Having a mindset for excellence means to decide to be the best and to do what it takes to honor this decision.

Therefore, excellence is something intentional. It is not born with you, but it is not something out of reach. You can chose whether to have it or not — it’s up to you. Being the best isn’t a matter of luck, but something accomplished intentionally, through investment.

If you are really determined to be the best, your new excellent mentality will start producing excellent thoughts. Thoughts of self-confidence, faith and success, such as “I can do it,” “I’ll succeed in everything I do” and “today, I must be better off than yesterday.” Then, you will develop every characteristic you need for God to use you in great ways. You will be:

• Faithful
• Honest
• Attentive to details
• Focused
• Determined
• Positive
• Enthusiastic
• Creative
• A good listener
• Trustworthy
• Persistent
• Humble

Just as excellent thoughts bring about the excellent qualities above, these excellent qualities will bring about excellent actions. You will be able to:

•  Take the initiative
• Have a broad vision
• Finish what you start
• Do more than what is asked of you
• Strive to improve and be well informed
• Not waste your time
• Learn from other excellent people
• Avoid conflict
• Respect your neighbor
• Use the best available resources
• Plan before doing something
• Know how to express yourself clearly, in writing or verbally, using proper vocabulary

We clearly see these qualities and actions in the heroes of faith. Joseph was one of them: even though he was a slave, he prospered in the house of his master, Potiphar, who entrusted everything he had to Joseph (Genesis 39.1-6). Joseph’s excellent spirit made him achieve results that went beyond other people’s expectations given his situation. That transmitted peace, security and confidence to Potiphar. Joseph’s example shows that it’s possible to be excellent even in the face of the most adverse situations.

Another great example was Daniel and his friends. They studied and learned everything about the Babylonian idolatrous culture and literature. Nonetheless, they remained faithful to God, holding on to their moral and spiritual integrity. After all, they knew that if they were to assume a position of authority, they needed to be prepared. Therefore, God could use them to reveal Himself to the Babylonian people, to the point that the king recognized they were ten times better than the wizards and astrologers of Babylon (Daniel 1.20). The four friends of Daniel proved that only those who have an open mind and are not limited by religious matters become excellent. On the contrary: they get better at whatever is needed of them so that God may use them more.

These are but a few examples of excellent men mentioned in the Bible. Through their example, we see that being excellent, above any other thing, has to do with doing it for God. These men did what they did because they were aware that they needed to present results that were praiseworthy, not because they wanted to be praised, but because they wanted God to be praised instead. Minds become excellent when they do everything for God (1 Corinthians 10.31), knowing that He never accepted (and will never accept) a defective offering (Leviticus 22.20).

Excellence begins in the mind, goes on to the hands, transforms the environment and then is offered up to God.

With the collaboration of: Daniel dos Santos

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