Enthusiasm + Audacity + Devotion = Spiritual Zeal
All year we have been exploring empowerment through the Twelve Powers system, seeing each of these powers as universal spiritual attributes that empower us to show up in the world in ways that create value for ourselves and the people around us.
This month we focus on the attribute of Zeal. Our innate ability to be enthusiastic about life and about how we show up in the world. Zeal feels especially important right now, because it is the power that fortifies our minds against despair.
In The Twelve Powers of Man, Charles Fillmore defines Zeal as:
“…the affirmative impulse of existence; its command is ‘Go forward!’ Through this impulse man forms many states of consciousness that he ultimately tires of. They may have served a good purpose in their day in the grand scheme of creation, but as man catches sight of higher things zeal urges him forward to their attainment.”
In Divine Audacity, Linda Martella-Whitsett identifies how zeal shows up in a healthy and balanced way. She describes it as a combination of enthusiasm, audacity, and devotion:
“Spiritual zeal is the harnessing of enthusiasm as a propellant into purposeful living. Zeal is an attitude of forwardness and courageousness. Zeal is single-minded devotion to one’s purpose. Zeal is our rightful power of enthusiasm, audacity, and devotion.”
Zeal as Flow, Not Grind
Zeal gives us the ability to take clear, decisive action. This isn’t about pushing ourselves into the “grind” of life but about entering the flow of divine purpose — engaging in the thrill of life’s unfoldment and tapping into the energy that moves us forward. Zeal is an “affirmative impulse” that keeps us in motion.
Looking at life through the lens of these innate spiritual abilities, we see that they are qualities meant to be experienced. We are meant to be enthusiastic about the unfoldment of our human journey. The very word enthusiasm comes from the Greek entheos, meaning “possessed by a god.” To live with enthusiasm is to channel divine energy.
And enthusiasm is available to everyone. Just as there are no barriers to God, there are no barriers to these attributes. Fillmore writes:
“Divine enthusiasm is no respecter of persons or things. It makes no distinctions. It moves to new forms of expression even that which appears corrupt.”
~ Charles Fillmore, The Twelve Powers of Man
The Discipline of Excitement
When we live enthusiastically, we experience joy in the unfolding of our own lives. Enthusiasm takes mental discipline. It’s a choice. As Norman Vincent Peale once said:
“Think excitement, talk excitement, act out excitement, and you are bound to become an excited person. Life will take on a new zest, deeper interest and greater meaning. You can think, talk, and act yourself into dullness or into monotony or into unhappiness. By the same process you can build up inspiration, excitement and surging depth of joy.”
~ Norman Vincent Peale, The Positive Principle Today
Peale reminds us that excitement is not just a feeling that happens to us — it’s a way of showing up. We choose whether to cultivate dullness or joy, monotony or inspiration.
Audacity: The Courage to Step Out
Martella-Whitsett also identifies audacity as critical to engaging zeal in a healthy way:
“Audacity is a necessary quality for successful human living. Without the forward thrust of audacity, we humans would crumble under the weight of the kinds of troubles that befall all of us, such as illness, loss, and failure.”
Audacity can sometimes be misunderstood as rudeness or disrespect. But here it means boldness — the willingness to take risks, trusting that Spirit supports us. If enthusiasm means being filled with divine energy, audacity means stepping out in that power.
“As a spiritual power audacity is our capacity for boldly proceeding in the direction of our intentions.”
— Linda Martella-Whitsett, Divine Audacity
Devotion: The Fire of Focus
The final element of zeal is devotion. Zeal is the fire behind achievement, but without devotion it can become a wildfire, consuming without purpose. Devotion focuses zeal. Keeping it steady, wholehearted, and aligned with divine intention.
- Enthusiasm without audacity and devotion becomes chaos.
- Audacity without enthusiasm or devotion produces empty striving.
- Devotion without enthusiasm and audacity lacks creative power.
Together, the three form spiritual zeal:
enthusiasm + audacity + devotion = spiritual zeal
Martella-Whitsett writes:
“Devotion is present moment engagement. Zeal is wasted when directed toward an arrival point in the future, because zeal can only be experienced in the present moment. Enthusiasm, audacity, and devotion press toward the future, but it is necessary to live in the present in order to get to the future. Appreciation of the moment’s possibilities grounds us in zeal.”
Living Zeal Today
Zeal is practical. It’s a way of living enthusiastically, boldly, and with devotion in the here and now. These attributes are innate within each of us, empowering us to create and experience value not only for ourselves but for our broader communities.
About Folx with Faith
Folx with Faith creates safe, inclusive spaces for spiritual exploration, healing, and growth. We celebrate queer identities, honor diverse faith traditions, and empower people to live as expressions of divine love. Through our courses, blogs, and community gatherings, we invite everyone to embody their spiritual powers, like zeal, in ways that foster joy, courage, and transformation.
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References & Additional Resources for The Power of Understanding
- About the Author
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James Masters (they/them) is a member of Unity Church of Overland Park, where they actively teach classes and participate in community events. They are in the final stages of becoming a Licensed Unity Teacher (LUT) and have been deeply engaged in spiritual study since 1999, joining the New Thought movement in 2005.
James is a contributing author for the bestselling anthologies The Courageous Heart, Enduring Wisdom, and The Grateful Soul. They are a personal coach specializing in spiritual and relational development, guiding others toward deeper self-awareness and empowerment.
Beyond their work in spiritual education, James has a strong commitment to social justice and community service. They helped establish an all-genders shelter and regularly volunteer to support those experiencing housing and food insecurity. Their knowledge of technology and unwavering compassion for others make them a valuable force for positive change in their community.
