Category Archives: Faith

Faith

Six Reasons Why Faith Is Key to Your Success

Faith has an important role in an authentic leader’s life. George Lancaster Spalding said, “Life without faith in something is too narrow a space to live.” Without faith, trust is a strange word. Having faith helps you move forward by giving you the confidence to take risks and trust the invisible. Here are six reasons why faith is key to your personal and professional success:

 

1. Faith removes doubt.

 

In the same way that darkness and light exist together, doubt and faith are also complementary. Khalil Gibran declared, “Doubt is a pain too lonely to know that faith is his twin brother.” In order to become faithful, you may need to experience some sort of doubt first. As Lillian Smith noted, “Faith and doubt both are needed-not as antagonists, but working side by side to take us around the unknown curve.” In the same way that darkness disappears in the presence of light, doubt disappears in the presence of faith.

 

For instance, suppose that you have full trust in your team at the work place. You know that their performance is remarkable and they always deliver high-quality results. In such cases, would you have any doubt about how your team performs? Would you be worried about meeting deadlines or need to control the team’s performance? No, because you have faith in your team and their capability; you no longer waste your energy thinking about what-if ‘s. Rather, you spend more time with your team to enhance the relationship and empower them to do even better.

 

2. Faith eliminates fear.

 

An old proverb says, “Fear knocked at the door and faith answered. No one was there.” In other words, when faith is present, there is no room for fear and worry. Most of the time, we are afraid because we don’t know what is going to happen. Through faith, we face unknown situations with confidence and trust and we become fearless. By feeding your faith, you eliminate your fears.

 

3. Faith gives you courage.

 

Marcus Tullius Cicero observed, “A man of courage is also full of faith.” When you have faith, you become courageous enough to take actions that in the absence of faith you would never take because faith assures you that everything will be all right in the end.

 

I love this quote by an anonymous writer: “Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, faith looks up.” When you have faith, you never look back to remind yourself of the traumas of your life in the past. You never look around to invite fear, doubt, and worries into your life. You always look up for the signs and gain courage to move forward and do wonders.

 

4. Faith makes you strong.

 

When you have faith, you become strong enough to achieve whatever you put your mind to. Faith gives you the strength to face unexpected storms with ease. Faith helps you persist even if you have experienced setbacks. With faith, you can move mountains even if you have only a shovel in your hand.

 

When you become strong, you welcome change and embrace it because you know that change is the only way through which you can grow.

 

5. Faith energizes you.

 

When you have faith, you connect to your true self and to the life force energy. It is like plugging into a source of energy. Through faith, you can keep your inner batteries charged. When you are connected to the Source wirelessly, you never run out of batteries no matter where you are and how difficult the situation. Faith helps you radiate your energy to others and draw them toward you to support you in achieving common goals.

 

6. Faith is a catalyst that makes the impossible possible.

 

By definition, a catalyst is a substance that changes (typically accelerates) the rate of a reaction without being consumed by the reaction. Many reactions do not take place without the presence of a catalyst because the rate of such reactions is so slow that it is impossible to generate any outcome otherwise.

 

Faith acts like a catalyst in our lives. Without faith, many things seem impossible. Having faith accelerates the rate of miracles and makes the impossible possible. As a catalyst, faith is not consumed by the miracle-making process. However, it may be poisoned or deactivated over time if it is not maintained. By connecting to the Source, the catalyst of faith will stay fresh and active at all times.

 

Author’s Bio

 

Dr. Kamran Akbarzadeh is the founder & CEO of International Academy of Leadership & Management as well as Dream Achievers Academy. He is known as Leadership Makeover expert. With years of experience in the corporate world and as a successful entrepreneur Kamran believes that the world in general and organizations in particular are in desperate need of authentic leaders who lead with their hearts and empower people to soar to greatness no matter where they are and what they do. He believes that authentic leadership is what differentiates the good from the brilliant in the 21st century. It was this conviction that inspired him to author his Amazon best seller, Leadership Soup, that recently became an award-winning finalist in the 2012 International Book Award.

 

Get instant complimentary access to the three-part LeadSucceed Jumpstart video training for your personal & professional success in happiness. CLICK HERE [http://www.internationalacademyofleadership.com/leadsucceed-pyramid/leadsucceed-jumpstart/]

 

 

 

 

Faith

Faith – What Every Christian Needs

The early church operated in powerful faith as seen in the following. The believers were passionately committed to God, to His kingdom and to His church. They were hungry for the Word and the presence of God. They operated in a spiritual environment that saw healing, miracles and gifts of the Spirit. As a result of their faith, they gave liberally to God: some of them even sold properties to help those in need. Led and empowered by the Spirit, they evangelized the lost and planted churches. Their faith was radical and life changing. Smith Wigglesworth said, “When faith lays hold, impossibilities must yield. When we touch the divine and believe God, sin will drop off; disease will go; circumstances will change.”

