell on what you have, not on
what you don’t have. Choose to think the right thoughts. If you stand guard over the doorway of
your mind and keep your mind focused on good things, “God will keep you in perfect peace.”
Ex. Pgs. 116-117.
Jesus said, “If
you believe, all things are possible.” The Bible says, “Don’t get weary and faint in your mind.”
Remember you must first win the battle in your mind. Stand strong. When negative thoughts
come, reject them and replace them with God’s thoughts. When you are in that attitude of faith,
you are opening the door for God to work in your situation. Stay focused. Stay full of faith.
Stay full of joy, Stay full of hope. Make a conscious decision that you are going to stay in a
positive frame of mind.
Chapter 14 – The Power in Your Words
Our words become
self-fulfilling prophecies. Your subconscious mind picks up your words, treats them as true,
valid statements, and then sets about trying to fulfill them. Guard what you say. Scripture
says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue; you will eat the fruit thereof.” In
other words, you create an environment for either good or evil with your words, and you are
going to have to live in that world you’ve created. God wants us to use our words to change our
negative situations. Don’t talk about a problem, talk about the solution. The Bible says,
“Let the weak say I’m strong. Let the oppressed say I’m free, Let the sick say I’m healed. Let
the poor say I’m well off.” No matter what obstacles are in your path you must boldly say,
“Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world.”
Chapter 15 – Speaking Life-Changing Words
We serve a
supernatural God. He is not limited to the laws of nature. He can do what human beings cannot
do. He can make a way in our lives where it looks as if there is no way. Ex. Pgs. 126-127.
Boldly confess God’s Word. Just as it is imperative that we see ourselves as God sees us and
think about ourselves as God regards us, it is equally important that we say about ourselves
what God says about us. You have to begin speaking words of faith over your life.
God told us to
speak constantly of His goodness, to speak of His promises in the morning around the breakfast
table, in the evenings around the dinner table, at night before bedtime, continually dwelling on
the good things of God. Quit speaking words of defeat, and start speaking words of victory.
Don’t use your words to describe your situation; use your words to change
your situation. Every day, start your day saying, “Father, I thank
You that I am strong in the Lord and the power of Your might. I am well able to do what You have
called me to do.”
The scripture
says, “With the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made
unto salvation.” When you believe God’s Word and begin to speak it, mixing it with your
faith, you are actually confirming that truth, and making it valid in your own life. God has
not given us hundreds of promises simply for us to read and enjoy. God has given His promises so
we might boldly declare them to bring us victory, health, hope and abundant life.
Chapter 16- Speaking a Blessing
With our words, we
have the ability to help mold and shape the future of anyone over whom we have influence. The
scripture reminds us that with our words we can bless people or we can curse them.
Ex. Pg. 134.
We need to speak
loving words of approval and acceptance, words that encourage, inspire, and motivate our
children (and others) to reach for new heights. When we do that, we are speaking
blessings into their lives. We are speaking abundance and increase. We are declaring God’s favor
in their lives. Ex. Pgs. 136-137.
(Read Page 140 for Joel’s blessings in
our lives.)
Part IV – Let Go of the Past
Chapter 17 – Letting Go of Emotional
Wounds
The truth is, if
we are bitter and resentful, it’s because we are allowing ourselves to remain that way. If you
want to live in victory, you cannot use the past emotional wounds as an excuse for your current
bad attitude, or as a rationalization for your unwillingness to forgive somebody. The fourth
step toward living your best life now is to let go of the past.
Nobody, not even
God promised that life would be fair. Instead, take what God has given you, and make the most of
it. You may have deep scars from emotional wounds, but don’t let your past determine your
future. Let go of those hurts and pains, Forgive the people who did you wrong. Forgive yourself
for the mistakes you have made.
You may even have
to forgive God. Perhaps you’ve been blaming Him for taking one of your loved ones. Maybe you are
angry at God because He didn’t answer your prayers or some situation didn’t work out the way you
had hoped. Regardless, you will never be truly happy as long as you harbor bitterness in your
heart. Ex. Pg. 145.
Remember, your
emotions follow your thoughts. When you dwell on painful experiences in your past, your emotions
go right back there with you, and you feel the pain in the present. You can relive something in
your mind and feel it today just as vividly as when it happened 20 years ago. Ex. Pg 146.
If you are serious
about being well, if you really want to be made physically and emotionally whole, you must get
up and get moving with your life. Stop making excuses; stop blaming people or circumstances that
disappointed you. Instead, start forgiving the people who have hurt you.
