Have you ever thought, If I am “God’s Masterpiece why do I not look or behave like a masterpiece? or Why am do get such ordinary results After a few failed attempts you begin to wonder what’s wrong with me?

I have felt like that.

My family and I planted a church on the east side of Indianapolis, Indiana, and the church never achieved the success I thought it would. I actually asked another pastor, “Is it possible that God has given me a vision to fulfill, but not gifts to do it?”

I thought, surely, something is wrong with me!

Here’s something else: Not everyone is gifted with equal talent or potential. Let’s face it, it’s obvious that some are born for greatness and some are not. Not everyone can swim like Michael Phelps, run like Usain Bolt, or sing like Beyoncé. Some of us are average at best. And, if some can be average, doesn’t it make sense that some people can be less than average?

And what about the Scripture that says, “In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use.” (2 Timothy 2:20) Isn’t that an illustration of people within the church?

God doesn’t promise that everyone can do great things! So, why should you, or I, expect that we can do anything more than we’ve done in the past? Why should we not conclude that if am a masterpiece, I sure don’t know how to appreciate good art.

If you have struggled with this thought allow me share four practices that could put you on a different path.

The path to greater success:

1. Create an environment to succeed.

There is a view of genetics that says each of us are the product of our genetic coding. That view saw genetics like a blue print for our development—you simply grow into the blue print. But that view of genetics is outdated and is not held by any credible scientist. Scientist now know that our genes are not so much like a blue print but are like a soundboard with switches and slides. And that environment (things like diet, exercise, education, nurture and challenge) plays a greater role in our development.

Our environment can either turn on turn off, turn up or turn down genetic expression.

Environments that are conducive to success are:

Rest: Get in the habit of getting enough sleep and taking one day a week to rest.

Diet: It is hard to eat junk food all week (or weekend for that matter) and feel like brining your best.

Relationships: “He that walks with the wise will become wiser, but a companion of fools will suffer harm.”

I want people in my life who will do two things: 1) believe in me but not be fooled by me. 2) encourage me and call me out.

Learning: Read great stuff, listen to great podcasts, attend great conferences.

2. Develop a growth mindset.

Have you ever seen anyone under hypnosis? Hypnosis can have a profound effect. I have heard of power lifters under hypnosis being told they couldn’t lift their hand from a table and when they awoke, though they were strong enough to lift hundreds of pounds over their head, when they awoke in the hypnotic state, they believed they could not life their own hand, and they couldn’t.

Some people live as though they are in a state of hypnosis. They believe they can’t, therefore, they can’t.

Carol Dweck, author of the book, Mindset, says, there are two kinds of people: those with “fixed” mindset, and those with a “growth” mindset. Dweck says the mindset we adapt will determine our level of success and satisfaction in life.

The growth mindset allows you to raise the bar on your standards and expectations and find ways to achieve them.

The first step in developing a growth mindset is to identify which mindset currently controls your thinking. If you do not have a growth mindset I suggest you should read Dweck’s book and sign up for Truly a Masterpiece training. Having read Dweck’s book will open your mind to the possibilities. Truly a Masterpiece will give you a strategic process to develop a growth mindset.

3. Apply the principle of hard-work.

We look at prodigies and think: that’s just not who I am. Like baseball’s prodigy, Ted Williams. Williams is one of only three MLB’s to bat 400 for an entire season. We make the mistake of assigning too much of their success on their raw talent, and we overlook their rapt determination.

The Scriptures tell us, “Hard work leads to advantage.”

I am not talking about the hours you put in on the job. I am talking about the hours you put in developing your craft. Ted Williams left the field after games and even after practices to go home and practice.

What are you doing to get better at what you want to do?

4. Practice purity.

This is a much overlooked principle. Purity paves the way to greatness like the right environment, a growth mindset, and hard work.

Remember the passage we referenced earlier? “In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use.”

At first glance this passage appears to support the theory of the haves and have-nots—those who have abundant talent and those who don’t. But when you keep reading you get the full picture. Paul, writing to young Timothy, says, “If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.” (2 Timothy 2:21, NLT)

Rather than God using the gifted, He gifts those who have clean lives.

If you keep yourself pure, set apart for Him, He will use you for EVERY good work. That’s what you were born for!

What is one thing do you need to take from The Path to Greater Success and put into action today?

1. Create the right environment.
2. Develop a growth mindset.
3. Apply the principle of hard work.
4. Practice purity.

Until next time, may the Lord help you to live the life you were born to love.

Craig