The Definition of Faith
Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

The Bible says that we are to walk by faith not by sight. This means that we do not live our lives based on how things look. We must develop the ability to look at things through God’s eyes. God sees infinite possibilities; He sees miracles, breakthroughs and deliverances; He sees the way where there seems to be no way; He sees His kingdom and His purpose being worked out. By faith, He wants us to see what He sees so that our thoughts and prayers can be in agreement. God wants us to see into the realm of the Spirit so that we can see beyond the natural, into the spiritual reality that determines natural reality.

Faith calls us to have confidence in God. It recognizes the attributes of God. Through faith we see God as omnipotent: He is able to do anything; He is the almighty who by His great power created the vast universe and beyond that created every spiritual entity. Further, He is good and loving and will do those things that are in our best interests. Faith expects something from God and is confident. We pray in faith because we anticipate that God is going to do something. It makes no sense praying if there is no expectation. The expectation may be salvation of a loved one, missionaries to be sent around the world, financial provision, grace and wisdom to deal with a problem; whatever it is, there must be an expectation that God will do it. Faith is also confident: we are to come boldly before the throne of grace. In this light, faith causes us to recognize who we are: we are sons and daughters of God who have been given the right to come into His presence and present our requests to Him.

We must believe God for the right things: those things that bring God glory. For example, we can pray for the salvation and the blessing of others. There are many things that we can believe God for, which include some of the following. We can pray for revival in the nation: that God will move in a mighty way to save and to deliver and to transform society and government so that His kingdom is established. We could pray for the blessings of God on the church: God wants to bless the church so that it experiences His fullness and realizes its purpose. We can pray for deliverance for others: that God will set free those who are in some kind of bondage to demonic forces. Additionally, we can pray for family and self: for healthy marriages, financial provision, godly children, personal success, deepened faith. There are many other things we can pray for such as healing, anointing, wisdom, provision of a job or a promotion, protection, influence, favor and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The key principle is that God must be glorified in our prayers.

The enemies of faith are doubt, unbelief, uncertainty, ambivalence (doublemindedness) and worry. Doubt is the failure to believe God and to trust in His promises. It is the inability to see things through God’s eyes.

Circumstances are magnified while God is minimized. In one town, Jesus was unable to do many miracles because of the people’s lack of faith: God will hardly move in an environment that is saturated with doubt. People who doubt think naturally rather than supernaturally; they think in the flesh rather than in the spirit. Unbelief is a lack of belief, a lack of confidence in God, His Word and the moving of the Holy Spirit. God’s fullness does not come to the person who doubts.

People who are uncertain are not sure that God wants to intervene miraculously; they don’t know if what they are praying for is God’s will or they are not sure that God is interested in doing a particular thing for them. They may have a feeling that there are certain barriers preventing God from doing something miraculous. However, the prayer of faith can eliminate any barrier and break through to access the power of God. People who are ambivalent waver between faith and doubt. Such ambivalence paralyzes them from moving forward in faith. The Bible says that a doubleminded man is unstable in all his ways. Faith causes us to be sure, to be unwavering, knowing the mind and the will of God. Persons who are worried are anxious about the situations of life. They put all the responsibility on themselves rather than placing the majority of that responsibility on God. The enemies of faith must be overcome if believers are to experience the supernatural fullness of God.

Faith Is Needed to Please God
Hebrews 11:6 – And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Faith is needed to please God. You could be pleasant, mannerly, respectful, knowledgeable, attend church, preach, fast, give and do a lot of other good things, but none of that really matters unless you have faith. There are two things we need to look at. We must believe that God exists: He is the I am that I am, the eternal, self-existent God – the God without beginning and end who does not depend on anyone for His existence; while we need God, God does not need us. He is Savior and Redeemer: the One who delivered us from the control of Satan and sin and graciously gave us eternal life. He is the Elohim, El Shaddai, Jehovah: He is the God of greatness and glory who created the world ex nihilo (out of nothing); He is the omnipotent God, the God who faithfully keeps His covenant.