You must muster
enough courage to say, “God I don’t understand it, but I trust You. And I’m not going to spend
all my time trying to figure out why certain things have happened. I’m going to trust You to
make something good out of it. You’re a good God, and I know You have my best interests at
heart. You promised that all things will work together for my good.” That is faith, and that
is the attitude that God honors. Ex. Pg.150. If you stay in an attitude of faith, God
has promised that He will turn those emotional wounds around.
Chapter 18 – Don’t Let Bitterness Take
Root
When we are hurt,
we can choose to hold on to that pain and become bitter, or we can choose to let it go and trust
God to make it up to us. If you want to live your best life now, you must be quick to forgive.
Don’t let past bitterness take root in your life. The scripture says, “Make sure that no
root of bitterness shoots forth and cause trouble and many become contaminated by it.” A
bitter root will produce bitter fruit. If we have bitterness on the inside, it’s going to affect
every area of our lives. The Bible says, “Out of the heart flow the issues of life.” In
other words, if we have bitterness on the inside, it’s going to end up contaminating everything
that comes out of us. It will contaminate our personalities and our attitudes as well as how we
treat others. Ex. Pg. 155.
Imagine yourself
as a crystal-clear stream. It doesn’t matter how polluted the stream may be right now, or how
muddy the water may look in your life today. If you’ll begin to forgive the people who have
offended you, and release all those hurts and pains, that bitterness will leave you and you’ll
begin to see that crystal-clear water once again.
You are not strong
enough to contain the toxicity in your life. You need help from someone bigger and stronger than
yourself. That’s why you need to give that bitterness, resentment, and other contaminants to
God. Remember, you are not forgiving for someone else’s sake, you are doing it for your own
sake. You are forgiving so that the poison doesn’t continue to contaminate your life. Forgive
to be free. Ex. Pg. 160. Forgiveness is a choice, but it is not an option.
Chapter 19 – Let God bring Justice into
Your Life
God has promised
if we will put our trust in Him, He will pay us back for all he unfair things that have happened
to us. If you want to live your best life now, you must learn to trust God to bring about the
justice in your life. The Bible says, “God is a just God and He will settle and solve the
cases of His people.” It takes faith to believe that God want to vindicate you, but He
really does. If you will do it God’s way, He’ll not only fight your battles for you, but in the
end, you’ll come out better off than you were before.
Sometimes God
allows us to go through certain things to test us. The situation may well be a test of your
faith. God is interested in seeing how you will respond. Are you going to become bitter and
angry, or are you going to turn it over to God, trusting Him to make the wrongs right. Ex.
Pgs. 166-167. It doesn’t matter how people are treating you. Keep doing the right thing:
don’t get offended: don’t let them get you upset; don’t try to pay them back evil for evil.
Instead, keep extending forgiveness; keep responding in love. If you do that, then when it comes
time for you to be promoted, God will make sure it happens.
The key is, you
must turn it over to God. Let Him do it His way. The scripture says, “Never avenge
yourselves, but leave the way open for God’s wrath.” When you know that God is fighting
your battles, and He has promised to make your wrongs right, you can walk with a new confidence,
with a spring in your step, a smile on your face, and a song in your heart. You are free! The
scripture says, “Don’t get tired of doing what’s right for in due season you shall reap if you
don’t faint.” Don’t grow weary; God will bring justice into your life.
Chapter 20 – Defeating Disappointments
One of the most
important keys to living your best life now, as well as moving forward into the great future God
has for you is learning how to overcome the disappointments in life. Because disappointments can
pose such formidable obstacles to letting go of the past, you need to be sure you have dealt
with this area before taking the next step to living at your full potential. When you do
something wrong, don’t hold on to it and beat yourself up about it; admit it, seek forgiveness,
and move on. Be quick to let go of your mistakes and failures, hurts, pains, and sins. The
disappointments that disturb us the most are usually those caused by other people.
Not even God
expects you to be so tough that you simply ignore the disappointments in life, shrugging them
off as though you are impervious to pain. No, when we experience failure or loss, it’s natural
to feel remorse or sorrow. That’s the way God made us. But do not wallow in self-pity. You must
make a decision that you are going to move on. Quit trying to figure out something that you
can’t change.
