You Can’t Succeed if You Don’t Try

How many of you have quit before trying? Perhaps you’d made a decision to try a new eating plan. I prefer not to use the word diet. Maybe you were going to start exercising. Or, had you finally decided to change a behavior, such as getting angry quickly, gossiping, or procrastinating. Then, before even getting started you stopped. You decided you would wait until a “better time”, yet that better time doesn’t ever seem to come.

Well how can you succeed if you don’t even try? Everything that we do begins with a thought in our mind. If you’re anything like me, you have a thought, then tell yourself that’s a great idea. You begin planning, in your mind of course. You tell yourself, I’m going to do this, I’m going to do that. You’re excited. Then what happens? Either you act on what you have thought about, taking action steps, or you let the thoughts remain in your mind.

Well, this year I’ve decided to act upon everything I believe God has placed in my spirit. I’ve told you I’m a believer. I believe everything God says. I trust Him and I want Him to trust me. I’m seeking Him. I’m praying for direction and guidance. I’ve asked God for the Wisdom of Solomon and the favor of Joseph. I am persevering. As I’ve shared with you on a previous call, quitting is not an option.

I pray after listening to the quitting is not an option conference call you too have decided quitting is not an option. Let’s face it life often gets in the way of our movement towards our destiny. What do I mean by life? I’m referring to the day to day activities that we’d rather not do, but for one reason or another we must do. In many cases it’s our job. You know the one. It’s the job that pays the bills even though it may not be our passion. For some of us it may be things like going to the grocery store, cooking, cleaning, and doing laundry. It could be homework, a second job, and in extreme cases eating and sleeping. My husband gets so involved with his music that he practices for hours on end, then realizes the day is almost over and he hasn’t eaten. Now I definitely don’t condone this behavior, and I have spoken with him about ensuring he eats.

Sometimes we may become so involved and focused on our passion, or the desire God has placed in our hearts, that anything that takes time away from what we love doing feels likes it hindering us or taking up too much of our time.

That’s where balance comes in. Like it or not there are things in life other than our passion that require our attention. The key is to find time to do them all, while not allowing the things we are required to do to make us anxious, or consider them as a hindrance. Remember, they are part of our lives, and our journey.

We must remember that God will always sustain us and provide for us. He will enable us to use the gifts He has placed in us. He has a plan and will always bring it to fruition. Philippians 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Regardless of what is going on around you God will always make a way. 

To listen to the message in its entirety click on the link below and select You Can’t Succeed If You Don’t Try.

http://www.gretahillman.com/#!audiovideo/cd8l

Join the Sisters Steadfast in Faith meetup group at www.meetup.com RSVP for our Empowered 2 Excel Calls Thursdays at 7p.m.EST, Dial in 641-715-3610 access code 215480

You Are Amazing

Oftentimes we say we are waiting on God, when He is actually waiting on us. He tells us to do all we can then stand. Are you doing all that you can do, or are you standing first and waiting for God to move?  

When you delve into the word of God you will find He has given us the power to get wealth. He tells us not to neglect the gift that is in us. If we meditate on His word and follow it we will make our way prosperous and have good success.

God requires us to take a proactive role and be an active participant in the wonderful life He has predestined for us. Faith without works is dead. You can believe until you are blue in the face, but if you truly believe you will take steps towards your belief. Are you sitting on the recipe for the best cheesecake anyone has ever tasted? How will anyone know about your cheesecake if you never share it? Do you have a clothing design that will revolutionize the fashion industry? Perhaps your life has changed by implementing an idea God has given you. Wouldn’t you like to see others benefit as you have?

No man, when he lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light (Luke 11:33). What is the light that is in you? Is it hidden in a secret place, stuck in your mind, your dreams, your vision board, or have you taken that light and exposed it for all to see? You have been given whatever gift(s) that is in you for a reason. It’s not just for your benefit but for the benefit of others.

God has so much in store for each of us. For as we read in 1Corinthians 2:9 eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Life happens. We have all had experiences that may have ended with not so favorable outcomes. Some of us have had more of these experiences than others. What each of us has in common is the option of how we choose to react to our experiences. We all have a choice. We can let life get the best of us, or we can make the best out of life.