We need to have a right concept of God. A song writer says, “I have made you too small in my eyes… Be magnified O Lord, for You are highly exalted and there is nothing that you can’t do, O Lord my eyes are on you.” God must quicken my understanding of who He is. That’s why worship is so powerful: in worship, we rehearse who God is. Our faith is stirred up the more we recognize who God is.

The second thing that we need to note from Hebrews 11:6 is that God rewards those who diligently seek him. There must be fervent passion when we approach God. We are to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness: this is no 5 or 10 minute experience. Too many Christians spend hours doing things that have no eternal value: shopping, watching television, attending sports events and other activities, but devote very little time to prayer, to seeking God’s face and encountering His presence. The Bible tells us that if we seek God we will find Him and He will show us great and mighty things that we did not know. The seeking here is a passionate, heartfelt seeking that tenaciously pursues God. There is nothing casual and complacent about this seeking.

The problem is that we don’t want God bad enough. We are not hungry enough for the presence of God, not thirsty enough. At times we sing songs without grasping the full intent like “You are the air I breathe, you are my daily bread; I’m desperate for you, I’m lost without you.” We should be able to sing with all conviction, “When I look into your holiness, when I gaze into your loveliness, when all things that surround me become shadows in the light of you. When I’ve found the joy of reaching your heart, when my will becomes enthralled in your love… I worship you, the reason I live is to worship you.” People want house, car, husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, money, popularity, position and whatever else before God. Passive Christianity is dead Christianity: God doesn’t want us to be lifeless, weak and anemic. When we seek God, He will reward us according to His perfect will. Scripture says delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart and that the blessings of God make rich.

Conclusion
Do you have faith? Do you really have faith? Faith produces results. Faith results in obedience and worship. Faith will move mountains. Faith releases the glory of God. Faith causes you to be a blessing. Faith brings victory and joy. Faith brings power to overcome problems. Faith releases God’s resources. Faith results in miracles. Faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God. Faith comes by getting a revelation of God: Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up; the apostle John had a revelation of Jesus Christ and fell at His feet as though dead. God wants to increase your faith, so that His supernatural presence is with you wherever you go.

 

Faith

Perfect Faith!

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth IN me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the Faith “OF” the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20 KJV

 

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives IN me. The life I live IN the body, I live by Faith “IN” the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20 NIV

 

Look at the two versions of this same verse; one says “Faith IN the Son of God, while the other reads “Faith OF the Son of God.”

 

So which One is right?

 

If Christ NOW lives IN me, it is because OF His Faith I NOW live. If Christ NOW lives IN me, I NOW live by the same Faith as which dwells IN the Son of God, so both versions are correct as it is only His Faith.

 

I am crucified with Christ?

 

Crucified means killed, so I have to conclude since I was formed before the foundation of the world IN Christ, then this also means when Christ was killed, I was killed as well. So if I was killed it means I am dead, doesn’t it?

 

“Nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth IN me.”

 

So I was dead, but IN Christ (who is the Resurrection and the Life) I am now made alive by His doing alone. I died but He IN me NOW lives.

 

And this whole revelation can only happen one way. Since I died to all things that are me, I also died to the perception of having a natural and limited faith of my own. It is NOW by His Faith that I live.

 

But what does that mean?

 

If I have died to everything that was me, then the ONLY One who lives is NOW Christ. He NOW lives where I used to live. And not only does He live, but He does so by His own Faith which is NOW working IN and through me.

 

His Faith? The perfect Faith of Christ is the Faith of God Himself!

 

God is the same yesterday, today, and forever… so does His Faith ever change or does it waiver like our limited own human faith does? Isn’t that a fair question?

 

The two foundational and immovable truths I learned by losing everything in life that I valued are as follows:

 

Knowing God’s Love for me is truly unconditional and has no conditional strings attached to it.

 

Knowing that the God who loved me and gave Himself for me will never abandon me, no matter what it is I do or don’t do.

 

So if it is true that it’s ONLY by the Faith of (the Son of) God, and that it is not a combination or mixture of His Faith along with mine, then does His Faith ever change?

 

No, it is Christ alone who lives IN us, and it is His Faith alone by which He lives His very Life IN and through us. Anything else that is labeled faith is merely another form of human wishful thinking.

 

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it ALL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD. I Corinthians 10:31

 

So my question to the body of Christ is how do we do anything, including exercise a faith of our own if it’s true that we no longer live?

