Manna Moment: Food for daily living

Manna Moments

for Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Broadcast Notes

 The word for the day is:
Stick-to-itiveness.

Definition:

1. the quality that allows someone to continue trying to do something even though it is difficult or unpleasant
2. dogged perseverance: tenacity

Biblical references:

• Ephesians 6:18 (talking about prayer)
• 1 Timothy 4:16 (lifestyle)
• Hebrews 6:10-12 (lifestyle)
• James 1:22-27

Excerpt from B.C. Forbes' book Keys to Success.

STICK-TO-ITIVENESS
"We shall reap if we faint not.."
Galatians chapter VI verse 9

Diamonds are chunks of coal that stuck to their job. If it has taken millions of years to develop mankind must we fret if it takes us a few years to rise above the rank and file of mankind. Must we quit if we don't get there quickly? (p. 72)

The first thing is to have something worth sticking to. Take a pencil and write down a list of the things in your business or life which you feel are best worth having. Why have you failed to get them? Which one of the lot is most important of all? You can't very well stick to two things at the same time if they happen in the slightest degree to be pulling in different directions.

If you want to cultivate stick-to-itiveness your first step should be to settle on one big important thing. Then say to yourself, "I am going to stick to that for five years anyway." Some men are one year stickers, some three year, but only a few are five year. If you are only a one year fix your eye first on three years for your project and at the end of three years make it five. Of course you don't want to stick to a dead horse, but you want to be mighty sure the horse is dead before you give him up, for a horse is a valuable animal - like opportunity.

Another thing you ought to do is to go over your plan step by step and see whether it is reasonable whether it ought to succeed. Every time you do this, if you are actually convinced that you are right, you will become more firmly intrenched and it will be easier to stick. It doesn't do much good to go around asking people whether you ought to stick or not that is something you alone can decide and you gain strength to persist if you stand squarely on your own good judgment.

This book is highly recommended!

One interesting example of stick-to-itiveness is of Vietnam veteran and POW escapee Dieter Dengler. I learned about his service and extraordinary courage when researching for Manna Moments. His story of his capture, escape and 6 months in the Vietnamese jungle was astounding. You can read about his story in full here.

Another example comes form Marvel Comics and Hollywood. I'm a big Avengers fan. One of my favorites is Captain America. As I sit writing this I'm watching the first movie, Captain America: The First Avenger. Think about it. Here is a pint-size man wanting to serve in the United States Army during WWII. Even though he's turned down repeatedly and encouraged to give up by his best friend, Bucky, his tenacity and passion to serve drives him to keep trying. He tries one more time and meets Dr. Erskine, a brilliant scientist who gives Rogers an opportunity of a life-time. Well you know the rest of the story. If not, watch the movie, or better yet read the story found in Marvel Comics. :)

The Bottom Line

There is a quote from Captain America: The First Avenger. Rogers just finished performing as "Captain America" for soldiers. Agent Carer speaks to Rodgers off the record as she sees him drawing a dancing monkey saying, "You were meant for more than this."

Do you believe that there is something more for you? Is there a business, ministry, community service, invention, etc. deep inside? Maybe you write songs, poetry, like to sing, etc. What are you going to do with what you have? Give up because the business is hard or stick to your guns and work towards your goals. The decision is yours.

6 Things to Help You Persevere

1. Draw inspiration from others (If they did it so can I.)
2. Don't think; act (sometimes we will think ourselves out of things. Over thinking will derail us from our purpose and our goals.
3. Strengthen your will (resolve) by exercising it. (Don't give in so easily when things get difficult. Take an honest assessment of the situation and find ways to work through or around it to get things done.
4. Think about what you really want. (Be decisive about what you want and go for it."

"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man." ~ George Bernhard Shaw

5. Find what drives you; your passion.

6. NEVER GIVE UP!