“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2). 

If Jesus is Lord of your life-
– then not only is your entire life ordered,
– but so is every single step within your life.

God has a plan-
– for the plumber,
– as well as the preacher;
– for the mechanic,
– as well as the missionary!

And if God, for instance, calls you to be a mechanic and you become a missionary-
– you are accepting the second best!

To find God’s will is the highest achievement in your life!
Success is not spelled-
F-A-M-E.
Nor it is spelled P-R-O-S-P-E-R-I-T-Y.

Success is the continuous realization of the will of God!
– what God desires — for your life!

God does not make clones!
He makes children!!

There is an ultimate purpose for your life as His child:
To be like Jesus!

He doesn’t want us to be comfortable always!
But to be conformable to the image of His Son!!
Don’t be cheated by cultic teachings!
They will never work in your life!

Read the Bible!
Reject sooth saying preaching!!

(PR)

The post Success Is Not Spelled…. appeared first on My Manna.

“For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).

I believe that God desires all His children to be successful, significant, satisfied, and secure!

From birth you have been developing in your mind a means for experiencing these values and reaching other goals in life.

Consciously or subconsciously you continue to formulate and adjust your plans for achieving these goals.

But sometimes your well-intended plans and noble-sounding goals are-
– not completely in harmony with God’s plans and goals for you.
“How can I know if what I believe is right?” you may be wondering.
“Must I wait until I am 45 years old or until I experience some kind of mid-life crisis to discover that what I believed was wrong?”

I don’t think so.
I believe that God has designed us in such a way that we can know on a regular basis if our belief system is properly aligned with God’s truth.

God has established a feedback system which is designed to grab your attention so you can examine the validity of your goal.

That system is your emotions.
When an experience or relationship leaves you feeling angry, anxious or depressed, those emotional signposts are there to alert you that you may be cherishing a faulty goal which is based on a wrong belief.

If our goals are blocked, we become angry.
If our goals are uncertain, we feel anxious.
If we perceive our goals as impossible, we become depressed because the heart of depression is hopelessness.

Can any God-given goal be blocked, uncertain or impossible?
Put another way, if God wants something done, can it be done?

Of course!
The question is:
Do we have a biblical understanding of success, significance, satisfaction and security?

When we see and pursue these values from God’s perspective-
– we will reach our goals because they are God’s goals for us.

May God help you recognize whether your goals are in line with His.
And make the proper adjustments in your belief system.

(PR)

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Some Christians are just grateful for whatever the Lord gives them. Some believers have confused success with greed and discontent!

This happens because of –
Our overwhelming obsession!
– with the world’s definition of success!! For most people
– Success is equivalent to wealth and power.

If you asked the average person on the street whether he’s successful, there’s a good chance he would talk about his career or investments. He may even make a passing reference to the five “C”s. Many people simply cannot view success outside of these terms. They think of only becoming “rich and famous!”

If the pursuit of success were sinful – how could God have made the promise of Joshua 1:7? “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.”

The Lord was promising success! For Joshua
– Success was defined as the fulfillment of God’s promise to Moses!

Joshua wasn’t concerned with money or fame; rather, he was intensely focused on fulfilling God’s plan for him. Armed with the power of the Word, Joshua boldly marched ahead and received the Lord’s blessings. And for that, God called him a “success.”

Do not be confused! The world’s traps have nothing to do with spiritual success!

Your family, fellowship, faith, faithfulness…these are the things that matter in life;
– not your fame, finance, fake status or false dreams!

When you place your emphasis on spiritual things
– You’ll discover the Godly way to measure success!

Success in the Christian life or ministry
– is neither achievement nor accomplishment nor advancement! But
– It is the fulfilment of God’s will in our life and ministry!

(PR)

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“And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:26-30).

At first glance –
It would seem that God allowed this earthquake to take place in order that Paul and Silas would be set free. The earthquake came and their bands were loosed. There was nothing holding them back. They could have fled immediately!

Wouldn’t have you? But no! Paul and Silas waited!

And as a result
– The jailer and his entire family were saved!

Many times we assume God’s reasoning for doing the things He does.

The Lord may have released us to walk through a door that He has clearly opened!

But- He may also have other purposes in mind. God’s purposes are not always as they seem! Let’s not be so quick to assume!

There’s no hurry. God won’t shut a door if it is His divine will for it to be open!

Let’s be patient! And be sure to be led by the Spirit of God.

These are amazing times we’re living in! We don’t want to miss out on God’s perfect will! There is much ministry to be done!

Wait for some more time for the will of God!!

When He sends –
– Then you Go!

(PR)

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“They were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the Word in Asia” (Acts 16:6). 

It is interesting to study the methods of God’s guidance as it was extended towards these early heralds of the Cross.

