Daily writing prompt

When you think of the word “successful,” who’s the first person that comes to mind and why?

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When I think of the word “successful” this comes to my mind. Taxing situations can be God’s way of getting you where He wants you to be. (Luke 2:1-4) God used a census called by ancient Roman Emperor Caesar Agustus to get Jesus Christ’s pregnant mother who lived in Nazareth to travel to Bethlehem with her husband Joseph so that Jesus could be born there like the ancient prophesy said: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” (Micah 5:2)

God the Father somehow makes all things work out for good for those who love Him, hear His call, and align with His purpose. (Romans 8:28) Cease resisting God. Success is to stop kicking against the goads. (Acts 26:14) Let Him get you where He wants you through His various machinations. God doesn’t want people to be a passive audience. He wants heart-to-heart personal relationships with people. He wants you to live open and surrendered to His presence and His will.

Use your inner ear
So that you can hear
What God the Spirit
Is saying to you. (Revelation 3:22)
Then step out and do
What He tells you to. (Romans 8:14)

People build shelter. Everyone needs shelter, not just from physical things like wind, rain, and cold. We humans need shelter from mental, emotional, and spiritual things as well. Without adequate inner shelter we experience a mental health crisis, emotional trauma, and spiritual torment. I find true success of inner shelter, safety, strength, and salvation in Jesus Christ, my risen, present Lord and my God. (John 20:28)

When a Christian movie wants to show that someone is a successful Christian, they usually picture them sitting silently in a church service listening to a preacher. Surely there are other behaviors that more effectively show that a person is a genuine success at being a Christian. How about showing them laying hands on someone and praying over them out loud? (James 5:14) Or telling someone how much they love Jesus? (Revelation 12:11) Or lifting their hands to God as they passionately worship Him? (1 Timothy 2:8) Or confessing their sins to one another? (James 5:16) Or blessing those who curse them? (Luke 6:28) Or humbling themselves? (James 4:10) Or praying in Jesus’ name? (John 14:13) Or forgiving one another? (Ephesians 4:32) Or bearing one another’s burdens? (Galatians 6:2) Or comforting one another? (2 Corinthians 13:11) Or encouraging one another? (1 Thessalonians 5:11) Or teaching each other? (Romans 15:14) Or serving one another? (1 Peter 4:10) Or exhorting one another? (Hebrews 3:13) Or washing each other’s feet? (John 13:14)