Forward Thinkers, today we will look at another aspect to reaching your full potential in life. Forward Thinkers, many fall short of advancing to a higher level of success in life because they give up under pressure. We must understand the value of operating with mental toughness if we expect to be victorious over the many battles we will be faced with on our journey to success.
Forward Thinkers, often the difference between winning and losing the battle is the level of mental toughness applied or the lack of mental toughness.
“To me, football is so much about mental toughness, it’s digging deep, it’s doing whatever you need to do to help a team win and that comes in a lot of shapes and forms. Every quarterback can throw a ball; every running back can run; every receiver is fast; but that mental toughness that you talk about translates into competitiveness.” – Tom Brady
“Concentration and mental toughness are the margins of victory.” – Bill Russell
Forward Thinkers, the bible is loaded with scriptures that will empower us to increase our level of mental toughness and we must remember to always trust the Word of God as our final authority.
Forward Thinkers, when faced with a difficult situation we must focus our attention on the Word of God and not on the situation. We must learn to speak the word over our situations and that requires mental toughness.
Forward Thinkers, when we are operating at a high level of mental toughness, we can declare mind over matter. We must make up our minds today that “it” doesn’t matter. Forward Thinkers, we must be so mentally tough that no matter what the “it” is, it doesn’t matter because we are already claiming victory over it.
Forward Thinkers, remember, most battles are won or lost in the mind; therefore we can claim victory in advance because we are operating with mental toughness.
Forward Thinkers, we spent a great deal of time and energy developing our physical bodies, our careers, and our relationships but the reality is, if w
e develop the right frame of mind (mental toughness) we would see a greater level of victory in every aspect of our lives.
Forward Thinkers, let’s build up our level of mental toughness through the Word of God.
Philippians 4:13
13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Forward Thinkers, we simply have to make up our minds that we can live in victory. Forward Thinkers, we know with God, all things are possible therefore we must place our trust in God and not in man. Forward Thinkers, we enter into hardships when we misplace our faith and forget our strength comes from being connected to God.
Yes, Forward Thinkers, this season you can do it and do it well.
Philippians 2:5
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus
Forward Thinkers, Jesus Christ believed He could and He did and the bible says we must have the mind of Christ. Therefore we must have the mental toughness to believe that we, too, can and then we will overcome every weapon formed against us also.
Forward Thinkers, we don’t panic in the face of problems and pressure because we are operating with the mind of Christ.
Forward Thinkers, this season, set your mind on winning and continue to have the mind of Christ and walk into your victory.
Proverbs 23:7
7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
Forward Thinkers, a major factor of mental toughness is your ability to think and believe in your heart that you can win and succeed in life. Forward Thinkers, history tells us James Harden was an average basketball player in the ninth grade on the varsity basketball team in his high school in Compton, California. Harden’s father played no role in his life as he went in and out of jail and the streets of Compton made the odds of Harden being successful slim to none.
Forward Thinkers, James Harden asked his single mother for a loan to purchase something for school in the ninth grade while he was still being called an average basketball player and with the loan he gave his mother a note and told her to hold on to the note because one day he was going to be a star and take care of her. Forward Thinkers, no one around him saw him as a star but he believed in his heart he was a star.
Forward Thinkers, fast forward the clock and today, James Harden has a contract with the Houston Rockets that pays him 80 million dollars and he also has a shoe endorsement contract with Adidas that pays him 200 million dollars. His mother is his agent, meaning she gets a percentage of every dollar he makes.
Forward Thinkers, James Harden believed in himself and his mental toughness paid off.
Hebrews 6:12
12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
Forward Thinkers, the bible says we are to imitate those who succeed through faith and patience. Forward Thinkers, a pioneer is one who opens up a new pattern or road for others to follow after.
Forward Thinkers, it was once believed if a man ran 100 yards under 10 seconds, his heart would explode. The experts said it was impossible for a human heart to handle that amount of pressure but in 1968 at the US Nationals in California Jim Hines ran 100 yards in 9.9 seconds. His heart didn’t burst open and since then, several runners have run 100 yards under 10 seconds. Forward Thinkers, for a matter of fact, if an athlete can’t run 100 yards under 10 seconds today, they are considered slow.
Forward Thinkers, once someone has the mental toughness to prove the impossible is possible, it opens the road for others to travel down.
Forward Thinkers, on December 17, 1903 Orville and Wilbur Wright flew the first airplane. After several failed attempts, they maintained the mental toughness to keep trying until they discovered success.
Forward Thinkers, in conclusion, I’m declaring this season you will have the mental toughness and faith to soar above every situation aimed at stopping you.
Pastor E. A. Deckard is the Senior Pastor/Founder of the Green House International Church now located, in both Houston, Texas, and the Woodlands, Texas. To contact Pastor Deckard for speaking engagements contact him at pr.ghic@gmail.com, follow him on Facebook, Instagram and Periscope @ Pastor E A Deckard or the church website www.ghic.net