I used to know a very wise man of God that used to say, “Success is spelled with four D’s. Desire, determination, discipline, and diligence.” These four Ds are the foundational stones to succeeding at anything. They aren’t optional but rather necessary ingredients in the recipe of life.

Desire speaks to how bad you really want something. Determination is good old fashioned “stick-to-it-ive-ness” and comes from one’s grit and force of will. Discipline refers to activities, exercises, or structured regimens that develop or improve certain skills. A good synonym would be training. Diligence is “constant and earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken; persistent exertion of body or mind.”

Whatever you undertake in ministry, leadership, or life, these four cornerstones are absolutely crucial in bringing out successful outcomes. As you think and ponder and pray over these four ingredients, remember, success is spelled with these four D’s.