Perhaps, you have just inked your first business deal, lost that first ten pounds, graduated top of your class or won your first convert. Congratulations! You are now a certified sensation. The toast of the town! Everything looks perfect, isn’t it?

Maybe not. Because this moment could also break you, depending on how you would treat it. Understand that if desperation is the bane of the vanquished, complacency is the poison of the victor. King David learned this lesson the hard way. During the time that kings and their generals were unsheathing their swords for battle, King David was lounging in his royal robe in the palace. Conceited. Complacent and flirtatious. Seduced by his own sense of entitlement, David fell to sin and brought himself dangerously close to being dethroned (2 Samuel 11:1-3, 12:1-22).

Now don’t get me wrong. I am not stopping you at all in celebrating your achievements. Or you taking some breaks. Not at all. But while you are basking in the glow of your hard-earned success, I have a word of caution for you – stay sharp and sober. Don’t be arrogant. Be vigilant (1 Peter 5:8).

Preserving your gains requires more than just guarding yourself against your haters, detractors, and critics. But more importantly, it demands watching after your own self – your weaknesses, prejudices, and biases. These could wreak havoc to your momentum and derail your efforts from achieving your ultimate success. Do not be your own worst enemy.

So keep those spiritual, emotional and mental safeguards in place while enjoying your success. Stay on schedule. Keep your spiritual commitments and honor your vows. Don’t stray from the company of the sane and the saints. Keep yourself grounded.