Spiritual Wellness
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will."
When it comes to achieving your dreams and your goals, there is no better attitude or skill to cultivate than tenacity. While we may sometimes be blessed enough to serendipitously be handed what we want, most people, the majority of the time, need to be relentless in the pursuit of their goals.
This doesn't mean that you need to become single-minded in your pursuit and that you need to eschew all other aspects of your life. Rather, a healthy kind of tenacity is the type that allows you to remain open and to be constantly on the lookout for opportunity. Go ahead and live your daily life, but, at the same time, keep your goals in the back of your mind. You should always be working towards them and taking any opportunity that comes along.
True, life is not as simple as wanting something and magically making it happen. Real economic and personal hardships can often get in the way, and there are many factors at play in our lives that are well beyond our individual control. Sometimes, unfortunately, it is not the case that those who work hard get justly rewarded.
But do not get too disheartened just yet. It is possible to give yourself and your dreams the best fighting chance by never giving up. Staying tenacious and always looking out for opportunities is one of the best ways to capitalize on a chance when it finally does come along. Sometimes the opportunities are there, but they require effort and willingness on your part if you are going to be able to see them.
Cultivating a habit of tenacity is also one of the best ways to make sure that you are living your life according to God's will. God's will for us and our lives can sometimes be tricky to surmise. The only way to truly find out what He wills for us is to live our lives to the fullest and take advantage of every opportunity that comes along, because all of our opportunities ultimately come from God. If you need some spiritual motivation to convince you that this is really the case, then consider the following inspirational words of encouragement from Romans 12:2:
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will."
God's will is always alive and evident in our lives, but the only way to see it is to constantly renew our minds by being tenacious and looking out for the signs of His guidance. You never know where your next opportunity is going to come from, and so the key is to always be ready and willing act. Be confident in your abilities. Know that you deserve to achieve your dreams because you work hard for them. Cultivate this mindset, and, before long, you will find yourself on the path that God has planned for you.
Spiritual Prayer
I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed:
“Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong.We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land. “Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame—the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you. We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, Lord, because we have sinned against you. The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets. All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you. “Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you. You have fulfilled the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing on us great disaster. Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem. Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth. The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him. “Now, Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts,turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill.Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us. “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, our God, and hear;open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”