Don't Quit!

Almost everyone knows the story of Thomas Edison who refused to quit. He tried about ten thousand items before he got the light bulb to work. I think we're all glad that he didn't quit, especially if you are reading this article on your computer!

Some might say, "Oh, sure, Thomas Edison. You know, he was a brilliant inventor." It may be true that he was a brilliant inventor, but the fact remains that he was not a quitter! And that's the point.

Countless stories tell the tales of men and women who just refused to quit, refused to give up, and refused to give in. Each disappointment was just another step closer to victory. That's how they looked at it. But sadly, far too many people look at a set back or a disappointment as a failure, and then they just quit. They abandon their dreams, they discard their goals, they put their plans in a drawer and just quit!

Thomas Edison once said, "Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward. I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."

That's a great attitude, isn't it? It really is, because quitting is a choice, just as trying again is a choice. Having a positive attitude is a choice, just as having a negative attitude is a choice. Having and maintaining a positive attitude, regardless of the situations and circumstances, will keep you on the road to success. On the other hand a negative, defeated attitude, will most certainly keep you from having the success that you desire.

Sometimes, you may have the best of intentions to maintain a positive attitude, but then you allow the opinions of others to talk you out of your dreams. You've probably noticed how often people try to talk you out of your dreams. They are so quick to tell you that you can't, instead of encouraging you and telling you that you can.

Regardless of what others say or think, it is really up to you to tell yourself that you can. It is up to you to refuse to quit, refusing to give up on your dreams. The Bible promises that if you acknowledge God in all your ways He will direct your path. That's quite a promise!

Regardless of how you feel, regardless of what others are saying, regardless of how many times you have failed, keep asking for His help and direction, keep seeking, and refuse to quit.

A very helpful method is to have a clear picture in your mind of where you want to go and what you want to do. Don't dwell on where you are now. Instead, see yourself where you want to be.

You can be successful in whatever category of life that you want to be. It all depends on how you see the situation. Is you focus on your present situation, or is it on what lies ahead? Do you see set backs as the end of the road, or, as just another step closer to success and victory? After a mistake do you say, "That's it? This doesn't work, I'm quitting?" Or, do you say, "I am going to figure this out and I will be successful."

Your goals and your dreams are yours. Whether or not anyone else cares about them or encourages you, they are yours, and they are important. And, God is very concerned about your happiness and fulfillment.

If you refuse to quit you cannot fail. God is not in the failure business; He is in the success business. With His help and direction, you can be successful in every category of life.

Every day the choice is yours, so don't choose to quit!