Success - vs - Successful

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I am currently reading, “Visioneering” by Andy Stanley. Today I read a chapter that was so thought provoking I just had to write down my thoughts.

When you and I have a vision burning inside of us. We want it to come to pass as quickly as possible. In fact, NOW, would be the perfect time. However, God often places us in positions where the vision is not coming to pass. In fact, He often times places us in situations, and seasons, where it looks like it may never happen.

When we look at the story of Nehemiah, we can easily see that God used circumstances to position him and prepare him for the ultimate vision to come pass. Nehemiah was living away from his homeland, and was a cupbearer to the king. But it was the position he held of being close to the King and the long season that he faithfully served the King that paved the way for the vision of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem to become a reality.

Everyday that Nehemiah was faithful to God in the position God had placed him in, was a success. When the final brick was laid on the wall, Nehemiah was successful.

In reading this chapter in Andy’s book it become very clear to me that …

Success = remaining faithful to the process God has laid out for me.

Successful = the vision is accomplished.

If we measure our success each day by whether or not the vision we have on our heart has come to fruition, we become candidates for discouragement. However, if we count staying faithful to God in the current position and season that He has placed us in as a “success”, we become candidates for HOPE!

Andy puts it this way … “Waiting time will not be wasted time”.

My prayer today is that we will remain faithful in the process God has laid out for us!