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Overcoming Obstacles to Success
It is your duty to be rich.
It is a sin to be poor.
George Bernard Shaw said these words in the early 1900's
Money is the reward that we get for the service that we provide to our fellow man. If we are not receiving adequate money in our lives, then that must mean that we are not providing adequate service.
Our lives are shaped by our beliefs. How many of you believe that the Spirit of Christ lives inside of you? How does this belief effect the way you view the world?
How many of you believe that God wants you to prosper?
Let's look at some of the beliefs about money that may be holding you back from the success you desire.
"I'm not worthy of success"
"I'm not good enough to be successful"
"I have tried and failed"
"Money comes from hard work and I don't want to work that hard"
"All rich pole are crooks"
"There is no honest way to earn $1,000,000"
"I am afraid that my life will change for the worse if I had more money"
And my all time favorite excuse for not being rich:
"Poor people are moor spiritual"
I recently heard a speaker call these people poverts. They take pride in spreading poverty.
But I will ask you this who has more resources to be spiritual rich or poor? Poor people are way too concerned with money to think about spiritual matters.
The only way we can be successful is if we believe we can be successful. Just like I taught in my health class, we must believe that we are healthy to have good health. We must believe that we are prosperous to have prosperity.
Let us now look at how we can change these beliefs:
"I can be a success"
"I am making progress toward my goals"
"God desires me to be successful"
Philippians 4:13
13 I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.
Are there any limits on this promise?
Lets be careful not to take this promise out of context as many like to say who doubt the promises of God. Paul here is talking about opportunities for service. And as we have already established money is what we get in return for service. I invite you to read this whole chapter when you get home and see if you can find any limits God places on his promise.
"I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength."
What does he say we can do? Everything.
My friend used to have a poster on her office wall that said: "Doubt your limits."
The belief that we can do "everything" is a core belief in being successful.
Now lets look at 1 John 5:14-15
1 John 5:14-15
14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him.
If you don't truly believe that you will attain your goal, then it does not matter how hard you work, how persistent you are, or how committed you are. You will fail because you believe you will fail. Your beliefs shape your reality.
Remember the words of Yoda when he was teaching Luke Skywalker how to use the force, Do or do not, there is no try.
If you want to know what your true beliefs are, just take a look around you. What you see is a mirror of your beliefs.
If you believe in beauty, then you will find beauty everywhere you look. If you believe that beauty is rare, you will see ugliness everywhere you look.
If you believe that the earth is a peaceful place, then you will see peace and tranquility all around you. If you believe that the earth is a dangerous place, then you will see terrorists and violence everywhere you look.
Now focus your thoughts on your money situation. Do you see abundance or do you see lack? Do you see prosperity or poverty? Which ever it is you will get more of what you see.
No you may argue that you are in fact a realist and that you only see what is there. You think you see the truth.
But I say to you that all observations are filtered by you beliefs. I saw this demonstrated in my college physics class where we could set up experiments that prove that lights is either a wave or a particle depending on what our theory was at the beginning of the experiment. In other words our beliefs effected the scientific truth.
But I also have very good news for you. We get to choose what we believe.
I choose to believe that God wants me to prosper. I choose to believe that God has already provided the abundant resources that will enable me to meet my goals. I choose to believe that God will support me in manifesting my desires.
1 Thessalonians 5:24
24 The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
Remember the to do list tool I showed you a few weeks ago?
Take a big sheet of paper and divide it into two columns. At the top of one column write My to do list. On the other column, write God's to do list. In your column, write he things that you enjoy doing and that you are good at. Put all the rest in God's column. Add verse 24. He will do it!
Just let God handle his part. Don't start micromanaging him. Let him handle it his way.
2 Corinthians 9:8
8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Here is how to create your own reality:
Start by writing down your goals. Less than 3% of the worlds population have written goals. 100% of successful people have clear goals that they focus on daily. Get clear on what you want by writing down your goals and reviewing them daily.
I writ mine down every day. I use a process called scripting. I have a magic notebook where I write down the things I expect to have happen each day.
I write them as if they are happening in the present moment. Like I am having a happy and healthy day. My dog is happy and healthy. I am making at least two new ales today.
