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What is Success, Lord? – Lectio Divina

October 5, 2014 By Jean Wise

“Forgetting what lies behind

and straining forward to what lies ahead,

I press on towards the goal

for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 3: 13b-14.

success healthy spirituality.org

What is success, Lord?

You know I struggle with this concept.

I drive toward accomplishment.

To reach favorable outcomes that feed my ego.

Getting things done and crossed off some eternal list of to do’s.

I see success in completion and achievement, not in you, Lord.

 

Crossing the finish line without you won’t ever happen.

I am incomplete without you, Lord.

Please forgive me.

I seem deeply wired towards my motivation, but want to renovate this desire.

I turn over to you my heart, my goals, my purpose.

I surrender my entire self into your hands, forgetting what lies behind me and turning forward only towards you.

You are my aim.

You are my goal.

You are my very reason to breath,

    to write,

         to live.

 

My relationship with you is my finish line.

Success is more of being than of doing,

Of connecting than achieving,

Of humbleness and smallness more than triumphant glory for myself.

Living with true Life, not striving with deceptive expectations.

Life is a process, Lord and I press forward only to you.

You and only you.

 

 

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Filed Under: lectio divina

Comments

  1. Lisa notes... says

    October 6, 2014 at 10:51 am

    When I saw your image of the A+, I knew I was going to be in trouble here. ha. I’ve always been one who wanted to get the top grade. But real life rarely works that straightforward, and certainly the Lord doesn’t, as you point out. I join you in praying for forgiveness and for turning over my goals into his hands more and more.

    • blankJean Wise says

      October 7, 2014 at 10:08 am

      Yeah, I had fun creating that image. We do sounds alike don’t we? I like how you said you are turning your goals over more and more – that is what I am discovering too. Not all the time, far from perfect but a daily practice more and more. That could be a good prayer – more and more. need to ponder that phrase. thanks Lisa.

  2. blankLynn Mosher says

    October 5, 2014 at 10:49 pm

    Amen! Him and only Him! Success in Him, not in the world! Bless you!

    • blankJean Wise says

      October 7, 2014 at 10:06 am

      Lynn, I do so struggle with finding success outside of God though and just now am realizing how much I do that. Thanks for visiting and commenting. Hope you are having a wonderful week.

  3. blankCeil says

    October 5, 2014 at 4:12 pm

    Hi Jeanie! I like the idea of the relationship being the finish line. We always say we strain to the goal too, and really the goal is for the taking. My goal should be creating a deeper relationship with God everyday.
    Hope you are having a good Sunday 😉
    Ceil

    • blankJean Wise says

      October 7, 2014 at 10:05 am

      Hi Ceil We had a wonderful Sunday, thank you. Spent time this weekend with lifelong friends. lots of love and laugher – can’t get better than that! I like how you stated your goal as a deeper relationship with God everyday. I think the everyday is a key! Hope your week is going well

  4. blankmarthaorlando says

    October 5, 2014 at 11:55 am

    Without Him, we can do nothing and all our striving is in vain. Blessings, Jean!

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