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Over the last couple of years, I’ve been pressing myself for more—in fitness, in nutrition, in ministry, in entrepreneurship, in personal conduct—and I’ll be honest: the biggest battles haven’t been in the gym, the kitchen, or in executing the business plan. They’ve been in my head. Convincing myself that excellence is actually possible for someone like me, a sinner. That I’m not being prideful or worldly by pushing for more. That the effort will actually be worth it.
Daniel’s story has been my blueprint. Not because I’ve arrived—I haven’t—but his story illustrates what’s possible when we get our minds right first. And here’s the key: excellence isn’t actually the goal—holiness is. Excellence is simply what happens when we pursue holiness with everything we’ve got.
First Mindset Shift:
Holiness (and Therefore Excellence) Is Possible for Me
The lies we believe:
“Holiness is for spiritual giants, not regular people like me. I don’t have the right background, the right education, the right anointing.”
“I’ve tried before and failed—clearly I’m just not wired for this.”
Here’s the reality check: Daniel was a CHILD when he was taken into Babylonian captivity. A youth, displaced from his home, stripped of his identity, forced into a pagan empire. No special advantages. No elite training. Just a decision to honor God in a hostile environment.
If holiness were only for the spiritually elite, Daniel wouldn’t qualify. He was just a kid—a kid who decided that God’s standard was non-negotiable, regardless of circumstances. And that pursuit of holiness—that commitment to being set apart for God—produced the excellence that made him stand out.
The Bible backs this up everywhere you look.
Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Ephesians 3:20 tells us that power is ALREADY at work within us.
2 Peter 1:3 says God’s divine power has granted us “ALL THINGS that pertain to life and godliness.”
The Greek word for holy is hagios—meaning sacred, pure, morally blameless, consecrated. It’s the same root word for “saints.” That’s us. By definition, if you’re a saint, you’re called to holiness. And when we pursue holiness, excellence follows behind.
We already have everything we need. The question is whether we believe it.
I’ve had to remind myself of this constantly. When I committed to taking my health seriously—fixing my nutrition, getting consistent in the gym—the first thing my mind did was catalog every failed attempt from the past. Every time I quit after two weeks. Every box of cookies that I binged. The enemy loves to use our history against our destiny.
But here’s what I learned: those weren’t failures—they were data. Each attempt taught me something. And this time, when I approached it with the mindset that “holiness is possible because Christ strengthens me,” something shifted. I wasn’t chasing fitness goals for vanity—I was stewarding the temple God gave me. That’s holiness. And the excellence in my health? That became the byproduct.
Holiness isn’t about having more—it’s about stewarding what we already have for God’s purposes. Stop waiting to “feel ready” or “be qualified.” The Holy Spirit is our unfair advantage. Our past failures don’t disqualify us—they were our training grounds.
Make the shift: Identify one area where you’ve felt called to greater holiness, but counted yourself out. Ask yourself: “Am I actually incapable of holiness here, or have I just believed I am?” Start acting like holiness is possible—take one small step this week, and watch God move to turn your little into much.
Watch/listen to the latest episode of Tuesday Teachings
Second Mindset Shift:
Pursuing Holiness Is My Responsibility (Excellence Will Follow)
This is where it gets uncomfortable.
The lies we believe:
“Pursuing holiness is too hard. I should just be content with where I am.”
“Holiness is optional—as long as I’m saved, that’s enough. If God wants me to be holy, He’ll make it happen.”
Look at Daniel again. He didn’t wait to be asked—he took responsibility for his holiness from day one. Daniel 1 tells us he PURPOSED in his heart not to defile himself. When prayer was outlawed in Daniel 6, he didn’t stop—he took responsibility for his faithfulness, windows open, three times a day.
Daniel understood something crucial: I REPRESENT the living God. Holiness wasn’t a suggestion he could opt into—it was his DUTY. That understanding of holiness—being separated unto God—produced an “excellent spirit” that even pagan kings could see.
The New Testament makes this even clearer.
Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” Not “if you feel like it”—WHATEVER you do.
Matthew 5:16 commands us to let our light shine.
1 Peter 2:9 says we’re “a people for his own possession, that you may PROCLAIM the excellencies of him.” We proclaim His excellencies by living holy lives. The excellence people see is holiness made visible.
And here’s the kicker: Leviticus 11:44 and 1 Peter 1:16 both say, “Be holy, for I am holy.” That’s not a request. It’s a command.
We’ve confused grace (unmerited favor) with passivity (no effort required). We want the blessing without the responsibility. But Luke 12:48 makes it clear: “To whom much is given, much will be required.” You’ve been given the Holy Spirit, the Word, the blood of Jesus—you HAVE much.
Jesus set the standard. Mark 7:37 says, “He has done all things well.” Not some things. ALL things. That wasn’t excellence for excellence’s sake—it was holiness in action. Jesus was completely set apart for the Father’s will, and the excellence followed naturally.
Here’s what’s really happening: We’ve spiritualized our lack of discipline. False humility asks, “Who am I to pursue holiness?” Wrong question.
Right question: “Who am I NOT to?” Playing small does not serve the world. When we operate below our calling, we’re not just hurting ourselves—we’re misrepresenting God.
