Post by Pastor A. R. Bernard
It was December of 2004. We were having our annual staff Christmas Banquet at the Huntington Townhouse. The atmosphere was filled with warmth, fellowship and celebration. As my wife Karen and I went from table to table greeting the staff and their spouses, a young man came up to me and asked if I could express the secret of my success in one word. I immediately responded, “God”. He laughed and said I figured that out already, but on a practical level what one word would you use as the secret of your success? I asked for some time to think about it. My fellowship with the staff came to a screeching halt as I was given this challenge to sum up my life’s success in one word. An hour went by as I entered the philosophical cerebral zone of my mind. Suddenly a single word came to my heart by way of the Holy Spirit. “Persistence”! I never thought of that before yet it is true that no matter how educated or talented we may be, if we don’t persist in pursuit of our goals, passion or vision it will never be realized.
Persistence separates the men from the boys, the seekers from the finders, the dreamers from the visionaries. Persistenceturns dreams into reality. I found the young man later in the evening and gave him my answer. He gave me a casual response not realizing the power in that word. Since then, it has become my answer to the reason for my success other than the grace of God.
I came across these words spoken by U.S. President Calvin Coolidge. May it become the secret of your success!
Persistence – The Words of Calvin Coolidge
Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.
Talent will not.
Nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.
Genius will not.
Unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
Education will not.
The world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.
Scriptural References:
Importunity – Luke 11:8
Widow with the unjust judge – Luke 18:6
