Four things for success: work and pray, think and believe.

Hear the steady wisdom of Norman Vincent Peale, who spoke as a guide for weary hearts: “Four things for success: work and pray, think and believe.” In these simple words lies a path as old as the mountains and as true as the stars. For man, though restless and striving, often forgets that greatness does not rest upon labor alone, nor upon faith alone, but upon the marriage of both—upon the hands that toil, the mind that envisions, the spirit that trusts, and the heart that believes.

To work is to shape the world with sweat and perseverance. It is the duty of the body, the discipline of daily labor, the courage to rise again when the task is heavy. Without work, no dream becomes flesh, no seed becomes harvest. Yet work alone is not enough, for it can become mechanical, stripped of hope. Thus comes the second command: to pray. Prayer is not only words lifted to heaven, but the posture of humility, the recognition that our strength is finite and that the Eternal One breathes power into our weakness. Together, work and prayer make man both diligent and humble, fierce in effort yet gentle in spirit.

To think is the labor of the mind, the act of seeking wisdom before action. The ancients held this sacred, for they knew that ungoverned strength becomes chaos. A warrior who does not think may rush headlong into ruin; a builder who does not plan may raise walls that crumble in the first storm. Thought is the compass, guiding effort with clarity, ensuring that the energy of life is not wasted in vain pursuits. Yet thought, too, must be joined with its counterpart—belief.

For to believe is to kindle the fire of the heart. Belief transforms hesitation into courage, fear into endurance. History resounds with the stories of those who believed when reason declared defeat. Think of Thomas Edison, who after thousands of failed attempts, still believed that light could be summoned from a filament. His belief sustained his thought, and his work gave flesh to his faith. At last, the world was illuminated, not merely by invention, but by the power of belief married to perseverance.

Another example lies in the journey of Martin Luther King, Jr. He labored tirelessly, he prayed fervently, he thought deeply, and he believed without wavering in the promise of justice. Many opposed him, many doubted, yet his belief transformed his struggle into a movement that lit the conscience of a nation. Here we see Peale’s four pillars shining: work, prayer, thought, and belief interwoven into a force that shaped history.

The lesson is clear: greatness is not built upon one foundation but upon four. To work without prayer breeds pride. To pray without work breeds idleness. To think without belief breeds doubt. To believe without thought breeds folly. Only when these four are held together, like the legs of a mighty table, can true success rest firmly.

Therefore, beloved seeker, take these words into your daily life. Rise each morning resolved to work diligently, lifting your labor as an offering. Pray, not only for blessing, but for wisdom, strength, and humility. Think before you act, weighing the path before your feet. And above all, believe—believe in your calling, in the worth of your effort, and in the guidance of the divine hand.

And so, let Peale’s wisdom be your compass: work and pray, think and believe. If you do these things, your life will not be adrift, but anchored; not wasted, but fruitful; not silenced, but remembered. For in this harmony lies not only success, but a life lived in fullness, in balance, and in truth.