That reality hit me hard when I started taking ministry more seriously. I realized I couldn’t show up half-prepared, half-committed, and expect God to get full glory. Every Tuesday Teaching, every newsletter, every business decision—these aren’t just tasks. They’re acts of stewardship. God gave me a platform, gifts, and assignments on how to use them. Being faithful to them is entirely up to me.
I had to stop waiting for someone to permit me or validate my calling. I had to take responsibility. That meant showing up even when I didn’t feel ready. That meant doing the work when no one was watching.
And we will all be held accountable. Matthew 12:36 says we’ll give account for every careless word—if we answer for careless WORDS, what about careless LIVING? Romans 14:12: “Each of us will give an account of himself to God.”
You will stand before God and answer for what you did with what He gave you. “I didn’t feel like it” won’t be an acceptable answer.
Make the shift: Stop waiting for someone else to hold your hand—hold yourself accountable. Identify one area where you’ve been passive when God called you to be excellent. Reframe to the external: “How much more can I reflect God’s holiness in this? What kind of testimony will I have when I do?”
Third Mindset Shift:
Holiness Will Be Rewarded (With Earthly Excellence and Eternal Glory)
The lies we believe:
“My reward is in heaven someday—there’s nothing in it for me now.”
“God doesn’t care about rewards—that’s carnal thinking.”
Daniel’s story destroys this lie. His holiness—his refusal to defile himself, his commitment to prayer, his integrity in a corrupt system—led to IMMEDIATE favor and promotion. The king found him 10x better than all the other wise men (Daniel 1:19-20). He was made ruler over the entire province of Babylon (Daniel 2:48). He was promoted to the third-highest position in the kingdom (Daniel 5:29). Daniel 6:28 says, “So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.”
And when his enemies tried to take him out? God preserved him in the lion’s den. Holiness led to excellence. Excellence led to favor, promotion, protection, and prosperity.
I’m starting to see this play out in my own life. As I’ve been more intentional about pursuing holiness—not perfection, but faithfulness in the small things, being set apart for God’s purposes—doors have opened that I didn’t knock on. Opportunities I didn’t pursue. Favor I couldn’t have manufactured even if I had tried.
It’s not always dramatic. Sometimes it’s just the peace of knowing I gave my best to God. Sometimes it’s a conversation that happens because someone saw consistency in me. Sometimes it’s physical results from months of discipline that nobody saw. But increasingly, I’m learning that God does reward the pursuit of holiness. Not to make me look good, but to demonstrate that His system works. The excellence is just a side effect of being sanctified—set apart—for His glory.
The Bible is crystal clear about rewards. The Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25 shows faithful servants hearing “Well done, good and faithful servant...enter into the joy of your master,” while the lazy servant loses everything and is cast into outer darkness. Holiness is REWARDED. Mediocrity is PUNISHED.
James 1:12: “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life.”
Paul says in 2 Timothy 4:7-8, “I have fought the good fight...there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness.”
Hebrews 11:6 tells us God “rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”
There are earthly rewards: favor with God and man, open doors and opportunities (Proverbs 22:29), provision and promotion, protection in trials, influence and impact. These are often the visible markers of excellence that flow from a holy life. There are also eternal rewards: crowns, positions of authority in the coming Kingdom, hearing “Well done,” the full inheritance versus being saved “but only as through fire.”
Make the shift: God has set up a rewards economy—lean into it. Get excited about it. Imagine the splendor of eternal favor. Pursuing holiness NOW impacts our station for eternity. Read Matthew 25:14-30 and ask yourself: Which servant am I? Make a list of talents and gifts you’ve buried. What would “doubling them” look like in service to a holy God? How many lives can I affect? How many souls can I help win for Christ? Start thinking long-term: How will this decision look 1,000 years from now?
Rewiring Your Mind for Holiness (and Excellence)
Here’s what you need to remember:
Holiness is possible - You have everything you need through Christ. You’re hagios—a saint, set apart.
Holiness is your responsibility - It’s not optional; you’re accountable for your stewardship of what God has given you.
Holiness will be rewarded - God has set up a system where holiness produces excellence, and both are rewarded, now and forever.
Daniel was just a kid, but he believed God’s standard of holiness was achievable. He took personal responsibility for remaining set apart for God—no excuses. He reaped the rewards—favor, promotion, protection, prosperity. But notice: the excellence came from the holiness, not the other way around. He didn’t try to be excellent to impress kings. He tried to be holy to honor God. The excellence was inevitable.
These aren’t automatic beliefs. You have to actively renew your mind (Romans 12:2). Start speaking these truths over yourself. Find one area to apply this mindset shift THIS WEEK. Stop chasing excellence for its own sake. Chase holiness. Pursue being set apart for God’s purposes. Let Him worry about the excellence.
This isn’t about being a high achiever—it’s about being a faithful steward. God has invested in you; He expects a return. The world is waiting for believers who will operate in holiness at the level God designed them for. And when they do? The excellence will be undeniable.
Which mindset hurdle is holding YOU back? What lie have you believed that’s keeping you from pursuing holiness? What would change if you believed—really believed—that holiness is possible, that it’s your responsibility, and the key to your rewards—in this life, and the next?
Make the shift. Renew your mind. Walk in holiness. The excellence will follow.
Comment below: Which of these three mindset shifts do you need most right now?