Don't aim at success. The more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it. For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side effect of one's personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of one's surrender to a person other than oneself. Happiness must happen, and the same holds for success: you have to let it happen by not caring about it. I want you to listen to what your conscience commands you to do and go on to carry it out to the best of your knowledge. Then you will live to see that in the long-run—in the long-run, I say!—success will follow you precisely because you had forgotten to think about it”
9They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.”
But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.”
10One day I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home. He said, “Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you—by night they are coming to kill you.”
11But I said, “Should a man like me run away? Or should someone like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!” 12I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had prophesied against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this, and then they would give me a bad name to discredit me.
14Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophet Noadiah and how she and the rest of the prophets have been trying to intimidate me. 15So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.(6:9-15)ACTS 2:14-47
42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
JOURNAL
Nehemiah struggles with who to trust. He is able to decipher a false ploy against him and the rebuilding of the wall is completed. Here in Acts it is shown what a community whose hearts are devoted to God looks like. When the spirit of God invades a community...then the community becomes an outpost of Heaven.
The quote is by Viktor Frankl. He was an Austrian Psychiatrist who survived the atrocities of Auschwitz in WWII. His book "Man's Search for Meaning" has had a profound effect on my life and my understanding of God. I first read it during a time when I was struggling with my career, marriage and all the trappings in my pursuit of "success". It gave me a perspective that helped me to see that "success" in the way I was wanting to define it was twisted. True success is the simple joy and peace of mind in knowing you did your best. No matter whether that is sweeping streets or running a billion dollar corporation. That perspective took me a long time to finally accept but in doing so I have truly begun to experience joy and peace of mind and heart. At it's core I believe that joy is God's spirit.
It is a spirit that according to 2 Timothy 1:7 is powerful, loving and disciplined. It is not timid...it can not be snuffed out or dampened by the forces of man. Because God's power is beyond human power. God's purposes are greater than man's. So to accept God's love and receive his spirit means to be infected with something that does not need or depend on the world's power.
It is then that the outcome becomes not so important but rather the process, the everyday moments. Winning those moments...is defined by giving my best and using the talents God has given me. It means that I don't dismiss a moment, because every single one is an opportunity to serve God, love others and glorify him. This is not a burden or pressure but rather it is freedom. Freedom to focus on and give my attention to the things I can control. My effort, my time, my actions. That's all that is required. By doing so I surrender to being God's child.
This then becomes the joy of life and the key to success. No matter the outcome, no matter the world's judgement. My heavenly Father and his blessing are all that matter and I have that today and always. So going back to the quote...when I surrender to my heavenly Father as a child of God, then I trust that whatever happens will be a success, as long as I have given my best. Success ensues because I trust that to God.
Success also ensues because I am conscious of how ridiculously blessed I am just to be sitting here typing on this computer. I am blessed to have a healthy body. I am blessed to live in the time that I live. I am blessed to have family and friends that I get to love...every moment of my life is worth and in need of rejoicing!!
PHILIPPIANS 4:4-7
4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
PHILIPPIANS 4:4-7
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