Success, however you want to define it, does not happen by accident. It’s a continual process of discovery, correction and change.

Discover. You have two ears and one mouth for a reason 😉, listen more than you speak. Everyone, I mean everyone has something to teach you.

Correct. New information will expose deficiency and error. Take it? Use it? Trash it?

Change. Maybe others will agree with you, maybe they won’t. Maybe they won’t even notice. No matter, you will stand before God alone.

Are you correctable?

He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

Proverbs 29:1 KJV

I have seen bumper stickers and shirts with the slogan ‘no fear’ and I’ve used it a time or two. But in reality, no fear is no good.

No fear is not the same as courage.
No fear is the brother of pride.
No fear fertilizes stupidity.
No fear hardens the heart.

There are things we should be afraid of. Start with the fear of the Lord, it is the beginning of wisdom.

Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

Proverbs 28:14 KJV

Immediate personal accountability.
In the end, the choice is yours, the actions are yours, and the results are yours.

Forgive, today.
Encourage, today.
Love, today.
Stop, today. 
Go for it, today.

Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. 

Proverbs 27:1 KJV

Understanding opens the door.
Understanding turns on the lights.
Understanding cleans out the cobwebs.
Understanding promotes new growth.

Understanding consumes ignorance.
Understanding destroys dogma.
Understanding exposes error.

Understanding will break you down before it builds you up.

A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.

Proverbs 18:2 KJV

Things don’t happen to you, they happen for you.

Circumstances are just that…circumstances. You cannot control or predict them, but what you do with them is within your control.

Things don’t happen to you, they happen for you.

Nobody is an island, you are not alone. Get help from your close friends and family, they will keep you pointed in the right direction on tough days.

Things don’t happen to you, they happen for you.

Crack open the Bible and read the New Testament. Learn about the grace of God and the salvation of Jesus. Faith and love are cornerstones of a merry heart.

Things don’t happen to you, they happen for you.

All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.

Proverbs 15:15 KJV

Breakthroughs often happen when we take something and use it for a different purpose. Thanks to the internet and social media this type of experimentation is happening at an accelerating pace… ever heard of “pallet furniture”? (look it up)

We have become masters at repurposing things but have you ever thought about repurposing circumstances? How about problems? Sickness? Injury? Anxiety?

I was blessed to sit down with my friend and pastor, Ken Stodola, and shoot an interview on the topic of Shamgar. One of the main points of our discussion was to “use what you have”. To put it another way, Ryan Holiday quotes actress Kate Winslet asking this question, “What can I get for free?” Instead of saying “I can’t because…” she asks “What can I do because…?”

Take a few minutes and ask yourself, “What do I have?” and “What can I get for free?”

Your circumstances are free.
Your problems are free.
Your injury is free.
Your anxiety is free.

Repurpose.
Use what you already have.

Search me. Know my heart.
Try me. Know my thoughts.

Your heart determines your intentions.
Your thoughts determine your actions.

A right heart will produce the right actions not the other way around.

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:23-24 KJV