 

For it is God which worketh IN you both to will and to do of His good pleasure. Philippians 2:13

 

So whatever you or I do we do it all for the Glory of God, right? But if it is God who is willing and doing and then it must also be God who accomplishes anything IN us. And if He is the One willing and doing IN us, then it must be by His own Faith.

 

And His Faith is perfect; the perfect Faith which is just like His perfect Love, and it never fails.

 

And so NOW that we know it is His faith alone, and since we also Know He will NEVER abandon us, we have to conclude that everything we do, we do it by the Faith of the One who lives IN and through us all the time.

 

And again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” So then, no more boasting about human leaders! ALL THINGS ARE YOURS, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future-all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God. I Corinthians 3:20-23

 

If ALL things are ours, what part of ALL includes something else? Not one thing.

 

So NOW take another look at Galatians 2:20, and see it is by His Faith we live, and that it is He alone who is living, moving, willing, and doing within us. He is the All IN All who NOW says to us “All things are yours.”

 

So would all also include when we are in season and out of season, when we are depressed or angry, or when we are happy or sad? All things are all things!

 

And as believers IN the Christ who lives IN us and as us, He is always living by His own Faith IN us. So is it any wonder that when we focus on the one thing, we get that very thing we focus on. If we have our focus on lack, we get more lack by the Faith of the Son of God, and if we focus on His abundant Life IN us, we get more of it. And so His Faith is ALWAYS working, whether it’s the things we desire or don’t really want at all, ALL THINGS ARE YOURS, by the Faith of the One who we NOW know is our Life.

 

If it is true that your treasure is where your heart is, then it must also be true that whatever we focus, whether it is good, bad, or in between, we get by the same Faith we receive everything, which is the Faith of the Son of God.

 

But having THE SAME Spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE,” we also believe, therefore WE ALSO SPEAK. II Corinthians 4:13

 

So if ALL THINGS ARE OURS by the Faith of Christ, and I believe it is, then verses like the following NOW make a lot more sense:

 

Therefore I tell you, WHATEVER YOU ASK FOR IN prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24

 

You may ask Me for ANYTHING IN My name, and I will do it. John 14:14

 

So what exactly does Mark mean “IN prayer” or John “IN my name” other than IN the Faith OF the Son of God, the only real Faith that exists today!

 

But when we look at the church today, we see anything but a people who believe they live by the Faith of the One who rules and reigns within. They instead see a separated God who lives in a separated place, whether it be heaven, the next revival, or the second coming. They continue to see and believe that the Head (Christ) somehow exists separated from the rest of His own Body. Why would God create a people that He Himself refers to as His Body, and then want us to see the two (the Head and the Body) as being separated?

 

NO! Apart from Him we can do nothing!

 

I am the Vine, you are the branches; he who abides IN Me and I IN Him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me… YOU CAN DO NOTHING. John 15:5

 

The Vine/branch union is One. Even though there are two distinct entities involved, it’s only because of the Vine that the branch has any purpose or life. The life of the branch is the same Life as that of the Vine.

 

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the One who called you to live IN the Grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel- which is really NO GOSPEL AT ALL. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the (True) Gospel of Christ. Galatians 1:6-7

 

It’s because of this different gospel, which is nothing but a powerless form of the real thing and that promotes the God of separation, which is the reason why the people of God today have been indoctrinated into believing in a faith that is also separated from God. A God we have to beg for him to come to us, when the reality is the One True God is closer than our next breath. The truth is there is no such thing as human faith!

 

But without (His) Faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

 

Would God be cruel enough to have us seek Him with our whole heart and never find Him? The only way we will never find Him is by looking for Him in the wrong place and with the wrong perception of Faith.

 

No, the Word is very near you; it is IN your mouth and IN your heart so you may obey it. Deuteronomy 30:14

 

If the Word is the Bible, which many say is true, how is it possible for the Bible to be “IN your mouth and IN your heart?”

 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

 

But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is IN your mouth and IN your heart,” that is, the WORD OF FAITH we are proclaiming: Romans 10:8

 

The Word is not a book, nor is it performance based separation theology, no the Word IN us is as Paul said, it is the Word of Christ, which is none other than the Faith of the Son of God.

 

And for generations the people of God have been deceived into believing it is our faith that comes by our performance, with our goal to somehow get “closer” to the God who has already taken His rightful place at the throne of our heart.

 

But if the light that is IN you is darkness, then how great is that darkness?

 

But if the people of God insist on seeing and trusting in a separated God and a performance centered faith then God will allow it for as long as it takes for us to see the One and only truth.

