Every star knows the importance of training in areas relevant to one’s calling. Regular capacity building to acquire new skills or sharpen existing skill; personal development; and training are the lifestyles of champions. These help to sharpen their ax and to increase their success level. Everything that belongs to us will come to us if we have the capacity to receive them. In other words, we miss out because we don’t have the capacity to receive them. Just like the oil stopped flowing not because there was no more oil but because there were no more vessels to receive them. (2 kings 4:6 ). For example, a photographer of the 19th century will naturally go out of the job not because people no longer take photographs but simply because he or she has no capacity to meet the needs of the 21st century customers. No matter how educated the photographer is, as far as the 21st century is concerned, he has become illiterate. It takes skills both to achieve and sustain success. Capacity building involves learning, unlearning, and relearning. You don’t ever grow out of it, or else you become outdated. Training positions you for elevation, which some call favour. When preparation meets with opportunity, it results in favour. An untrained or unskilled person is disqualified when an opportunity shows up. Abraham’s 318 trained men attacked the five kings who took Lot captive from Sodom and recovered Lot and others (Gen 14:14-16). David turned 400 men who were liabilities to the nation to great assets and great military generals through training (1 Sam 22:2; 2 Sam 23:8). Training unveils the hidden star in you and turns your raw talent into treasure. In the parable of the talents, the master didn’t only recognize the faithfulness of the servant but his expertise. In fact, it was rated as first! “…Well done, good and faithful servant..” (Matt 25:21). Your skill places value on you.

“Do you see a man skillful and experienced in his work? He will stand [in honor] before kings; He will not stand before obscure men” (Prov 22:29 AMP).

Skill is a ladder to the top. Nobody wants to know what you know but what you can offer. Hershel Walker quipped, “If you train hard, you will not only be hard, you will be hard to beat.” Training and continuous skill development are the secrets of stars of any field. Your certificates and certifications are irrelevant unless they can deliver what they indicate. Your deliveries are more important than your degrees.

1. Father, please help me to be committed to personal development and to pay the price in Jesus’ name.

2. Father, make me a person of value and let me never grow out of relevance in Jesus’s name.

1. I will not grow out of relevance as long as I am committed to personal development.

2. Training is my ladder to the top.