How can I make my Christian walk a success? The key is to understand the word success.
To me a successful Christian is growing, faithful, and serving God in some way. Success is not based on position or power, but building up the kingdom of God.
Each individual has a different calling. We are called, sanctified and set apart for the work of the ministry. God has a vision for every saved person, and that person needs to have a vision for God. Success is when God’s vision and your vision are the same.
Romans 12:2 “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Vision is a preferred future, imparted from God. His will for you is His vision for you. Your will must be submission to the will of God.
How does this happen?
See it clearly – You Understand
Say it constantly – You witness & share His Word
Show it creatively – You live what you believe
How can I do this effectively?
Discipline your desire – Are your desires in accord with God’s Word
Restrain Your reactions – Self control
Keep your Commitments – Be Faithful
What will the results be?
You will believe great things about God
You will attempt great things for God
You will receive great things from God
The successful Christian will now have a new level of faith and understanding. They will have a new determination and discipline in serving God. Their vision will be clear, their mission sure, and they will have no fear of the outcome.
Most believers never reach this level of their faith. They are saved but the Lordship of Jesus Christ is absent. These believers stay on the milk and never reach maturity. How sad that is; wasted potential and unfulfilled lives that could be filled with joy.
But for those who have the desire and discipline to grow, they can reach this level of faith. Life takes on new meaning. The church takes on new meaning. Discipleship takes on new meaning. Evangelism takes on new meaning. This is because you have found real purpose, and now you have discovered the newness of Christ.
Reread this article again slowly. Where are you in your Christian walk? Are you successful in God’s eyes? Is your life productive and fulfilling? Maybe a change is in order. Maybe the time has come to grow up and get serious about your walk with Jesus Christ.
See ya in church,
Bud
Where do good law enforcement officers come from? They come from all kinds of backgrounds; the country, the cities, the educated, and the uneducated. They come from all nationalities. But they all have one goal, and that is to be in law enforcement; to be an officer who upholds the law.
It takes a lot of things to make a good officer. It takes training, training, and more training. This is the foundation of any good officer. How
serious they take these lessons will determine their safety and the safety of those around them in any situation.
The trainers have a great influence on the trainee. The trainer’s experience and discipline is the building of a good foundation for the trainee. They must be more than impressed they must learn well and be disciplined to reproduce the lessons in real life. Good officers are made, not born.
Another thing that makes a good officer is that they must believe in the career and calling. It is more than a job. It is a calling to keep our society safe. In doing so, they must have the willingness to take themselves and their fellow officers seriously because their job can be very dangerous at times. There are no “just routine calls.” At anytime a call can turn into a
disastrous loss of life. Good officers know this,
understand this, and always walk with caution.
It is very hard for good officers to be positive and not negative. They deal with evil and bad every day. The truth is very hard to find in any given day. People lie to them constantly. Then this affects everything; the home life, the attitude, and can also affect those you work with.
Those who chose law enforcement as a
career chose a great life. It has many benefits and a great retirement. But, it can also make you a better person or a worse person.
The good news is that you have a choice. It’s not what happens to you but what you do with what happens to you that makes the difference.
The goal of every person who puts on a
uniform should be, “I am going to be the best; the best as a person, as an officer, as a family man, and as a team player.”
Not all officers are good officers, but most are; it’s the bad ones who stink up the pot.
Chaplain Bud
When life deals you a lemon, make lemonade, someone once said. Is that hard to do? Yes. But it all comes back to attitude and character.
Some people believe it is their gift to see the negative in everything. They can take a perfect situation and turn it around for negative. Why do people do that? I wish I had the answer to that one, but I don’t.
Then, you have other people who never seem to get a good break. It’s uphill all the way, but they never seem to complain or get discouraged. Why? Well, it could be several things, but I notice people like this have one thing in common. They are not insecure with who they are. They are not intimidated by other’s success or power. They continue day in and day out dealing with life as it comes to them.
It’s a joy to be around “get up and go people.” My question is how did they get to be this kind of person? Why are they not negative or insecure?
I believe it all started when they were very small. The parents instilled in them the right principles and morals. They were taught the good value system of how to work and be responsible, and how to put value on relationships through the family. They understood the fulfillment of earning money and doing a good day’s work. They learned by experience what it meant to sacrifice and share with others. Yes, I believe it all goes back to the early years in the home.
The family is so important, and today the family is being dismantled by a runaway society. The fathers are absent from far too many homes. Single parents are raising children who do not have the balance of both parents. This is having a damaging effect on the homes, the communities, the states, and the country.
History has proved over and over again “as the home goes, so goes a country.”
The moral decline in America is in direct proportion to decline in the homes and also the churches. Intact families are more inclined to be church goers than fragmented families. Why? Because raising the children to be good moral people is very important.
The past does have a bearing on the future. How we were raised does prepare us for life. We were not born negative or positive, good or bad; we were born a baby. From then on the influences, education, opportunities, etc. produce a negative or positive human being. We produce too many people who have not prepared to live productive, victorious lives.
What is the answer? Better homes. It’s just that.
Chaplain Bud
“If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength!” Proverbs 24:10
People who have faith have all they need to live a victorious life. Never look at what you lack but where your strength is. “The joy of the Lord is our strength.”
Here are things to remember as you deal with life:
I already have the faith I need to attack every lack. Mark 9:23
I will start attacking my lack today.
Psalm 30:5
My lack isn’t beyond God’s ability.
Mark 9:23
I will attack my lack thru giving and receiving.
Luke 6:38
God has a personal harvest for me. 2 Corinthians 9:10
I will trust God as the source of my supply.
Philippians 4:19I will cheer up today-roses will bloom for me again. Matthew.5:12
I will plant my best seeds daily.
Mark 4:24
I will pursue the God kind of prosperity.
Psalm 37:3-5
I am not out of options.
Psalm 34:19
I will plant my seeds even during hard times.
Genesis 26:12
I will speak God’s faith-filled words.
Matthew 12:37
We Christians are so quick to forget that we are not on this earth permanently. We are just passing through with limited years to serve God, so don’t lose your focus. We are the salt of the earth and a light to a dark and dying world.
We will have problems and crisis. We will be tested again and again, but “with God all things are possible.” We are to stand our ground against the devil. We are to reach out, not die out.
Paul wrote a very encouraging letter to the Philippian church and in it he said: “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” Phil. 4:11 He went on to write: “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” Phil 4:13 Then finally he writes:” and my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Phil.4:19
We know life is not fair or even certain here on this earth. But the Lord will provide and protect you. However, we must be patient, obedient, and faithful until the end.
This is the year of evangelism in our church. This is a very exciting time in our history. God is calling us to be alert and to be harvesters. It’s His will and it’s His church. We are the workers and servants in His vineyard. Each individual must do his or her part. God expects fruit from His church, not excuses.
Remember, “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.” Psalm 127:1
Let’s attack our lack and see what God is going to do.
See ya in church,
Bud