 

It is His Faith, His Life, and His plan! It is also ONLY HIM only NOW who is able to fulfill His perfect plan, the plan of God that is our only future and our Hope for His Glory alone!

 

“I am the LORD; that is my Name! I will not give my Glory to another or my praise to idols. (Isaiah 42:8)

 

And the only Glory of God is the Son of God, and so now we know as we Glory IN Christ as our Life, God is glorified by EVERYTHING that concerns our life, and that means the things we think we want and the things we receive, whether it is what we consider good, or we consider not so good, all of it has to come by the One Faith of the One Christ who lives IN us to the praise of His own Glory!

 

And why would this God of all Grace expect anything from us, when it is He alone who deserves all the Glory?

 

IN Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope IN Christ, might be for the praise of His Glory. And you also were included IN Christ when you heard the message of truth, the Gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked IN Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession-to the praise of His Glory. Ephesians 1:11-14

 

 

 

 

Faith

Faith and What It Takes

What is faith?

 

Faith is the power of our convictions and expectations. Like the wind, we can’t see faith, but we can feel it, and we can see its effects on our lives. And, just as the direction and speed of the wind determines the weather, the nature of our faith shapes our destiny.

 

What faith prevents/allows

 

Here’s one way our faith shapes our destiny: Out of all that might be possible and desirable for us, we only pursue what we believe in. Negative or insufficient faith prevents good things, because no sane person would invest effort trying to do something considered to be impossible. And, even if we think it’s doable, we won’t do something we feel is foolish or otherwise dangerous. For example, a woman won’t get married if she believes she’s just going to get hurt.

 

Positive faith is a “go” button; and negative faith is a “no go.”

Every person who ever worked for a dream had the confidence that if they did so, they would succeed. Lacking such confidence, we won’t try for our goal, or we’ll load our attempt with so much doubt that we’ll sabotage our efforts. As you know, a man who believes he is unworthy of the woman he loves will either fail to pursue her, or he will pursue her in an insecure, half-hearted spirit — practically ensuring rejection. He would need much more positive faith if he wants to win her love.

 

We often approach our goals with an attitude of unfaith and hopelessness — pulling our punches, cutting corners, and then getting disappointing results. Of course, we’re not surprised when that happens — after all, isn’t that what we expected?

 

What faith alone can’t do

 

Nowadays, many people understand that you get what you expect. Teachings like the Law of Attraction have been distributed so broadly that people in many parts of the world are familiar with the concept. But often this crucial fact goes untold: positive faith is only part of what it takes to create a beautiful life. Once you believe that good things are possible for you, you still have to go forth armed with your positive convictions, and do what it takes to create beauty and goodness in your life.

 

For example, we all know that an athlete needs faith to win the Olympics; but it’s silly to believe that anyone could win the Olympics due to faith alone. To win the gold also requires discipline, regular training, a good diet, an excellent coach, etc.

 

Faith opens the door to every kind of success, but we still have to pick up our feet and walk through.

Faith in things unbeen

 

True faith is not blind faith. It would be insane, not faithful, to believe that something good will happen when we’re not fulfilling the preconditions for that thing to happen. Positive faith is the first precondition we must fulfill to succeed in anything, but it is certainly not the last.

 

Listen to this story:

 

Two brothers immigrated to America. One believed that once he got to America, he would certainly prosper. The other believed that if he came to America AND worked hard there, he would prosper. Which one do you think is more likely to succeed?

 

People often say things like, “If I only believe, I can succeed.” But that is misguided. It does not take into account that there are plenty of things to do and be if you want to succeed in any endeavor. That’s why I criticize “faith in things unbeen.” That kind of faith makes no sense at all. Faith without works is foolish.

 

Doing What It Takes (“WITS”)

 

Some preconditions for success are found not just in effort, or even smart effort, but also in character and attitude. People often ask, “Does marriage work?” Presumably, that is a general, philosophical question. But, you see, a useful answer can’t be generalized. The realistic answer is: Marriage can work — if the partners are willing to do what it takes for marriage to work. If you are loving, ego-transcending, caring, loyal, forgiving, and compassionate, then most likely marriage will work for you. But what if you are intolerant, impatient, and selfish? Then, of course, it won’t.

 

The odds of success in any given endeavor are not the same for everybody — it depends on how well each aspirant fulfills the preconditions. All things are, in that sense, conditional. And therefore, all reasonable faith is conditional — not non-conditional.

 

So then, does faith work? Yes — if it is reasonable. When you are willing to fulfill the requirements for what you desire, then you have every reason to have faith — and your faith will work.

