success and faithfulness

i read a quote recently during my devotional that was attributed to Mother Teresa. "I do not pray for success. I pray for faithfulness."

this strikes me as a worthy goal as a christian. i believe that the devotional i was reading at the time was relating to financial success. i believe it goes further than that and can be applied in other ways.

i find myself wishing to be successful in my relationships, eating, exercise, self discipline, financial goals, housing, employment and on and on. there are so many challenges that call to me, whether self imposed or through the endless litany of media outlets and others (even friends at times) that promote "good looks", "nice" cars or homes, the "perfect" job, having the "right" amount in our bank accounts, and on and on it goes. now the thought occurs that regardless of what i'm facing, if i am faithful to God i am a success. wierd how that works. striving for one (faithfulness) and attaining them both.

however, some would consider a particular goal a "success" regardless of if God is in it. (i.e. if i have $$$ saved for retirement, then i've been successful, if i get this degree in college, then i'm successful, if i get married and have x number of children, i'm successful.) how about we turn that around to, "if i do as God directs then [fill in blank] will be as God has deemed and that is success for he alone knows what is coming."

i find i cannot have true success without faithfulness for that in itself is success.

now...may i remain faithful, realizing it is only through Him that i can,

"Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy" Jude 1:24

"...and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." 2 Timothy 1:12