A Sure Way to Success and Prosperity

Success and prosperity is something we all crave in life. We all want to do well in life, achieve our goals, and experience financial freedom to enjoy life. If only there was a guaranteed formula to bring this about.

I am here to remind you that there is that formula you are looking for. If you know the Bible, you have probably read or heard this verse numerous times. I know I have. Yet if you are like me, you often feel good, but quickly move on not allowing yourself to fully realize the power in these words.

The key verse I am sharing is Joshua 1:8. I like the New Living Translation version best. It says… Study this Book of Instruction (The Bible) continually. “Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do”. God’s word is amazingly powerful. Every part of it is true. I know I have been guilty of reading the Word and knowing it, but not applying and doing it. Only recently have I realized the amazing blessings we receive when we completely live by God’s Word.

If you need further proof of this, just look in the next verse. It says… “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go”. It means you do not have to fear. Here’s the bottom line…when you consistently live out the words of the Bible with confidence, knowing that God is with you every step of the way, you can only succeed!

As mentioned, I am realizing this more than ever now. That is why I feel the desperate need to share this with as many people as possible. Take the Bible to heart. It is inspired by God, and every word of it is true. Know that God will not go against His own word. He will do what He says He will do!

I challenge you today to find time to learn God’s word. When something stands out, stop and spend some time meditating on it. Then ask God how you can apply it to your life and live it out. If you ask, He will tell you. Doing this consistently will lead to the success and prosperity you are seeking. Even when and after it arrives, continue to seek God and live by His words. Your life will be filled with joy and miracles. Enjoy the blessings 🙂

Can Fear Be A Good Thing?

I often discuss in this blog that if we want to accomplish our goals and dreams, it is very important to have faith. I also mention that it is often fear that gets in our way and replaces the faith we are supposed to have. I have often thought..once I remove the fear and replace it with faith and confidence, I can accomplish the goal.

During the past few weeks, I have read some very different information, and it has greatly changed my philosophy. I am reading an excellent book called, “The Confidence Gap”, by Russ Harris. Like many of the books I’ve read, it deals with personal empowerment. However, unlike many of them, it does not discuss the affirmation and visualization techniques I have learned about and used.

The enlightening information that has changed my mental philosophy, is this idea: fear is a natural reaction, and the author explains why it is genetically engrained in us. The author reasons that fear is the completely natural human response anytime we move outside our comfort zone. He recommends that, instead of trying to fight and remove the fear, we are far better off accepting the fear. Then instead of letting the fear control us and move us away from our goal, we can  use this energy in a positive way to move us toward the desired result.

In many ways this goes against everything I’ve been taught. I always thought I was wrong to have fears and that God couldn’t work with me or for me if I did. However, this idea has brought a great deal of peace into my life. Instead of fear being abnormal, I am completely normal for having it. God created me, so He knows my natural response is fear. I realize more now that when I do fear, He simply wants me to rely on Him and channel the energy positively like the author (and God) recommends.

I present this peaceful information and receommendation to you, my cherished reader. If you are feeling fear in a difficult situation, there is nothing wrong with you. It simply shows that you are normal. The key is to avoid letting fear get the best of you. Instead of letting it control you, use the energy it creates, focus on the desired result of the task at hand, and simply go for it and do it.

You don’t think even the most confident people feel fear or anxiety? The athlete batting, pitching, shooting, or defending with the game on the line? The speaker delivering a key speech? The pianist or dancer performing live on stage? They may not show it, but they are all experiencing some fear or anxiety. The reason they may appear calm and confident is because, instead of letting fear get the best of them, they channel the energy correctly and creatively to help them perform their best at the most critical times.

Once again, I challenge you to do the same. Don’t let fear get the best of you. Instead, use it for the good it’s intended for. Use your mind to pray and focus, and use your increased adrenelaine to take positive action to accomplish the task at hand.

Through this I have learned that fear will never go away. I wasn’t ok with this before, but I am now. As long as you don’t let fear get a grip on you and bring you down, you can be ok with this too. Once again, instead of letting it negatively affect you, let it inspire and motivate you to “just do it” and live more of the life you want to live. That is certainly nothing to be afraid of. Enjoy the blessings : )

Smile!…We’re Leaving Here With A Victory

I had the opportunity to watch one of the biggest college football games of the year a few weeks back. It was between Florida State and Clemson. The game was very important because it would most likely determine the conference champion. The game also had national championship implications as both were undefeated and ranked in the top 5.

The scene was unbelievable. It’s one of the big reasons I watch sports in the first place. A small town in South Carolina is captivated by this event. 90,000 fans create an incredibly high decibel level and wave of excitement that even a non sports fan could easily get caught up in.

