Christian Living

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This is the season for graduations. Parents celebrate as their children
graduate Kindergarten, High School, and College. Students are taking
new steps into the world and reaching new levels of responsibilities and independence. Educational success is very important, but life has graduations as well when pass from challenge to challenge. A successful life depends greatly upon goal planning, choices made, and the attitude in which everyday challenges are approached.
One of the first steps to success is to develop a strategy for your life. Although planning is important, never try to out plan God. Seek God first; He has a perfect will for your life. “A mans’ heart deviseth his way; but the Lord directeth his steps” Proverbs 16:9. Pray about the Lord’s will for your life and begin to make plans for both a short term and a compatible long range goal. As you acknowledge the Lord leading you through life, make yourself aware of doors of unusual opportunity or “Divine Appointments” you may encounter along the way. Look at daily difficulties as training exercises and try to step up to the challenge of conquering something new. The important idea in goal planning is that every good choice made takes you one more step toward your long range goals.
Your choices play an important part in your ability to reach goals. One of the next steps is to prepare and position yourself for success. For some that may mean more education, for others, more experience. Consider yourself - who are you? What do you like to spend your time doing? What unique attributes do you possess that will benefit your church, your community, and the world? What ambitions do you have? What do you expect to achieve during the next year, or ten years? These are all important questions to ask yourself. Those called to do a great work in the scriptures was already occupied being “faithful in the small things” they were given to do. Everyone has some form of talents, abilities, and faith to get them started, they are a gift from God (Ephesians 4:11). These need developing over a period of time and life experiences. Know the Word of God, it will help you to make good life choices. How can you walk according to God’s will if you don’t understand what it is? We are to “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” II Timothy 2:14.
Attitude helps to determine your success or lack of it during your life. Generally, if you enjoy doing something, you will strive to do it well. Allow yourself to be teachable, absorbing knowledge and experiences from others. Attempt to do your very best regardless of the difficulties or benefits. Remind yourself that everything you do, you do as unto the Lord. “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it will thy might…” Ecclesiastes 9:10. In itself, that will be a great challenge, but if you are successful, it will demonstrate the Christian Light to others around you. Find contentment and peace in knowing that your decisions are not only taking you closer to your long range goals, but that your steps are guided by the Lord. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” Proverbs 2:5-6.
Many ministers are preaching that we are living in the “End Times”. This being so, we should not waste our time resources, as we will be held accountable for how we “spend” it. Ephesians 5:15-17 teaches us to “walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” Whether your path leads you into ministry, the world of business, or a path less taken, know that not only your desires, but also your goals and attitude will determine how well you “spend” your life.

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