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Do you want to make the most of your life?
Between these covers, you will find a selection of Zig’s favorite Scriptures, an insightful message, thoughtful questions to lead you to a deeper application of the message, and an inspirational quote to motivate you each day of the year.

The One Year Daily Insights with Zig Ziglar will help you to discover and focus on your purpose, maximize your potential, and find and follow Jesus.

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THE ONE YEAR DAILY INSIGHTS with ZIG ZIGLAR

TYNDALE HOUSE PUBLISHERS, INC.

Chapter One

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. PHILIPPIANS 3:13-14 MEMORY VERSE

PAUL WAS THE GREATEST leader in the history of the church, but he wasn't cocky. He knew he was still a work in progress. Paul's days were filled with starting churches, managing leaders, and taking the gospel to everyone in the known world, but he reduced his job description to "one thing." We'd interpret his comments in management terms as the rigorous commitment to a singular objective that has two parts: not dwelling on the past, but reaching ahead to achieve the vision of the future.

The past can bog us down in two distinctly different ways: Some of us feel ashamed by failures in our personal lives or in business, and our minds are haunted by those memories. Every decision we make is colored by our grief and the fear that we'll make the same mistake again. Others of us, though, live in past glories. We've enjoyed stunning success, but instead of using our gains as a foundation for future growth, we keep reliving those memories. Living in the past, whether failed or successful, takes our lives out of focus. Paul says, "Forget the past and move on."

In which direction should we move? We should reach forward to fulfill the vision God has for us. Paul encourages us to uncover and embrace a God-sized cause, one that has a positive impact on people and expands His Kingdom. We can have causes like that at work, in our neighborhoods, and at home, as well as at church.

As you begin this New Year, focus on Paul's "one thing."

What are some past failures or successes you need to leave behind?

Is there a God-sized cause that has gripped your heart? Explain your answer.

"The day our memories become larger than our dreams is the day our soul begins to shrink." -IKE REIGHARD

"Discipline yourself to do the things you need to do when you need to do them, and the day will come when you will be able to do the things you want to do when you want to do them." -ZIG ZIGLAR

JANUARY 2 WRITE IT DOWN!

The Lord answered me and said: "Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it." HABAKKUK 2:2-3

SOME OF US WANDER of us wander from one thing to another our whole lives. We're capable of so much more, but we have never clarified our purpose in life. An out-of-focus purpose can't inspire us, but a crystal-clear lens on God's purpose for us rivets our attention and gives us energy to keep going until we reach our goals. While the prophet Habakkuk was in prayer, God told him to write down the vision He was giving him. In that day, scribes used a stylus to etch words into blocks of clay. It took work, so they thought carefully about what they wanted to write in order to avoid wasting time and tablets.

We need to write our vision down in clear, compelling language so that it grips our hearts. A clearly written vision statement frees us from confusion so that we can "run" instead of wander, stumble, or go backward. A clear vision overcomes inertia and produces the inspiration to run toward our goals.

But the fulfillment of our vision, God tells the prophet, is in His timing, not ours. Seldom does anyone move in a straight line from the conception of a dream to its fulfillment. Far more often, we experience ups and downs, delays, and disappointments. These, though, won't stop us if we keep our eyes on our purpose and on the One who has given it to us.

Do you have a clear, compelling vision statement?

What would it (or does it) mean to you to have one?

"We grow by dreams. All big men are big dreamers. Some of us let dreams die, but others nourish and protect them, nurse them through bad days ... to the sunshine and light which always comes." -WOODROW WILSON

JANUARY 3 GOD'S DREAM FOR OUR LIVES

King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. ACTS 26:19

MANY PEOPLE HAVE DREAMS of wealth, popularity, power, and ease, but there's another kind of dream that's even more powerful and far more fulfilling:

finding and following God's dream for our lives

When the apostle Paul stood before the king to explain why he had followed his path, he could have described the pros and cons of each decision along the way. But pros and cons didn't determine Paul's direction. Paul had a God-given vision, and he aligned his life to fulfill it. That was his defense before the king. A compelling dream will generate the obedience to push past our fears.

All pursuits promise to fill our lives with meaning, but only God can transform us, fill us, challenge us, and give our lives ultimate purpose. God gave His all, and He demands our all. In perhaps the most loved devotional book in the English language, Oswald Chambers wrote, "The only way to be obedient to the heavenly vision is to give our utmost for His highest-our best for His glory. This can be accomplished only when we make a determination to continually remember God's vision." The paradox of the Christian life is that when we live unreservedly for God, we find true fulfillment ourselves. Don't be disobedient to the dream God has given you.