The bible says,
“The mercies of God are fresh and new every single day.” God knows
we’re going to make mistakes, God knows we are not perfect, so He provides fresh, new mercy and
grace every day. The Bible says, “The Lord is patient with you, not
wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”
But we must also
understand that God will not change another person’s will. He has given every human being free
will to choose which way he or she will go, whether they will do right or wrong. When God
allows one door to close, He will open another door for you, revealing something bigger and
better. The Bible says, “Make the most of each day.” Yesterday is gone, tomorrow may not
come. You must live in the present. Start right where you are. You can’t do anything about
what’s gone, but you can do a great deal with what remains.
God is asking us
questions. “How long are you going to mourn over that failed relationship: How long are you
going to mourn over your broken dreams? That’s the problem with excessive mourning. When we
focus on our disappointments, we stop God from bringing blessings into our lives.
Ex. Pg. 181-182.
The apostle
Paul said, “Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on
toward the goal.” That’s the kind of attitude we should all have. You should say, “I
refuse to be trapped in the past. I’m not going to let the past destroy my future. I’m pressing
on. I’m straining forward, knowing that God has great things in store for me.” Regret
will only interfere with your faith. Faith needs to always be a present-tense reality, not a
distant memory.
Part V: Find Strength Through
Adversity
Chapter 21 – Getting Up on the Inside
The fifth step to
living at your full potential is finding strength through adversity. Our attitude should be
“I may have been knocked down a few times in life, but I am not going to stay down; I am
determined I’m going to live in victory. I’m determined I’m going to work my way out of these
problems.” Even if you can’t get up on the outside, get up on the inside. Don’t allow
yourself to lapse into negative thinking. Say, “God I may not
understand this, but I know You are in control. And You said all things would work together for
my good. You said that you would take this evil and turn it around and use it to my advantage.
So Father, I thank You that You are going to bring me through this.”
The Scripture
says, “When you’ve done everything you know how to do, just keep standing firm.” The Bible says
that no man can take your joy. That means that no person can make you live with a negative
attitude. No circumstance, no adversity can force you to live in despair. It will take courage;
it will definitely take determination, but you can do it if you decide to do so. You must act on
your will, not simply your emotions. Ex. Pg. 190.
You may be sitting
around waiting for God to change your circumstances. Then you’re going to be
happy, then you’re going to have a good attitude, then you’re going
to give God Praise. But God is waiting for you to get up on the inside. When you do your part,
He’ll begin to change things and work supernaturally in your life. Ex. Pgs. 190-191. You
must show the enemy that you are more determined than he is. Shout aloud if you must, “I’m
going to stand in faith even if I have to stand my whole lifetime. I’m not going to give up and
settle for mediocrity. I’m going to keep believing for the best. I’m going to keep standing up
on the inside no matter how long it takes.” David prayed, “God renew a right, persevering and
steadfast spirit within me.” You may need to pray a similar prayer, “God please help me
to get rid of this negative attitude. Help me to get rid of this self-pity. Help me not to give
up. God, renew a right spirit in me.”
When you face
adversity, remind yourself, “I am full of God’s can-do power. I can overcome. I can live in
victory. I can stand up on the inside.” God has destined you to live in victory, but you
have to do your part. Make a firm decision that no matter what comes against you in life, you
are going to keep standing up on the inside.
Chapter 22 – Trusting God’s Timing
God has an
appointed time to answer our prayers and to bring our dreams to pass. Because we don’t
understand God’s timing, we live upset and frustrated, wondering when God is going to do
something. When you understand God’s timing however, you won’t live all stressed out. You can
relax knowing that God is in control, and at the perfect time, He is going to make it happen.
The scripture says, “The vision is for the appointed time, Through it tarry, wait earnestly for
it, for it will come to pass.” The key is how are we going to wait?
What will our physical, emotional and spiritual demeanor be? Are we going to wait with a good
attitude and expectancy, knowing that God has great things in store? Or, are we going to be
upset, frustrated, and muttering complaints? Consider this: If you know you have to wait anyway,
why not make a decision to enjoy your life while you are waiting? Why not be happy while God is
in the process of changing things? We might as well relax and enjoy our lives, knowing that at
the appointed time, God is going to bring His plan to pass.
When you are
truly living by faith, you can relax in what the Bible calls the “rest” of God. That’s a
place where you’re not worried, you’re not struggling, you’re not trying to figure everything
out, wondering why something is or isn’t happening. The “rest” of God is a place of total trust.
When you’re in God’s rest, you know that at the perfect time, God is going to perform everything
He promised: He will bring it into being. Understand, God is at work in your life whether you
can see anything happening externally or not. God often works the most when we see it and feel
it the least. Ex. Pgs. 198-199. If you’re not seeing God move in your life right now, one
of two possibilities can be considered. Either your requests are not God’s best, and will
probably not be answered the way you’d like, or it must not be the right time. If God were to
answer that prayer the way you were hoping, it could interfere with His ideal plan for you.
