Excellence

So how do you get the determination to cultivate an excellent spirit?

It is through the Holy Spirit working determination in you; with His leading you are able to cultivate that spirit of excellence. Philippians 4:13 says “I can do all things through Christ which strenghteneth me.”
Apostle Paul warned the Ephesians not to work with “…eye service, as men pleasers, but as bond servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men.”(Eph. 6:6 NKJV) Wherever you are as a Christian strive to do your best as a representative of our Lord Jesus Christ, set the standard for excellence. As a believer, you have the responsibility to be a godly influence. Your example and testimony may be the only way people may “see” Christ. 2Cor.3:2, 3 says “clearly you are an epistle of Christ…known and read of all men”
Determine once and for all to live a lifestyle of excellence in all you do and you will give God pleasure. The Spirit of excellence can be achieved by:
• Find out God’s purpose for your life. Ask God to show you his plan or purpose for your life, it will give you a vision and passion in your life.

• Singleness of purpose. (James 1:5-8) If you are not single-minded about your purpose, you will not have any definite direction. You will always be wondering what you are supposed to do.

• Renewing your mind. Your thoughts affect your attitude, Proverbs, 23:7 says, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” If you don’t renew your mind with the Word of God, eventually your thoughts will catch up with you and outwardly affect your lifestyle. You may find yourself many times in a position in which it looks so much easier to follow anything else other than the Word. Don’t do it. Put God’s Word first place in your life and allow it to be your final authority.

• By letting the Word abide in you. John 15:7 says, “If ye abide in me, and my Words ABIDE in you ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. The Word “abide” means to live and God’s Words are living forces. If they abide in you they will help you produce holiness in your life.

• God delights in obedience to his Words, Luke 11:28 says”... blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it.” Promises fulfilled and rewards given come from being obedience to God’s Word.

• Knowing who you are in Christ is important, what Christ did for you in the plan for redemption, and what Jesus is doing for you right now (Heb. 7:25) and what His Word will do for you. Then like Apostle Paul you can say I am always confident knowing... You know that God is the one that promotes, He has a plan for your life and that when you are faithful in little He puts more into your hands.

• Be diligent. Proverbs 12:24 says “The hand of the diligent shall bear rule.”(KJV) You can’t live an excellent life without diligence, diligence in bible study, in your personal devotion, in your prayer life, on the job, school and in everything you set your hands on. An example of a diligent person is Epaphras. The Bible says “who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis.” (Col.4:12-13 NIV)

• Dedication – is a decision of quality based on one’s commitment to God, not on feelings or emotions. A determination to please God. Hence, you must walk by faith – (Heb 11:6). In addition to faith, you must also live and walk on the love of God. Remember, to always take the Word way, the faith way. Daniel is a good example because of his dedication to God, he did all his assignment with a spirit of excellence. He used his influence wisely and impacted his friends (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego). This made Daniel to serve in the reign of four Kings; King Nebuchadnezzar, King Belshazzar, King Cyrus and King Darius (Daniel3:48, 5:29, 6:28).

• Let love rule your heart and life. God’s kingdom is ruled by faith and love. Galatians 5:6 says that faith works by love. God is love and if you dwell in love, you dwell in God and God in you. Joseph despite his condition as a slave and in prison, he chose to walk in love (Genesis37, 39-45). Without bitterness or resentment, he was able to put his best into everything he did.

• Be yielded to the Holy Spirit. Depend on the Holy Spirit to live your life. To be led by the Holy Spirit, you must be totally grounded in and dependent upon the Word of God.

• Persistence. It is a mark of excellence, you keep “Pressing on” forgetting the things that have past and looking unto the future, (Phil. 3:13-14) and the reward is Galatians 6:9 (And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not).

• Commit yourself to a life of prayer: Personal devotion time. Prayer is the foundation for success in every Christian

• endeavour. Jesus is your example (Mark 1:35, Luke 6:12), spend your time in prayer and in the Word. A daily spiritual time with God is a discipline that will enrich your life. As you start a devotional habit of Bible study, memorization of memory verses, understanding Scriptures, and developing a prayer relationship with God, you will be strengthened and it will help you live as a victorious Christian.

• Be thankful. 1Thess 5:8 says in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. A heart filled with gratitude never murmurs or complains instead appreciates all what God has done knowing that God is working all things for your Good. (Romans 8:28)

• Be a person of integrity. Integrity and excellence go hand in hand. Integrity is being honest, truthful, sincere, morally upright, reliable and trustworthy. God has called us to be people of integrity and excellence and we are to glorify God according to 2Peter1:3. As true Worshippers, we are to manifest all the excellences of God by living our lives to please God.