We all want to be successful. No one sets out in life aiming to fail. But before we chase after what the world defines as success—money, power, recognition—it’s important to pause and ask: What does God say success really is?

In Joshua 1:8 ESV, God gives us a clear and powerful answer. He says to Joshua, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

For Joshua, success wasn’t about fame or accolades. It was about fulfilling the mission God gave him—to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. And how was he to accomplish that? By staying rooted in God’s Word.

The same is true for us. Biblical success isn’t measured by what we get, but by what we do with what God has given us. It’s walking in obedience to His plan for our lives—whether in our families, our work, our finances, or our influence.

But how do we know God’s plan? How do we stay on track?

The answer is in the first part of the verse: meditate on the Word day and night. That means reading it, thinking about it, letting it sink deep into your heart and mind. When God’s Word becomes the lens through which we view life, we’re far more likely to live in line with His will.

And here’s the beautiful promise: when we do that, we will be “prosperous” and have “good success.” Not in the world’s eyes, but in God’s. And that’s what truly matters.

So today, take a moment. Reflect. Are you chasing the world’s version of success, or God’s? Open His Word. Meditate on it. Let it shape your path.

Because in the end, success is not about doing everything—it’s about doing the right things that God has called you to do.