What is Success?

 What do you think of when you hear the term "success" being applied to something? To me, success is pretty much always linked to gains or wins. I think I'm successful when I win at something. It usually is a result of hard work and the outcome is that I get something. As a teacher, I tell my students stuff like: work hard, complete all your assignments and turn them in on time and you'll be successful in this class (meaning, they'll pass). Anyway, success to me is a word very much associated with the material. In other words, it is closely linked to the world. But is it? Is there another aspect of success? Does success have another angle? A different face?

I'm currently wresting with a piece of Scripture that is, as all Scripture is, amazingly brilliant but at the same time, seemingly unattainable. The verse is, Romans 12: 2,

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Do you know what I mean by "seemingly unattainable"? How in the world (literally) will I ever renew my mind? How will I ever accomplish such a transformation? How could I successfully complete this daunting assignment and submit it on time so I can pass this class?

Could the impossibility of this task have something to do with a flaw in my interpretation of "success"?

Hard work, effort, completing assignments, winning...did I leave out some important elements? What about prayer? And the Holy Spirit? And Scripture? And seeking Godly guidance? And Jesus being the Way?

I guess I forgot to think about success from a spiritual perspective...sigh...

When I read Romans 12: 2 all I see is my part: I have to stop conforming to the patterns of this world. I have to be transformed. I have to renew my mind. I have to seek, find, see and understand God's will. I, I, I, I...it's all on me. It's no wonder the task seems impossible. Of course I don't think I could ever be successful enough to win. I'm relying on my own abilities...my own strength...I'm going at it alone. Is it because I want the glory at the end? Am I thinking this is all on me, and only me, because I want to be able to say: look at me and what I have accomplished! I was a wreck...but I am now transformed! Or is it confusion? Am I confused as to what my role is in this journey to the deep transformation of my mind?

I believe it might be a bit of both. But mostly, I think I'm just not sure how to go about it and what my responsibility is and where I have to just let God be God. In reality, though, if I am honest with myself, isn't it all in God's hands? Isn't He the Only One who can? Isn't my role to just trust Him and rely on His strength through which I can do all things? I think that's it, isn't it? My job is to give Him my all, which include my feeble efforts at not conforming to this world, at taking every thought captive and not allowing my mind to rule over me, but me rule over my mind...and trust that God will equip me to accomplish this as He works in me through the process of sanctification!

This is a life-long process and it requires my all and my desire to follow Him. It requires me to invoke the Holy Spirit, trust in the Father and follow Jesus as He is the Way, the Truth and the Life...the Only Way, the Only Truth and the Only Life through which I could ever be successful in this journey to a full transformation...a transformation that may not be rewarded until I am in His presence. 

What is success, then?

Success is surrender.

Success is surrendering to God's will for us, whatever it is, trusting His Word which He has given us in Scripture, and walking with Him for as long as He gives us life, knowing that He loves us so much that He will not leave us the same. It doesn't matter if the change did not produce the metamorphosis we envisioned...but nobody would ever stay the same after an encounter with the Living God...for we will all be transfigured in Him. And that's the biggest win of all!