Happy New Year! Whatever you do in life, I encourage you to do it with all of your might and never stop chasing your dreams.
In the next twelve months (365 days, 8,760 hours, 31,536,000 seconds) you can either waste your time or achieve great things. Some will change lives, some will make millions of dollars, and some will vegetate in front of the television set. The choice is up to you, what are you going to accomplish in your life?
Here is my advice for those who want to make a difference during this coming year.
- Start with a plan. The winners in life are those who plan to be winners. The guy at the top of the mountain did not fall there accidentally. It takes a lot of planning, hard work, and sweat to be able to climb a tall mountain. Life is what happens to us on a day-to-day basis while we dream about the future. Success requires a daily commitment to excellence. Do not allow your dreams to die because you fail to live life to the fullest each day. General George S. Patton exhorted his men to, “Accept the challenges so that you may feel the exhilaration of victory.”
- Get started right away. Leonardo da Vinci, the Renaissance inventor and painter said, “Iron rusts from disuse; stagnant water loses its purity and in cold weather becomes frozen; even so does inaction sap the vigor of the mind.” Leonardo achieved greatness in his life because he pursued greatness each and every day. The journey of a thousand miles begins with but a single step. Each day represents a step in life. A series of days well lived will produce a life worth living.
- Aim for the stars. Do something great this year. Do not be satisfied with mediocrity. Do not do something that is insignificant, obscure, or unimportant. Norman Vincent Peale said, “I expect the best and with God’s help will attain the best.”
- Dream big. Accomplish something great for God. Love deeply, sing happily, laugh loud, play hard, work harder, perform beyond expectations, leap high, run fast, stay focused, do what is right. These are the keys to happiness and success.
- Love deeply and give yourself away. Love God with all of your heart, mind, soul, and body, and love your neighbor as you love yourself. The only way to find love in your life is to give it away. The more you give, the more will be returned to you. Giving love is not a one-time occurrence, it is an everyday experience.
- Make a plan and follow it. Find your purpose. Write your vision down on paper. Follow your heart, not the crowd. Ignore criticism. Concentrate. Maintain high standards. Expand your horizons. Dream big. Put life into your dreams. Set goals. Achieve those goals. Commit to excellence. Settle for nothing less then success. Cultivate relationships. Conquer your fears. Sustain a good attitude. Sow and reap. Make failures temporary. Continue to educate yourself. Develop new skills. Rise above disappointments. Stay on track. Keep your eyes on the prize. Aim high. Create reality. Fulfill your destiny. Give God the glory.
- Don’t waste a single day. Seize the day, every day, and you will achieve success. God made you to be a winner. He does not want to see you fail. Tools have been placed in your hands which can help you achieve your dreams. If you place the tools away in your tool belt, they will look good, but you will never build anything. However, if you use the tools wisely, you will create something beautiful.
- Do not give up. Winston Churchill was once asked to give a speech at a boy’s prep school. After a long, eloquent introduction, he stood up and gave an eight word speech, “Never, never, never, never, never, never, give up.” This advice from the man who carried Great Brittan to victory in the midst of her darkest hour rings true today. It is vital to keep seizing the day, every day. I heard a story about a man who failed in business, was defeated in a bid for the legislature, failed in business a second time, suffered a nervous breakdown, defeated for speaker, defeated for Congress, defeated in a run for the Senate, defeated for Vice President, defeated for Senate a second time, and finally, in 1860, was elected President of the United States of America. His name was Abraham Lincoln, arguably the most successful president this country has ever known. His voice echoes across the years as he says, “Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing.”
- Know that God has a plan for you. God will place you in situations where you are His only representative. You are called to be a minister of his shining light. Whenever you see a hurting person, tell them about the God who made it possible for you to conquer. Go forth every day and be all that God has called you to be. The place you start is not as important as the place you finish.
ABOUT DANIEL KING
Evangelist Daniel King, D.Min is on a mission to lead people to Jesus. He has visited over seventy nations preaching good news and he has led over two million people in a salvation prayer. To support King Ministries in our quest for souls, click here!
