Friends, have you ever wished for success? I have! Just like the rest of humanity, I do not want to live life mundanely - just going through the motions. I want my life to count. I want to be successful.

However, success, in most people’s definition, is merely about material possessions.

Someone once said this: “He who has the most toys wins!”

I disagree… because he who has the most toys still dies!”

Success is more than just earning a status. Success is about a meaningful life — walking out your calling, your purpose with God’s supernatural competence, in a context of meaningful relationships.

Friends, are you waiting for success? Waiting for success to come your way?

If you are, you can keep on waiting; for the rest of your life. Why? Because success is not attained with you just waiting for it.

Someone once said this: Success is about who you are & what you do every day and every night. Nobody becomes a success overnight. It is a purpose-driven life, totally focused on living out your destiny daily.

This revelation came just recently when I was conversing with God. God started speaking to me about His definition of success and most of all, how I can be successful in Him.

Read with me, Joshua chapter 1:1-9 on God’s simple principles for success.

The inspiration for the SUCCESS acronym came during a time of meditation.

• S - Spirit led - The Spirit life is most important. 

• U -  Under cover - God’s guidance from His word -”Allow Me to guide you daily

• C - Calling - “Walk out My calling for your life. Stop struggling with Me and start doing what I have called you to do. Many times, you have allowed your own feelings and frustration to hinder your progress in your calling.”

• C - Confidence - Confidence comes with you knowing His abiding presence.

• E - Expect great Exploits - Expectancy keeps you going!

• S - Stop the negative - Stop complaining, grumbling and thinking negatively.

• S - Start afresh each day with God’s presence. See life simply. See the potential. See through God’s eyes of success daily.

Friends, success doesn’t come all at one time. In fact, many times, success comes to you only through a process, when you have walked through different phases.

Don’t be contented with the past. Do not dwell in past glories. Get going. Move on, move into your promised land. The Promised Land symbolizes success to Joshua.

Friends, what is your Promised Land? It could be your specific calling and purpose in life. Or perhaps, it could be achieving a tertiary education, a post-graduate degree, or overcoming some of your fears in life.

Or your Promised Land can even be to see a reconciliation take place in your marriage, seeing a turnaround in your career, seeing that all-important deal take place which will turn your company around and make it profitable.

Friends, you can be like Joshua today. You can cross over and possess your Promised Land. I would like you to be able to identify what your Promised Land may be. If it is certain measurable goals that you desire to attain, I would like you to keep them in mind as I continue sharing on the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Acronym.

Now, let’s look at Joshua and see how God guided him to be successful.

1. Joshua knew how to walk in the Spirit. He heard God speaking. Just like his master, Moses, there was Spirit-to-spirit communication. He was guided by the Spirit of God. Joshua learnt this when he was an assistant to Moses. Even after Moses left the Tent of Meeting and the Presence of God, the Bible says that Joshua would remain.

2. Joshua knew that God was with him and that God will guide him into the Promised Land. The guidance comes from God’s presence, God’s promises, and God’s commands. He was instructed not to depart from it, neither turning to the right or the left but to strictly follow it.

3. Joshua was called to lead God’s people to cross Jordan, to take the land and then distribute it to the 12 tribes. That was his calling, that was his purpose — to bring new life and hope to a new generation of Israelites to possess the PROMISED LAND filled with milk and honey.

4. Joshua was confident. He was bold and courageous. He was instructed to be very bold and courageous. He was reminded not to be discouraged. Why? Because discouragement destroys confidence and without confidence, we cannot achieve success.

5. Joshua expected God to keep His word. Joshua expected God to work miracles and wonders through him. Joshua expected great exploits from God. He saw how Moses parted the RED SEA - He knew that God could do it. He was EXPECTANT.

6. Joshua knew the need to stop complaining. Grumbling caused the Israelites to wander for 40 years because of the evil report of the 10 spies. This time round, he knew better; maybe that’s why He only sent 2 spies! 2 spies who brought back a positive report.

7. Joshua told the people to SEE the ARK & follow it. Start seeing the ARK daily in your life - for you have not been this way before. Start seeing possibilities… start seeing God at work.

So, how can all these be applied in your life?

• S - Success begins with God’s Spirit. It can’t be achieved by your own flesh. Breakthroughs must be birthed in your spirit first. Maybe you have been trying too hard — trying to achieve something without God’s approval and favor. Allow God to birth some new ventures, ideas within you as you read this post. I have heard many testimonies of how God has released strategies for business, business ideas, design concepts, marketing strategies… to His people as they sought His face.

• U - Success comes when you come Under cover - under God’s daily guidance. We can’t make it with His help. Are you spending time with God regularly? Are you seeking Him for wisdom, counsel and guidance? Whether you are a student, professional, homemaker, clerk, we all need God’s guidance in the arenas of our work, business and family.

• C - Success comes when you obey His Calling for your life. You can’t run away. Maybe you have resisted the call of God. Perhaps you are trying to be someone you are not. you have lost sight of God’s calling upon your life as SALT & LIGHT in the marketplace. Perhaps you only see your profession solely as a source of monetary supply. Your work is a worship unto God! Perhaps God is calling you today to that place of rededication again.

• C - Success comes when you are Confident in Christ. You can do nothing without God. A recent crisis may have shaken your confidence. If confidence is lacking, run to Jesus. Don’t trust in “horses and chariots. Trust in the name of the Lord our God.” He is your Confidence today.

• E - Success comes when you Expect great exploits. You can do more than just the ordinary. Snap out from the mundane… expect something from God — today!

• S - Success comes when you Stop confessing negative. It’s time to put a red traffic light sign on the negative and tell the vehicles of discouragement and negativity to stop in their track.

• S - Success comes when you Start Seeing God at work before you. Start seeing possibilities in impossibilities, opportunities in crisis.

Friends, God wants you to be successful - but you can only attain it through His principles. Do not stray away from His truth.  Remember, God loves you and He has a wonderful plan for your life. You may have made numerous mistakes, but do not be discouraged. Confess your inadequacies to Jesus and ask Him to lead you.  Walk with Jesus onto the paths of Success today!

Shalom!

Rev. Bryan Tan

Bryan Tan Ministries

Lifting People into their Destinies