We don’t always
understand God’s methods. His ways don’t always make sense to us, but we have to realize that
God sees the big picture. Consider this possibility: You may be ready for what God has in store
for you, but somebody else who is going to be involved isn’t ready yet. God has to do a work in
another person or another situation before your prayer can be answered according to God’s will
in your life. All the pieces have to come together for it to be God’s perfect time. When it’s
the appointed time, no man can keep it from happening. When it’s your due season, God will bring
it to pass. Ex. Pg. 199-200. Learn to trust His timing. Let God do it His way. When we
try to force open doors and make things happen in our own strength, the end result is a constant
strain on us and a drain on our resources. Life becomes a struggle. Nearly all joy, peace and
victory dwindle from our existence.
Be careful! If
God isn’t in what you are doing, you need to make a change. Here is where many people miss out
on God’s favor. They know God has spoken to them; He has placed a dream within their hearts. But
then they set out trying to fulfill God’s plan on their own. We must be aware that if we get out
of God’s timing, it’s the same as getting out of God’s will. We need to be patient and let God
bring His plan together at the appointed time. That is not to say that we should sit back
passively and expect God to do everything. No, we must aggressively pursue our dreams. But if a
door is not opening, don’t try to make things happen in your own strength. On the other hand,
if you’re in God’s timing, you can be in the midst of the biggest challenge of your life, and
you’ll still be filled with joy. God will give you all the grace you need. If you will learn to
trust God’s timing, He’s promised that at the right time, He will bring your dreams to pass and
answer your prayers. The answer will come, and it will be right on time.
Chapter 23 – The Purpose of Trials
No matter how
successful we are, we all face challenges, struggles, and times when things don’t go our way.
When calamities occur, some people immediately think that they have done something wrong; that
God most surely be punishing them. They don’t understand that God has a divine purpose for every
challenge that comes into our lives. He doesn’t send the problems, but sometimes He allows us to
go through them. The Bible says that temptations, trials, and difficulties must come, because
if we re to strength our spiritual muscles and grow stronger, we must have adversities to
overcome and attacks to resist. The pressure exposes things that we need to deal with –
things such as wrong attitudes, wrong motives, areas where we’re compromising. As odd as it may
seem, the trials can be beneficial.
The scripture
says, “Don’t be amazed at the fiery ordeal that’s taking place to test your quality as though
something strange was happening.” All through life, you will face various tests, and even
though you may not enjoy them, God will use those trials to refine you, to cleanse and purify
you. He’s trying to shape you into the person He wants you to be. If you will learn to cooperate
with God and be quick to change and correct the areas that He brings to light, then you’ll pass
the test and you will be promoted to a new level. Ex. Pg 206-207.
God often allows
you to go through situations to draw out the impurities in your character. God is more
interested in changing you than He is in changing the circumstances. The quicker you learn to
start dealing with those bad attitudes and start ruling over your emotions, the quicker you’ll
go to the next level in your spiritual journey. You must recognize the refining purposes of
trials. Recognize that God wants to do a work in you. He’s molding you and refining you. You’re
so focused on all the circumstances and all the people around you, that you haven’t taken time
to look deep inside and deal with the issues God is bringing to light.
We often pray,
“God if You’ll change my circumstances, then I’ll change. No, it works the other way around. We
have to be willing to change our attitudes and deal with the issues God brings up; then God will
change those circumstances. He will often permit pressure to be applied to your life, to test
you, and only if you pass those tests will you advance. You may not always like it; you may want
to run from it, you may even resist it, but God is going to keep bringing up the issue, again
and again, until you pass the test.
Remember, the
Bible says, “We are God’s workmanship.” That means we are a work in progress, not a finished
product. When struggles come your way, look deep inside and be quick to change. Be willing to
deal with any issues that God brings up. Work with God in the refining process rather than
fighting against Him. Scripture says that “God is the potter and we are the clay.” The
trial is a test of your faith, character, and endurance. Without opposition or resistance,
there is no potential for progress. Unfortunately there are no shortcuts; there’s no easy way
to mature physically, emotionally or spiritually. You must remain determined to work with God.
The Bible says, “Work out your own salvation.” Salvation is more than a one time prayer.
It is constantly working with God, dealing with issues He brings up, and keeping a good
attitude, fighting through until you win the victory.
