A few years ago I met someone who convinced me that the answer to all my problems could be found in self help books and strategic thinking. And I have to be honest, it was pretty convincing.
One particular book really had me gripped. It was called "How To Be Brilliant - change your ways in 90 days", by a guy called Michael Heppell. I read it cover to cover. It was very positive and had me writing, saying and eventually believing statements such as; "I am brilliant because I have brilliant values that lead me to take massive action". Looking back at this book now I am intrigued to find out what I thought these "brilliant values" actually were....
In a sense it was all good stuff. I had written down what I wanted to be brilliant in, and my top answer was "inspiring others". Little did I know how much this great word "inspire", would feature in my future. "Being happy" and "leadership" were also quite high on my list. Well, everyone wants to be happy - don't they? But I truly had no idea how to attain true happiness. I knew how to get an adrenaline kick from show jumping, sailing or endurance racing and such activities did give me a certain amount of joy but nothing like I now know and experience on a daily basis.
Whilst looking through the notes I made in the front cover of Heppell's book I found my dutifully written list of all the reasons that I had not yet achieved "brilliance".
It seemed like I knew myself quite well after all. I had listed such things as anger, personal negativity, lack of self control, inability to cope with emotional stress and a desire for my life to be "fixed" by someone else.
I couldn't actually find my values though.... I had completed the book and yet I still had no real values to call my own other than the importance of being rich, brilliant and successful.
This was all very well but how was any of this going to change just by writing it down. It's sometimes good to be aware of your shortcomings but can we really change? This book claims that in 90 days you can build a plan to achieve your goals. How? By "discovering the specific characteristics of brilliant people so that you can learn and model from the best."
Hang on!!?? So I can only be brilliant by copying other people's strategies, values and, in effect personalities. Well, anything is possible isn't it? I'm the living proof of that. My values certainly changed and it was over a mere 40 day period, not 90! But it wasn't through reading one of my many glossy self help books or practicing the art of NLP (neuro-linguistic programming), it was through the Word of God, by His power, by His presence in my life.
The only book that can have a lasting effect on your values and therefore your actions is the bible. The wisdom of God cannot be matched by the work of modern or ancient man.
I was "transformed by the renewing of my mind". Romans 12:2
When you are born again you put away the things of the past. All my old values and negativities were washed away, I was purified by the blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ. I'm not saying that the bad stuff vanishes overnight, it doesn't. It's a process. But when you understand that you are not changing yourself under your own strength but through the Power and Grace of God it is no longer an uphill battle because someone else is shouldering the load. Why carry all your burdens when someone far more capable, far stronger, far more wise and altogether brilliant in every way is willing to carry them for you?
"How to be brilliant" claims to be able to transform you in only 90 days. I say, give those 90 days to God, let Him change you. After all, He's the one who made you, He knows who you are truly meant to be.
In fact, let's up the ante, let's make it 40 days. God changed me in 40 days, let's see if He can change you. What have you got to lose?
Surrender your life to Jesus, let Him do the work. Let Him repair, rebuild and restore as only He knows how. After all, what have you got to lose.
Pray this prayer with me now and let God start to work in your life;
It doesn't stop here. You now need to allow Jesus to work in your life. Follow the guidance of His precious Holy Spirit who will convict you in a gentle but firm way. If you find yourself thinking twice about doing something that before you did without thinking then listen to this voice. God can only protect you and guide you if you let Him.
And don't forget, God has already forgiven you, when Jesus died for you. So don't wallow in self pity and self flagellation. Instead spend time in prayer and just wait for the Holy Spirit to bring you into His presence.
So put away those books whose covers will fade with time as will their wisdom and decide today to give God a chance. You choose - 40 days or 90 days. And I can be sure that before you complete the agreed time period God will have touched your life. Be prepared for the wonder of God, expect the unexpected. Live in a perpetual sense of divine expectation. This is how to be brilliant - by standing before God and reflecting the brilliance of His Glory!
Send me a message if you take up the challenge!!! I'd love to hear from you.
