Chapter 5: Created for Success

Thank you for joining me again this week. I am having fun, and I hope you are too. I really like this chapter. I have so many “so true” statements, it will be hard to decide which one will make the blog! One thing I love about Debbie’s thoughts on success is that success is good, and it should be something we expect as Christians. On page 62, when she is talking about Bible characters who were successful, she says this and I wholeheartedly agree. “They worked from God’s principles and God brought them success. I believe that success is a blessing from God-why people frown on it, I don’t know.” I think we should be excited for the success God gives us, and excited for the success God gives others. Let’s embrace it! As much as we hear in the world about people looking for “the secret” to successful living, God laid it out pretty plainly in the Bible. In a simplified explanation, the secret to successful Christianity basically has to do with sowing and reaping, and believing, meditating and speaking God’s Word. (Gal 6:9, and Josh 1:8). BIG SECRET!!!! Don’t forget to tell everyone! When we keep on doing what we know is right, we will reap in the long run. Be consistent in the small things….they pay off in the long term. Do what is right when no one is looking, because some ONE is looking all the time!

If you desire to successfully reach the dream in your heart, make sure you remember the 4 things a successful woman does: she trusts herself, accepts responsibility for herself, invests in herself, and she thinks about success. I am impressed and challenged by Debbie’s organized method of goal setting. I encourage you to follow her SMART plan (pages 71-72) and then incorporate her ABCDE system for prioritizing your own tasks (pages72-73) Obviously, successful women plan! We may as well learn from someone who has put it into practice and has the success to back it up!

I love Debbie’s encouragement to be positive about life. There are enough Eeyore’s to go around. Why not be a Tigger?? Show some excitement, be passionate about life and live life abundantly with some bounce in your tail! Debbie’s personal formula for success is simple but profound: BE proud of who you are, BE persistent, BE bold, BE grateful, and Be yourself. If “yourself” needs an attitude makeover, choose to live life positively!

In conclusion, never think of success as a dirty word. It is God’s desire above all else that we prosper (have success) and be in health, even as our soul prospers. (III John 2). So let’s have a prosperous soul, and see God’s idea of success come to pass in our lives!

So true- Statement
“Stay positive and surround yourself with upbeat, constructive people. Enthusiasm and ambition are contagious. Positive people condition us for success the same way positive thinking moves us forward to reach our goals.” (page 77)

Highlight Scripture:
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed Prov 16:3 (NIV)

Discussion Questions – Homework!
1. How do you describe success?
2. Have you considered making a mission statement for your life? I love the verse Debbie chose as her mission statement in Gen 12:2, that God will make her a blessing. Our Ladies Ministry mission statement is Col 1:10 that we might walk worthy of the Lord, pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. As Ladies of Grace, we want to walk strong, please God, be fruitful and know God more intimately every day. Do you have a life verse? If not, find a verse for your life this week!
3. Debbie says the key to success is to start with the basics. How can you implement either her SMART plan or the ABCDE task priority plan into your life?
4. Name at least 3 E’s you can eliminate. Then make a commitment to DO IT! Say not the good, so you can say yes to the best!
5. As a woman thinks in her heart, so is she! (Prov 23:7) Yes it is in the Bible, and to be a successful woman takes thinking successful thoughts. (page 76) Is that a thought bump for you? If it is, how can you confidently begin thinking and believing that God wants, desires and even longs for you to succeed?
Knit Together Challenge:
Do you know someone who has had a recent success? Why not help them celebrate. Find a way to rejoice with those who rejoice. Tell and show them how proud you are of what they have accomplished! Celebrate their success with them. (This could be a hard one, especially if you have a tendency to measure yourself up against others. Celebrate anyway!)

My Prayer for you:
Father, in Jesus Name, I thank you for the wonderful women who are joining me on this blog study. I thank you Lord, that your desire is for success for each one of them, and You are helping them see that it is possible to reach their dreams, despite any obstacles they must overcome. I ask you Lord to help each of us realize that you have blessed us to be a blessing, and that is ultimate success in life. Give us courage to live passionately and positively. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN.