A person who refuses to give up will always succeed, eventually. Henry Ford failed and went broke five times before he succeeded. NBA superstar Michael Jordan was once cut from his high school basketball team. After his first audition, screen legend Fred Astaire received the following assessment from an MGM executive: "Can't act. Slightly bald. Can dance a little.

I want you to know there is always a way. It may not be easy; it may not be convenient; it may not come quickly. You may have to go over, under, around, or through, but if you will simply refuse to give up, you will find a way. I

It doesn't matter what the situation looks like around you; God is greater than any obstacle you may be facing. Don't assume that where you've been, or where you are, is as good as it gets.

Notice there's nothing provided to protect our backside! That's because God never intended us to run from our enemies. His plan was and still is that, with Him at our side, we confront any issue in our life that is a problem. People are so skilled at not facing real issues, and they're even better at trying to cover them up by living make-believe lives and inventing false personalities. It is time to take a stand and confront fear!

Determination keeps us going when the going gets tough.

Too often, we Christians expect life to be perfect and for everything to go smoothly for us. We expect success, happiness, joy, peace, and everything else. When we're thwarted, we pout or complain. Although God does want us to have a good life, there will be times when we must be patient and endure not getting our way. These disappointments test our character and level of spiritual maturity. They actually show whether or not we truly are ready for promotion.

I'd say it's been my biggest problem all my life... it's money. It takes a lot of money to make these dreams come true.

You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.

All the adversity I've had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me. . . . You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.

Anything inside that immobilizes me, gets in my way, keeps me from my goals, is all mine.

O human race born to fly upward, wherefore at a little wind dost thou fall.

The biggest obstacle to making Christ magnificent is the refusal to make yourself small.