God never
promised that we wouldn’t have challenges. In fact, He said just the opposite.
His Word says, “Be truly glad…These trials are only to test your faith, to see
whether or not it is strong and pure… so If your faith remains strong after being tried in the
test tube of fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day of his
return.”
Chapter 24 – Trusting God When Life
Doesn’t Make Sense
In my (Joel’s)
life, I’ve discovered two kinds of faith – a delivering faith and a sustaining faith. Delivering
faith is when God instantly turns your situation around. I (Joel) believe it takes a
deeper walk with God to have that sustaining faith. That’s when circumstances don’t change
immediately, but you say, “God I don’t care what comes against me, I don’t care how long it
takes, this thing is not going to defeat me. It’s not going to get me down. I know You’re on my
side. And as long as You are for me, that’s all that matters.” Sustaining faith is what gets
you through those dark nights of the soul when you don’t know where to go or what to do, and it
seems you can’t last another day…but because of your faith in God, you do.
When you face
adversity, you need to remind yourself that whatever is trying to defeat you could very well be
what God will use to promote you. Ex. Pg. 215-216. God has promised that he will turn
your challenges into stepping-stones for promotion. God uses ordinary people like you and me to
do extraordinary things. He is not looking for great power. God is simply looking for a willing
heart. He’s not looking for ability; He’s looking for availability. Just give God what you
have. If you’ll give God the little that you do have, He’ll take it and multiply it and increase
it. And He’ll make more out of it than you’ve ever dreamed possible. God’s plan for your life is
so much bigger and so much greater than you can ever imagine. Adversity often pushes us into
our divine destiny. God wants us to be constantly growing, and sometimes He’ll use a little
adversity or some tension to get us moving forward. The struggle is giving you strength.
Part VI: Live to Give
Chapter 25 – The Joy of Giving
If you want to
experience a new level of God’s joy, if you want Him to pour out His blessing and favor in your
life, then you’re gong to have to get your mind off yourself. You must learn to be a giver and
not a taker. The sixth step to living at your full potential is to live to give. We were not
made to function as self-involved people, thinking only of ourselves. No, God created us to be
givers. And you will never be a fulfilled human being until you learn the simple secret of how
to give your live away. Keith Green said, “It’s hard to see when my eyes are on me.”
One of the best
things you can do if you’re having a problem, is to help solve somebody else’s problem. If you
want your dreams to come to pass, help some else fulfill his or her dreams. When we meet other
people’s needs, God always meets our needs. Ex. Pgs. 222-223. We were created to give,
not simply please ourselves. If you miss that truth, you will miss the abundant, overflowing,
joy-filled life that God has in store for you. When you reach out to other people in need, God
will make sure that your own needs are supplied. Ex. Pg.224.
You may not
realize it, but there is healing in your hands. There is healing in your voice. God wants to use
you to bring hope, healing, love and victory to people wherever you go. If you’ll dare to take
your mind off your troubles, get your mind off your own needs and, instead, seek to be a
blessing to other people, God will do more for you than you could even ask or think. The
scripture says, “We should encourage one another daily.” We should
get up each morning with an attitude that says, “I’m going to make somebody else happy today.
I’m going to help meet somebody else’s needs.”
The Old
Testament teaches, “When you feed the hungry, when you clothe the naked, when you encourage the
oppressed, then your life is going to break forth like the dawn. Then your healing is going to
come quickly.” If you want to live your best life now, you must develop a lifestyle of
giving - living to give instead of living to get. Giving is a spiritual principle. Whatever you
give will be given back to you. The Bible says, “When you help the
poor you are lending to the Lord.”
You have to start
right where you are. You must be faithful with what you have, then God will trust you with more.
Nothing pleases God any more than when we take care of one of His children.
Jesus said, “If you even give as much as a cup of water to somebody in need, I
see it, and I’m going to reward you. Inasmuch as you do it to one of the least of these My
Brethren, you did it to Me.”
Chapter 26 – Showing God’s Kindness and
Mercy
How we treat to
other people can have a great impact on the degree of blessings and favor of God we are
experiencing in our lives. The Bible says, “See that none of you repays evil for evil, but
always aim to show kindness and seek to do good to one another and to everybody.” The Bible
says, “We are to love our enemies. We are to do good to them that spitefully use us.” Keep
in mind that hurting people often hurt other people as a result of their own pain. The last
thing they need is for you to make matters worse by responding angrily. Evil is never overcome
by more evil. If you mistreat people who are mistreating you, you will make matters worse. When
somebody hurts you, the only way you can overcome it is by showing them mercy, forgiving them,
and doing what is right.