I’m sure you have heard stories of people who have overcome unsurmountable odds to achieve greatness. Perhaps you yourself know someone that you thought had great potential that never appeared to have reached their full potential. Maybe you have not yet reached your full potential. It’s not too late.

What’s preventing you from reaching your full potential? Are you letting your past failures or someone else’s recent successes hinder you from moving forward? You are the only one that can prevent you from doing what only you can do. Don’t settle for less. You are amazing.

 

Be Excited But Don’t Be Anxious

As I was praying one day, seeking the Lord concerning His Plan for my life He began to reveal things to me. As He spoke to me he said “It’s okay to be excited but don’t be anxious.” 

Sometimes during our journey, especially when we know we have heard from God we may have a tendency to become anxious. We have a vision and we are ready for it to manifest. In our eagerness to see our desired end we may become discouraged. 

We may lose sight of why we are doing what we are doing. We become focused on what we have defined as success, when success is each step we take towards our goal.  

We place undue pressure on ourselves. Instead of resting in God and His ability, we try to accomplish His Goals within our strength. When you think about it, what sense does this make? We must have faith and believe, but our belief must be in Him and His ability to work through us. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief Hebrews 4:11-12. Our labor should be to trust in Gods ability rather than in ours, and as you are aware it does take labor to believe when things all around you are causing you not to believe.  

We think we are running out of time. If things don’t happen the way we expect them to happen when we expect them to happen we begin to second guess ourselves, but we are actually second guessing God.  We think we may have missed our time. What we must remember as we read in 2 Peter 3:8 but, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. Be Patient. He will bring everything He has placed in you to fruition in His time. 

Paul said in Philippians 4:12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. Learn to be content wherever you are in your journey. Every step that you make takes you closed to your destination. What may appear to be a step back may be a step that is required to ensure your foundation is firm. Have you ever taken a step forward as you were walking, felt as though you were losing your balance and quickly took a step back? God wants us to stand on that firm foundation, the Rock that the gates of hell shall not prevail against.  

You will experience trials and tribulation during your journey my friend, but be of good cheer. Be excited, but not anxious for the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

What Are You Speaking Into Existence?

In Genesis Chapter 1 we read the account of how God created the universe by speaking it into existence. We read in Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. Luke 6:45 reads a good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. Jesus says in Matthew 6:31 take no thought saying. And finally in James 1:19 we read wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.

I am a firm believer in the power of the spoken word. What greater evidence is there than the world around us that was spoken into existence. I try to be very careful with the words that I speak and am quick to correct people who talk about how this or that is “killing them”, reminding them to be mindful of the words they speak and their creative power..

We read in Ephesians to be angry, but sin not. We are human so of course we are going to become angry, but the sin occurs when we act on our anger. How many times have you been driving down the expressway and the car behind you is right on your tail? You may think I wish I was driving an army tank. I would stop suddenly causing no harm to my vehicle while causing damage to the vehicle that is right on my tail, without harming the driver of course. You’re angry, and you just want the person behind you to slow down. If you are suddenly forced to slow down or even stop the car behind you may plow right into you. You may not stop suddenly out of anger and cause an accident, but there are some people with road rage that may.

I was driving home one day approaching a stop sign. The cars in front of me were slowing down to stop. The man in the car behind me wasn’t paying attention. I have a habit of glancing into my rear view mirror whenever traffic ahead of me begins to slow down to see how far back and at what speed the person behind me is driving. When I noticed this guy wasn’t paying attention I moved as far as I could to the right side of the road. He still hit me, but thank God we were not on the highway and by me moving over, it caused him to hit only part of my rear bumper. He said he looked away from the road because he was reaching for his soda.

We all have thoughts from time to time that we should not have but speaking those thoughts give them power. A teacher may have a student that is not performing well. The teacher may think to him or herself, although he or she shouldn’t, what is wrong with this child? Is he stupid? If the teacher speaks these words to the child the child will begin to think he is stupid. If the same teacher has these same thoughts about the same child but rather than vocalize these thoughts he or she says to the student. I see you are trying really hard, good job, next time you will do even better. The child will be encouraged.

This same principal applies to our thoughts towards our children, friends, spouse, family members and ourselves. What are you thinking, and what are you saying, for out of the abundance of the heart the mind speak.

You can create your own world of depression, oppression, sickness, failure and even death. Or you can create life, peace, joy, strength, health and prosperity by your own words. Usually we speak what we believe whether consciously or subconsciously.

