Latest / HAVE FAITH LET IT BEGIN® / Faith in Today's World Ep 6: Success Isn't what you think?

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Faith in Today's World Ep 6: Success Isn't what you think? · HAVE FAITH LET IT BEGIN®

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  The world changes every day, but God's truth never does.
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  Welcome to Half-Faith in Today's World, a special series from Half-Faith, Let It Begin.
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  I'm Angel Santana. Today, we'll explore today's headlines, everyday challenges,
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  and the questions people are asking, and discover what God's Word has to say about them.
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  Because while the world keeps changing, our hope remains the same.
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  Half Faith Let It Begin starts right now. Welcome to Half Faith Let It Begin. This is Ariel Santana.
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  Can you believe I'm seven years old already? I'm old enough now to introduce my dad.
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  Ladies and gentlemen, your host, my dad, Angel Santana.
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  2000 came and the spark was lit. The testimony raw, it wouldn't quit.
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  His mother's voice, a guiding thread. The angels are with you,
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  she gently said. Hi, baby.
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  Good morning, everyone, and welcome to Have Faith, Let It Begin.
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  I'm Angel Santana, and this is an episode of The Faith in Today's World. It's episode six.
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  Today's question is one we've asked ourselves at some point.
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  What does success really look like?
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  The world tells us success is measured by promotions, bigger paychecks,
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  nice cars, larger homes, and more followers.
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  But what if success isn't about what we accumulate?
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  What if it's about who we're becoming?
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  Every day, we're surrounded by messages telling us to chase the next thing. Work harder.
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  Earn more. Buy more. Achieve more. And be more.
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  Social media often shows us everyone's highlight reel.
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  It's easy to compare our lives with someone else's picture-perfect moments.
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  And before long, we start believing we're falling behind. But are we?
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  Are we measuring ourselves by the wrong standard? There's nothing wrong with working hard.
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  There's nothing wrong with setting goals. There's nothing wrong with success. But the question is.
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  Why are we pushing or pursuing it? It's our identity.
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  It's if our identity is wrapped up in our accomplishments, we'll always need
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  another achievement to feel valuable.
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  But if our identity is rooted in Christ, we already know our worth.
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  Success becomes something we pursue with humility, not something we chase to prove ourselves.
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  I've had moments where I thought success were about numbers.
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  How many listeners? How many downloads? How many followers? But over the years,
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  God has reminded me of something.
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  If one episode helps one person find hope, if one prayer helps someone through
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  a difficult day, and if one conversation brings someone closer to Christ, that's success.
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  I don't need millions of listeners to know God is using this ministry.
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  I just need to remain faithful. Maybe success today isn't getting the promotion.
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  Maybe success is being present with our family.
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  Maybe success is forgiving someone. Maybe success is choosing integrity when nobody's watching.
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  Maybe success is praying before making a difficult decision.
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  Sometimes the greatest victories are the ones nobody else ever sees.
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  But God sees this, and God sees them, and that's enough. So here's your faith
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  challenge this morning.
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  Today, instead of asking yourself, what do I need to accomplish today?
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  Ask, how can I honor God today?
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  Success isn't, well, success isn't always about doing more.
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  Sometimes it's about loving better, serving faithfully, and trusting God with the results.
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  The world will always tell you to keep climbing.
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  God sometimes invites us to slow down, to breathe, to notice the people around
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  us, to remember that our greatest accomplishments aren't measured by applause.
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  They're measured by faithfulness.
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  At the end of our lives, people may forget our job titles.
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  They may forget our accomplishments, but they'll remember how well we treated them.
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  And more importantly, God knows the condition of our hearts.
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  That's the kind of success that lasts forever.
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  Let's pray. Heavenly Father, help us redefine success according to your purpose.
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  Keep us from chasing things that leave us empty.
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  Teach us to find joy in serving, loving, and being faithful in what you've entrusted us.
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  Remind us that our value doesn't come from what we own or what we own our own accomplishments.
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  Hmm. We have to remind us, remind ourselves, again, that our value doesn't come
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  from what we own ourselves.
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  Or accomplish. I had to say that twice. Interesting.
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  It comes from being your children. Help us live each day in the way that honors you.
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  In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. That last line really got me.
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  Well, I want to thank you for joining me today in another episode of Faith in
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  Today's World, a special series from Have Faith, Let It Begin.
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  Remember, the world changes every day, but God's truth never does.
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  Go into today knowing that your worth isn't found in your resume.
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  Your bank account, your social media profile, your worth is found in the God who created you.
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  So be faithful, be kind, be grateful, and never forget, have faith, let it begin.
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  Coming up next, on the next episode of Have Faith, Let It Begin,
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  grace and a cancel culture.
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  Can we hold people accountable without forgetting the power of forgiveness?
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  We're going to explore questions like, have we become too quick to write people
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  off? Can someone truly change?
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  What does grace look like in culture that often values judgment over redemption?
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  And how do we extend mercy while still standing for truth?
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  We'll see you next time. Have faith, let it begin.
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  Thank you for listening to Have Faith, Let It Begin. We'll be back tomorrow.
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  Thank you for listening to another episode of Have Faith, Let It Begin.
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  That's right, Ariel. We're done with another show. And it's always great to
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  have this show with you, my love.
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  You know, we're going to encourage each and every person to listen to our show every single weekday.
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  That's right. You and I are going to help change the world. Do you think that you can do that for me?
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  Huh? Yeah, you know you can.
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  She does. We want to let you know, and yes, we encourage you to listen to our
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  show each and every weekday, and it's going to be live at 7.30.
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  Make sure you're subscribed to our show. Make sure you get ready.
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  Fasten those seatbelts because Ariel and I and my family are going to bring
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  you a new topic, a new story each and every day, right?
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  Isn't that right, Ariel? Yeah. And we...
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  She's smiling at me. Guys, enjoy your day. Thank you for listening to How Faithful
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  Begins. We'll be back tomorrow.