How clear is God's dream for your life right now?

Is any fear holding you back from accomplishing this dream? If so, what is it? How will you push past it?

"Attempt great things for God and expect great things from God." -WILLIAM CAREY

JANUARY 4 DISCOVER YOUR STRENGTHS

All the gifted artisans among them who worked on the tabernacle made ten curtains woven of fine linen, and of blue, purple, and scarlet thread; with artistic designs of cherubim they made them. EXODUS 36:8

THE "GIFTED ARTISANS" were able to use their God-given gifts to help build the Tabernacle. God has also given each of us abilities that we can use to fulfill our God-given dreams. Certainly, training is important, but we won't get too far if we rely only on training. All of us know people who received lots of training, but they don't have much competence for their jobs. They grind out work day after day, gritting their teeth until Friday afternoon and dreading Monday mornings. Some of us might be those people!

Don't focus on your weaknesses; focus on your strengths. When your work responsibilities fit your God-given abilities, you're in the jet stream of accomplishment. You're far more creative, more energetic, more relaxed, and more willing to help others who need a hand.

Some of us have been caught in dead-end jobs for years, and we've lost hope of ever finding something that fulfills us. Certainly, God can take us through valleys from time to time to teach us important lessons, but life need not be a perpetual valley. We cannot be passive. We need to take initiative to uncover our latent talents and use them with all our hearts. It's not optional. Someday, we will stand before God to give an account of our time here on earth. On that day, He will ask us how we used the talents He gave us. I want to hear Him say, "Well done!" Don't you?

What are the activities and responsibilities that rev your engine?

What do you need to do to refine your career so that your job fits your God-given talents?

"Quality is never an accident. It is always the result of intelligent effort. There must be a will to produce a superior thing." -JOHN RUSKIN

JANUARY 5 EXCELLENCE WHERE YOU ARE

Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs. Also next to him Hananiah, one of the perfumers, made repairs; and they fortified Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. NEHEMIAH 3:8

SOMETIMES, GOD'S DESIRE for us is to do our very best even though we don't quite fit the job. When Nehemiah went back to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls of the city and restore dignity to God's people, the place was in terrible shape. His job looked hopeless, but Nehemiah believed God could do the impossible. He rallied the people and put them to work carrying stones, framing doors, and defending one another from attacks.

Through the chapters of Nehemiah's story, we find people pitching in where they were needed. They didn't ask HR to fit them perfectly to their job; they just rolled up their sleeves and went to work. Uzziel was a master goldsmith, but when he was asked to carry huge rocks, he never complained. He just worked. And next to him, Hananiah carried stones too. This guy's regular work was making perfume, not slinging mortar, swinging a hammer, or lugging rocks! But he worked hard next to the goldsmith.

Perhaps those around you complain when their work doesn't perfectly match their skills. Don't let their attitude poison you. Instead, roll up your sleeves and do whatever it takes to get the job done. You'll win the trust of your boss and the respect of your peers-and you might even enjoy it! When you do more than you're paid to do, you'll be paid more for what you do.

What are you tempted to complain about at work?

How long should you do a job that doesn't fit you?

"Some people have greatness thrust upon them. Few have excellence thrust upon them.... They achieve it. They do not achieve it unwittingly by doing what comes naturally and they don't stumble into it in the course of amusing themselves. All excellence involves discipline and tenacity of purpose." -JOHN W. GARDNER

JANUARY 6 SECOND AND THIRD CHANCES

You, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. COLOSSIANS 2:13-14

A FEW YEARS AGO, Chuck Swindoll asked his sister, "What's your favorite emotion?" After a minute of reflection, she replied, "Relief." I agree. If we are honest with ourselves, we have to admit that we have some rotten thoughts, desires, and actions. Sure, we put on a mask of competence and respectability, but underneath, we hide some ugly traits. We often sin against God and against people at home and at work-and we feel terrible about it.

But we don't have to live under the guilt that comes as a result of our sin. The central, paramount truth of the Christian faith is that God, in His amazing grace, forgives us. He doesn't excuse our sin by saying, "Well, it's not that bad" or "It doesn't really matter." No, He calls it sin, and He has paid a high price to forgive us.

