I Hope You Fail???
I just read a tweet post from Pastor Jamal Bryant (Baltimore, MD) that was retweeted by someone in my Twitter stream. He is encouraging listeners/followers to purchase his sermon CD and help it become the first sermon CD to hit the Billboard charts.
While I was sure I wouldn’t be buying the CD, the milestone was interesting and I clicked the link to see what the sermon was about. The title was immediately unsettling: I Hope You Fail
The explanation goes on to say: “Whenever you find someone who is a great success, you will have found someone who has had many failures. Failure is the price tag for success. The only people who really learn how to fight at something are those people who have failed at something.” From Jamal Bryant’s site
Ok so I “get” where he’s coming from but I think this is an irresponsible use of words. Failure and adversity are integral parts of success…that is true. I’ve been listening to Robert Kiyosaki a lot lately and he says that “9 out of every 10 businesses fail”. He goes on to say that the key is not to focus on the 9 failures but rather focus on the fact that out of 10 tries 1 of your businesses/ideas will make it and become successful. The difference here is to focus on the positive not the negative.
Our words are very, very, very powerful. Even in this context, saying “I hope you fail” is a very negative affirmation. When we speak things into the universe especially when we speak “hopes”, we are speaking a prayer. Our words have life and our words have power. Hoping any negative gives life to the negative. Hoping any positive gives life to the positive.
“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” (3 John 1:2, KJV)
I Hope You Win
I Hope You Prosper
I Hope You Succeed
2 months ago