The Bible says,
“God is our vindicator.” He will not let you lose out. God will make sure that you don’t
lose anything truly valuable. Your job is to remain calm and peaceable even when those around
you are not. Ex. Pg. 233. The Bible says, “Love overlooks a person’s faults.”
Love believes the best in every person. Anybody can return evil for evil, but God wants His
people to help heal wounded hearts. The Bible says, “Love doesn’t hold a grudge. Love
doesn’t harbor unforgivenenss.” You may have people in your life who have done you a great
wrong, but if you choose to let go of your grudge and forgive them, you can overcome evil with
good. If you do that, God will pour out His favor in your life in a fresh way. He will honor
you; He will reward you, and He will make those wrongs right.
Don’t grow weary
in well doing. God is a just God, and He sees not just what you are doing but why you are doing
it. God judges our motives as well as our actions. Ex. Pg. 237-238.
Chapter 27 – Keep Your Heart of
Compassion Open
One definition of
compassion is simply “feeling what other people feel, being concerned, and showing you care.”
The scripture says, “If anyone sees a brother in need yet closes his heart of compassion, how
can the love of God be in him?” The Bible says, “We are to continually walk in love and be
guided by love, and following love.” When God puts love and compassion in your heart towards
someone else, He’s offering you an opportunity to make a difference in that person’s life. You
must learn to follow that love. Don’t ignore it. Act on it. Somebody needs what you have. If
you want to live your best life now, you must make sure that you keep your hear t of compassion
open. We need to be on the lookout for people we can bless. We need to be willing to be
interrupted and inconvenienced every once in a while if it means we can help to meet somebody
else’s need.
Sometimes if we
would just take the time to listen to people, we could help initiate the healing process in
their lives. If you can open your heart of compassion and be that person’s friend (without
judging or condemning) and simply have an ear to listen, you may help lift a heavy burden. You
don’t have to know all the answers, you just need to care. Ex. Pg. 243.
We need to learn
to be better listeners. God can speak to people and tell them what to do while they’re speaking
to you about their struggle. Don’t be so quick to give your opinion. Be sensitive to what the
real need is in the person you hope to help. God wants us to take time for people, to hear with
our hearts, to show them we’re concerned, to show them we really care. Throughout life, God will
lead us to people in need. If you are sensitive to it, you will discern His supernatural love
welling up inside you, directing you toward the person or situation that God wants to help
through you.
God knows the
when people are hurting. He knows the people who are lonely. He knows the people who are about
to make a wrong decision. And if you’ll dare to step out in faith and reach out to them in love,
letting them know you are concerned, you could be the one who helps turn a life around or keeps
a person’s life on the right course. God may be prompting you about somebody to whom you need
to reach out. If somebody’s name keeps coming up in your mind, and you feel compassion towards
them, do something about it. Don’t put it off; make a phone call; stop by to visit that person,
or make contact in another appropriate manner.
Chapter 28 – The Seed Must Lead
The scripture
says, “Whatsoever a man sows, that he will also reap.” If you want to reap happiness, you
have to sow some “happiness” seeds by making other people happy. If you want to reap financial
blessings, you must sow “financial” seeds in the lives of others. The seed always has to lead.
The reason many people are not growing is because they are not sowing. They’re living
self-centered lives. Unless they change their focus and start reaching out to others, they will
probably remain in that condition. Ex. Pg. 251.
The Bible
says, “In times of difficulty, trust in the Lord and do good.” Scripture says there are two
things we must do in times of trouble. First, we must trust in the Lord: and second, we must go
out and do something good. In the time of need, sow a seed.
Scripture says, “It is possible to give away and become richer! It is also possible to hold on
too tightly and lose everything. Yes, the liberal man shall be rich! By watering others, he
waters himself.” Scripture says, “For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured
back to you.” The Bible clearly states, “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he
who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Understand that
sowing seed is not a replacement for tithing. The Bible says, “The tithe is the Lord’s. And
it is holy.” That means the first tenth of your income doesn’t belong to you. It belongs to
God and should be given at your local church. When you hold on to it, you are robbing from God.
So if you are not sowing at all, the tithe is a good place to start. If you will dare to take a
step of faith and start honoring God in you finances, He’ll start increasing your supply in
supernatural ways. You can’t rob God and expect Him to bless you at the same time. The
scripture says, “In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your
efforts with success.”