One particular book really had me gripped. It was called "How To Be Brilliant - change your ways in 90 days", by a guy called Michael Heppell. I read it cover to cover. It was very positive and had me writing, saying and eventually believing statements such as; "I am brilliant because I have brilliant values that lead me to take massive action". Looking back at this book now I am intrigued to find out what I thought these "brilliant values" actually were....
In a sense it was all good stuff. I had written down what I wanted to be brilliant in, and my top answer was "inspiring others". Little did I know how much this great word "inspire", would feature in my future. "Being happy" and "leadership" were also quite high on my list. Well, everyone wants to be happy - don't they? But I truly had no idea how to attain true happiness. I knew how to get an adrenaline kick from show jumping, sailing or endurance racing and such activities did give me a certain amount of joy but nothing like I now know and experience on a daily basis.
Whilst looking through the notes I made in the front cover of Heppell's book I found my dutifully written list of all the reasons that I had not yet achieved "brilliance".
It seemed like I knew myself quite well after all. I had listed such things as anger, personal negativity, lack of self control, inability to cope with emotional stress and a desire for my life to be "fixed" by someone else.
I couldn't actually find my values though.... I had completed the book and yet I still had no real values to call my own other than the importance of being rich, brilliant and successful.
This was all very well but how was any of this going to change just by writing it down. It's sometimes good to be aware of your shortcomings but can we really change? This book claims that in 90 days you can build a plan to achieve your goals. How? By "discovering the specific characteristics of brilliant people so that you can learn and model from the best."
Hang on!!?? So I can only be brilliant by copying other people's strategies, values and, in effect personalities. Well, anything is possible isn't it? I'm the living proof of that. My values certainly changed and it was over a mere 40 day period, not 90! But it wasn't through reading one of my many glossy self help books or practicing the art of NLP (neuro-linguistic programming), it was through the Word of God, by His power, by His presence in my life.
The only book that can have a lasting effect on your values and therefore your actions is the bible. The wisdom of God cannot be matched by the work of modern or ancient man.
I was "transformed by the renewing of my mind". Romans 12:2
When you are born again you put away the things of the past. All my old values and negativities were washed away, I was purified by the blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ. I'm not saying that the bad stuff vanishes overnight, it doesn't. It's a process. But when you understand that you are not changing yourself under your own strength but through the Power and Grace of God it is no longer an uphill battle because someone else is shouldering the load. Why carry all your burdens when someone far more capable, far stronger, far more wise and altogether brilliant in every way is willing to carry them for you?
"How to be brilliant" claims to be able to transform you in only 90 days. I say, give those 90 days to God, let Him change you. After all, He's the one who made you, He knows who you are truly meant to be.
In fact, let's up the ante, let's make it 40 days. God changed me in 40 days, let's see if He can change you. What have you got to lose?
Surrender your life to Jesus, let Him do the work. Let Him repair, rebuild and restore as only He knows how. After all, what have you got to lose.
Pray this prayer with me now and let God start to work in your life;
Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I repent of my sins and ask You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. Send Your Holy Spirit to guide me and teach me Your ways. In Your Holy Name I pray.
Amen.
Or this one...
It doesn't stop here. You now need to allow Jesus to work in your life. Follow the guidance of His precious Holy Spirit who will convict you in a gentle but firm way. If you find yourself thinking twice about doing something that before you did without thinking then listen to this voice. God can only protect you and guide you if you let Him.
And don't forget, God has already forgiven you, when Jesus died for you. So don't wallow in self pity and self flagellation. Instead spend time in prayer and just wait for the Holy Spirit to bring you into His presence.
So put away those books whose covers will fade with time as will their wisdom and decide today to give God a chance. You choose - 40 days or 90 days. And I can be sure that before you complete the agreed time period God will have touched your life. Be prepared for the wonder of God, expect the unexpected. Live in a perpetual sense of divine expectation. This is how to be brilliant - by standing before God and reflecting the brilliance of His Glory!
Send me a message if you take up the challenge!!! I'd love to hear from you.
