Enjoying Life Part 5

This newest series of messages on Internet Pastor is called “Enjoying Life”. I almost called it “SMELBORP – Learning to enjoy life by turning your problems around!” but I think Enjoying Life works better.

In today’s discussion on enjoying life we will be talking about living successfully. To talk about successful living we have to decide what it means to be a success.

success = favorable or desired outcome ; also : the attainment of wealth, favor, or eminence

Maybe we can gain some insight from some quotes I found this week on the Internet.

If at first you don’t succeed, skydiving is not for you. Anonymous

He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much; who has gained the respect of intelligent men and the love of little children; who has filled his niche and accomplished his task; who has left the world better than he found it, whether by an improved poppy, a perfect poem, or a rescued soul; who has never lacked appreciation of earth’s beauty or failed to express it; who has always looked for the best in others and given them the best he had; whose life was an inspiration; whose memory a benediction. Bessie Stanley

I think this one applies very well to these discussions.

“Success is still the constant application of the Golden Rule.” Anonymous

Four things we can do to live successfully:

1. Evaluate: An honest assessment of my life.

We need to routinely take an honest look at our lives. This is where you admit you don’t have it all together, that you still have a long way to grow, that you haven’t arrived, that you’re not perfect. We need to deal with the areas in our lives that need improvement.

The Apostle Paul was honest about his faults.

Philippians 3:12-13 (NIV)
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.

Remember that as Paul says this he is near the end of his ministry. He has been used by God to impact the known world at the time in a miraculous way and he still says that he doesn’t have it all together.

So many people today try to act like they have it all together. Rather than admit and deal with the areas of weakness in our lives, we try and hide and deny them. Pretending that we have it together keeps us from moving in the direction of health and success. People are often more concerned about their reputation than they are in living successfully. They would rather look good than be good.

Proverbs 28:13 (TEV): “You will never succeed in life if you try to hide your sins. Confess them and give them up; then God will show mercy to you.”

Successful people realize that they are always developing, growing, learning, that they do not have it all together.

Think about this: What areas in my life need to be changed?

2. Concentrate: Focus on what is important

Philippians 3:13b (NIV)
But one thing I do:

One thing. The idea is being goal oriented or focused. What is really important in your life? In one of our previous discussions I encouraged you to write a priorities list. What is really important to you? What are your goals? Most people can’t answer this question because they haven’t thought about it.

What was Paul’s goal?

2 Corinthians 5:9 (NIV)
9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.

Living life to please God is always the highest goal we can have.

Think about this: What are you living for? What is really important? What is my goal in life?

3. Eradicate: Let go of the past

Many people are stuck in the past. The byproduct of living in a fallen world is that we have often suffered many wrongs. Some of them were inflicted by others and some were caused by our own bad decisions. Too may people are stuck in the if only(s) of their past. If only this hadn’t happened, if only I had done this instead of that, if only, if only.

Here is the deal, the past is just that, it’s the past. Stop being managed by your memories. The only positive thing that you can do with your past is to learn from it, then let it go. You can’t change it.

Philippians 3:13c (NIV)
Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,

When we talk about forgetting, we are actually talking about not letting the past affect you anymore. Don’t let your memories manage your life. Successful people learn from the past without dwelling on the past. There’s a big difference. Successful people learn from the past and once they learn, they let it go and move on.

Think about this: What memories are managing me?

4. Complete: Don’t give up

Absolutely nothing worthwhile in life happens without effort. You only get to coast if you are going downhill.

Acts 20:24 (NIV)
24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me–the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.

Paul wanted to finish the purpose for which God made him.

How do you keep on keeping on going when things get tough?

Philippians 3:15-16 (NIV)
15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

1) Perspective

“All of us who are mature should take such a “view” of things. So much of enjoying and living a successful life is about perspective. How we view things. We need to learn to see things the way God does and if on some point we think differently, God will make it clear to us.

2) Persistence

“Let us live up to what we have already attained”. We need to live up to what we have attained. Press on, not give up. “Press on” in the Greek literally means “I over extend myself. — I go for it with all I’ve got. I throw myself into it, straining with every nerve and ounce and muscle to reach the prize.”

We don’t always “FEEL” like pressing on. Here is a promise from God to help in those times:

Galatians 6:9 “Let us not grow weary in doing good. For at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Don’t give up. Don’t give up on the people in your life, don’t give up on your dream… press on, be persistent, ask God for His perspective and you will reap a harvest at the proper time.

Come back often to see the latest sermons or bible studies on your Online Pastor site. We are blessed to be your Pastor Online!