YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR WORLD!

I am releasing a book next month with the title above. It’s my very first book but now in it’s second edition – revised and enlarged. It would sure bless you. Here, enjoy an excerpt from the first chapter. YOU WILL SUCCEED!

You can turn your life around.Yes, you can! You can change your world from a world of defeat into a world of victory.From a world of poverty into a worldof riches. From sickness to health; from breakdown to breakthroughs. You can move your world from failure to success, from survival to significance. You can change your world!

You Must Be “Born Again”!

But listen, friend, you cannotchange the world until your own world is changed. That is, youcannot impact your generation until your own life is changed! If you can getthe ‘man’ right, you’ll get your ‘world’ right. James Allen in his all-timeclassic “As A Man Thinketh” said, “Man has but to right himself to find thatthe universe is right; and during the process of putting himself right; he willfind that as he alters his thoughts towards things and other people; things andother people will alter towards him.”

Change begins with you. Withoutpersonal change there can’t be professional change. Jesus saidto Nicodemus, “Except a man is bornagain, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”¹ Thatis to say: Except a man is changed, his world – his circumstances – cannotchange. Except a man be transformed from within, he cannot see, perceive norexperience the wonderful realities of the new life in Christ. It is firstwithin, then without. That is a fundamental law in the school ofsuccess. A man can only travel as far and as fast as he travels on his inside.

Change Your Thoughts

We live in a house made ofthoughts. So start to change your thoughts. “Foras he thinketh in his heart, so is he.”² Men are living magnets.We attract to ourselves per time, the sum total of our thoughts. So I can say, yourthoughts determine your worth! That should tell you where the change mustbegin – in your heart. The thoughts of your heart determine thequality of your life.³ It was William James, the famedHarvard psychologist, that said, “The greatest discovery of mygeneration is that human beings can alter the state of their lives by changingthe state of their mind.” That’s true. It is first within, thenwithout. If you change your world, the world will change for you.

Don’t waste your life trying tochange the world, change yourself!

The Man Who Wanted to Change the World

That reminds me of the man whowanted to change the world. He said:

“I was arevolutionary when I was young and all my prayer to God was: “Lord, give me theenergy to change the world.”

As Iapproached middle age and realized that my life was half gone without mychanging a single soul, I changed my prayer to: “Lord, give me the grace tochange all those who came into contact with me, just my family and friends, andI shall be satisfied.”

Now that I’man old man and my days are numbered, I have begun to see how foolish I havebeen. My one prayer now is; “Lord, give me the grace to change myself.” If Ihad prayed this right from the start, I would not have wasted my life.”

You can change your world. Youcan stop to take what you have put up with thus far. You can change the qualityof your lifestyle. You can improve your standard of living. You can havebreakthroughs, live in health, have a decent house (even build your own) and afulfilling career, indeed a decent life. It is possible. You can live inabundance! Jesus said, “The thief comesonly in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have andenjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).”⁴

You may not be able to alter yourpast, (you can’t anyway) but you can effect a change inyour future. You may not be able to do anything about where you have been butyou sure can (and must) do something about where you will be. You can!

Enquiries: In Nigeria +234(0) 813 596 1690

I’M LAUGHING BUT THINKING ABOUT THIS…

Joseph comes up to the Cotonou border on his bicycle. He’s got twolarge bags over his shoulders.

The customs official stops him and says, “What’s in the bags?”

“Garri,” answered Joseph.

The Customs official says, “We’ll just see about that. Get off thebike!” the Customs official takes the bags and rips them apart; he empties themout and finds nothing in them but garri.

He detains Joseph overnight and has the garri analyzed, only to discoverthat there is nothing but pure garri in the bags.

The customs official releases Joseph, puts the garri into new bags,lifts them onto the man’s shoulders, and lets him cross the border.

A week later, the same thing happens. The customs official asks, “Whathave you got?” “Garri,” Joseph answers.

The customs official does his thorough examination and discovers thatthe bags contain nothing but garri. He gives the garri back to Joseph, andJoseph crosses the border on his bicycle.

This sequence of events was repeated every day for the next threeyears. Finally, Joseph doesn’t show up one day and the customs official meetshim in a beer parlour in Cotonou.

“Hey, my friend,” says the customs official, “I know you are smugglingsomething. It’s driving me crazy. It’s all I think about….I can’t sleep. Justbetween you and me, what are you smuggling?”

Joseph sips his beer and says, “Bicycles”!

You would agree with me that this is very funny. (Or maybe you don’t.)But while I’m laughing I can’t help but think.

One, we must learn to THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX. The customs officialshould have known after a while that it is not garri that Joseph was smuggling.And also that contraband does not always have to be in containers. Joseph usedon him what we call a smokescreen, and he didn’t see through it.

Two, LOOK BEYOND THE OBVIOUS.  Whatappears is not always what is. Plain and simple!