One highlight of this event was ABC TV’s pregame show. They did a great job of taking us around the city and stadium to enhance the excitement. The part that most caught my attention was the pregame speech in the Florida State locker room. It wasn’t by the coach or veteran players of the team. It was from a freshman quarterback.

Typically in college football, the freshman quarterback does not have much of a say. However, this one was different. Typically, freshman quarterbacks are intimidated going into a hostile environment where most of the 90,000 screaming fans are cheering against you. Again, this one was different.

The part of his inspirational speech that most caught my attention was when he said…”Smile, boys. We’re leaving here with a victory”. I was amazed. I loved the confidence and wanted to see him do well even though I was more excited for the home team. What was the result? The game wasn’t even close. This confident freshman quarterback and his team destroyed the home team and quickly caused the decibel level to nosedive as Florida State won by almost 40 points. He never wavered at all. He demonstrated the same confidence on the field as he did in the locker room.

I was mesmerized by this speech and the results because it follows everything I’ve been taught in the past few years about success. This quarterback already saw the victory in his mind. He had extreme faith that it would happen. He still did his part and worked hard and smart in practice all week. He led his team in the speech by having them already smile and savor the victory that hadn’t even arrived yet. However, it did arrive within 3 hours of stepping on the field.

Do you want to win your big games in life? I recommend you follow this same advice. Have unwavering faith that not only can you win, but you WILL win. Visualize the victorious results in your mind. As you focus on the victory, take whatever action you can to prepare and make it happen. Also, act is if the victory is already yours. You already have it. It’s just a matter of stepping on the field with continued confidence and going to get it.

If you follow these guidelines you will not only win the big games of your life, but you will become a champion. Enjoy the blessings : )

Avoid Circumstantial Evidence

Why is it many people don’t achieve their goals in life? There are several reasons. One big one is that they pay too much attention to circumstantial evidence. For example, the evidence shows that they still don’t have what they want, so they dwell on that fact.

What happens when you dwell on the fact that the achievement of your goal still hasn’t arrived? Unfortunately, it brings more of the same. You receive in life what you focus on. If you focus on lack and that you don’t have what you are looking for, you will continue not having it.

You may be saying, “how can I argue with the evidence”? The truth is you can’t. However, I will tell you there is more evidence to go by. I will provide the crash course version here. You are a spiritual being, surrounded by the spirit of God. This spirit makes up your being, and it is connected to everything else in this universe. In essence, you already have everything you can ever want. It lies in this spiritual realm that you and everyone else is a part of.

The key then, is to focus on THIS evidence. Even though you cannot see it in the physical, your desire exists in the spiritual realm. Once you grab hold of this and believe it, you will maintain your focus on the end result and soon see it occur in the physical world. Remember, whatever you consistently focus your thoughts on is what you eventually experience in your life.

Keep in mind that it may not happen right away. Sometimes there are reasons where God wants us to wait. Don’t become discouraged if this happens. If you maintain a faithful mindset, and know you will eventually see it, you will. Also, there are times when receiving what you want is not the right thing. Do not fret. You will only receive something better if this is the case.

I remind you again to avoid relying on circumstances to get you closer to your goal or make you happy. You can always be happy and confident if you focus on the spiritual evidence that tells you that what you want already exists and that it is already a part of you. It is simply up to you to believe it and keep your mind focused on these positive thoughts.

How do I know this is all true? I have seen overwhelming evidence in my own life. Enjoy the blessings : )

Faithful Consequences

I very much enjoy listening to popular preachers, and I have learned a great deal from them. One of my favorite’s has always been Charles Stanley. He is full of wise statements based on God’s Word.

I was reminded of something he said that grabbed my attention when I first heard it year’s ago, and it has stuck with me for years. His message is this…have faith, obey God, and let Him take care of the consequences.

What’s the big deal with that, you may ask? Many human beings try to have faith. They want to do the right thing and take action towards achieving their goals and desires. However, many don’t take action and fail to reach their goals simply because of fear of what might happen. For example, I once knew a woman who was overweight, and wanted to lose weight and improve her overall appearance. It was a strong desire, but nagging fears held her back. For example, she was afraid that some people would think differently of her and would not accept her new look. She was afraid that she might receive unwanted advances from guys she wasn’t interested in, something she hadn’t had to deal with in her current situation.

This is a minor example, but it is a clear example how we sometimes avoid moving forward, even when we strongly believe God is prompting us to do so. This is simply because we fear what might happen.