I also try to add at least one goal that is a bit of a stretch. Like last week I was inspired one morning to write, I am receiving $100 form and unexpected source. Later that week I received an email out of the blue asking about some race car parts I had left over. When he asked what I wanted for them I immediately thought of my statement. I priced them at $100 and in a few hours time I had an unexpected $100 cash in my hand. I placed that $100 bill on top on my computer to remind me to expect miracles.
One of the most effective tools that you can use to achieve your goals is the process of visualization. That is picturing in your mind what it will be like to accomplish your goal.
Imagine what it will feel like to have or do what ever you desire. Create as much detail as possible. Combine these visualizations with he belief that you are succeeding and your results are guaranteed.
We were taught not to daydream in school and as adults we often think daydreaming is a waste of time. But all successful people use visualization as a tool to achieve their goals.
Put the power of your faith to work for you in creating the life you desire. Just don't get caught up in the how it is gong to be accomplished. This is the biggest mistake I see people make. Including myself. We get caught up in wonder how we can achieve what we desire. The only thing we need to do is tell God what we want and let him figure out how to give it to you. Your job during the waiting time is to expect a miracle and do whatever you can to serve others. Let God handle the details. After all, we don't try to tell out heart how fast to beat, we just know we want the right amount of blood to flow to the right spots to lift our arm. Let God handle your desires for success in the same way.
Here are ten tips on how to be more successful:
- Affirm with confidence that God has given me everything I need to be what he wants me to be. I have all the resources of God's creation at my disposal to accomplish my goals.
- Remember that God has promised to make a way where there is no way.
- Build your own list of scripture verses that boost your courage, faith, confidence and belief. Write them down and carry them with you. Remember the Torah boxes that the Pharisee used?
- Ask God for help. Pray the promises of God. Remind yourself of these promises.
- Be thankful for what you have. Take inventory of the resources that you have at your disposal. Take time to thank God for them. Focus on what you already have instead of the lack. You will get more of what you focus on. Being thankful makes sure you are focused on what you want more of.
- Make a list of character traits that you wish to manifest in your life. Find people who exemplify these trait and emulate them. This is actually what the system of Greek gods was all about. They created legends of people who had the traits that they wanted to identify with in their lives. For example if you want more confidence, think that you are James Bond.
- Reframe negative thoughts. Anytime you find yourself thinking about what you don't want, as quickly as possible reframe the thought to be what you do want. For example instead of thinking I don't want to be sick, think I want to be healthy and energetic.
- When and obstacle pops up on your path to progress, boldly claim God's power to overcome it. Last weekend, I went Jeeping with some friends. We purposely sought out obstacles that would challenge us. The best way to get over them was to boldly tackle them with just the right line and use the skills and equipment that we had to it maximum ability.
- When the demons of doubt and fear attack, rebuke them in the name of Christ. You have the power within you to conquer any fear or doubt that Satan may through at you. Use it.
- Remember that God is always with you. Jesus lives in your heart. The Holy Spirit is here to guide you. It is you guide at all times.
Expect success. Accept nothing less than the best life that God has to offer you. Trust God. Ten allow him to take action in your life.
Don't try to achieve success alone. Use the power of Christ within you and let God bless you with success. God wants to bless you but you have to let Him.
When you pray and ask for God's will, you don't have to wonder if God wants you to succeed. The blessings have already been promised in scripture.
When you pray for God's will to be accomplished you are allowing God to do things his way. We often get in the way of God's blessing by thinking that what we desire has to be accomplished in a certain way. God may have a different plan and we have to be open to that possibility.
Hebrews 10:35
35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
Psalm 55:22
22 Cast your cares on the LORD
and he will sustain you;
he will never let the righteous fall.
Romans 15:13
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
You can be successful
You can achieve your goals
You can count on God
God is always with you
As Wayne Dyer says, you will see it when you believe it!
This article was originally presented by Mike in Sunday School Class at North Cleveland Baptist Church.
Mike Strawbridge is the owner of Straw Solutions Performance Improvement Consulting. He enjoys helping people achieve their goals and dreams.
He is also available for personal coaching and speaking to your group. http://coach.mikestrawbridge.com
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