Talented
Talent is described as natural skill or aptitude. What do you do well? Can you cook? Can you bake? Can you build? Can you write? Can you draw? Are you good at connecting people? Rediscover your talent. Rediscover your passion. Rediscover your purpose. Revisit your vision. Rewrite the vision. Invest in you. You are talented!
Sweat Equity
Genesis 3:19 (KJV) In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
The fall of man is described in the third chapter of Genesis. Adam's disobedience caused the ground to be cursed. What was once easy became difficult and challenging. Disobedience has consequences, both seen and unseen. Truthfully, most of us don't value things until it costs us something. When we invest our own blood, sweat, and tears, we have a greater appreciation for it. We see it all the time. Rich kids blow through their inheritance. Kids break toys and devices because they don't see the value in it. They didn't pay the price. What do you deem valuable? What did you pay to get it? What have you paid for with sweat equity?
Resolve
We don't always know the answer. We don't always see the resolution because the problem appears to be bigger. We have a natural tendency to expect the worst and hope for the best. We are natural negative. We are jaded by our circumstances, but we can do better. We can resolve to do better, to think better, and to be better. We can resolve to see the positive. We can resolve to trust that things will work out for the best.
Quicken
quick·en (ˈkwikən) verb
make or become faster or quicker.
spring to life; become animated.
Sometimes, our lives need to shaken up. Sometimes, we need to be a little uncomfortable. Sometimes, we need to be quickened. We need to be resurrected from our pain and our suffering. We need to be resurrected from our doubt and unbelief. We need new life. We need new perspective. We need newness. The book of Psalms encourages us to ask God to quicken our souls towards God's righteousness and lovingkindness.
Process
Trust the process! We hear this all the time, but its hard to trust the process when you don't trust the processor. God is the processor. He is the one who is ultimately in control. It's easy to acknowledge God as creator, supplier, and healer because all those roles benefit us. However, it can be difficult to acknowledge God as a processor. A processor by definition is responsible for executing a sequence of stored instructions called a program. There is a plan for your life that was established before your creation. God designed your program. He is the executor, all you have to do is trust the process.
Opportunity Knocks
Most of us are prepared when opportunity knocks. I've always heard people say, "you don't have to get ready if you stay ready." If we are actively preparing ourselves for what's next, we welcome opportunities to grow and improve ourselves. What if you find yourself unprepared? You've got to start somewhere. Chalk it up as a missed opportunity and learn from your mistakes. What can you do today to better yourself? Take a class. Learn that new language. Update your resume. Do something. Prepare. Opportunity is knocking.
Neutral
Revelation 3:15-16 "I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth."
I've only put my car in neutral when I needed my car to be towed. I've only used that gear when I wanted to relinquish control of my vehicle to another party. Many of us live our lives in neutral. We don't pass go. We don't stay parked. We just exist. We give others the reins. We give others permission to say and do as they wish concerning our lives. We give away our power when we remain in neutral. We are lukewarm when we are undecided. We are lukewarm when we are not passionate. We are lukewarm when we feel defeated. We are lukewarm when we watch injustice in silence. We are lukewarm when we are neutral.