The attitude of trying will  kill your dreams.

“They don’t try, they commit” – Zig Ziglar

Recently I was given the opportunity to talk to successful people in different fields and walks of life, marketing, business, church, teaching, legal and many more.  One of the things that I always ask them is what attitude  did they have that led them to their success.  In most of their answers, the word commitment came up.

Upon hearing more of their stories, you would see the ups and downs of their life.  I sometimes find it impossible to believe that they underwent those kind of trials, but that is what made them stronger.  They were all driven by one goal alone: success. They didn’t try; they commit themselves.

Yes they did “try” different things, different ways of achieving their goals, but in each road they didn’t do it for the sake of trying it but for the sake of success.  Trying different things is not the point here, it is the attitude when doing it. They don’t use the phrase “at least we tried.”  They take responsibility they were committed.

“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” acts 20:22-24(NIV)

Paul the apostle didn’t “try” to preach the gospel he was focused on “doing” it.  He knows of the trials, the problems, the unpopularity of the decision he made, nevertheless he still did it because he was focused on the goal.  True enough after that verse came a series of hardships in Paul’s life, but it didn’t stop him, he was totally into it, he was committed.

Jesus didn’t “try” to follow the command of his father, he didn’t “try” saving us, He didn’t “try” to bring honor and glory to his Father,  He went on and did it. He was committed, he was focused on a goal.

In our walk with Christ, let us let go of the phrase “I’ll try”.  This is God we are talking about, it’s all or nothing, 100% or 0%, there is no middle ground. Trying means we are relying on our own strength. This might be the reason we still fail on some things we struggle, we haven’t surrendered it yet.  Once we commit ourselves, it’s the grace of God that allows us to do amazing things that we never thought we can do. We don’t try to honor God, we commit ourselves in Honoring God.

“..let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us…” – Heb12:1

I am still in the process of learning this principle, but as I apply it in my life it really does change me.  Your priorities change, your views change, your attitude changes, your faith increases.

In the process you’ll learn more about yourselves, more about God, more about life, more about Jesus.

When you have known the will of God in your life, when you have made your goals; you commit, if you fail, get up, learn and move forward, you have a commitment to complete.

I love the message version of Hebrews 12:1-3

“Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!”