Taking people into being a "winner in life" is no easy task. Is the concept 'winning' the same for each person?
Obviously different groups are different based on their background, how they were raised and brought up and the mind state they develop. What I teach them is no different (as it is) based on the word of God. I believe God has created each and every one to be a winner in life and it takes His word to become that. When I say my mandate is to talk people into winning that is exactly what it takes. A lot of people you literally have to talk them into. (This is) because (of) their upbringing, thought patterns, habits (and) negative thinking.
Once having converted someone into a winning person', how does this person keep themselves in that mindset?
We encourage them to practice a biblical principle called 'increase by association'. That simply means that who you associate with has everything to do with you destiny (and) how your life turns out. We encourage them to associate with other people who have a winning attitude, continually read and study and apply material that teaches them how to win - faith-building books and CDs. (Also to) get into a church where they are taught how to win maintain that winning attitude.
You get around a group of people who have a 'loser mentality' and if you are not stronger than them they will pull you down. So you've got to be around people who think (and) talk that way. You know, the apostle Paul talked about (it) in Philippians (when) he said that (those believers) had entered into an association or a partnership with him from the (beginning) up to the time he wrote the letter to them. (Then) he said 'you are now partakers of my grace'. So through their association (the) winner's attitude that was on him (also) came on them! Association has everything to do with destiny.
How to you revive the people that have 'fallen' and struggle to get up again? How do you manage to get them back to the winning attitude'?
Well, obviously it takes compassion. I believe if a person has the heart of God they are (also) lovers of people. It breaks my heart to see people who have not tapped into their full potential. It grieves my spirit to see them giving up when I know they have the potential of being a winner. (One) just has to deal with them with a lot of compassion. It's not sympathy. Sympathy and compassion are two different things. Sympathy looks at a person and says, "I feel so badly for you and wish there was something I could do". But compassion says there is something we can do. Paul talked about it in one of his letters to Timothy about being nourished by the word of faith.
The best thing I can do for a person who's trying to be a winner but keeps falling flat is to reach out to them in love, encourage them (so) that they can make it and don't give up. (They have to) determine that quitting is not an option and then (invest) into their lives as much faith-building, inspirational (and) motivational material as they possibly can.
If you can teach a person to get to the place where the word of God has first place and final authority, then they can get to the place where they can develop this attitude of 'none of these things move me' (Acts 20). But it takes compassion and a continual feeding of the word of God until they are back up on their feet again.