Three, WE MUST NOT JUST THINK THROUGH BUT THINK FAST.

So, while we laugh, let’s think. YOU WILL SUCCEED!

HAVE YOU HAD A CHECK-UP LATELY?

It is okay and it is recommended that you have a medical check-up – acomplete physical exam at least once a year. It helps early detection ofdiseases and helps you stay on top of your health and physical condition. In short,it’s a strategy for keeping fit. So, let me ask you, “Have you had a check up lately?”

However, the check-up I am talking about is neither physical normedical. The last time I checked I was and have never been a medicalpractitioner. The exam I talk about is attitudinal, mental and spiritual. Let’sfeel your pulse:

Check your ATTITUDE to life. “Attitude” Chuck Swindoll said, “is more important than facts.” And Ibelieve it. Yourattitude to life will determine your altitude in life. QED!

Check your ASSOCIATIONS. Your friend determines your end(see Proverbs 13:20). Evil communications corrupt good manners (see 1Corinthians 15:33). Your associations are either making you poorer or richer,making you better or worse. Check it!

Check your BELIEFS. A man would never changewhat he believes until his belief system cannot deliver to him the results heseeks. Whatyou believe is what you will become. Fertility is not in the land, it is in themind. Selah!

Check your CONFESSION. What do you say to and about yourself. You will always have what you say. Your wordswill become “flesh” and dwell with you.

Check your CONVICTIONS. Men are not ruled by feelings;they are governed by the depth of their convictions.

Check your DEVOTION. Are you still seekingfirst the kingdom of God? Half-hearted seekers of God get nowhere.

Check your ENTHUSIASM. “It is the little thing that makes a big difference.” (MatthewAshimolowo) Are you still full of God? Haven’t you lost your zest for life andliving?

Check your FAITHFULNESS. If you are faithful inlittle things, you’ll be trusted with bigger stuffs. That’s how God designedlife to work.

Check your GROWTH. Are you growing? When lastdid you learn something new? True prosperity is marked by consistent growth andincrease, not just accumulating possessions. When you’re through learning,you’re through! Many are growing OLDbut how many people are growing UP?To grow old, you need do nothing but effort must be made if you must grow up.Selah!

Check your GIVING. The price of living isgiving. What and to what are you giving? Give to God and to the people aroundyou. The true measure of your life is not by its duration but by your donation.

Check your HABITS. You choose your habits andyour habits decide your destiny.

Check your IMAGINATION. You are who you think youare and you will become the person you imagined to be.

Check your JOY level. Joy is not the samething as happiness. Happiness is a function of your circumstances but joy is achoice. Choose joy today (see Habakkuk 3:17-19).

Check your KNOWLEDGE of the truth. Are youmerely assenting to or you indeed believe the truth. The Word of God is truth.Only the truth you know, can and will set you free (see John 17:17; John 8:32).

Check your LISTENINGQUOTIENT.We are all guilty of this. Me too! God gave you two ears and a mouth so you canlisten twice before you talk once! James 1:19 says to be swift to hear and slowto speak while Ecclesiastes 5:1 admonishes us to be more ready to hear than tospeak.

Check your MEDITATION. How often do you think? Itwas novelist George Bernard Shaw that said, “Fewpeople think more than two or three times a year. I have made an internationalreputation for myself by thinking once or twice a week.” Thinkers arewinners. When you don’t think, you stink! No pun intended, that’s the puretruth.

Check your PERSISTENCELEVEL. “Persistent people begin their own successwhere others quit.” (John Mason) Do you give up so easily? “You can soon determine the caliber of a manby ascertaining the amount of opposition it takes to discourage him.”(DeweyKing)

Check your PRAYER LIFE. A man cannot be greaterthan his prayer life. When you are too busy to pray, you are too busy. Doeverything but be sure you are praying. Prayer is your breath (1 Thessalonians5:17).

Check your VITALRELATIONSHIPS.Your relationship with God (James4:8); with your spouse, if you aremarried, that is (1 Peter 3:7; Ephesians 5:22-25); and with your children (Ephesians 6:4). These are the relationshipsthat will matter when the push comes to the shove. Fail here and you’ve lost itall; your success elsewhere does not matter. You will not fail!

Check your ZEAL. Are you growing complacentand cold towards your God-given purpose? Zeal is a vital key to success. Get yourvibe back. Do whatever you will but get it back.

This is by no means an exhaustive list. Additions and comments welcome.YOU WILL SUCCEED!

WAKE UP AND ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY!

“So, then every one of usshall give account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:12)

This scripture changed my life years ago. It has never ceased to challengeme since then.

In the final analysis, you are the sole person responsible for how yourlife turns out. The earlier you accept this, the better. The reason many are stuckand stagnated personally and professionally is because they sat down waitingfor someone or some help to come their way.

