Theodore Roosevelt former President of the United States, gave a speech called Citizenship in a Republic in Paris, France, on April 23, 1910. A section of this famous speech, titled the Man in the Arena, acknowledges and gives credit to the person who dares greatly and chooses to spend their life on that which is worthy and meaningful.
It’s an encouragement to step into and remain in the Arena of life rather than be content to sit on the side-lines or to give up when things get tough.
It’s a call to follow your passion and purpose and to seek to fulfil that which you are called to become and achieve.
I believe God loves it when we choose consistently to step into the Arena of life and recognise that He has deposited something of greatness inside of us. He then wants us to connect with Him everyday so that His power can go to work in and through us to make those things a reality.
Being in the arena takes courage, tenacity and commitment, but the “future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams and who dare greatly.
No matter how many times we may feel we can’t go on, God promises that we can rise again, that He will renew our strength, and that we can do all things that He has called us to do, through Him who gives us strength. (Philippians 4:13)
Today are you in the Arena seeking to fulfil all that God has for your life, or are you sitting on the side-lines watching life go by?
What are you dreaming about and believing for your future? For, “You are never too old to set another goal, or to dream a new dream.” (C.S Lewis).
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah (40:29-31)
The Man In The Arena
“It is not the critic who counts, not the Man who points out how the strong Man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.
The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the Arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again. because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” (Theodore Roosevelt)
“Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]. (Ephesians 3:20 Amp)
Prayer: Lord, thank you that you believe in me and the dreams, passion and purposes in my heart. Please help me be a person who steps up and remains in the Arena of life to fulfil all that you called me to be and do. Today I choose to dare greatly. In Jesus name Amen.
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