Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize. You also must run in such a way that you will win. All athletes practice strict self-control. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I am not like a boxer who misses his punches. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NLT).

It’s Super Bowl Weekend! It will be a memorable game I’m sure. With it will come many interviews with players indicating the work and effort they have invested to get to this pinnacle of success in their profession. It will be a “dream come true” for many of them!

I was thinking this morning, why do so many people let their dreams die unlived? There are many reasons, however one of the biggest reasons is the negative, cynical attitude of other people. Those other people are not enemies – they are friends, even family members. Our enemies never bother us greatly; we can usually handle them with little trouble. But our friends, if they are naysayers, constantly punching holes in our dreams with a cynical smile here, a put-down there; a constant stream of negative vibrations can kill our dreams.

The easiest thing to find on God’s earth is someone to tell us all the things we cannot do. Someone will always be eager to point out to you. It may be with a look or a tone of voice that anything new or daring, which you try, is hopelessly doomed to failure. Don’t listen to them. It’s the person who never made $50,000 a year who will say you can’t make $100,000. It’s the fellow who never ran a business who can best describe the obstacles that make it impossible to get started; the person who never entered a tournament who can most convincingly tell you why you don’t have a chance to win.

I believe in a God of unlimited potential who empowers people to reach their dreams. I also know firsthand the importance of keeping company with other dreamers. I can remember the many times I wondered if I could make it in the car business. Fortunately for me there were people around me to encourage me and keep me focused. That with the knowledge of being where I was supposed to be, kept me in the race. I stayed dedicated to the dream, gravitated toward other achievers, kept praying daily, and went on to build a successful place in business.

If you find yourself dreaming but not daring, there’s only one thing left after all the arguments are weighed and the costs measured. Do it. Try it. How will you ever know if you can paint that picture, run that business, sell that product, write that book, earn that degree, hold that office, make a speech, win that game – unless you try it?