Becoming a Successful Christian

Many of us have a hobby that we love. Some of us love to golf, some go hunting, others love car racing and some love gardening. No matter what hobby you are passionate about there is only one way to get better at it, practice! I have recently become interested in shooting hand guns. Unless you spend a lot of money on a custom gun the average gun is made to fit the average person. If you happen to be above or below the average you have two choices: you either learn to adapt to how the weapon shoots or you change the weapon so that it adapts to the way you shoot. I have one hand gun that I know shoots high. When you align the sights you must place your target above the sights otherwise you are gonna shoot above your target. The sights on this gun are fixed so I must adapt the way I shoot if I want to be accurate.
Matthew 5:16 ESV In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
A successful Christian's actions should align with their beliefs. A successful Christian will speak openly about their own experience with Jesus and how it has transformed their life. They are not afraid to share their faith with others, even when it's challenging. To become a successful Christian you must fall back on what you know, you own personal experiences. Not all of us have a golden tongue like the preacher, or a mind that has total recall and is able to quickly remember and quote bible verses. The only real tools you have is your personal testimony and the skills that you have have learned throughout your life. Furthermore, not all of us are people persons. Having the ability to have spontaneous conversation is simply not a gift everyone posses. But, God has a use for those people as well. You may be a great listener, maybe you are a willing worker who lets your actions speak louder than their words. Maybe your a great care giver and you feel more comfortable with infants than you do with adults. No matter what your good at God can use you! As a Christian we are God's tools. If your hobby is racing, the car is your tool. If your hobby is golf, the clubs are your tools. If your hobby is hunting, the gun is your tool. A tool can do nothing on it's own. It must be placed into the hands of the person using it in order to do what it is intended to do. The person holding it determines is use and how successful it will be. The same is true for the successful Christian, we are only tools that can do nothing on our own, however when we are placed in the hands of God, then you are able to become a successful Christian, capable of more than you can imagine, more than your can dream possible.
Philippians 4:13 ESV I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 
With all tools, without the person who operates it, it has no value, it is useless, it is little more than a paperweight. The bible is the same. Without someone willing to pick it up and use it, it has no value, except to gather dust on a bookshelf. If your bible is perfect shinny and new, most likely your life is not perfect. If your bible is a mess, held together with duct tape, the pages are tattered and there are notes scribbled in your margins, than your life is probably in pretty good shape. If I was to hand someone a hammer, but no nails or a gun, but no bullets it would do them no good. If a Christian only offers prayers to someone in need, the impact of Christ is partially lost. The prayers may help, but a sandwich or a cool drink of water may fill their immediate needs far better. By helping both the physical and spiritual needs the full power of the Lord can be witnessed. To be a successful Christian you must be God's tool to be u