If you think you are going to fail you exhibit a failing attitude and behavior. You may not try as hard. Maybe someone has said to you that someone else tried doing what you are trying to do, they weren’t successful so you probably won’t be successful. You believe what you have heard and start thinking and saying well I’m not going to make it either. You may even quit instead of following through to the end to see if you will succeed.

I believe God has blessed me with numerous gifts. I seem to have a zillion ideas and think each one is the best thing since sliced bread. I also believe that each idea God has given me will come to fruition at His appointed time. My challenge is my excitement. I want to do all of them at the same time. So I have on an occasion, or two, or three, or maybe four started a project and not completed it. But I refuse to label myself as a failure. What I have come to realize is that I must stay focused and follow through to completion before starting a new project. If I was to listen to some people I would believe that I would never finish a project because that is what I have been told.

What about you what are you thinking and what are you saying? I confess my success daily and am working diligently to get there. Have you given up because someone has told you that you can’t make it? Have you given up because you have convinced yourself that you can’t make it? Only speak those things that you want to manifest.

We read in Philippians 4:8 finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Not only should we think on these things but these should also be the things that we speak

Caution Low Battery

Driving home from church today we stopped at the drive thru window at our local pharmacy to pick up a prescription. Suddenly a warning flashed across the instrument panel of the car, the battery light came on, and the air conditioner turned off. The battery was low so the car automatically prevented the use of anything that would cause the battery to be drained, or anything that would cause undue stress on it. I thought to myself what a smart car.

 Oftentimes when our physical wellbeing or health is at risk our bodies will give us a warning. We may experience an elevation in our body temperature or have a fever if our body is trying to fight off an infection. Our blood pressure may increase if we are under stress, or overweight. We may become weak or shaky if our blood sugar is low.

It’s obvious when our financial wellbeing is impacted. The balance in our bank account decreases which often impacts our physical and emotional wellbeing.

What about your emotional wellbeing? What causes a drain on you emotionally? Do you have relationships that are draining? Are there people in your life that continuously draw from you without allowing you to replenish. Are you constantly giving and not receiving anything in return? There may be people in your life that only reach out to you when they need something. They may not request anything tangible, but giving the intangible, or giving yourself may be just as costly. You may hear from them once every blue moon, or they may call you weekly. When they call they talk and talk and talk. Sometimes they ask for advice and sometimes they tell you everything that has occurred in their lives since the last time you have spoken. When they end the conversation and it’s usually them that does because they do not allow you to get a word in you feel as though you need to rest.

What’s going on with you spiritually? Do you spend quality time in the presence of God or do you call Him when you need Him like the person in the previous paragraph that’s only looking for what they can get out of a relationship. We read in the Joshua 1:8 this book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success

What’s draining your battery?

What’s depleting you physically? Are you trying to squeeze 48 hours into 24? Take time to rest. Look at your schedule if you don’t have one make one.  What’s on your schedule that you can eliminate or reduce the amount of time allotted? Account for all of your time and always include time to rest.

How about your finances? Can you account for all of your income? Are you spending wisely? Do you have a savings plan and a budget? After tithing always pay yourself first. If you experience a decrease income change your spending habits. Eliminate unnecessary spending. Is it cheaper to cook or eat out? Believe it or not sometimes it’s less expensive to eat out if you are only feeding one person. A side salad and chicken nuggets may cost $2 for lunch providing protein and leafy greens verses buying salad fixings and either meat from the deli or fresh meat to cook from the grocery store that may spoil or go to waste if not cooked or eaten. Fresh is always best but we must also be budget conscious.

Do you have emotional relationships that strengthen you or are they one-sided? Surround yourself with people that have your best interests at heart. You may have to distance yourself from some people while reaching out to others that can assist you in your journey. Glean from those around you and offer your knowledge to others without putting yourself in a position that drains you.

We read Joshua 1:8 that we should meditate on the word of God. Are you meditating on God’s word? What happens when you meditate on something? It becomes second nature, a habit. You do it without thinking. When you meditate on the word of God His ways become your ways and in doing so you make your way prosperous because you are following His formula for success.

Take inventory of your life. Recharge your battery. I purchased a new battery for my car but we only have one life. Make the best of yours. Eliminate what is draining you.