I will say that it’s not the end of the world if you don’t follow through and let your fears get the best of you. You are simply robbing yourself of major blessings and potential miracles, that’s all. Think about it though. What if Moses continued to tell God that he wasn’t good enough to lead the people out of Egypt? What if David thought going against Goliath would be too difficult? What if Jesus’s disciples listened to those who forbade them to spread the word of Christianity? How ordinary and purposeless their lives would have been! Where would we be today?

I can’t downplay these fears. After all, sometimes obeying God’s call will cause consequences. You may lose friends. It may cause family problems. It can cause loneliness and initial difficulties. However, please know that God’s plan is always the best plan, and even though you may have these difficulties and obstacles initially, know that you will win in the long run. And you won’t just win by a point or two. You will be blessed beyond what you could have ever expected if you faithfully follow through with God’s call and whatever desire you believe He has planted in your heart.

Which consequence would you rather have…some initial resistance from other people and initial obstacles, or the consequence of knowing that you missed a major opportunity to add greatness and blessing to your life, all because you were afraid of what might happen?

I will say again that I understand your fears, especially because I’ve been there many times myself. However, I  challenge you to live in faith. Know that if God is for you, no one can be against you. Know that if He has something great set up for you (remember, He promises that He has great plans of blessing and prosperity for you),  He will handle any consequences that come your way because of it. Have faith in that promise, and move forward with the confidence that great things are on their way in your life. Enjoy the blessings : )

How Are You Like Dorothy From The Wizard Of Oz?

The Wizard of Oz is one of my favorite movies ever made. If you’ve never seen it or need a brief review, here’s the main idea: The main character Dorothy is blown from a tornado in her home in Kansas to a beautiful place called Oz. In this place she is provided with shoes that provide unlimited power. In fact, the power is so great that the wicked witch constantly tries to take them from her. Dorothy is a hero in Oz because her house landed on a previous wicked witch who had been terrorizing the place and kills her. She also finds great friendships, and wild adventures, all surrounded by unthinkable beauty.

Even though Dorothy is provided with many great things, she misses the people at home in Kansas, and all throughout the movie she expresses her desire to get back home. To fulfill this wish, she is told she needs to make a long journey to see the wizard of oz who can grant this wish. She finally makes this long and sometimes dangerous journey and gets to the wizard where he is about to grant her wish by taking her back to Kansas. However, there is a glitch in the plan and now she is still stuck in Oz. Then the good witch who provided the powerful shoes comes to her rescue.

Herein lies the most ironic part of the movie and the theme of this post. The good witch shows Dorothy how to use the powerful shoes to take her home. However, she says that Dorothy had the power to go home all along.

What is it you are wishing for today? Whatever it is, I would like to remind you that you already have the power. Whether you are seeking love, joy, peace, patience, self-control, they are fruits of the spirit that are already part of you. 

Even if you are seeking an external thing, such as more money, a job, a new home, or anything like it, please know that the same all-powerful energy that is part of you is part of the the thing you are seeking. When you focus on that power, you let the fruits of the spirit manifest through you. You don’t have to strive for happiness. It’s already a part of you! Just meditate on that fact and let it manifest through you. As far as a material item, keep focused on that item and on the power you possess. When you do this you attract it to you. Then be sure to take any inspired action to make it happen. In the movie, the good witch gave Dorothy the instructions and she followed them. You need to do the same to make it happen and make the power work.

I will remind you that the power you have is very strong. As a result, just like in the movie, the evil one will make every effort to take it from you. However, if you rely on God and meditate on His power that is a part of you, He will protect you from those evil influences.

I remind you again that you already have the power you are seeking. Use it with confidence and for good, and there’s no place it can’t take you. Enjoy its wonderful blessings : )

How To Gain True Freedom

Last week the United States and Canada each celebrated their Independence Day. It’s a great reminder of the freedom that we have as citizens of these countries.

The problem is that, as much freedom as we have, many individuals hold themselves in bondage and feel like they lack the freedom to be who they want to be. It’s quite ironic that we live in a free country, yet we sometimes are the only ones who put restrictions on ourselves.

If you are stuck in that situation and you are seeking the freedom to be the person you want to be and live the life you are dreaming of, I have the simple solution. I was reminded of this Bible verse by a song we sang in church yesterday. It says…where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17).

Therein lies the immediate solution. Do you want personal freedom? I believe the above verse says it all. The God’s Word translation is a bit more basic. It says “The Lord is the Spirit. Wherever the Lord’s Spirit is there is freedom”.

Did you know the Lord’s Spirit dwells in you? It is a large part of your very being. So the freedom you are seeking….is already a part of you. You’ve had it all along!

The key is to focus on His spiritual presence as you go about your day. When you are conscious of this presence, you are free. There can be no bondage in your relationship with yourself and others. There can be no financial bondage, no health issues, no worries.

