Daily Digest: Capstone Capsule

“The preparations of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord” – Proverbs 16:1

Scriptures are a goldmine of knowledge not only of Lifestyles but also of SKILLS for IMPACTFUL LIVING: “The preparations of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the spirits” (Pro.16:1-2). It’s crucial to acquire Skills that align with God’s Will: “Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established” (v.3). “Preparations of the heart,” “ways of a man,” and “works” all point to Life-Skills.

There is no One Key or Golden Secret to Success in Life; but there are certain “not-so-secret” principles, attitudes, lifestyles, SKILLS, and strategies. Success comes through a sincere APPRECIATION and a consistent APPLICATION of a System of Success-oriented PRINCIPLES and SKILLS, all of which are encoded in God’s Word; hence, God’s Command to Joshua: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Jos.1:8).

Success is about Principles and Skills. Principles are the foundations upon which the structures of life are built. Principles are: fundamental, universally-accepted Laws of Life; proven guidelines, characteristics, or qualities for human conduct. Principles rule and govern life; hence, they distinguish True Achievers from Failures. They deal with the questions of What and Why?

SKILLS are “Know-hows” that are required to enhance principles. They deal with: How to put principles into practice. While principles are universal in application, skills can adjust to varied contexts or situations. Skills that work in one circumstance may not necessarily work in another. Skills provide practicable answers to the Wisdom Question: HOW TO? Skills for Success, Effectiveness, and Excellence in Life are broad and dynamic, particularly in our competitive, dynamic, and ever-changing age and contexts. The good news is that Skills can be learnt, acquired, cultivated, developed, improved upon, and mastered

Going forward, we shall meditate on some vital, often neglected Skills for Impactful Living, including: Goal-setting, Prioritizing, Planning, Decision-making, Effective Communication, Listening, Conflict resolution, Time management, Task management, Stress management, and Delegation. Life does not just happen: “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (v.9). Preparation is the platform for Manifestation: “Prepare your outside work, make it fit for yourself in the field; and afterward build your house” (Pro.24:27). This emphasizes the importance of planning and preparation before undertaking a major task.

Life is a Major Assignment. It demands acquiring, cultivating, developing, and mastering vital Skills, which ultimately should become Life Habits for Impactful Living.