Chapter 29 – Sowing and Growing
God wants to pour
good things into you, but if you want to live your best life now, you must learn to allow those
good things to flow through you to others. As you do, your supply will be replenished and your
life will maintain its freshness. Stop hoarding what God has given you, and start sharing it
with others. Share your time, your energy, your friendships, your love, and your resources.
Remember the fundamental principle: you must sow the seed first, then you will reap the
harvest. Ex. Pg. 259. The Bible says, “Give generously, for your gifts will return
to yo later. Divide your gifts among many, for in the days ahead you yourself may need such
help.” Picture it this way: When you give, you are storing up God’s goodness and His favor
so in your time of need, you’ll have a great harvest out of which God can draw to meet your
needs. Giving is similar to taking preventive medicine. You are storing up God’s goodness.
God is keeping a
record of every good deed you’ve ever done. He’s keeping a record of every seed you have ever
sown. And in your time of need, He will make sure that somebody is there to help you. Your
generous gifts will come back to you. Ex. Pgs. 262-263. The Living Bible says, “Your
prayers and charities have not gone unnoticed by God.” God sees your gifts. He sees your
acts of kindness. Every time you help somebody else, God sees. It pleases God when you give and
He will pour out His favor in new ways in your life. The scripture says, “ When we give, God
is able to make it all up to us by giving us everything we need and more so that there will not
only be enough for our needs, but we will have plenty left over so that we can give joyfully to
others.” Remember that when you give, you are preparing the way for God to meet your needs
now and in the future. When you are generous to others, God will always be generous with you.
Part VII – Choose To Be Happy
Chapter 30 – Happiness Is a Choice
Your
best life starts today. God wants you to enjoy your life right now. The seventh step to enjoying
your best life now is to choose to be happy today. Happiness is a choice. If you make the
mistake of allowing your circumstances to dictate your happiness, then you risk missing out on
God’s abundant life. Being unhappy won’t change anything for the better. You might as well
choose to be happy and enjoy your life. And when you do that, not only will you feel better, but
your faith will cause God to show up and work wonders in your life.
You must stop
fretting about the future. Quit worrying about how everything is going to turn out. Live one day
at a time. Better yet, make the most of this moment. It’s good to have a big-picture outlook, to
set goals, to establish budgets and make plans, but if you’re always living in the future,
you’re never really enjoying the present in the way God wants you to. You must learn to live
one day at a time. By an act of your will, choose to start enjoying your life right now.
Happiness is a decision you make, not an emotion you feel.
It’s extremely
important that we know how to live a life of peace. If we’re going to do that, we need to be
flexible and willing to make some adjustments. When things happen that would normally bother us,
we have to put our foot down and say, “No I’m not going to let that
take my peace. I’m gong to rule over my emotions. I’m not going to allow myself to get upset and
aggravated. I’m going to choose to be happy.”
God said that he
would never let us go through more than we can handle. If your desire is great enough, you can
stay calm and cool no matter what comes against you in life. God gives us His peace on the
inside, but it’s up to us to make use of that peace. The way to do that is by choosing to keep a
good attitude. You’ve got to choose to stay happy. The Bible says that we are like a mist,
a vapor; we’re here for a moment, and then we’re gone. Life is flying by, so don’t waste
another moment of your precious time being angry unhappy, or worried. The psalmist said,
“This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.” Don’t take for
granted what God has already given you. Have a grateful attitude. See the best in every person
and in every situation and learn to be happy right where you are.
Some people are
convinced that life is simply a series of problems to be solved. The sooner they get through
this problem, the sooner they will be happy. But the truth is, after you successfully make it
through this problem, there will be another problem to face. That’s why it’s important to enjoy
the journey, not just the destination. Read pg. 276.
The Bible says
that, “The joy of the Lord is you strength,” and your enemy knows if he can deceive you into
living down in the dumps and depressed, then you are not going to have the necessary strength –
physically, emotionally, or spiritually – to withstand his attack. You will be vulnerable and
beatable. It’s a scientific fact that if you go through life in a negative frame of mind,
always stressed out, worried, and full of fear, your immune system will weaken, making you more
susceptible to sickness and disease. On the other hand, people who are happy and have a
positive outlook, people who laugh on a regular basis, develop more of the natural killer cells
that fight cancer. The Bible says, “A merry heart does good like a
medicine.”
