I suppose the first time I ever heard the word heathen other than church was when Aunt Esther on the hit television show Sanford and Son called Fred Sanford one. It seems I even remember her calling Fred a “heathen reprobate.”

In the scripture, the Greek word for heathen appears in the scriptures 164 times in 152 verses. . .and in 157 of those occasions the word appears as gentiles or nations.

According to Strong’s Concordance the Greek word for heathen means:

“a multitude (whether of men or of beasts) associated or living together; a multitude of individuals of the same nature or genus.”

According to the Random House Dictionary the word heathen means:

“an unconverted individual of a people that do not acknowledge the God of the Bible; a pagan; an irreligious, uncultured, or uncivilized person.”

The word irreligious is defined by dictionary.com as:

“showing indifference or hostility to religion.”

Showing indifference to the Word of God. . .could also be interpreted as not caring to obey His instructions.

I have a dear friend. . .a brilliant man. . .who is, in fact, a member of the Mensa Society, with an IQ of over 120.

In the midst of any conversation. . .whether about politics, people or ideas. . .he is prone to say. . . “Let’s get this conversation back where it belongs. . .on me.”

For my friend, the statement is just a way of having fun. . .or re-directing the conversation but it doesn’t have to be on him. . .he isn’t self-centered in the least.

However, we do live in a “me” society.

“What’s in it for me?”

“What difference does this matter to me?”

“How will this benefit me?”

Success is an attitude.  Success is a habit.  Success is a lifestyle.  Success is easily available to anyone who wants it...believes they can have it...works for it...never gives up and always... trusts God...through thick and thin.

Remember, faith is personified by being faithful.

Success happens inside you before it ever happens around you.  There is a defining moment when you decide to take control of your own life and embrace the success God wants you to achieve.

Age, education, money, background and childhood experiences do not matter in the face of these principles.

Joshua spent twenty years preparing for his divine destiny…his success as a leader for the Children of Israel. In the life and book of Joshua there are ten success secrets that Joshua found were critical to his future and they are critical to your future too.

1^st Step—See your goal

One of my favorite signs says:

“Good morning! I’ll be handling all your problems today. So relax and enjoy your day. Love, God. P.S. I love you.”

Someone once said:

“Do not face the day, until you have faced God in prayer.”

When you woke up this morning. . .did you expect this to be your best day ever?

What is your expectation for the day? Is it different than yesterday or the day before?

Do you have any expectation for today or are you just glad that you made it through another night?

Do you expect to feel better today than you did yesterday? And, more importantly, did you expect to feel better today?

Do you expect God to move in the lives of your loved ones?

Do you see it as a day filled with previously unknown opportunities where you can tap into previously unused potential?

Would it surprise you to know that there is a difference between winning and being a winner?

You can win a contest. . .the lottery. . .an athletic event. . .a prize. . .but still not be a winner.

Winning is an occurrence. It’s something that happens today, this week, this year and then it’s gone.

In fact, if you study the history of people who won the lottery. . .you will discover few people were actually big winners in life. . .regardless of the mega millions they won by having a winning ticket.

Being a winner is a state of mind. . .regardless of what happens or the outcome of any particular contest or endeavor.

A winner is someone who recognizes they’re fighting for something noble. . . someone who refuses to quit. . . and who will never give up until they win or accomplish their goal or calling.

You and I were created to be winners in the game of life. Yet, we face an adversary who is dedicated to our defeat. However, God instructs us to fight the good fight of faith. . .because we’re more than conquerors. . .who can overcome every attack of the enemy.

As I was pondering this. . .I went to www.biblegateway.com and looked up “good fight” and the first reference that pulled up was 1 Timothy 1:18 in the New International Version of the Bible:

“Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight.”

The word good is the Greek word kalos (G2570) which means:

Many people today are freaking out because of what’s happening around them and in the world.

The impeachment of President Donald Trump is both a media and political circus but not the good kind.

Adolf Hitler once said: “If you tell a lie often enough people will believe it.”

When asked how to tell if a politician is lying. . .the author and humorist Mark Twain said:

“If their lips are moving. . .they’re probably lying.”

Anyhow the impeachment proceedings are causing way too many people, on both sides of the issue. . .to freak out.

People are also freaking about the possibility of a worldwide pandemonium caused by a virus coming out of China

Are things in your life better or different than they on January 1, 2020?

If not, why not or more importantly. . .are you willing to do something about it?

2 Thessalonians 1:11 in the New Living Translation says:

“So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.”

If you want to know what we’ve been doing on your behalf since January 1^st. . .the answer is found in this verse.

First, we’ve been praying for you.

Second, we’ve been asking God to help you live a life worthy of His call.

Third, we’ve asked Him daily to allow you to tap into the power of the Holy Spirit.

Fourth, we’ve prayed this way so you can do all your faith prompts you to do.

SEEK … LISTEN … OBEY

Matthew 6:33 says:

“But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness: and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Job 36:11 in the New Living Translation says:

“If they listen and obey God, then they will be blessed with prosperity throughout their lives. All their years will be pleasant.”

2 Chronicles 26:5 says:

“…as long as he sought the Lord, god made him to prosper.”

Seeking means to be bold and go after it.

As a seeker don’t be deterred by delays or detours along the way.

To accomplish our goals for 2020. . .an average effort is not enough.

An average commitment is not enough.

Average desire is not enough.

A.W. Tozier, the noted theologian wrote:

“Refuse to be average. Let your heart soar as high as it will.”

Being average is a settled for. . .kind of life.

The average person settles for whatever comes their way. . .by resigning themselves to exist as they are…by refusing to make the effort to move beyond. . .and out of their comfort zone. . .into the kind of life God desires for them.

It’s interesting and important to note that the word average is not in the King James Version, New King James, New International, New American Standard, Amplified or New Living Translation of the Bible.

I believe average isn’t in any of those translations because God created, empowered and destined each of us to rise above average. . .to move into excellence in all that our hands find to do.

In fact, as I went on a scripture search on why we shouldn’t be average. . .I found seven amazing passages of scripture and the last one. . .demonstrates why being average will make you a spitball Christian. But more about that later.

Now let’s talk about seven reasons God doesn’t do average.