It consisted largely in prohibitions, when they attempted to take another course than the right.
When they would turn to the left, to Asia, He stayed them.
When they sought to turn to the right, to Bithynia, again He stayed them.

In after years Paul would do some of the greatest work of his life in that very region!
But just now the door was closed against him by the Holy Spirit.

The time was not yet ripe for the attack on these apparently impregnable bastions of the kingdom of Satan.

Apollos must come there for pioneer work!
Paul and Barnabas are needed yet more urgently elsewhere, and must receive further training before undertaking this responsible task.

Whenever you are doubtful as to your course-
Submit your judgment absolutely to the Spirit of God!
And ask Him to shut against you every door but the right one.

Say:
“Blessed Spirit, I cast on You the entire responsibility of closing against my steps any
and every course which is not of God. Let me hear Your voice behind me whenever I turn to the right hand or the left.”

In the meanwhile-
Continue along the path which you have been already treading!
Abide in the calling in which you are called, unless you are clearly told to do something else.

The Spirit of Jesus waits to be to you what He was to Paul.
Only be careful to obey His least prohibition; and where, after believing prayer, there are no apparent hindrances, go forward with enlarged heart.

Do not be surprised if the answer comes in closed doors.
But when doors are shut right and left, an open road is sure to lead to Troas.

There Luke awaits, and visions will point the way, where vast opportunities stand open, and faithful friends are waiting.

Is there some problem in your life to solve?
Some passage seeming full of mystery?

God knows and-
He keeps the key!

Is there some door closed by your Father’s hand?
Trust God and wait–for when He shuts the door-
He keeps the key!

Is there some earnest prayer unanswered yet?
Or answered NOT as you had thought it would be?

God will make clear His purpose by-and-by.

Have patience with your patient God!

(PR)

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“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me and the gospel will save it” (Mark 8:35-36). 

Strive not so much to succeed!
I remember addressing a group of ministers.

I told them the story of my own failures-
– which at that time amounted to a great many, and I said:
“The lesson I have learned from my failures is that I don’t have to succeed.

I have to do the right thing under God’s guidance and leave success or failure in His hands.”
One of the ministers came to me afterwards and said, “I am a pastor of one of the largest churches in this area and regarded by my peers as one of the most successful ministers in my denomination. But today you have helped me overcome the greatest pressure in my life – the pressure to succeed.”

In the early years of my ministry-
I was extremely success-oriented!

When I succeeded, I felt good.
When I failed, I felt devastated.

Then God said to me quite bluntly one day-
“Are you willing to be a failure for My sake?”

The question shook me rigid.
God called Ezekiel for a ministry of failure.
He said to him,”The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn…for they are a rebellious house.”

Then God gave him a book that described his mission “on both sides of it were written words of lament and mourning and woe” (Ezekiel.2:4, 5, 10).

The fruit of the Spirit is-
– not only love, joy and peace
– but also longsuffering! (Gal.5:22).

It was a whole week later before I found sufficient grace to answer that question with a “Yes!”
And when I did, I was instantly released from the two things that had crippled my life and ministry:
– the pressure to succeed!
– and the fear of failure!!

What matters is not succeeding or failing.
But being faithful to Him!

God has not called us-
– to be successful
– but to be faithful!

Success and failure are in His hands.
I am not-
– on the way to success!

I am on the Way!!
Success in life is-
– neither achievement nor accomplishment!

But-
It is the fulfilment of God’s will in my life!!

(PR)

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In 1818, a boy named Louis was sitting in his father’s workshop in France.
His father was a harness maker and Louis loved to sit and watch his father work.

One day, he said, “Father, I want to be a harness maker like you one day.”
To which the father replied, “Why not start now?”

He took a piece of leather, drew a design on it, and instructed his son to use the hole puncher and hammer to follow the pattern.
The man set him off to work with a warning to be careful.

Young Louis was excited to begin his new job, but when he hit the hole puncher, it flew out of his hand and pierced his eye.
He immediately lost his sight in it as a result.

Later, sight in his other eye failed, and Louis became totally blind.
Several years later, Louis was sitting in a garden when a friend handed him a pine cone.

Louis ran his fingers over the cone, and suddenly an idea came to him.
This idea eventually led to the creation of an alphabet of raised dots on paper so that others who were blind could feel and interpret what was written.

As a result of his accident, Louis Braille opened up a new world for the blind!
To some, this type of tragedy would have been the thing that would have sent them into depression and isolation.

But as believers, we know that all things happen for a reason-
—God’s divine purpose and plan. Jeremiah 29:11.

God has mapped out every day and detail of our existence.
When tragedy strikes, don’t be alarmed.

Thank God for His promises of hope and a future, even when tragedy strikes.
Know that God is in control. Psalm 47:8.

And that all things work together for His glory and your good! Romans 8:28.

