Do you want to walk in the full measure of success that the Lord has for you? If so, I want to talk with you today about seven attitudes for success that you need along the way!
Every person has a Promised Land from the Lord.
Each of our respective journeys could simply be described as the journey INTO that Promised Land! But it’s not always a matter of instant success. Sometimes success happens instantly, but other times our success grows and builds throughout the course of our journey.
I love what the Bible says in Numbers 13:30:
“Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, ‘Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it'” (Numbers 13:30).
Every now and again, I love to watch the movie “Karate Kid.”
Come on, say it with me: one of the most famous phrases in the movie is, “Wax on, wax off.” 🙂
In this movie, the kid, “Daniel-san,” is a teenager whose growing pains are made much more difficult by his arrival in a new town. As a newcomer in town, he must start from scratch and make new friends. He quickly becomes a target of bullying and feels he needs to get some help. So, he turns to Mr. Miyagi and asks Mr. Miyagi to help him learn karate.
The story evolves into an action-packed plot with Daniel confronting his bully friends by learning karate–but with a few attitude adjustments, courtesy of Mr. Miyagi.
Someone once said, “Attitude determines altitude.”
Don’t get attitude and altitude mixed up. They sound similar, but attitude is dependent upon our responses. You have to start with the right attitude in order to gain altitude.
Everyone wants to be successful in life: in their marriage, relationships, business, finances, and in every other aspect of life. How you get to that point is significantly determined by the attitude that you possess. Whether you’re talking about business, family, sports, your job, or any other part of life, again, your attitude determines how far you will go.
Success is determined by whether you see a glass as half-empty or half-full.
Your perspective determines how far you will get down this road called “life.”
When you live your life by faith, you need an attitude of gratitude–an attitude that is always thankful. You also need an attitude that doesn’t just settle: a spirit that refuses to quit or throw in the towel.
I prophesy to some people right now that, right in the middle of this year, you will not quit!
Right in the middle of this summer season, you will not give in to the high heat that you are facing, literally and spiritually. You need to know that God has not left you out there to fend for yourself! He has not left you high and dry!
You will finish this year strong, soaring into 2020! God has already ordained it, so therefore it is so! Why? Because God has not given you a spirit of fear; but of power, of love, and of a sound mind.
Be moved by your expectation for the exceptional to happen in your life, as I am. Because God is able, YOU ARE ABLE! I AM ABLE! Speak this over yourself continually: “Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world.”
Joshua and Caleb had seven distinct attitudes that brought them success.
I want to talk to you about how YOU can gain those same seven attitudes for success. Let’s look at the first three today.
1. They knew the value of stillness.
In Numbers 13:30, Caleb “quieted the people.” Everyone knows there is something very significant about being still. Even God said, through the Psalmist David:
“Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
When we quiet our spirit, so many amazing things can happen. Utter chaos can be happening all around us, but yet–when we get still before God–our soul and spirit are allowed to breathe in the presence of a holy calm … if we will allow it.
The prophet Isaiah said, “In quiet and confidence will be your strength.” Notice that there are two things he said would be your strength:
Quietness; and
Confidence.
Quietness and confidence are both very strong forces that can stabilize the most anxious spirit.
Nehemiah 8:10 declares, “… the joy of the Lord is our strength.” Joy comes when you get quiet; and when you get quiet, you’ll get strength.
Joshua and Caleb knew that, if they could quiet the people, they could at least attempt to speak clarity into the people’s confusion. They didn’t succeed in convincing them to go in and possess the land, but they did succeed in quieting them.
The enemy wants to keep you rattled all the time.
The Bible says that, in the last days, the enemy will come to “wear out the saints” (Daniel 7:25). To combat the enemy’s attack, find yourself a quiet place in these turbulent times. If you will do that, you will be able to trust God at a much greater level.
2. They carried a good report.
Paul said, in 1 Corinthians 15:33, “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.'” He also warns us in 2 Corinthians 6:14, “Don’t be yoked together with unbelievers.”
This is what I know: whatever you say, you will have!
Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love to talk will reap the consequences.” If the things you say are good, you will reap good consequences. But if the things you are saying are bad, you will reap bad consequences.
I believe that, if you’re not saying it, then you’re not seeing it. And if you’re not seeing it, it’s because you’re not saying it.
We have to say what the Word says about us. We can’t say what the doctor says, what the lawyer says, what our bank account says, what our families say, or anything else. We have to continually remind ourselves what the Word says about our situation.
Moses sent twelve men to spy out the Promised Land.
Can you imagine a dozen people seeing the same things and experiencing the same things–and only two come back with a good report? Ten others are talking negatively, complaining, and being critical and unbelieving.
Their attitude of failure, disgust, and unbelief stirred the whole camp of Israelites to anger. The Israelites were so mad that they spoke of stoning Joshua, Caleb, and Moses–and appointing another leader to take them back to Egypt! (Now, that’s bad!)
If you want to succeed, you have to be different.
You have to be determined. You have to resolve in your mind that you won’t be like other people. You have got to be the one that says:
If nobody else goes into the Promised Land, I’m going!
I will not be a slave to debt!
I will not die from a generational disease that has plagued my family for generations.
I will be the one that graduates from college.
I will be a homeowner.
My family will be saved.
I will have that great job with great benefits.
I will lose weight.
I will serve Jesus all the days of my life.
My marriage will not fail.
I am determined: I will carry a good report and live by faith, all the days of my life!
Will you? Come on and make the same determination today!
Now for attitude #3:
3. Joshua and Caleb separated themselves from negative people.
This is such a crucial point. In order to succeed, you must surround yourself with people of:
like faith;
like spirit;
like destiny; and
like anointing.
You don’t have to think you’re better than anyone else, or that you are superior to the rest of your family; but who you choose to fellowship with and spend quality time with will determine who you, your children, and your family will become.
For example:
If you want to be negative the rest of your life, hang around negative people. That junk will get on you!
If you want to be broke the rest of your life, hang around people who are broke. You will find yourself in a vicious cycle of being broke all the time.
If you hang around people who curse all the time, you will find yourself cursing.
If you hang around people who live to party, you’ll be living your life to just get to the weekend so you can spend your hard-earned money in triviality and drunkenness.
But this is what I know: Iron sharpens iron!
You want to always associate yourselves with:
godly friendships;
people who encourage you in the faith;
people who are stronger than you, smarter than you, and who know more than you do–especially in the Lord.
Those are the tools and the keys to “attitudes for success” that you will need to see your God-given dreams become realities!
Check back soon for the last four attitudes! In the meantime, is God speaking to you about how you’re currently set up for success–or not? Do you need to make some changes? Leave a comment below and tell me about it!
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