“Which having no captain, overseer or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.” – Proverbs 6:7-8
REFERENCE:
I formed the word, ‘ant-spire.’ It is borne out of an attitude adopted by ants, as seen in our text – “having no captain, overseer, or ruler, yet gathers her food.” Ant-spire is from ant and inspire; it captures the self-motivation that characterizes ants, an inward sense of inspiration that moves them to do what needs to be done against all odds and without outward encouragement.
Ants are innately relentless; they are always on the move. They do not have overseers or captains but are self-starters, self-disciplined, and self-motivated. They do what needs to get done. One trait that subverts and impedes people’s progress is dependence on others; it is a significant problem when you can’t do what you need to do without supervision.
There is a lot of distraction and discouragement in our world. People are occupied with personal needs and struggles, so much so that they don’t have time for another person. It is best if you find strength from within to move yourself. There will be a thousand reasons to quit and stop making progress, but push yourself. You may have no one to motivate, mentor, or manage you, but be your encourager. Get that thing done because you need to get it done.
I often studied (more like, played with) ants as a kid. I never saw an ant idle and lounging in a corner and wasting time. They were always on the move; on the move to do what? It may not be obvious at first, but soon, I saw them with sugar, a grain of food, the carcass of an insect, etc. Because ants keep moving, they always end up with goodies. Fight procrastination and the need for people to tell you what to do. Move yourself. There is so much to achieve if you move.
One rule of life is this: “If success doesn’t come after you, you have to go after it.” And success rarely does; good things rarely come to those who wait or sit. Be ant-spired, and pursue your goals. The roots of true achievement lie in your readiness to move. Don’t let your dreams die because no one is encouraging or applauding you; act on them and work on them till they work. Take a cue from the ants, think of what is at stake, move yourself, and get the job done!
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL TEXT:
I Samuel 30:1-6, Proverbs 18:9, and Joshua 1:9
PRAYER:
+ Lord, I ask that You fire me up enthusiastically – an undying, never-give-up spirit.
+ Like David, teach me to encourage myself in the Lord, no matter how bleak things look.
+ Grant me the strength and tenacity to continue until I fulfill my dream.