The most valuable tool we have when it comes to learning from others and their experiences are the words and stories given to us in the Bible. The Bible is our greatest asset when it comes to taking the messages, stories and experiences of others and using those things to grow us into more successful people.
What is THE THING that holds so many of us back from success and happiness? We pray. We wait on God to move and then, while we wait, we do nothing. Because we do nothing in the gap, we get so nervous that He won’t come through for us. We doubt and worry and speak words of negativity. When we pray, does that remove all responsibility from us? Is all of the responsibility at that point God’s?
Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” The study notes say the following: We must maintain a delicate balance of trusting God as if everything we do depended on Him while working as if everything depended on us. Commit your ways to God. Pray. Ask Him to direct your steps and give you favor in all that you do, but then GET BUSY and believe... have hope that He will actually come through for you. Pray. Work your hardest and hope that God will come through. Now, hope is not crossing your fingers that God will come through. The Biblical definition of Hope is Confident Expectation. It basically believes that it’s a fact, so we need to walk around with that kind of attitude.
Prayer + Hard Work + Hope = Faith
(Talking with God/Reading His Word) + Hard Work + (Waiting on God/Speaking Positive Things into Our Lives) = Faith
Learning to be proactive in life is essential to maintaining our peace. Being proactive in our faith means cultivating a personal relationship with Christ that carries us through. Spending time in His Word arms us with ammunition to combat our natural reactions. Talking with Him throughout the day connects us with His Spirit so that we can submit to His Will. It’s through His Word and our ongoing conversations with Him that we have the power to work our hardest to achieve the dreams He has laid out before us.
God has a divine purpose for you. He wants you to grow. He wants to give you favor and to be a blessing to others. Staying stagnant and the same in your faith is not an option. You’re His and He has great things in store for you. You need to move through life looking for ways to grow, and one of the best—easiest, non-painful and stress free ways to grow is by leaning in to His Word. Working together with God, there’s not a more powerful force on the face of the earth. The two of you are a dynamic, unstoppable force.
