"How to succeed"
By:  Rev(s) James and Renee Vaughan

          Are you as excited as we are about "such a time as time"?  Something absolutely astonishing is coming forth in the spiritual arena.  Naturally, for some time now the forecast of our Lord's return has been commonplace, actually, since He made the promise two thousand years ago.  However, events and unusual occurrences are prevalent; moreover, there is a strange element in the air, for discerning spirits with ears to hear and eye to see.  And, for many of us committed to being sold-out laborers in His vineyard of the world, it is the appointed time for us to allow the Holy Spirit to do a "quick work" through us in preparing for the Second Advent. 
          Recently, the specific charge and call upon my life to serve God have become clearer and more focused. Has your charge and call to service become more focused and perhaps more intense?   Many things will unfold through us, as we are faithful in these exciting times.  Perhaps you too, feel a fresh and new determination to step into a time of fulfillment and achievement?  This may be an appropriate time to examine where we are with our dreams and plans.  How are you doing?  Are we on track to being used for God's will in the earth.
         Hopefully, there need not be a lot of time spent in re-capturing your visions and grand plans.   They should be held in your heart.  Let's just do a quick review of how to reach your goal for a dynamic walk of faith, beginning with God's instruction for having good success.
            Step 1:  Renew the mind with the word of God, meditating on His laws of life.  Resolve that God's word is the ultimate authority on how we proceed.  "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success" (Joshua 1:8).  Study God's word daily, and systematically.  No matter what our plans and dreams of accomplishments are, if it is God's will for you, God knows and has shared with us how it is to be accomplished.  Success is guaranteed when we do things God's way.
            Step 2:  Walk by Faith.   "(For we walk by faith, not by sight)" (2 Cor. 5:7).  We do well to plan, consider the costs, ways and means, and to develop a kind of road map of activities.   "But without 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" (Hebrews 11:6).  Our way of thinking must become "faith-filled".  Our thought patterns determine our state of being and our ability to accomplish.  Our thoughts are the one thing God has given us complete and sovereign control over.  We do well not to succumb to the limited, fearful thinking patterns of the world.
           Step 3:  Let go and let God.   Allow God to work His will His way through you.  The Spirit of God will come upon any of us willing to allow His Spirit to "Quicken" our spirits.   As we submit to the flow of His will through our lives, we become energized and empowered with a force that cannot fail, because it commands all power and authority.  We do well to keep out of His way, endeavor not to cramp His flow and place our concerns and cares upon Him--even our financial worries.  "But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day" (Deut. 8:18).
            Step 4:  Do it now:  When we are honest with ourselves we realize that our inactivity, failure to act, and procrastination is based on fear.  Sometimes it is fear of failure.  Other times it is fear of someone else's opinion (what they might think of us).   Or, perhaps we fear some kind of loss.  Here, we must remember that an opposite of faith is fear.  From the time that our Lord's entrance into the world was announced until His departure to be with the Father, He constantly ad monished us not to fear. "Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27).   It is good to remember that action reduces fear.  When we know God's will, we should do it.  Act!
            Step 5:  Persevere with patience.  "Winners never quit; and quitters never win."  Hold on to your vision.  "For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry" (Hab 2:3).  "Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.   But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing" (James 1:3,4).
           These five steps are not an exhaustive treatise on "how to succeed" in our walk of faith however, they will certainly get us going, well along the path of coming "out of the shadows--EX Umbra".      
                                                                    - -End-30--