Expand Your Skills to SUCCEED at Work

by Rick Warren ~ Purpose Driven Collection

Do yourself a favor and learn all you can; then remember what you learn and you will prosper. Proverbs 19:8 (TEV)
If you want to succeed in life, your education cannot end when you graduate. All leaders are learners, and you need to continue learning the rest of your life. Because the moment you stop growing, your contribution to your company stops growing also.

Here is the next letter in our SUCCEED acrostic:

Expand Your Skills to SUCCEED at Work -

1. Start working enthusiastically.
2. Understand who you really work for.
3. Concentrate on building your character.
4. Care about the people you work with
5. Exceed what is expected of you
6. Expand Your Skills to SUCCEED at Work

Ecclesiastes 10:10 says, "If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success" (NIV). It's important to work smarter, to sharpen your ax. You waste less time when you do this.

How do you sharpen your ax? By filling your head with learning - read a book, listen to a seminar, take a class, attend church. If you keep learning, then God can continue to expand your horizons.

"Do yourself a favor and learn all you can; then remember what you learn and you will prosper" (Proverbs 19:8 TEV). The solution to most of life's problems is training. So learn all you can.

That's why I encourage my congregation to take notes during my sermons. Did you know that if you don't, then within 72 hours you'll forget 95 percent of what you hear? So you may look real spiritual, but you're not real bright.

I can say this because it's a lesson God taught me when I was younger. One day I was reading Matthew 7:6 which says, "Don't cast your pearls before swine" and the Lord said to me, "Rick, who do you think the pigs are?" I thought it had to be the Pharisees, but God said, "No, you're the swine. You don't care enough to write down the things I say to you." And it was true because for many years, I never took notes in church. Every Sunday the pastor was throwing out pearls of wisdom and they were just bouncing off my head, going in one ear and out the other.

Learn all you can and remember what you learn and watch how God blesses your work.

"It's important to work smarter, to sharpen your ax. You waste less time when you do this."
Rick Warren

Believe You Are Who God Says You Are

by Buddy Owens ~ Purpose Driven Life Collection


“And we … are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV)

"God is asking you to believe he is who he says he is, believe you are who he says you are, and then live like you believe those things."

This week’s devotionals are by Buddy Owens, teaching pastor at Saddleback Church and author of ‘The Way of a Worshiper’.

I want to help you learn to confess your faith, and then let that confession lead to life change so that it demolishes your old way of thinking and gives you a new way of thinking about life, God, yourself, hardship, your family and your world.

And here’s how to do it: Stop confessing lies. Confess your faith! Say the same thing God says about you. Let it change the way you think . . . and it will change the way you live.

Here are some things the Bible says about you that need to become things you say about yourself. Start every day by confessing these truths --

My Faith Confessions

• I am crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. (Galatians 2:20)
• The Son has set me free. I am free indeed! (John 8:36)
• My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 6:19)
• I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13)
• He who began a good work in me will be faithful to complete it. (Philippians 1:6)
• There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)
• Nothing can ever separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:38-39)
• In all things God works for the good of those who love him. (Romans 8:28)
• God is faithful. He will not let me be tempted beyond what I can bear. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
• God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)
• My light and momentary troubles are achieving for me an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (2 Corinthians 4:17)
• He is able to do immeasurably more than all I ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within me. (Ephesians 3:20)
• God is for me! Who can be against me? (Romans 8:31)

When you say what God says (confession), you begin to think what God thinks (repentance). So let this be your confession of faith. And let it be the foundation on which you build your new life.

This is not the power of positive thinking. It’s not your good thoughts that will turn your life around. God’s power will turn your life around. He’s just asking you to believe he is who he says he is, believe you are who he says you are, and then live like you believe those things.

Does that mean bad things will stop happening? No. But it does mean you will experience many more victories than losses because the Word of God is at work in you.