Series 40Four — Post 6: 44 Profound Quotes from Bishop T D Jakes
“A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels” – Prov 1:5
December is my birth month. This year, 2018, marks the 44th year of my existence on this planet.
To commemorate this milestone, I will share 44 things about 30 subjects that have helped me in my life’s journey to this point. So, for the rest of the year, I will share on one subject each day.
These post will be part of a series I call “Series 40Four”.
My previous post in the series — 44 Inspirational Quotes from Jim Rohn was a list of my favourite quotes from the man who referred to himself as the farm boy from Idaho. I find it to be very inspiring the way he started his life from modest beginnings to go on to become a timeless influential voice of his generation. Nine years after his death, his words remain true and relevant today as they were when he first uttered them. And those words continue to encourage, inspire and motivate millions the world over.
You can read this article here.
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In today’s post, 44 Profound Quotes from T D Jakes, I feature a selection of my favourite quotes from another thought leader of our time.
In this era of information overload, it is easy to be distracted by the many schemes and ideologies that are vying for our attention. There is a proliferation of media platform with information, tips and advice all claiming to motivate into believing that we can achieve anything. Amidst all the noise, one requires a great deal of disciple to stay focused. Focus on finding our purpose, our reason for being and what it is that we were meant to do in this life.
I see two schools of thought emerging from all the ideas that are out there. One school believes that for us to succeed we have to keep our focus on a single pursuit. That is to say, each one of us has one calling, one purpose to fulfil in this life. This school of thought seem to identify with the often misquoted saying — “Jack of all trades and master of none…”. On closer look, there is some, if not a lot, of merit to this idea. If you make out a list of successful people, you will find that most of them kept their focus on one thing. Michael Jordan — basketball, Muhammad Ali — boxing, Warren Buffet — investing. Take your pick.
However, there is one person that has risen above that “one man, one vision” ideology. And has done so successfully. Pastor Steven Furtick gave the best nickname to him that I have heard so far. Pastor Furtick referred to Bishop T D Jakes as the “slasher”. This nickname came out during an interview that T D Jakes was giving to Pastor Furtick about one of the Bishop’s books — Soar. I encourage you to check out the video of that interview on YouTube if you have not seen it yet. Although the Bishop joked that the nickname almost got him in trouble with the law, I think is a very befitting nickname.
Bishop Thomas Dexter Jakes is a preacher, entrepreneur, author, an actor and a movie producer. When I look at the life of someone like Bishop T D Jakes, I take comfort that I can succeed in my own multi-faceted journey of an accountant, entrepreneur and writer. I, therefore, stand with the complete quote that goes thus — “A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.”
Through his several movies, over thirty books and countless sermons and interviews, T D Jakes has proferred some of the most thought-provoking, mind-blowing, mentally stimulating ideas during our time. He definitely sits up there on the list of the thought leaders of our time.
Whether you believe that you have a single calling in life or you believe that it is possible to thrive in multiple endeavours, here are 44 of my favourite quotes from Bishop T D Jakes that I believe will inspire, educate and empower you in your self-development journey.
“There is nothing I’m any more passionate about than empowering the next generation.” — T.D. Jakes
On Purpose, Vision and Destiny
1) “If you can’t figure out your purpose, figure out your passion. For your passion will lead you right into your purpose.”
2) “We all set out to make a difference in the world, but the first step is to achieve the less lofty goal of changing your own world.”
3) “The most dangerous thing in the world is to have no purpose.”
4) “Destiny is not for comfort seekers. Destiny is for the daring and determined who are willing to endure some discomfort, delay gratification, and go where Destiny leads.
5) “Share your dream with people who want you to succeed.”
6) “Nobody likes hard times, but it’s the unpleasant experiences that are often the catalysts to build the character required for our Destiny.”
7) “If you can dream it, you can achieve it. The secret to recapturing our dreams is to enjoy the pursuit of the dream, rather than to focus on the outcome.”
8) “Surround yourself with people whose definition of you is not based on your history but your destiny.”
9) “There is something down inside of you that knows there is more and it’s roaring to get out.”
10) “God has invested entirely too much in you for you to be comfortable in anything less than you were created to be.”
11) “Stop expecting your job to fund your vision. Your vision is probably bigger than your paycheck.”
12) “It is your passion that empowers you to be able to do the thing you were created to do.
13) ” Run after your destiny. Do not stroll. Do not walk. Do not meander. Do not wander, but run after your destiny.
On Leadership, Integrity and Self-development
14) “If you’re looking for a leadership, you don’t always have to look to the front to find it. Great leadership doesn’t start out on the stage. It doesn’t start out as governors or mayors or presidents or CEOs or managers. Great leadership starts out in the back.”
15) “Your words will tell others what you think. Your actions will tell them what you believe.”
16) “You can teach what you know, but you can only reproduce what you are.”
17) “Silence isn’t golden and it surely doesn’t mean consent, so start practising the art of communication.”
18) “If you stick your head in the sand and ignore things that you have the power to change, you can’t blame anyone when they don’t turn out right.”
On Failure, Success and Excellence
19) “If you have achieved any level of success, then pour it into someone else. Success is not success without a successor.”
20) “Excellence requires discomfort.”
21) “Face the giants in your life, slay them and move on. Do not be daunted by the mistakes and failures in your life.”
22) “You face your greatest opposition when you’re closet to your biggest miracle.”
23) “Too many people want the appearance of winning rather than the practice and hard work that creates a true champion.”
24) “Don’t allow your past or present condition to control you. It’s just a process that you’re going through to get you to the next level.”
25) “When you are a giraffe and you receive criticism from turtles, they are reporting the view from the level they are on.”
26) “Don’t let what people think stop you.”
27) “Greatness is contagious. You’ll catch it if you get around it.”
28) “Others can inspire you, but ultimately the only thing that empowers you is what lies within you and learning how to better utilize what you’ve been given.”
29) “Some people are so poor, the only thing they got is money.”
30) “Until you live every moment without assuming there will be another moment, then you’re not really living on purpose.”
31) “Never make a permanent decision about a temporary situation.”
32) “Arrogance always destroys opportunity.”
33) “Do not allow the cares of this world destroy your passion for living. You have to run after it. Success is always intentional.”
On Faith, Life and Forgiveness
34) “Unfortunately, many of us often spend our lives doing what we were trained to do. Some do what they were asked to do. And most of us do what others need us to do. And all the while, we wonder why the feeling of fulfilment eludes us.”
35) “When God begins to move you along in life, it’s not an elevator. It’s a step-by-step process.”
36) “Don’t take the presence of the storm to indicate the absence of God.”
37) “I don’t know what you’re going through in your life. I don’t know what you’ve got to deal with at this moment, but whatever that thing that shocked you and blindsided you and seemingly came out of nowhere, the battle is not yours it belongs to God. God is going to get the victory if you just believe it.”
38) “It takes courage to live out your dreams. But, it takes patience to survive your storms. You need both today.”
39) “Stop focusing on what you lost and start living on what you’ve got left.”
40) “Each day is God’s gift to you. What you do with it is your gift to Him.”
41) “Forgiveness is about empowering yourself, rather than empowering your past.”
42) “We cannot embrace God’s forgiveness if we are so busy clinging to past wounds and nursing old grudges.”
43) “The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard, but must be felt with the heart.”
44) “God knows what’s best for you. He knows where you are going and He has a plan to get you there.”
