“For I know the plans I have for you Will,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
God has plans for your success Will, far beyond the many quotes and definitions of it, that litter social media. In the above verse from Jeremiah, the word “plans” in the original Hebrew translates to “thought, device, purpose, invention.” All of those words give us a look much farther into the plans that God has for you in this life. He has thought about you, individually! He has planned, purposed, developed, on your behalf, all for His glory. His plans for you are good, despite the wrong decisions you might possibly make, and will complete the perfection process all throughout your life.
This world would have us define success in terms of wealth and the accumulation of things, status or promotion, or by what “MAKES US HAPPY,” but God defines success in our lives by a different set of standards. He blesses us with worldly things, amazing accomplishments and wonderful experiences, all which we are to enjoy! Yet, we are prone to wrongly equate our success by comparison and competition. The underlying definition of success in our lives, by God’s design, is PEACE. We are charged to take what He has blessed us with and turn to BLESS OTHERS in His honor, to improve our skills and diligently pursue the TRUTH OF HIS WORD. All this is rewarded in His own way, standards, and time, here and for eternity, in our relationship with Him, others, and ourselves, regardless of the surrounding circumstances. Let’s pray for YOUR SUCCESS today Will, God’s way.
-Bill Stockham