Yesterday, in his sermon, my father, Dr. Gene Lingerfelt referenced a positive motivational statement he saw for the first time in the movie Million Dollar Baby.  In one of the gym scenes, this quote is featured on the wall, “Winners are simply willing to do what losers won’t”.

Sunday evening, a man in the church e-mailed my father to let him know the history of the saying and how it came from the motivational writings of Albert E.N. Gray. 

Here is a link to an article by Albert Gray on motivation and success that will be worth your time if you read it. 

Albert Gray Article - “The Common Denominator of Success”

Albert Gray also famously said, “The common denominator of success—the secret of success of every man who has ever been successful—lies in the fact that he formed the habit of doing things that failures don’t like to do.”

In his message, my father spoke on Matthew 6:33 and challenged everyone in the church to focus on putting God first this year.

Let that be the primary goal you commit to for 2012—put God first.

Here are some ways I intend to do that—1) increase the amount of time I spend reading, studying, and meditating upon God’s Word every day, 2) increase the amount of time I spend in prayer every day, 3) read the church’s daily Bible reading every day in addition to my own devotional Bible reading, 4) no matter what else I am reading, I will make sure that Scripture is the last thing I read every day, and 5) as I fall asleep at night, I will meditate on Scripture instead of thoughts, worries, concerns, and anxieties.

What are some changes you are planning to make or some ways in which you are planning to put God first this year?