The Secret to Getting What You Want Out of Life

Wouldn’t it be nice if road signs told us more than simply which way to turn? Just once I’d love to see a sign that reads: “THIS ISN’T THE ROAD TO GETTING WHAT YOU WANT OUT OF LIFE.”

(Photo: By Simon Waelti. Courtesy of Unsplash.com)

If we had such a sign—and we believed it true—we’d immediately stop and turn around.

The Word of God gives us that sign. It tells us the results of a certain path. But it also gives us other directions.

It tells you the secret to getting what you want out of life.

What Do You Want Out of Life?

Before you can pursue what you want out of life, you have to know what you want. For most people, life goals boil down to a list like this:

• Fun
• Health
• Financial Security
• Success

There’s nothing wrong with this list, per se. The challenge comes with the fact that most of these goals are subjective and depend entirely on circumstances that we can never control

What if we reduced the list to one item?

• Whatever you do, you prosper.

That pretty well covers it. But how do you get there?

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The Secret to Getting What You Want Out of Life

There are two paths in this life. One pursues subjective means and dead-ends in disappointment.  The other path promises true prosperity.

The Bible gives us directions both ways. Here’s the first:

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers. —Psalm 1:1–3

Notice that last line? It’s the short list of what you want out of life: “Whatever he does, he prospers.”

The Tough Path

This is the way that requires two difficult decisions.

1. You decide you won’t leave the trail and listen to ungodly advice. When it comes to getting what you want out of life, this is tough. The exits look so helpful. So true. But they are all dead ends.
2. You decide to meditate on God’s Word, the Bible, daily. Then you do what it says. Need a good place to start? I have benefited from memorizing the Topical Memory System. Online here for free (you may have to right click to download it).

The Alternative Route—NOT Getting What You Want Out of Life

But there’s another path we can travel. God’s Word gives us the warning sign:

The wicked are not so, but they are like chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. —Psalm 1:4–6

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In contrast to a tree that is secure, which is nourished, which prospers, the one who doesn’t meditate on God’s Word is insecure like chaff in the wind.

Getting what you want out of life only happens by meditating on and applying Scripture. (Tweet that.)

Your Only Two Choices

Consider those two metaphors. They are your only two choices:

1. You can be like a tree firmly planted.
2. You can be like life chaff in the wind.

Tell me what you think: What helps you to stay on the right path? To leave a comment, just click here.