To Your Success

Inspirational quote for today: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts”. ~ Winston Churchill Have you ever felt discouraged? I will admit life does have a way of discouraging most of us from time to time, and we begin to feel that we don’t have enough confidence to achieve success. The stresses in our lives can easily bring us down in to despair, and as a result, we are ready to give up. We’re not the only one who feel this way; there are many people like celebrities who at one time felt this way. The only difference between them and us is when discouragement struck them they tried just one more time, tried something new and they achieved success. Walter B. Knight says it best: “If you would have some worthwhile plans, you’ve got to watch your can’ts and can’s.” You see I believe when you make the right choices it can bring you the most treasured commodity in the world-happiness. You never know you may have buried treasure in your own backyard. By making the right choices can lead you to it. Here are a few steps to help you overcome discouragement: The first step to overcoming discouragement is: 1. Don’t Stop Short of the Treasure – You see so often in our own lives we give up the first time we see failure. In addition, we often stop too soon. The reason is because we get discouraged. You see I believe God is always searching: “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” ~ 2 Chronicles 16:9. God is definitely looking: “I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap” ~ Ezekiel 22:30. In other words, God is looking for men and women so he can find that hidden treasure in their lives through Christ. Don’t ever stop realizing your potential in Christ- and don’t stop short of the treasure that’s waiting for you. 2. Ride Out Your Storm in Life – You see there are many people who have not realized their potential because they are beaten by these storms of life. One thing helped me was my experiences with failure. The reason is because it helped realize the gold in my life. Also, I understand failure may seem like an enemy, however, if we respond to it with determination to perserve, it can be beneficial. I believe once we learn how to bear down these burdens and keep going we can help lift the burdens of others. In addition, our disappointments and failures in life may move us toward Christ and spur us on to do things for him. Here is a scripture the apostle Paul writes: But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. Here are the first two steps to overcome discouragement. I will be discussing steps 3 and 4 at later time. I hope you enjoy reading this blog, and I pray that it helps you as you begin to change your life and achieve great success. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Best wishes, Gary R. Johnson