Avoid the Trap of Scheming and Focus on Your Own Success

Proverbs 24: 8-9 - "The one who plans to do evil will be called a schemer. The devising of folly is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to mankind."

1. Focus on your own goals and achievements instead of trying to bring others down.

2. Remember that jealousy and spite will only hinder your own progress in the long run.

3. Work towards building yourself up rather than tearing others down.

4. Practice gratitude and celebrate the success of others, knowing that there is enough room for everyone to succeed.

5. Trust in God's timing and plan for your life, knowing that He has a unique path for each of us.

Dear Lord, help me to let go of any feelings of jealousy or resentment towards others. Teach me to focus on my own path and to trust in your plan for my life. May I strive for success with honesty and integrity, knowing that your blessings are abundant for all who seek them. Amen.

My story

Once upon a time, there was a young woman named Emily who had big dreams of starting her own business. She had a passion for baking and wanted to open a bakery where she could share her delicious treats with the world.

Instead of trying to cut corners or manipulate her way to success, Emily decided to trust in God's leading and rely on His guidance to help her achieve her goals. She prayed for wisdom and discernment as she took the necessary steps to turn her dream into a reality.

Emily worked hard to perfect her recipes and create a warm and inviting atmosphere in her bakery. She treated her customers with kindness and respect, knowing that building trust and forming genuine relationships would lead to long-term success.

As word spread about Emily's delectable baked goods and exceptional customer service, her business began to thrive. People from all over town would come to her bakery to indulge in her treats and enjoy the inviting ambiance she had created.

Through it all, Emily remained humble and grateful, recognizing that her success was not solely the result of her own efforts, but also a reflection of God's guidance and provision. She continued to trust in His leading, knowing that He would always provide for her and lead her on the path to success.

And so, Emily's bakery flourished, not through scheming or manipulation, but through a steadfast faith in God's plan and a commitment to integrity and hard work. She became an inspiration to others, showing that with trust in God's leading, anything is possible.

Comments

The Rooster’s Restoration

The Rooster’s Restoration: When Failure Becomes Your Foundation By Harold Mawela Akasia, Pretoria Scripture: “The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.’ And he went outside and wept bitterly.” (Luke 22:61-62) I woke up this past Tuesday to the sound of a rooster crowing somewhere in the dusty streets of Akasia. My neighbour, old Mr. Dlamini, keeps a few chickens in his backyard—much to the annoyance of the municipality, but that is a story for another day. That crow pierced the morning silence like a prophet’s whisper. And immediately, my mind went to Simon Peter. Now, let me be honest with you. For years, I preached Peter’s denial as a cautionary tale—a warning against pride, a lesson in failure. I stood behind pulpits in Mamelodi, in Soshanguve, in the city centre, and I would point my finger and say, “Don’t be like Peter! He boasted when he should have pray...

The Law of the Open Hand

The Law of the Open Hand: From Scarcity to Divine Supply in a Clenched-Fist World By Harold Mawela From my study in Akasia, Pretoria, I look out at a nation holding its breath. We live in the perpetual tension between promise and provision, between what is pledged from podiums and what is present in our pantries. The headlines scream of crises competing for our fragmented attention, while our hearts whisper the ancient, agonizing question: “Will there be enough?” In this climate, a primal instinct takes hold: the clench. We clench our fists around our finances, our futures, our fragile sense of security. Yet, I come to you today with a counter-intuitive, kingdom truth, a law as immutable as gravity but activated by faith: The Law of the Open Hand. The Parable of the Tightened Fist: A Story from Soshanguve Let me tell you a story. Not from a dusty theological text, but from the sun-baked streets of Soshanguve. I visited a community kitchen run by a widow, Gogo Mthembu. Her pension was a...

The Investigator's Faith

The Investigator’s Faith: Where Reason and Revelation Meet in the African Soul A Personal Encounter with Truth My friends, let me tell you about the day I became a detective of the divine. It was right here in Akasia, Pretoria, where the red soil stains your shoes and the summer heat shimmers like a mirage over the Mabopane Highway. I was sitting in my study, surrounded by books—theological tomes, scientific journals, and the daily newspaper filled with stories of load-shedding and political turmoil. That particular day, the front page carried a story about our local police station struggling with only five operational vehicles to serve 152 square kilometers . Can you imagine? How does one enforce justice without proper tools This got me thinking about our spiritual tools—how we investigate the greatest claims of truth. Are we properly equipped? I recall my uncle, a lifelong skeptic, challenging me: "How can an educated man like you believe a dead man came back to life?" Inst...

Failure Isn't Final. Harold Mawela

Search This Blog