"As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success" (2 Chronicles 26:5).

In the February 1983 issue of Spiritual Fitness in Business, A monthly newsletter published by Probe Ministries International, Dallas, Texas, Kirby Anderson gives the following traits of successful people:

*Successful people are dependent. They depend on the Lord to use their gifts in specific situations.

*Successful people are less concerned with image than with accomplishment. God gets the glory. So many believe they must live up to a preconceived image of the "successful businessman." We are successful by being successful, not by living up to an image concocted by advertising executives.

*Successful people are tenacious; they don't give up when an obstacle presents itself; they aren't vulnerable to criticism. They pray that the Lord will give the vision, stamina and perseverance to complete the projects before them.

*Successful people focus on the goal, not the reward. They are winners, achievers and contributors. They strive toward the goal and leave the results to God.

*Successful people do not accept all the credit. They realize almost every project requires more than one's personal effort. It requires staff support. A successful person gives credit where credit is due (Romans 16:1-4).

*Successful people redeem failures. Failure can indeed be an avenue to success. Who hasn't failed? Only one-- Jesus Christ. If we place our trust in Him, we will be able to redeem failures into successes.

"God is not so unjust as to forget your work ... " (Hebrews 6:10). The discouraged need to know that God observes good works, and that what the world considers success is not always how God views success.