Every successful endeavour without exception passes through certain identifiable phases. There is the stage where it is just a mere idea, thought or dream. Then a scope is added to make it more realistic and to identify the deliverable benefits or features of the realised idea.Further planning should reveal the physical details ; and also the financial requirements to bring about the success. In the implementation stage the plan is finally brought to success. To proceed from one stage to the other, effort must be continuously and positively exerted. This requires perseverance - which is the most important element of a successful plan.



People who have become successful at any endeavour, can be found to have done so through tenacity, and most may even through this earned a reputation for being ruthless. Perseverance unselectively attacks any opposition to the success plan ? especially that which seeks to discourage, such as fear and doubt. Perseverance keeps the objective in focus all the time, and faithfully and dutifully follows the plan until the prize is reached.

A successful Christian life is defined as the heavenly inheritance, which will be achieved through faith (1Peter1: 4-9). The same holds true for success in all earthly endeavours. Your final objective is the focus.To achieve it, you must go through trials that will test your purpose and refine your plans and ambition. There are costs to pay; physical and spiritual costs. There is implied need for steadfastness, patience, and persistence ? to attend constantly, continue unswervingly, adhere firmly and hold fast to the objective. No two pursuits are exactly the same. Brought down to the basics however, while the Christian strives through prayer and faith, those without Christ have to do with nothing else but raw brutal strength and energy ? thus effectively

becoming to be considered tough and merciless. The result of it all is that while the former is refined and refreshed by the experience; the latter is weakened by the effort.

Every experience takes us nearer our goals ? even though it may not be in the way that we you would have wished. Jacob in flight from his past wrongdoings had a dream; in which he is told by God how great a man he is about to become. (Gen 28:10-22. ) It may well have been a mere wish, a desire, an inspired thought. Jacob nevertheless loved that dream and sealed it with an oath to God . Maybe he should have pursued this dream in some other way, but God led him to take the path of labouring for it ? for a season. He found himself engaged himself in services and activities which he perhaps imagined would lead to the fulfilment of his dreams. And having been tricked and disappointed many times; and having become tired of running from problems and persecution, he perhaps finally discovers that much more could have been achieved through waiting on God in prayer. And so as soon as he is again opportunited to send a desperate plea to God, he held on firmly to the angel of God and insisted ? ?I will not let you go unless you bless me? (Gen 32:26)

It may serve a useful purpose to persevere through personal effort ? for a season , as this will serve to indicate a direction in which you wish to go ? your ambition. It is an expression of self-confidence in a self-conceived plan, the completion and realisation of which should fulfilyou. For the believer, it makes the journey towards fulfilling the objective eventful and worth of testimony to the glory of God. God wants you to succeed and to be fulfilled. Nevertheless He still desires that you ask for His intervention before he comes into your plan and moves in it. He requires that you also persevere in prayer.

The importance of the need for perseverance in prayer is illustrated in the Lord's teaching on prayers (Luke 11: 5-13) and also in the parable about the importunate widow (Luke 18:1-8). Both show that God is ever willing to answer prayers, which have a focus. Both also show the need to be tenacious in your personal effort and in your prayer when searching for success.

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. ( Luke 11:9 )

You must notice the operative words: ask, seek, knock; and that none of them implies passiveness and weakness. Indeed if you are to logically look at this passage, you will find that it suggest a certain aggressiveness in the pursuit of your objectives. Initially you should first ask yourself for the resources to attain it; if you don't have them then go looking through all means available to you including your friends and business partners; and if this is still not quite productive do not be afraid to hammer at God's door until He opens and ask what you require. The Lord desires us to persevere in our pursuits ? ad to be thus fulfilled.

Success demands that you have a clear objective. It is afterall impossible to ask for a thing that you cannot describe, because it will be impossible to know when you have achieved it. It is important to make plans; and to determine what it will cost to bring this plan to realisation. It is important to locate these resources that will be needed to fulfil the plan, and find out what it would take to harness them to the plan. It is important after this to ask God to cause them to be released to the fulfilment of your objective. Ask, seek, and knock - persistently in effort and in prayer. Against this failure cannot stand.

KEY SCRIPTURE : Luke 18: 2-5 "There was in a city a judge, who feared not God, and regarded not man: and there was a widow in that city; and she came very often to him, saying, avenge me of my adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, lest she wear me out by her continual coming."