How do we define success?  When do we consider ourselves successful?  Is success that figurative carrot we find ourselves chasing, only to fall short of attainment every time?

In his book Visioneering, Andy Stanley makes the statement:  “There is a tendency to confuse success with the rewards of success.  If you are where God wants you, fulfilling the responsibilities he has given you, you are successful.  In fact, when that is the case, you are as successful as you will ever be.  Granted, you may not be seeing or experiencing the rewards of your success, But you are successful nonetheless.  Success is remaining faithful to the process God has laid out for you” (pg. 46).

The more I think about this definition, the more I realize how outcome based my mindset is.  (I do not think that I am alone in this misconception).  However, success is not as much about the fulfillment of our goals, as it is our faithfulness to the process and plan that God has for us.  When our concept of success depends solely on attainment, we minimize the importance of our faithfulness to each and every small step we take in this life.  Success is more of a process than an accomplishment.

[youversion]Joshua 1:8[/youversion]