Is there a missing ingredient in your prayers and plans?
Do you pray for success?
I have to admit, it’s a challenge for most Christ followers. We’re comfortable serving or being humble. Even if we are committed to doing our best, we can sometimes feel that we need to leave our success in God’s hands because we don’t want to look like we are boasting.
If we view success as a way of becoming financially independent so that we no longer need God or anyone else, I can’t say I would expect God’s blessings on that.
But if through hard work, humility, and a heart dedicated to honoring God, we seek His blessings on our efforts, I think that’s something that would bring God pleasure. We need to be careful when we try to avoid the excesses of the world. Humility does not equal mediocrity.
Here are a few verses to prayerfully consider as you process how you view success. Can you think of other helpful and inspiring verses?
Genesis 24:12
Then he prayed, “Lord, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.
Genesis 27:20
Isaac asked his son, “How did you find it so quickly, my son?” “The Lord your God gave me success,” he replied.
Genesis 39:23
The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.
Joshua 1:7-8
“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
1 Samuel 18:5
Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well.
1 Samuel 18:14
In everything he did he had great success, because the Lord was with him.
