If the Bible is the best-selling book of all time, having sold around 5 billion copies to date, and is also the most translated book in human history, why is our world in such a mess today?

Well, some years ago I stopped calling the Bible ‘the Bible’. WHY? Because I found that some use it as an ornament that gathers dust – it may look good but it never gets opened. Therefore, I decided to call it the ‘Divine Manual’.

But first, let’s understand the purpose of a manual and it will help you to see the reason behind my change – a manual provides instructions or guidelines on how to perform an activity and serves as a reference book for the activity.

A manual not only helps users get started but also assists them with ongoing problems they might face. It usually contains step-by-step instructions and ‘how-to’ instructions which can help users tackle any situation that might arise with the product.

Reading the manual will reduce mistakes and improve efficiency for the user; in other words, the manual will inform the users about how to use the product safely and warn them of any potential danger of its misuse. Therefore, it helps users to be alert.

We are living in days where people are saying that to have a successful life is becoming an impossibility. Well, let me tell you that although life can be challenging, the reality is that if you follow and apply the Divine Manual then you can surely succeed. So let me introduce you to THE DIVINE MANUAL, which is the BIBLE, which is definitely going to help you to succeed in your life.

Over the next couple of weeks, let’s look at five keys from the Divine Manual to guarantee you a successful life. This week, let’s look at the first 2:

1. Reading and Applying the Divine Manual has to be your life foundation 

First, imparting its knowledge and second, putting it into practice. Doing what the Divine Manual tells you must be your foundation – ‘ so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it’ (Isaiah 55:11 ESV). We are called to do God’s Word – the manual has not been given to increase our knowledge but to change our lives. Many study the Divine Manual, ‘the Word of God’, but never put it into practice – ‘don’t deceive yourself by listening only to the word but do it’ (see James 1:25 NIV). Therefore, the first foundation for a successful life is practicing what we have learnt out of the Divine Manual.

‘Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do’ (Joshua 1:8-9 NLT).

So, make sure you put into practice what you learn out of the DIVINE MANUAL.

• Seeking and fulfilling God’s purposes must be your plan. 

Yes, doing what the Manual says must be your life’s foundation; but more importantly, fulfilling God’s purposes must be your life plan. ‘Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails’ (Proverbs 19:21 NIV). I’m sure you have many plans but let me tell you, ‘no one ever plans to fail but sadly many fail to plan’. Make sure that your plans are in line with God’s purpose. To prevail is to succeed, to triumph is to be victorious and that is the desire of God for your life and everyone’s life. Personally, I can categorically tell you that a verse of the manual that helps is Isaiah 55:8-9 and in fact it should be the core verse for everyone who wants to succeed: ‘you must put your complete trust in God because His ways and plans are always better than our own and to trust that everything included in His plan is for a greater good’ (see Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV). Also, my advice is to do what King David did: he ‘served God’s purpose in his own generation’ (Acts 13:36 NIV).

Therefore, make God’s purpose your plan.

So, if you want to succeed make sure that your life foundation becomes reading, meditating and applying what you’ve learned from the Divine Manual; and that seeking and fulfilling God’s purposes becomes your plan.