How do you define success? Some see success as earning a lot of money, owning a million-dollar house or being able to buy anything at anytime you want.

Some see it as being popular, being known over the world as a person of wisdom, talent and importance.

Everyone has his own idea of success depending on what makes him happy or satisfied. And we definitely have our own unique way of planning how to reach our goals- our moments of success.

But more than anyone else, our God has his own plans for us, and he as well would want us to be successful and prosperous. The Bible tells us in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” This verse only means one thing. Before we even cared for our future, before we even had dreams for our success and prosperity, the Lord has already prepared his plans for us. And his plans do not include failure.

Then why is it that sometimes though we are on our way headed to our goal and we almost have everything that we wanted, we still feel incomplete or unsatisfied? Could it be that what we desire is not what is right for us? Could it be that not what we want is best for us? Then how will we be able to determine what is right and what is best? The key is listening to God’s plan in our lives.

Jamie Buckingham states in her book, “Power for Living”,

“For some reason—maybe it’s because we don’t understand God’s language in the Bible, we get off at the wrong destination. We equate money, security and prestige with success. We don’t understand that true success is found in having our spiritual needs met. Our problem is not that we don’t have goals. Our problem is having the wrong goals.”

Sometimes all it takes is to listen to the Lord’s voice, allowing Him to direct our paths. We must be sensitive with God’s call and God’s plan in our lives. Most of the times we just follow our own will. We do what we want and we try to get what we think we need without asking for confirmation if that is based on the Lord’s plan in our lives. And when we fail, when we are hurt, we put the blame back to God. To Him who never designed our lives to be a failure. To Him who only wants the best for us.

If we will go back to God’s word in Jeremiah 29:11, we will understand that the Lord has wonderful plans for everyone. And that He wants us to be prosperous and full of hope. All we need to do is to be sensitive and listen to Him and ask Him to lead us. After all, there is no way that we will fail with Him because that is not how He designed our future. If we will only rely on Him, then we will never go wrong. And when we do, that is when we will clearly understand what success really means. Then we can move at least a stair up in our lives.