This week had me running nonstop — from work to family to everything in between. The kind of week where you blink, and somehow it’s already Friday. But even in the busyness, these notes had to be shared. Because what Pastor Keith Battle unpacked in “The Pathway to Success Pt. 3” at Zion Church was too powerful to keep to myself.
He said, “All success ain’t good success — just like all money ain’t good money.”
My ears perked up, and I knew right then…a word was coming.
This message wasn’t about climbing higher, it was about checking whether what we’re climbing matters. Whether the “wins” we chase are truly good in God’s eyes. Because as Pastor Battle reminded us, “God doesn’t just want us to do well; He wants us to do good.”
So if you’ve been moving fast (like me), juggling everything, wondering if your pace and purpose are aligned…take a breath. These notes are for you.
All Success Isn’t Good Success
Just like all money isn’t good money, all success isn’t good success.
You can be doing well and still not be doing good.
Some of us are succeeding financially or professionally but are running on empty spiritually, emotionally, or physically. Others are doing good works but struggling to do well in other areas.
True success isn’t measured by how much we accumulate; it’s measured by how aligned we are with what God designed us to do.
Designed by God for Purpose
“We are His masterpiece. How can you have low self-esteem when you’re His masterpiece?” — Ephesians 2:10
You are the best thing He created; His work of art.
Pastor Battle said, “The design and the work are married.”
Your design reveals your divine assignment.
Every skill, interest, and inclination is connected to what He’s called you to do.
You weren’t created by accident; you were crafted for purpose…to do the good things He planned for you long ago.
Assignment vs. Employment
“Most of us have chosen employment over our assignment… and sometimes our employment needs to be disrupted to get us to the assignment.” - Pastor Battle
How many of us are stuck in something that pays the bills but drains the soul?
God will sometimes allow disruption, not to punish us, but to redirect us.
You can be too good to fail at it, but not great enough to truly succeed because it’s not your assignment.
As Pastor Battle said, “The space between what you’re good at and what you’re great at is called average — you’re ‘medium-well’ when God called you to be rare so He can say ‘well done.’”
There’s a level of success that only comes when you’re walking in your divine purpose…when your life’s work isn’t just effective, but exceptional and aligned.
Operating in Your Special Gift
When you’re aligned with your God-given assignment, you operate in what Pastor Battle calls the Six E’s:
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Effective – You get the job done. “Effective cooks are appreciated.”
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Excellence – You do it exceptionally well. “Excellent cooks are lauded.”
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Effort – You put in the work it takes to reach excellence.
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Energy – The work gives you life. “Your gift energizes you; the wrong work drains you.”
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Enjoyment – You find joy in the doing. “Enjoyment in your work is a gift from God.” (Ecclesiastes 2:24)
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Ease – “It’s not natural from you; it’s supernatural through you.”
When these six show up, you’re not just working, you’re walking in purpose.
How to Identify Your Gift
Your divine gift carries three fingerprints:
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You love talking about it and doing it.
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It energizes you instead of exhausting you.
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When you stay away from it too long, you feel disconnected from yourself.
Work that isn’t aligned with your gift will drain you…you’ll clock-watch and just “get through” the day. But when you’re in your lane, you’ll feel flow. You’ll feel God.
Use the Six E’s to test your work: Where do you feel effective, energized, and at ease? That’s likely your assignment.
Humility: The Foundation of Good Success
“Good success is Jesus becoming more important while I become less important.” — John 3:30 (CEV)
John the Baptist understood what many of us forget — it’s not about us.
Good success makes God important, not ourselves.
It’s not about building a following; it’s about influencing others toward Him.
Humility is the foundation of divine success. Without it, even the best gift becomes corrupted by ego.
Faithful or Famous?
“Do you want to be famous or faithful? You can’t be both. They compete.” - Pastor Battle
Because in a world that rewards visibility, faithfulness can feel unseen, but it’s never unnoticed by God.
Pastor Battle said, “Some of you sprinkle just enough Jesus on your gift to fool people, but you haven’t fooled God.”
When we use our gift to make us look good instead of making Him known, we rob it of divine power.
He put it plainly:
“You can’t be fully successful because you’re pimping His gift for your own aggrandizement.” - Pastor Battle
Your gift wasn’t given for fame; it was given for faithfulness.
And faithfulness will take you further than fame ever could.
Final Reflection
“Whatever His plan is for your life will make the world better and bring Him glory; (compared to) your plan usually just makes you famous.” - Pastor Battle
Remember, good success flows from alignment, where your work brings joy to you and glory to Him.
With you on this journey,
Allene