Do you get the picture? You are free as long as you acknowledge the Spiritual presence that makes up your being. It’s part of God’s word, and that word is true and constant. I encourage you to enjoy that freedom. Live in its blessing and confidence, and carry that light as you interact with others. Enjoy the blessings : )

A Successful Key To Beating The Obstacles

Have you ever completed an obstacle course? I always found them fun, yet frustrating at the same time. I had to go around or through several obstacles in order to reach the finish line. I like the challenge of it, though sometimes it seemed a bit long and drawn out. I began to wonder if I would ever make it to the end : )

Isn’t that how we often consider obstacles in life? There are some challenges we find interesting, and we enjoy the opportunities they present. In other cases, we dread obstacles because they keep us from reaching the finish line of our dreams and goals. In some cases, we get so frustrated that we give up before we even come close to reaching those goals.

Many will ask…how can we avoid allowing these obstacles to prevent us from reaching our goals? I found a powerful quote today that I believe holds the key…”obstacles are things a person sees when he takes his eyes off his goal” – Joseph Cossman. The key is to keep your eyes fixed firmly on the goal. When you do this, nothing or no one will be able to stop you from getting where you want to go.

There are many examples of people who refused to let obstacles get in the way. I am a sports lover, and often see athletes that are so determined to win that they play at a level even higher than their normal greatness. You can often see that look in their eyes, and you know nothing or no one is getting in their way of success.

You too will find success if you simply keep focused on the goal. If you do, you won’t even know the obstacles in front of you exist. Even if they linger, you will have little difficulty conquering them.

Many people don’t accomplish their goals because the obstacles they face create doubt and fear. When you remain completely focused on the goal, you don’t leave room for doubt and fear to creep in. Instead, you only leave room for faith and success.

Keep your eyes fixed on the goal, and refuse to take no for an answer. You will see yourself accomplishing more and more success by following this simple formula. Enjoy the blessings : )

It’s On Its Way

I had a conversation with a relative the other day. She mentioned that she had a little extra money. As a nice gesture she said she mailed $20 to me, and I can expect to receive it soon.

I was very happy and thankful about this nice gesture! As I thought about it more, it also provided a valuable reminder about faith. In the past, I would pray for something, but at times would lack the confidence that I would receive what I asked for. As a result, I firmly believe I missed out on some of God’s intended blessings.

There are many that are like this today. In many ways, they do all the right things. They pray, maintain positive thoughts, and take action. However, they miss the key ingredient of faith. Instead of focusing on the successful outcome, they worry about how it’s going to happen, or worse, if it’s going to happen. If this is you, there may be some wonderful blessings that you are missing out on.

I challenge you to use the opening example as an inspiration. When you desire something, follow the helpful steps of praying, affirming/visualizing, and taking action. Then think of the realized goal as if someone said they were sending it to you in the mail. It may not be there right away, but you can have the joyful expectation that your blessing is on its way, and the assurance that it will eventually arrive.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t even want the possibility of missing out on any of God’s blessings. I will end with my favorite Scripture verse…whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours (Mark 11:24). Believe your dreams are on their way, and you will see them fulfilled. Enjoy the blessings : )

P.S. I recently wrote another post about this topic. If you would like to check it out, here’s the link…

https://powerofpies.wordpress.com/2013/06/05/getting-ready-for-christmas-in-june/

An Alternate Definition Of Success

“Success is a state of mind. If you want success, start thinking of yourself as a success” – Joyce Brothers.

I love this quote. I have realized that, in many ways, this is exactly what success is…it’s simply a state of mind. Think of the things that you are good at. Isn’t it true that one of the main reasons you are good at it is because you think you are? Actually, it’s because you KNOW you are. You KNOW you will succeed.

If you are seeking success in other areas of life, I challenge you to convince yourself of success. How can you do this?

• Know that the Spirit of all success lives within you. You have a spirit of unlimited power that makes up your very being. Meditate on it, and be that power.
• Success affirmations. Repeat positive, powerful statements to yourself on a regular basis throughout the day. Statements like, “I am success (see the first bullet); I succeed in all I do; I am confident that I will succeed; or whatever statements will lead you to the success you desire.
• Visualize success. Take times during the day to pause from the busy pace and envision yourself experiencing and enjoying the success you crave. Then feel the positive emotions you would feel as if you were actually experiencing the success at that moment.

These are some basic ways to gear your mindset towards success. Remember, success is a state of mind, and you will only be as successful as you allow yourself to be.

Why not set your level of success as high as you can? See yourself getting there and reaping the benefits of your great success. Maintain that successful state of mind, and you will know no other way. Enjoy the blessings : )