REMOVING THE DRAWBACK TO SUCCESS (PART 2 OF 2)

17th OCTOBER 2022

“But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”  – Isaiah 40:31

Those who wait upon the Lord will gain the strength to attain greater heights if only they will get it right by avoiding the obstacles to success. Often, we like to read motivational books or listen to lectures about how to become successful. But usually, we forget to look at the obstacles to success.

Other obstacles against success you must watch out for are:

·        The Pursuit of Perfection: To hit the road running, you require the basics only. Do not try to make all things perfect before you kickstart your project. There is always room for corrections, and perfection as you move forward. Perfectionism can definitely have its benefits. For instance, it allows us to pursue a higher standard. But it becomes counterproductive when we become obsessed with perfectionist syndrome. The neurotic tendency to make something “more than perfect” distracts us from that which is really important. It makes us less flexible and decreases our ability to respond to important developments.

·        Trying to Please Everyone; An attempt to please everyone is a sure key to failure. After all, you can’t please everybody, so why bother about it? When we take on a responsibility that will not add up to the overall interest of our goal, we waste our time unnecessarily. In short, we accept extra work in the hope to please others in any way imaginable. That happens so often when people remain in employment that gives them less than their worth.

·        Pride: Pride is a hindrance to growth. Pride can also mean conceit, arrogance, or superiority. Selfish pride is especially destructive to relationships. That’s because the opposite of loving others is not hating them but rather being self-centred. Pride is often considered a negative force in human existence, and a source of social friction. Pride is often driven by poor self-worth and shame. We feel so badly about ourselves that we compensate by feeling superior. We look for others’ flaws as a way to conceal our own. We relish criticizing others as a defence against recognizing our own shortcomings. In Isaiah 13:11, God says, “I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant, and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless”

 The best way to avoid pride is to:

       I.            Give people permission to point out pride in your life. Pride deceives the mind.

    II.            Focus more on God than you do on yourself. When pride is pointed out, our first reaction can be introspection.

 III.            Pray. Prayer is a posture of humility towards God.

IV.            Humble yourself unto obedience to those in positions of honour or Authority.

As you begin to take charge of these drawbacks, so will your way become successful and prosperous. Even though you fall, you will constantly receive fueling and power to keep moving.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus Christ, I acknowledge the truth that, in man, the glory of God is revealed and reflected. Grant me the strength to remain focused, and not burn out my valuable time and creative power on worthless activities. Grant me the strength not to justify my laziness. I shall overcome all obstacles with your spirit.  Through your spirit, I change my mindset from a feeble and weak lifestyle to positive and impactful life. AMEN.

FURTHER READING:  Ephesians 4:29,31; 1 Peter 5:7; Isaiah 41:13; Joshua 1:9; 1 John 4:4; Exodus 15:2