Real Hope: True SuccessSample

Success from the Inside Out

When I was pastoring my church, I would often focus on the external things to help it grow. More programs, clearer advertising, better coffee! And all those things were good. But then I’d work through some internal issue in my life – some insecurity or fear. I would overcome it and then wham, my church would grow. It was uncanny.

So often when we look at how to better our lives, we focus on the things around us. If only I had more money in the bank; if only my boss would give me more opportunities; if only my spouse would behave the way I want them to! But success happens from the inside out. It starts with ourselves. As we change, the world around us changes. It’s a principle that Jesus taught: Take the log out of your own eye, then you’ll begin to see clearly. That doesn’t mean it’s easy. Changing yourself never is, but it’s a whole lot easier than trying to change someone else.

Written by Tania Harris