If we are going to succeed by living our lives in and according to the plan that God has for us, then we must have as a part of our lives – certain attitudes and practices!  I want to suggest five for us to consider today:

1.  FOCUS – We cannot accomplish anything of substance without focus!  Focus is the ability to push aside distractions, so that we can give our attention to the things that really matter.  One of the biggest obstacles that I face every day of my life is a shift in focus!  There is just so much to focus on, and it is impossible to focus on everything!  This is why we must learn to filter!  A good filtering question is this:  “What Really Matters?”  (By the way we are looking at this question each Snday this month at Northwood and Partnership!)  Ask and answer this question to get at the heart of what is really important in your life!

2.  STRONG RELATIONSHIPS – We can’t live with them and we can’t live without them!  Relationships are great when they are going the way that we want them to and bad when they are not!  Good or bad – relationships are a necessary and vital part of our ability to succeed!  We cannot succeed by ourselves and if we could – what good would the success be – if we had no one to share it with?  Give time and priority to developing and growing your relationships starting at home and working outward!

3.  HARD WORK – If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right!  If it’s worth doing, then we should do it with all that we’ve got!  The only success that laziness will lead you into, is success at and in nothing!  Whatever God has gifted you to do – do it with all of your heart, for His glory and others blessing!  Give yourself to that high and holy calling everyday.  If God has gifted you with the ability to sell – work hard at selling!  If God has gifted you with the ability to heal – work hard at healing!  If God has given you the ability to build – work hard at building!  Whatever your God-given ability – work hard to accomplish great things for and with God!

4.  PERSEVERANCE – There will come a time when you will hit a road block.  It does not matter how focused you are, how strong you have grown your relationships or how hard you are working!  When you hit the road block, you will have to make a decision:  Do I stay where I am or do I go up, over, around or through?  Perseverance will always find a way up, over, around or through!

5.  BLESSING – That little something extra that will put you over the top every time is something that can only come from God!  When you are faithful to focus, build relationships, work hard and persevere, God will be faithful to bless!