As many of us who have grown up in privation can tell you, many young people reared under these circumstances were encouraged by their parents and peers to strive and succeed. I recall reading a well-known book by that title, which made an indelible impression in my youthful mind. I was diligently taught and come to factually accept the maxim: "If anyone made an honest, sincere, effort, the opportunity would come your way." Our great country offers opportunity for all.

However, there are some necessary steps one must take in order to meet with success:

Plan Purposefully. One must have a plan or goal in view. Scripture teaches "that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord" (Acts 11:23). Each Christian must make this decision, individually. God had a purpose or plan for fallen man. This is given in Ephesians 1:11, "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will." We must follow the counsel and the planned purpose of God.

Prepare Prayerfully. Prayer should be first in all our planning. We need to ask for God's guidance and direction in every affair of our lives. "Pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly" (Matthew 6:6). One must never have any undertaking in life void of prayer.

Proceed Positively. A positive attitude is the most important ingredient that one can control. Each of us can be positive. A negative stance is chilling and killing.

Pursue Your Purpose. All the planning, purposing, and praying one can do will fail if one does not pursue his goal. Paul admonished the Philippians: "forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before... press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (3:14). This verse of inspiration includes purpose, a positive outlook, prayerful attitude, and pursuit of the goal in view.

Thus, we find an excellent Biblical example for these precepts. Have a goal in view and go for it!