Paul said, “I
have learned how to be content no matter what my circumstances are.” Being content simply
means you trust God enough that you don’t get frustrated when things don’t go your way. You
don’t allow circumstances to steal your joy and keep you from being happy. You can choose to
stay happy and content no matter what comes against you in life. If you don’t learn to be
content where you are, you’re never going to get to where you want to be. The Bible says,
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.” If God is ordering your steps, that means
where you are right now is exactly where God wants you to be. God has you there for a reason. He
may be trying to do a work in you. He may be trying to teach you, to push you, to stretch you,
to see how you’re going to respond to that difficulty. Or, God may have put you in that
situation to be a part of the work He is doing in someone else’s life. God may be using you to
influence other people. The scripture says, “Since the Lord is directing our steps, why try
to figure out everything that happens along the way?”
Your
responsibility is to choose to be happy, regardless of what comes your way. Choose to keep a
good attitude. Remember, happiness is a choice you have to make, And even when you don’t
understand it, know that God is at work in you and He’s working through you. God knows what he
is doing. He can see the big picture; He can see the future. And He has you exactly where He
wants you today. Quit questioning Him and start trusting Him.
Chapter 31 – Being a Person of Excellence
and Integrity
God has called us
to stand out in the crowd, to be people of excellence and integrity. Indeed the only way to be
truly happy is to live with excellence and integrity. A person of excellence and integrity goes
the extra mile to do what’s right. He keeps his word even when it’s difficult. People of
excellence arrive at work on time. They give their employers a full day’s work; they don’t leave
early or call in sick when they are not. When you have an excellent spirit, it shows up in the
quality of your work, and the attitude with which you do it. God doesn’t bless mediocrity. He
blesses excellence. The scripture says, “Whatever you do, work at it
with your whole heart, not unto men, but do it unto God knowing that God will reward you.”
You were made in
the image of Almighty God, and how you present yourself in your personal appearance is not only
a reflection of how you feel about yourself, it is a direct reflection on God. We need to
remind ourselves that we represent Almighty God, and He does not appreciate laziness or
sloppiness. God desires people who will go the extra mile even when nobody is watching. God
wants us to be people of integrity, people of honor, people who are trustworthy. A person of
integrity is open and honest. He doesn’t have any hidden agendas or ulterior motives. A person
of integrity is true to his word. He keeps his commitments. He doesn’t need a legal contract,
his word is his bond. Integrity is the foundation on which a truly successful life is built.
Every time you compromise, every time you are less than honest, you are causing a slight crack
in the foundation. If you don’t have integrity, you’ll never see the fullness of God’s favor. On
the other hand, God’s blessings will overtake us if we settle for nothing less than living with
integrity. Remember, our lives are an open book before God. He looks at our hearts, He looks
at our motives. God sees every time you go the extra mile to do what’s right. He also sees the
times that you compromise and take the easy way out. Scripture says,
“God hold victory for the upright and He guards those who walk in integrity.”
Chapter 32 – Living with Enthusiasm
God’s people
should be the happiest people on earth! So happy, in fact, that other people notice. Why?
Because we not only have a fabulous future, we can enjoy life today! That’s what living your
best life now is all about. Living our best life not is living with enthusiasm and being
excited about the life God has given you. It is believing for more good things in the days
ahead., but it is also living in the moment and enjoying it to the hilt!
The word
enthusiasm derives from two words en theos, meaning inspired by God. Our lives
need to be inspired, infused, filled afresh with God’s goodness every day. Make a decision that
you are not going to live another day without the joy of the Lord in your life; without love,
peace, and passion; without be excited about your life. The scripture
says, “Never lag in zeal, but be aglow and on fire, serving the Lord enthusiastically.
If you want to see
God’s favor, do everything with your whole heart. Do it with passion and some fire, Not only
will you feel better, but that fire will spread, and soon other people will want what you have.
Your attitude should be “It doesn’t matter what anybody else does or doesn’t do. I’m going to
live my life with enthusiasm! I’m going to stay on fire. I’m going to be aglow. I’m going to be
passionate about seeing my dreams come to pass.” Know that God has good things in store for
you. It’s time to relight your fire, capture your enthusiasm and adopt a fresh, positive, happy
attitude. Quit looking at what’s wrong, and start thanking God for what’s right. Get up each
day expecting good things. Start expecting God’s favor. Start expecting His blessings. Be
excited about today.
It’s our faith
that activates the power of God. Let’s quit limiting Him with our small-minded thinking and
start believing Him for bigger and better things. Remember, if you obey God and are wiling to
trust Him, you will have the best this life has to offer – and more! Make a decision that from
this day forward, you are going to be excited about the life God has for you. God will take you
places you never dreamed of, and you will be living your best life now!
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