In his letter to the Colossians, Paul uses the metaphor of a Roman debtor's prison. When a person couldn't repay a debt, he was thrown into a cell, and a parchment scroll of all his debts was nailed to the cell door until the debts were paid. Jesus saw us in the prison of our guilt, and He took the list of our sinful debts and nailed them to the cross, where He paid for them in full.

Freedom is never free. Christ's grace is free to us, but it cost Him His life. His sacrifice shows us how much He loves us, and we are wise to gratefully accept His wonderful forgiveness. When we do, we're set free to experience relief, and we're motivated to honor the One who freed us.

What's the difference between excusing sin and forgiving it?

What are some things you've thought or done that need to be forgiven by Jesus?

"This is the mystery of the riches of divining grace for sinners; for by a wonderful exchange our sins are now not ours but Christ's, and Christ's righteousness is not Christ's but ours." -MARTIN LUTHER

JANUARY 7 COURAGEOUS CONVERSATIONS

They said to me, "The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire." So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven. NEHEMIAH 1:3-4

MOST OF US SPEND OUR LIVES trying to project an image of beauty and competence. Certainly, we want others to think highly of us, but one of the things I respect most about people is their ruthless honesty-about themselves and their situations. Nehemiah had a plum job. He was working closely with the king, and he lived a life of luxury. His heart, though, beat in unison with God's heart. He cared about the things God cares about, and when he heard that the people in Jerusalem were suffering, his heart broke. He didn't minimize the problem, and he didn't fly into a panic of mindless activity. Instead, he let the brutal truth sink in, and he responded appropriately: He sat down and wept.

Nehemiah had a courageous conversation with the messenger, then he had a courageous conversation with God. Only courageous people are known for their honesty. It's a lot easier to look the other way when we see needs in our lives or in the lives of people around us. We can give the excuse that we've tried as hard as we can or that we don't have time to help a person in need. But excuses don't cut it. Like Nehemiah, we need to let the truth sink into our hearts so we can respond with genuine compassion.

This is just the first part of Nehemiah's story. He then took bold action to gather resources, inspire the people, and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Successful action, though, starts with ruthless honesty about the need.

What are some needs in your own life and in the lives of those around you?

How would being honest about those needs become a springboard for change?

"Men occasionally stumble over the truth. But most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened." -WINSTON CHURCHILL

JANUARY 8 CRAFTED

We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. EPHESIANS 2:10 MEMORY VERSE

OUR ABILITIES, PERSONALITIES, AND PHYSICAL FEATURES are no accident. God has crafted each of us just the way He wanted to. Paul wrote that we are God's "workmanship." The Greek word for workmanship is poiema, from which, of course, we get our word poem. Poetry is a beautiful expression of thought, carefully structured and meticulously worded. The meter of each line and the choice of each word come together to maximize the meaning. And these things don't just happen by chance. They are the product of the poet's skill, intention, and detail.

In the same way, God crafts each of us by using His skill to shape our personalities and give us the abilities and appearances He has chosen for us. No one is created just like another because no one has the same purpose God has given each of us. Paul also tells his readers that God's purpose isn't something He dreams up along the way. God prepared His purpose for us long ago, "before the foundation of the world" (Ephesians 1:4).

When we feel prideful because we've accomplished a lot, we need to realize where our abilities came from. On the other hand, if we're confused or discouraged because we can't seem to discover the meaning for our lives, we can rest assured that Almighty God has a divine purpose for us. Either way, we can remember that God is the poet, and we are His poems.

How do you respond to the fact that you are God's poem?

What are some ways God has used you to accomplish "good works"?

"God does not love us because we are valuable. We are valuable because God loves us." -FULTON J. SHEEN

"In my mind there is no doubt that those who use their talents to serve the Lord will truly enter into the joy of the Lord." -ZIG ZIGLAR

JANUARY 9 PERFORMANCE REVIEW

We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men. 2 CORINTHIANS 5:10-11

WHEN YOU KNOW you're going to meet with your boss in a couple of weeks for a performance review, how do you act? Most of us look at our list of responsibilities to be certain we get all our tasks accomplished, and we make sure we're pleasant to the people around us. The stakes can be pretty high. We may want a promotion or a raise, or we may just want to hear that we're doing a good job so we can stay employed. We do whatever it takes so that the review is as positive as possible. In other words, the reality of the review makes a difference in our choices.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from THE ONE YEAR DAILY INSIGHTS with ZIG ZIGLARby ZIG ZIGLAR IKE REIGHARD Copyright © 2009 by Zig Ziglar and Dwight "Ike" Reighard. Excerpted by permission.
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