Proverbs 24:16

"For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again…"

Most of life's great accomplishments are not conquered or achieved with the first try. Great skills and accomplishments take a lot of practice and perseverance. When you want to achieve something bad enough you don't give up even after many times of falling short of your goals. When it seems as though you have failed, you just need to keep going forward.

When Thomas Edison was trying to invent the light bulb he had many failures at first. He had so much used and wasted material that he began to just throw it in a pile on the floor. His pile of broken dreams (in the form of scrap material) grew until it reached the second floor of his home.

When Mr. Edison finally found material that worked it was really an accident. The carbonized cotton fiber he was using broke in two. Yet, when it seemed there was no hope and even his fibers had broken he kept trying. After working without sleep for over forty-eight hours he finally had invented the light bulb. The darkness of his broken dreams was put to shame, because he didn't give up!

This principle rings true in playing the violin. A beginner struggles just to a play a note without squeaking. An accomplished violinist, even after years of playing for hours a day, still practices to achieve a higher level of excellence.

We should practice this principle in our spiritual lives. We should not be satisfied with just simple notes, but should hunger to achieve a higher level of spiritual excellence. Don't be satisfied with where you are. Always strive to walk closer with God. The more you actually know Him the more you will desire to know Him.