 

Example of faith without what it takes: unconditional entitlement

 

The idea of faith without doing what it takes is expressed in the idea of entitlement without appropriately fulfilling the preconditions.

 

For example, a son is naturally entitled to inherit his father’s corporation. But that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t learn the business — or that he doesn’t need to. In fact, if a son doesn’t prepare adequately for the challenges of taking over the business, his father has a responsibility, to everyone involved, not to give him the business. Here we can see how entitlement and effort are not contradictory; in fact, they are interdependent, and perfectly harmonious.

 

Similarly, as human beings, we are entitled to perfect fulfillment, and every kind of joy; but the prerequisites must still be met.

 

Avoiding what it can’t take

 

Sometimes, success depends on what you don’t do. A case in point: A naive young girl falls in love and gets married, full of hope that she and her new husband will create lasting happiness together. And why not? She loves him tremendously, and puts huge energy into the relationship. But, at the same time, she indulges in moodiness and self-centeredness, and too often, she loses her temper, and insults him terribly. Before long, their joy is lost, and so is the marriage: he leaves her.

 

She had all the faith in the world, and she even did many truly positive things, but she was sloppy when it came to the don’ts — the sabotage. Doing the don’ts can easily cut a long story short — and make an otherwise happy ending unhappy. So, obviously:

 

Where success is concerned, it’s crucial to not only meet the positive conditions, but also to avoid the rule-outs.

 

We must do what it takes, and we must avoid doing what it can’t take.

Give yourself a chance

 

I say, give yourself a chance. Fulfill the preconditions and avoid the rule-outs for what you want. Otherwise, you’re setting yourself up for failure.

 

No creature is exempt from this principle. Every year, countless sea turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. Two months later, dozens of baby turtles emerge. They have a vital agenda: they need to get back to the sea where they belong, to swim freely and happily in the cool blue waves.

 

Similarly, we have an agenda. We are here to live a life of love, integrity, consciousness, joy, compassion. In our hearts, we never forget that agenda.

 

And, like the little sea turtles, if we want to live that life, we have to go for it. If the baby turtle just stays there on the beach, it loses its chances of living out the beautiful life it was born for. Most likely, it will be lunch for a bird or a crab instead. Similarly, if we fail to exercise positive faith or to meet the other preconditions for a truly beautiful life, we are condemning ourselves to an unfulfilled life and abandoning our heart’s true dreams.

 

Give yourself a decent chance. Otherwise, the only faith that is justified for you is faith that things won’t work. Life can’t work if you don’t work. And it can’t work right if you don’t work right.

 

Everyone who wishes to succeed needs to have their WITS – What It Takes – about them.

 

What kind of chance at fulfillment do you want to have? You get to decide. You could give yourself a 2% chance or a 98% chance, as you wish. It all depends on how well you take care of the WITS. Have mercy on yourself; don’t ruin your chances.

So: what is the minimum requirement for success in whatever enterprise is near and dear to your heart? Do you know what it takes? If not, get busy and find out. Then do it!

 

You’ve got what it takes to succeed

 

As a parent, you wouldn’t want to send your child into the world without What It Takes: without self-respect; without an education; without manners or morals; without a dime to get them on their feet. And you can be sure that God isn’t that kind of parent, either; He wouldn’t send off His kids without a fighting chance.

 

You have been given plenty to work with — all the essential tools you need. You have your Selfhood, your sensitivity to what is right, your natural lovingness, your inborn attraction to truth and beauty. And so much more. And to top it all off, you have God to work with. God’s love, God’s moment-to-moment guidance, Divine wind, constant companionship.

 

You’ve got the right stuff! But now, to succeed, you have to use what you have. Then you’ll have extremely high chances for success, and a real basis for strong, positive, living faith.

 

This is what living faith means and is: to both faithfully expect success and faithfully invest in the achievement of it.

 

Your soul knows what it wants, and it also knows what you have to do to make that happen. So listen to your soul, have faith in its wisdom, and live your faith — you can’t fail that way.

 

Positive faith is the foundation upon which good things are built – but don’t forget the building.

About the Author

David Truman is the founder of the Living Love Fellowship. Over the last thirty years, he has given personal spiritual direction to hundreds of people, in the context of committed, loving friendship. He seeks to serve each person’s true self-expression and intimate relationship with God. More articles and free e-books can be found at http://www.heartofspirituality.com/ and http://www.soulprogress.com/