David Lee Martin

The most dangerous thought you’ll ever have is…

drumroll please

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… the second one.

Second-guessing your every move will cripple your progress.

When God speaks, move.

When ideas spark, act.

Paralysis by analysis isn’t a great look.

Stuck and stationary grows old quickly.

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:5–8 KJV)

Trust God’s leading, and trust yourself.

He is well able to steer a moving vehicle, or even hit the brakes if we veer in the wrong direction, but a life that’s parked waiting for the next drive-by miracle doesn’t go anywhere.

Make a move.

And enjoy the journey.

Every day is decision day.

Moment by moment, we’re deciding the direction we take in life.

Or not.

Cicero, the Roman philosopher, rightly said:

“More is lost by indecision than wrong decision”

Passivity is the biggest passion killer stalking the streets. The bane of productivity and prayer.

Developing strong “Do it” muscles is essential for a creative and spiritual life.

You strengthen that muscle pushing through resistance and fear. You do your reps pressing through insecurity and facing the need for change.

I was told that most people remain in the same cycles of indecision and dysfunction until the pain of staying the same becomes more than the pain of change.

I think that’s true.

I’m not advocating discontent and striving, merely pointing out that strong, positive, intentional decisions are almost always better than overthinking.

Just do it. Whatever “it” is for you right now.

Take a step. If you move with wisdom, sensitive to the leading of the Holy Ghost, you’ve got everything to gain, and nothing to lose.

Tomorrow, I’ll share the most dangerous thought you’ll ever have.

Selah.

Intensity works…

to a degree

but fails over the long term.

Consistency is the key that pushes through the pain and yields lasting results.

Small habits seem SMALL but they are often the very thing that leads to the breakthrough (even though it seems at times that you are making only tiny steps of progress).

And these creative habits you build do not have to be hours of sweat, blood and tears. As little as 15 minutes a day working toward your dream can be life-changing.

Remember…

“It’s not the hours you put in your work that counts, it’s the work you put in the hours.” — Sam Ewing, former American baseball player

Don't wait for perfect conditions. Roll up your sleeves even when you don't feel like it. You'll be surprised how willing inspiration is to turn up if you'll put your butt in the chair and place a demand on yourself to produce something remarkable.

And with practice comes confidence.

Confidence in the process, and in your ability.

In truth…

“Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other.” — Walter Elliot, former Secretary of State for Scotland

Everyone has dreams. They want to do this or that, but the way to reach that dream is to stop dreaming and start doing. You start with small steps, and then the next, and the next.

Tomorrow is a dangerous concept.

We assume it's going to come until…

I sometimes say, "the journey IS the destination". Everything you need is here right now, waiting to be discovered. If we learn the art of embracing and enjoying the journey, the outcomes and rewards stack up day after day.

And as you go, the greatest thing you'll discover is yourself.

“Be brave enough to live life creatively. The creative is the place where no one else has ever been. You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. You can’t get there by bus, only by hard work and risk and by not quite knowing what you’re doing. What you’ll discover will be wonderful. What you’ll discover will be yourself.” — Alan Alda, American actor and author

Most people will put their hand up FOR change, but few volunteer TO change.

But that's the secret. YOU are changed when you commit to work consistently toward your desired outcomes.

With consistency and confident trust in the goodness of God and His purpose for your life, even when the going gets tough, or the road seems rough, you know a deeper work of grace is taking place.

“The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself.” ― Anna Quindlen, American author and journalist

Stay the course, do the work, and love yourself along the way. Your breakthrough is coming.

“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:7 KJV)

Wisdom provides leverage.

Understanding is the application of wisdom.

Archimedes said, “Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.”

In business and life, we can lean one of two ways.

We can lean on the arm of the flesh and self-effort, or we can lean on Godly wisdom.

Wisdom takes what is already in your hand and leverages it to the fullest extent.

In 2025 let’s make wisdom the principal thing.

God can take WHO you are, WHAT you have, and HOW you operate and multiply the results you are seeing.

Your relationship with Him will be the fulcrum on which your life pivots. That’s why prayer is woven through the fabric of life, not some separate activity pushed away to the side somewhere.

I believe God wants to do remarkable things through your life.

As you deepen your connection to His heart and mind, and align yourself with His priorities, the results will be evident.

As Jesus so eloquently explained,

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”(Matthew 6:33 KJV)

I have found that this verse is not wishful thinking or philosophical musing.

It is a key that opens the door to increase.

Plus, wisdom is so much sweeter and less sweaty than striving!

This morning I’ve been putting the finishing touches to my Publish Your Poetry workshop. It’s happening later today (11th November 2024) so you still have a few hours to jump on board if you want to. Tweaking the details, touching up the edges, testing the tech – all that fiddly stuff that comes before the lights come up, and a project leaps into action…

And here’s the thing I want you to take away for your own creative projects…

Will this workshop be perfect?

NO.

Will everything go absolutely according to plan?

POSSIBLY NOT.

Have I had to lean in and learn or improve some skills to pull this off?

YES, FOR SURE.

Am I nervous?

A LITTLE. I ALWAYS FEEL THOSE FAMILIAR BUTTERFLIES IN MY STOMACH WHEN I’M STEPPING OUT TO SERVE (ESPECIALLY IF ITS SOMETHING NEW).

But, hear me, just because something is not perfect, and even if you’re nervous to step out, do it anyways.

DONE and moving forward is 100% better than perfect and parked. Because perfection never happens. We’re here to grow and serve, and that demands that you stretch beyond your comforts sometimes and just have a go.

You are guaranteed to miss 100% of the shots you do not take, but when you pull back the bow and have a go, all sorts of possibilities open up.

Be bold,

David

PS: This is your final call for Publish Your Poetry – grab you ticket today of you want one, doors close just before 6pm GMT today (7 hours from now and counting) https://publish-your-poetry.teachery.co/thrive