You must understand God has a purpose for every person. It is very simple: His purpose is for everyone to accept that Christ is the Son of God, then repent and accept Him as your Savior and be saved. Then He wants us to change our lives and live as Christ instructed. He wants us to be holy and to live a holy life. That will fulfill His purpose for your life.

Once we receive the Holy Spirit we have two choices: we can live according to the world’s ways or according to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, we can live God’s ways. From then on, it is how we see ourselves that determines who we become and how well we will do. You can listen to what the Devil tells you: as to who you are. It is better than you be what Christ tells you: as to whom you can become.

If we focus on Christ and eternity we will receive knowledge and heavenly wisdom to help us succeed. If we focus on what the world offers, we may not be capable of changing who we are or what we become. What our confidence and our attitudes tell us, determines our present success. The more we study the Bible, the more we trust and obey God the greater our success will be. If we listen to Satan we could become a victim. If we listen to the Holy Spirit we will become the victor.

Most of us have a problem focusing. The world presents all kinds of distractions. Are we just showing up for work or are we focusing on what work requires in being successful? The most important thing is: are you praying to God to help you do your best? When was the last time you asked God for guidance in what you should do and how to do it? Have you ever watched God change your circumstances? Are we continually asking God what is best for our lives? When you are given directions are you able to trust and obey Him? I have found that it seems the more wisdom I obtained; the more God answered my prayers. I also found that wisdom gave me the ability to focus on Christ. The more wisdom and the more knowledge I received the more doors were opened and the more doors that were closed.

Proverbs 3:19 – 20 – “By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place; by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.”

I am constantly seeing God intervening in my life and in the life of others because I focus on looking for God’s intervention. The reason is because the Bible taught me to expect it and to constantly look for God changing circumstances. The more we study and prepare the more we expect and the more we are capable of letting the Holy Spirit change who we are and what we are capable of doing.

Two things I learned many years ago was education and hard work was necessary to be successful. I also worked with people who had failed in their jobs. They did not have common sense and wisdom. You can have college degrees and all kinds of knowledge and do stupid things. However, wisdom given by the Holy Spirit can make all the difference in what you are able to accomplish.

Heavenly wisdom, from Bible study, made it possible for me to make changes. We often get in a comfort zone and become so stubborn; it seems we are incapable of changing. If we are not constantly changing our thinking about who we are and what we have the potential of doing, we may miss many opportunities.

The Bible taught me, while on this earth; I was to prepare for eternity. The more wisdom and knowledge I obtained now, the greater will be my opportunities in eternity. If I am going to live forever and who I become and what I accomplish here determines my life in eternity, shouldn’t I always be trying to do my best? Too many Christians live as if the life we live today will not make a difference later. That is not what Scripture tells us: Revelation 4:10 – “The twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:”

Do you want one crown or many? Psalms 149:4 – “For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.”
Are you willing to prepare now for success after death? What is 85 years now considering forever? The more successful we are living a holy life today gaining wisdom and knowledge; the greater will be our future opportunities. Are you focusing on what the world offers or focusing on what God has planned for the hereafter? If you get to heaven and find out that you missed special blessings because of how you lived on earth and learn that you could have had a better future. It may be too late!

Scripture has told me that often God caused fear in Bible characters prior to them receiving joy. For example in the Christmas story prior to John the Baptist being born. Luke 1:13 – 14 – “But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth,” Heavenly wisdom has taught me that if I am going through some fearful times God will replace my fear with a future joy. If you are having difficult times, it may be God preparing you for His blessings to follow. Scripture also tells me to prepare for the future.

Matthew 6:19 – 20 – “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

Matthew 6:1- “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”

Why is Scripture telling us to store up treasures in heaven and that God has rewards for those who are humble? Do you want to live in eternity without any stored up treasurers or any rewards? Do you see the need for wisdom and the necessity to prepare for success in eternity? It takes discipline and focus! While you are doing this for eternity, God will make you successful while you are here, according to His Word.