Mindset For Success

Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, take pleasure in Him]; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit [your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, and patience] be known to all people. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours]. - Philippians 4:4-7 (Amplified Bible) God + me in alignment with God = Peace + Contentment God + me NOT in alignment with God = worry, fear, anger, resentment, anxiety, bitterness, unforgiveness, discouragement... In this life, there will be adversity and suffering. Some self-inflicted, some not. It is the result of living in a fallen world, a world that is not our home. Since our h

But without faith, it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him. - Hebrews 11:6 (Amplified Bible) There are only two paths in this life.  Mine and God's. The two paths are as distinctly different as east and west. To illustrate this point, we can look at two individuals in the lineage of Adam.  Enoch, who was seventh in line from Adam through Seth, walked with God and never experienced death as he was taken directly to heaven.  Lamech, who was seventh in line from Adam through Cain (who murdered his brother Able and was sentenced by God to be a "restless wanderer on the earth"), was the first recorded polygamist in history.  Clearly, two distinctively different paths. One controlled by God, and one controlled by self. To walk with God requires death to self. I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him, I have shared His

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. Since the message declared by angels proved reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. - Hebrews 2:1-4 (ESV) Both closer attention and drift away have nautical connotations. The first refers to mooring a ship, tying it up at the dock. The second was often used of a ship that had been allowed to drift past the harbor. The warning is to secure oneself to the truth of the Gospel, being careful not to pass by the only harbor of salvation and absolute truth. Must pay the closest attention to these very serious matters of the Christian faith. In their tendency to apathy, the readers are in

May the name of God be blessed forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him. It is He who changes the times and the periods; He removes kings and appoints kings; He gives wisdom to wise men, and knowledge to people of understanding. It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him. - Daniel 2:20-22 There is a river of joy flowing through the city of our God—the sacred home of the God above all gods. God himself is living in that city; therefore it stands unmoved despite the turmoil everywhere. He will not delay his help. The nations rant and rave in anger—but when God speaks, the earth melts in submission and kingdoms totter into ruin. The Commander of the armies of heaven is here among us. He, the God of Jacob, has come to rescue us. Come, see the glorious things that our God does, how he brings ruin upon the world and causes wars to end throughout the earth, breaking and burning every weapon. Be Still! Know t