May I say, loud and clear, that the best helping hand you will everfind is the one attached to your shoulder blades! You don’t wait for the watersof opportunity to flow by your house. Go make a way – dig a tributary – for thewaters to flow towards you. Or you go find the waterways!

You don’t wait for the rains to fall. You make the rains. Stir up thecosmic dust. Become a rainmaker! I’ve learnt in life that nothing moves without a mover. Behind everything that moves is a mover!Every object remains in its state of rest or uniform motion unless an externalforce is applied to it. Pick up the phone. Make that call. Write that exam. Enrollfor that course. Read that book. Do whatever it takes to move forward. Do notlet life happen to you. Make life happen!

You do not need anybody’s permission to be what you were born to be. Youonly need God’s permission and that you already have. Nobody but you isanswerable to God for how you live your life and what you accomplish with it. Thatis both a scary and exciting thought at the same time.

Wake up, dear friend! “Responsibilityis the price of greatness,” Winston Churchill said. What anybody does foryou will not count for much as what you do for yourself. The prayer you prayfor yourself is more important than the ones others pray for you.

John Mason wrote in one of his books, “It was amazing to me how many (people) were anxiously searching forhelp from other people while they had – between them and God – everything theyneeded to succeed.” This means you and I are responsible, primarily andultimately, for our failures and successes. No one else is to blame if anythinggoes wrong. Only mediocre men blame others and give excuses for theirnon-performance.

You do not have a handicap; it’s a “cap-in-the-hand”. You do not have adisability either. It is “this-ability”! You don’t need a godfather, you haveGod as Father! What greater privilege do you seek?

Acknowledge your contributions. The earlier you do the faster you climbthe ladder of success. “Until there is apersonal input, you will never enjoy personal success.” (Dr. David Oyedepo)It’s time you wake up, friend. YOU WILL SUCCEED!

THINKING OF “EXCELLENCE”

“But everything should be done in afitting and orderly way.”

                                                                                               (1 Corinthians 14:40 NIV)

“Let all things be done decently andin order.”  This scripture got methinking about “excellence”.

Excellence distinguishes the men from the boys.It separates the high-flyerfrom the mediocre.It marks the difference between celebrated men and tolerated men.

Excellence – a journey, not a destination; an attitude,not an attainment.

The world hates the demands of excellence yet respects it when ondisplay. Why? Excellence and convenience are strange bed-fellows. The twoare mutually exclusive. It is true: Those whopursue convenience never attain the heights of excellence!

Excellence is not an event, it is a person. It isn’t what you do,but who youare that impacts what you do!

Excellence is not a function of where you are but who you are!

Excellence is not about what you have but it shows in what you do withwhat you have!

Excellence is not what you do but how you do what you do!

Excellence is that touch of gold, the spirit, and the attitudeof heart that permeates all you do.

Excellence is a passion, a consummate desire to do smallthings in bigways. Excellence it is, that does commonthings in uncommonways. Excellence it is, that does the ordinarywith an extratouch.

The mundaneacquires the status of importance when a person of excellence doesit. Excellence affects our “being”before our “doing”.

This is missing yet in a lot of places in our nation today. But I seethe dawn of a new day! Because as Booker T. Washington wrote in his book, “Up fromSlavery”, “Norace can prosper till it learns that there is as much dignity in tilling afield as in writing a poem.”

It reminds me of a story: After several attempts and defeats, AbrahamLincoln eventually became the president of the United States. On his first dayin office, President Lincoln entered the Congress to give his inaugural speech.Just in the middle, one man stood up. He was a rich aristocrat. He said, “Mr.Lincoln, you should not forget that your father used to make shoes for myfamily”. The whole assembly laughed; they thought they had made a fool ofAbraham Lincoln. But Lincoln and these types of people are made of a totallydifferent material.

Lincoln looked at the man and said, “Sir, Iknow that my father used to make shoes in your house for your family and therewill be many others here too…. Because the way he made shoes, nobody else can.He was a creator. His shoes were not just shoes; he poured his whole soul intoit. I want to ask you, have you any complaint? Because I know how to make shoesmyself, if you have any complaint I can make another pair of shoes. But as faras I know, nobody has ever complained about my father’s shoes. He was a genius,a great creator and I am proud of my father.”

“His shoes were not just shoes; he poured his whole soul into it.”

The whole gathering was struck dumb. They could not understand whatkind of man Abraham Lincoln was. He had made shoe-making an art, creativity.And he was proud because his father did the job so well that not even a singlecomplaint had ever been heard.

That was excellence on display. Whatever you touch becomes gold. Yousee, what John W. Gardner said is true: “The society which scorns excellence in plumbing becauseplumbing is a humble activity, and tolerate shoddiness in philosophy becausephilosophy is an exalted activity, will have neither good plumbing nor goodphilosophy. Neither its pipes nor its theories will hold water”.

Whenexcellence becomes your way of life, whatever you touch becomes gold. YOU WILLSUCCEED!