HOW TO UNLEASH THE GREATNESS IN YOU - PART ONE

In our previous readings, we established the fact that attitude is one of the vital keys needed to unleash the greatness in you. After all said and done, it is our attitude that matters. What happens to us is not as important as our attitude to them. Attitude is everything. In this article we will look at other virtues needed to unleash this greatness in us.

THE FORCE OF EXCELLENCE

‘It was found in Daniel an excellent Spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpretation of dreams and showing of hard sentences and dissolving of doubt. Then this man was preferred above the presidents and princes because an excellent spirit was in him. The King thought to set him over the whole realm” (Daniel 5; 12)

Excellence means be the best at whatever you do; best in quality and quantity. Put in the best. Give it your best shot. Let no one beat you to it. Paying attention to all the details. Cross checking and cross-referencing all the facts. This is what makes people great. Nothing just happens. Greatness is not cheap talk. This is what made Daniel great. He was excellent at whatever was offered to him. That is the man that goes the extra mile. Daniel at that young age knows that the difference between ordinary and extraordinary is the little “Extra”. Just a little learning made the difference in his academics. Just a little hard work gave him the promotion.

The little big things!

Doing the little things demands little discipline and little sacrifices. It means doing little things out of your comfort zone. The greatest enemy against“extra” is indiscipline and carelessness! Discipline says I am tired but I must be at work. I am very tired but I will control my sleep.

Negative or positive the little things are the determinants. The little foxes are those that spoil the vine.

Take us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes. (SoS 2:15).

A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep—
So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man (Prov. 6:10-11)

Excellence in words

One area where excellence is most demanded is in our communication. An excellent person is known by his words. An excellent spirit will manifest itself in excellent words. Excellent in words and speech. No filthy jokes. The excellent life demands skill in the usage of words. It is not just what you say but how you say it. A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver (Prov.25:11).

Filthy words distort the beauty of a message. Communication is a skill. Language is learnt. Great men are men of words. Moses was a man mighty in words. He was that great pastor of over 2 million Jews. Excellent life demands accountability and moderation in the use of words. Daniel was a great communicator. When the eunuch came to serve the food uncommon to his nativity he politely and skilfully turned it down. The Eunuch was not hurt yet Daniel had passed uncomfortable information across. Right words eliminate strive. It reduces anger. Limits pain. Rights words exalt. It builds up. A wise man once said “when you open your mouth you expose your brain”. I will never know the stuff you are made of until I hear you speak.

The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook (Prov. 18:4)

The excellent life communicates evil of no one. Judge no one. Jesus said “every man is judged based on the words he has spoken”.

For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned (Matt. 12:37).

Words are that powerful. It builds up and breaks down. It unites and divides. Your words determine what comes into your hand and what leaves your hand. You will only receive what you said.

Excellence with time

An excellent person avoids time killers and shuns time wasters. They make the little seconds count.  Benjamin Franklin, American self- made millionaire, statesman and philanthropist queried “Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of”.

No wise man argues with success. Success is measurable and predictive. If you are not sure of your tomorrow check how you use your time today. That is simple enough. The question is do you want to be successful? How bad you do want it? Then look for opportunities to solve problems today. If you cannot find any opportunity create one. Life will always respond to these three letters “ASK.” Ask, Seek and Knock. If you ask and you are not given, Seek you will find it. If you did not find it knock it will surely be opened to you. One of these three will deliver the goods!

Some people spend their time asking probing questions others spend it begging. Friends, others are aggressively seeking, you cannot sleep. Life is that serious. Let us wake up and be up to the task.