(PR)

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“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God” (Rom. 8:28). 

How wide is this assertion of the Apostle Paul!
He does not say, “We know that some things,”
-or “most things,”
-or “joyous things,”

But “ALL things.”
And all things “work!’
They are working!
– not all things have worked,
– or shall work!

But it is a present operation!
At this very moment-
– when some voice may be saying, “Thy judgments are a great deep,” the angels above, who are watching the development of the great plan, are with folded wings exclaiming:
“The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. ” Ps. 145:17.

All things “work together!”
It is a beautiful blending!!

Many different colours, in themselves raw and unsightly, are required in order to weave the harmonious pattern.
Many separate tones and notes of music, even discords and dissonances, are required to make up the harmonious anthem.

Many separate wheels and joints are required to make the piece of machinery.
Take a thread separately, or a note separately, or a wheel or a tooth of a wheel separately, and there may be neither use nor beauty discernible.

But complete the web, combine the notes, connect the separate parts of steel and iron, and you see how perfect and symmetrical is the result.

Here is the lesson for faith:
“What I do you know not now!
But you shall know hereafter!!”

(PR)

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Gaining weight is something we all seem to battle!
– especially as we get older!

Obviously, God does not want us physically fat!
But He does want us spiritually FAT!
God is looking for FAT disciples!

The question then is this:
How FAT are you?

Faithful!
1 Corinthians 4:2 reads, “Moreover it is required in stewards [managers] that a man be found faithful.”
When I am faithful, God can trust me with assignments and responsibilities.
Not only does it mean that God can trust me and count on me, but it also means that I trust God and count on Him.
If I am faithful, I am full of faith and believe God enough to step out on His Word, regardless of the circumstances.
Romans 10:17 tells us, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”
I must show my faith by my obedience for “the obedience …comes from faith.”1:5.

Available!!
The Lord asked, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!”.Isaiah 6:8.
God is looking for volunteers, people who will say, “I am Yours, Lord. I am ready and willing to do Your will, whatever it may be.”
Are you available to the Lord like that?
God never looks for ability!
God always looks for availability!
He does not call the equipped!
He equips the called!!
Moses told God he could not speak well…and God said, “No problem. I can give you the ability to speak”.Exodus 4:10-12.
“The best ability is simple availability.”

Teachable!!!
It is really hard for God to work in a heart that does not easily and readily receive instruction (a hard-soiled or rocky-soiled heart)!
I often pray, “Lord give me a heart that is good soil so that your Word can penetrate and bear fruit in me thirty, sixty and a hundredfold.”
God can teach a person wonderful lessons, even through a little child, if that person is open and teachable.
God is not only looking for those open to instruction, He is looking for those open to correction.
If I am truly teachable, you can point out deficiencies and blind spots in my life (speak the truth in love)… and I will listen and take those comments to heart.
David prayed, “Let the godly strike me! It will be a kindness! If they correct me, it is soothing medicine. Don’t let me refuse it”. Psalm 141:5.

If you and I truly want to grow strong in the Lord, we need people around us who will love us enough to tell us the truth and point out blind spots so that we can work on them… to the glory of God.

Would you determine in your heart to be a FAT disciple?
Remember, the FATTER you become spiritually, the more God will be able to use you to make a difference in the world for Christ.

(PR)

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How wonderful it is to receive an answer to prayer! But there is something even more wonderful–to be an answer to prayer. Have you been an answer to prayer lately? Joseph was!

In Psalm 105:17 we read, “He sent a man before them–Joseph–who was sold as a slave.” At the time, Joseph could not see what God was doing.

But God was preparing him to be an answer to prayer. He was going to use Joseph to protect the people of Israel. If Joseph had not done this, the nation might have perished. If the nation had perished, we wouldn’t have a Bible, and we wouldn’t have a Savior.

God plans His work. We never have to worry about what is going on, because God knows. He is never caught off guard, and He is never surprised. God never says, “How did that happen?”

He chose Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and Jacob’s sons to accomplish some great purposes in this world–to bear witness of the true and living God, to give us the Bible and the Savior. God also works His plan. He uses people to accomplish His purposes. We don’t always know what God is doing. He didn’t send an angel down to prison to explain to Joseph all of His plans.

Joseph worked and walked by faith. He went through trials and dishonor, but he ultimately triumphed. From trial to triumph, from bondage to blessing, Joseph was an answer to prayer.
You may be wondering today, Why am I going through this experience? Why doesn’t God make life easier for me?

Remember Joseph. God chose him, prepared him and used him as an answer to prayer. Let God prepare you for what

He has prepared for you! He designs them for your good and His glory. Perhaps you are going through difficulties and trials today. God doesn’t waste your trials. He might be planning to use you as an answer to prayer.

(PR)

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