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Life | What is Success?



There’s something that’s been on my heart for a while now.

What is Success?

Do you measure success by the amount of money you have? The amount of material things you possess? How big of a following you have on social media?

I want to share this dream that I had a few nights ago. It started off a little weird and skipped around a bit, but I’ll give you the most important parts:

One of my Pastors at my church, who really has a passion for engaging with men/young men, was talking to a group of young men outside on the sidewalk. My husband and I were there as well, but I'm not quite sure what we were doing there. All of a sudden, a bunch of young people just started crowding the side walk. Some of them I knew, and some of them I didn’t know. Across the street, there was another group of young people crowding the sidewalk as well.  

Someone started playing some songs by the Notorious B.I.G as well as a song he did with Bone Thugs N Harmony. I’m not sure what the group on the other side of the street was playing but everyone just started dancing and singing whatever song was playing on their side….but it was a competition. All I could see was people just getting lost in this music and trying to outdo each other in their rap.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get to finish the dream since my bladder was just screaming “EMPTY ME…NOW!” But, have you ever had a crazy dream where you wake up scratching your head like “What in the world just happened?” Yea…that was me for a good five minutes after I woke up. But I knew for a fact that there was a message behind it.

I told my husband about the dream, especially since I wasn’t sure what Biggy Smalls or Bone Thug N Harmony had to do with anything! I listened to this kind of stuff when I younger, but hadn’t heard these songs in years, hence the reason why I was just…puzzled.

As we listened to the songs on YouTube (and as my husband read through the metaphors of these lyrics), we realized that these songs are about success. Getting money. Getting high. Becoming successful by any means necessary. Getting what you want by any means necessary. A total ruthless mentality. Not caring what you have to do or who you have to get through to get it.

The problem with this kind of mentality of success is that it’s all done apart from God. I’m noticing that a lot of the young people and just people in general want success but they don’t want the One who gives it. They don’t seek or desire a relationship with Jesus. They don’t desire to know who He is. They don’t commit their lives or their plans to Him. They seek to do everything apart from Him, without realizing that there is no real substance, fulfillment, or fruit that will come from it.

I recently finished reading this book by the late Myles Munroe called Unlock Your Potential: Becoming Your Best You, and it was such an eye-opening experience reading this book. It’s filled with such valuable information on releasing your potential by knowing Who your Source is, understanding how we are designed to function, and knowing your purpose according to the gifts, talents, and skills God has placed on the inside of you.


One of the biggest lessons I’ve taken from this book, and I pray that to all who are reading this post, you will walk away with a piece of this as well:

You must know God, your Source, if you want to experience a satisfying, abundant life…All you do and are apart from God will always fall short of the true value and capacity of your potential…You must know your Source to become your potential. This is the foundation key.
-Dr. Myles Munroe, Unlocking Your Potential: Becoming Your Best You

A lot of people want to be successful and they want things to happen instantly when they want it. They don’t want to wait. Most importantly, they don’t want and desire Jesus.

My Pastor has been talking about living out of the inner chambers and prayer life over the past couple of weeks. He’s been talking about how prayer is not all about making your needs and desires known to God. It’s about knowing God.

We have to want God more than our circumstances, needs, and desires.
-Apostle James R. Vinson Jr.

Success doesn’t come from the money, cars, or whatever it is that you have or want. Satisfaction and peace of mind most certainly won’t come from getting high either. It’s all just temporary gratification. Let me tell you something—you most certainly won’t be taking these things with you when you die...why get so hung up on something that's temporary?

It comes from Him — seeking Him, walking in His perfect will and purpose for your life, and waiting on His perfect timing.
Focus your heart and mind on God, and do what it is you need to do to please and glorify Him. Don't let your focus be on the treasures of the Earth.
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.
-Matthew 6: 19-21

Most importantly, seek Him above all things. Don't get me wrong here. I'm not saying give up whatever your career and business goals are. Sure, people have plans and things they want to do. But is it what He would have you do? How can you bring glory to His name in what you do?
Bring and commit your plans to Him. Ask Him to order your steps. He is your Source!
Once you measure your success by your faithfulness and obedience to God, the fruit that you bear will be long-lasting and much more meaningful.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
-Matthew 6:33, KJV

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