Just One Day To Victory

It is never too late to be what you might have been. -George Eliot.

I woke up this morning with this thought in my head: "You are just one day to victory." Life has it's way of throwing curves. Most are a total surprise, while some are not entirely unexpected. When challenges are placed in front of us, it is easy to think 'Why doesn't God just take care of this...' Well, it doesn't work that way. 

Things happen. Some are mistakes we make on our own and some are created by others, but still, Things Happen. I have never felt that God was supposed to cause or  prevent this or that. We do not live in a perfect world, and there certainly aren't perfect people. How we live in this imperfect world is how we build our strength, our character, and most importantly, our faith. Faith is the key. We all need somewhere to run, and I think our faith is what leads us there. It is the location where we can place all of our worries. 

Each day is a new day.  It can lead us to victory.  I like what Joel Osteen says: Don't be a victim, be a victor.  This isn't the pie-in-the-sky, everything is beautiful, hoo-haw promoted by most motivational speakers.  It is based in truth and fact: We can become what we expect to become. Some of the most successful periods of my life have been when I absolutely expected things to happen. I didn't hope or wish things would happen, I would expect things to happen.  I believe Faith in Expectation is a good thing.  I remember someone asking me at work one day how I was able to get so many things to go my way? I told them, "I expect it to happen."  This was probably ten years ago, and I have allowed myself to forget my belief in Faith in Expectations.

The key is to not blindly hope for something to go your way.  It is important to look and listen for opportunity. It is something like "self-branding," a new buzz word in marketing these days. Create a brand for yourself as the utility man (or woman) -- the "go-to" person at work to get things done. Be reliable and resourceful. Make yourself available. And by all means, look the part.  I see too many people applying for jobs looking as if they have come to mow the lawn.

I can look back over my life and remember the many times I have been "covered."  I lost my job in 1978 and the next day a former employer called me, heard about me losing my job, and had one lined up for me if I wanted it. The money was less than I was making, but it was enough of a cushion to get me back on my feet in a hurry.  If you think about your life and the number of times things seemed to automatically "work out," I believe that is God showing favor for you in return for showing your Faith in Him.

I continue to believe, I continue to expect, I continue to Have Faith, which will lead me One Day to Victory.

-DL

Note: This entry was first written on February 23, 2007. I finished it on February 26, 2007.