8 Pillars for Success Part 2

8 Pillars for Success Part 2

By Steve Backlund

“Then you will make your way prosperous and be of good success” (Joshua 1:8).

Last week I shared four “pillars” that helped me and others to experience fulfillment, longevity, fruitfulness, and relational health - 

• Inspiring and leading yourself

• Transformational beliefs

• Intentionality 

• Healthy relationships

Today I will share four more. These create the foundation for the online Backlund Leadership Academy which starts in September. There is much more I could say about each one of these, but I trust God to inspire you and reveal personal application concerning them. 

5. Speaking Life - “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21). “For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body” (James 3:2). “For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says” (Mark 11:23).

• The future is in the mouths of intentional speakers. I am an intentional speaker of life to people, cities, myself, and every place I go. 

• Jesus did not think His way out of the wilderness, but spoke His way out. I speak my way out of the wilderness and into my Promised Land.  

• My faith declarations are one of the main ways I renew my mind and see transformation. 

• My words carry a grace on them to help cause what I say. 

6. Faith-Filled Decision Making - “One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.” (Romans 14:5).”So let each one give as he decides in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” ( 2 Corinthians 9:7). “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind” (James 1:5-6)

• I have a good process of decision-making, and I always know what to do.  

• I understand that a bad decision made in faith has a greater likelihood of success than a good decision made in doubt. 

• Cheerfulness is the evidence I have attached faith to what I have decided to believe and do. I am a cheerful decision maker. 

• Instead of waiting for something great to happen, I attach great faith to  what I am doing now and it becomes great. 

7. Culture of Gladness - “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).”For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17).  “Your God has anointed You (Jesus) with the oil of gladness more than Your companions.” (Psalms 16:11).

• Because joy is ⅓ of the kingdom, I prioritize it in my life and it causes me to let go of bad beliefs, dysfunctional relational habits, and impulsive decision-making. 

• Like Jesus, great leaders and great parents create a culture of gladness around them too. I create a culture of gladness wherever I go. 

• My spiritual load-bearing capacity is in direct proportion to the level of joy in my life. I am a person of great joy. 

• Laughter is one of my most important spiritual weapons because when I laugh at the lies creating my negative strongholds, I disempower them. 

8. Empowerment - Building Big People - “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry . . . “ (Ephesians 4:11-12). “Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh”;( 2 Corinthians 5:16)  “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6)

• My goal is not to build a big church or organization, but to build big people. I build big people. 

• Empowerment is not just a leadership style, but it is a lifestyle that seeks to create win-win in relationships. 

• People won’t mind me moving their dirt if they know I believe there is gold in them. I believe the people in my life have a lot of spiritual gold in them. 

• The level of empowerment in our words is determined by what we believe about the people we are talking to. 

• Great leaders have great beliefs about the people they lead. My beliefs in people cause them to become what they never thought they could become. 

I pray you will be so strengthened in these pillars that you will be astounded at what happens in and through your life.