that we have been placed on this earth to impact others and to bring glory to God. Although that is the case, we must also not devalue our gifts and talents and allow the daily struggles, failures or difficulties to hinder us from pursuing our dreams and moving forward with our lives.
I have seen over the years countless people that have given up on their dreams because with every attempt to progress and accomplish their goals, they have faced many obstacles, barriers and blockages. “No one ever said that anything worth having would be easy.” Life is a series of struggles and “quitters never win.” It takes tenacity, perseverance and an unshakeable resolve to keep getting up after you have been knocked down several times.Life is like a boxing match:
The two components prepare themselves physically, mentally and emotionally before entering into the ring. They go into the boxing ring with one mindset and that is that there will be “one winner and one loser” and thus, they go in with the expectation they will be the winner. That is how we as people need to be with life and with meeting our goals and aspirations. You can’t be so easy to “throw in the towel” because the fight is intense and you sustain a few harsh blows along the way. That is not the time to give up, but that is the time to muster up the strength, position yourself in faith and fight until you come out on the winning side. Here’s Five Ways to Stay focused on your dreams:
1. Keep a journal. Whenever you do something to get you a step closer to your goal, jot it down.
2. Stay Positive. Don’t allow people, negative thoughts, or otherwise to deter your vision.
3. Pray. Ask God for help, guidance and direction in your life.
4. Stand on the promises of God, you can trust Him when you can’t trust anyone else.
5. Hold on and don’t let go until your dreams become reality.
For you to Ponder: Go back through the four steps indicated above and incorporate them daily in your life and even write them down and teach them to others to help them stay focused, motivated and on track to reach their specific goals.
Don’t Stop You’re Almost There
“Don’t be weary while doing good, for in due season, you shall reap if you faint not (Galatians 6:9, NKJV),”
How many times in life have we missed out on great opportunities and major “turnarounds” in our lives because just at the point of a breakthrough, we gave up and wasn’t willing to press forward against the pain, disappointment, hardships, rejection and downfalls that lifecertainly brings! Previously in another article that I’ve written, I used the analogy of a boxer. The boxer when preparing himself for a match doesn’t have a loser mentality but a winner’s mentality. Although it may be quite evident that he has a formidable component and that he will eventually withstand some hard blows, pain and otherwise, he believes wholeheartedly that he is going to win.
That is the mentality that we need to adopt in various aspects of our lives. There are many opportunities to succumb to the inevitable trials and tribulations of life. But, it takes a powerful and focused individual to persevere and stay grounded despite it all! Anyone can have a positive attitude and view life optimistically when all is well and they have all that they desire, “that isn’t hard at all and is the easy part!” But what has been a great source of inspiration for me, is to hear stories of people like myself who have made mistakes, “missed the mark,” and have been “counted out” by others, yet, we still overcome with the victory in Jesus name!
Now, our coming forth with the victory isn’t so much about ourselves and our accomplishments, but, it is to minister to and be a blessing to many people we encounter on a daily basis. I’m writing this article to encourage all of you today because I emphasize with you and know what it feels like to want to give up. Especially when you are walking in relationship with God, have messed up, and feel like you can’t get up! But the Bible emphatically states, “For we were slaves. Yet our God did not forsake us in our bondage; but he extended mercy to us in the sight of the King of Persia, to revive us, to repair the house of our God, to rebuild its ruins and to give us a measure of revival in our bondage (Ezra 9:8,9, NKJV).”
When I meditate on that particular scripture, it speaks volumes to the unfathomable love of God and his extended mercies towards all of mankind and, it is more than enough reason for us not to give up, but to continue on this journey of life until God’s plan and purposes are manifested in our lives for his glory!
Whatever you are facing today, I implore you by the mercies of God to not stop because you are almost there! “Quitters never win.” I know that you’re tired and have been on this journey for a long time but the word of God expressively states, “Don’t be weary while doing good, for in due season, you shall reap if you faint not (Galatians 6:9, NKJV),” also that, “Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning (Psalms 30:5, NKJV)” and “Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry (Habakkuk 2:2-3, NKJV).” Know that God loves you and in the overall scheme of things, everything is working together for your good and most importantly, God will be glorified in this process and throughout your life!
For You to Ponder: Whatever you have been contemplating doing this year but have let it be a dream and not become reality, take this time to set reasonable goals and go for your dreams! Yes, it will be hard but quitters never win! Determine within yourself that every day brings you closer to realizing your dreams but it takes drive, stamina and a “never the less” attitude to keep moving. I don’t know what anyone else has told you but I believe in you, so as the Nike slogan says, “Just do it!”
I Desire to Hear Him Say “Well Done”
“His lord said unto him, well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter into the joy of your lord Matthew 25:23 (KJB).”
What is your desire in life? I know the world has told you that your value and significance is interconnected with tangible and worldly things but I would venture to say that life consists of things far greater than what we visibly see and are normally acquainted with! I remember being a young child and being asked by many family members what I wanted to do with my life and even at such a young age, I had a very clear agenda and focus.
My desire have always been to serve God and live for him, not to say that I’ve always done things the way that God intended, but, that has definitely been my goal, as well as, advancing in my educational pursuits, getting married, having children and having a successful career in the television arena.
Although that is the case, I recognize that I have been given life by God and the wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit not to sit and be idle but to use every spiritual gift that he has given me to glorify his name and tell as many people as possible about him!
So, my question to you today, do you have a relationship with the father? If not, God’s arm is extended and open, ready and willing to receive you home! There is nothing that you have done that can stop him from loving you, being concerned about you and your eternal destination. People will tell you to “live your life out loud,” and don’t be fixated on changing anything, you are fine just the way you are!” My response to that is if we are okay, then there would be no need for God to have sent his son to die on the cross for “perfect people.” The Bibles emphatically tells us that “for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believeth in him would not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16, NKJV).” We are sinners in need of a savior and thankfully God sent his son Jesus to atone for our sins!
When we came into the world we came in as sinners. In Genesis after the fall of Adam and Eve, we were predisposed to sin and the world as we know it was never the same after that! But, “just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous (Romans 5:19, NIV).” “There is no need to make excuses anymore and “play rush