In this season, I’m learning what true success is. I recently had this epiphany. I’m living in a prophecy spoken over me years ago. At that moment, I took the “word” with a grain of salt since MY PLANS were already set in place. I had just graduated, and prepared to go college for nursing. But in the back of my mind, I always wondered how that promise would come to pass.
Fast forward to now, I am doing just what God spoke over me. And it hit me. I had it backwards.
The real success or a fulfilled promise isn’t when people come, the money, or external success. Anybody can get that. It’s simply about being in Gods will for your life.
Deuteronomy 10:12 makes it clear, “He requires only that you fear the LORD your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul.”
It’s not about all this “stuff” that doesn’t matter.
However, I didn’t get to this moment easily. At first, it was “it’ll be successful when the numbers are up, finances are up, and I’m being recognized by others. When I hear that it’s helping people.” And I can’t lie, that didn’t make me excited about creating videos for the longest. I didn’t get how God would put my “success” in the hands of other people. I didn’t get how that was fair. Why did I have to get to a certain point or wait until people “approve” in order for it to be successful? Or to even feel like Im doing something purposeful? But that’s just simply not true. It’s what I told myself success will be according to the world’s standards. When it’s doing all these numbers, having designers, or the flashy stuff. I felt like I needed to have certain things or look a certain way for me to build. (Especially in this generation today, it’s all about what you have, how you look, aesthetics, or luxury.)
But in the Kingdom we don’t go by man standards. Success isn’t just about having financial wealth, luxury, or having a materialistic life that other people want. (Flaunting)
I think success has everything to do with our heart. Everything flows from it. (proverbs 4:23)It’s about moving with love. A character that resembles Christ.
1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Which is why my perspective, or you can say my focus, has changed.
This journey isn’t about when I reach a certain point. Look a certain way that deems me successful. Have what “man” thinks I should have in order to be in certain positions. It’s about moving with the right heart. Living righteous, and using the gifts/ tools/ paths that God designed for me to reach his people for his kingdom.
Therefore, I can look at the exterior as my success but that would be draining. My faith, joy, peace, and identity would be based on what others say or numbers. It would be an endless chase. Or may never be enough. Now that’s tiring and unsustainable. Or I can choose to take that pressure off, and only focus on pleasing God while doing what I was created to do. The rest is in his hands.
Matthew 6:33,”But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
This is why I wonder will we ever stop chasing the wrong success? See you in part 2
Talk to you soon, Key Lashaye 🖤
