Denzel’s Advice for College Graduates: ‘Put God First In Everything
You Do’ [VIDEO]
Article By Lynn Olmstead:: Photo Credit: Josh Brasted/GETTY
“Number one: put God first. Put God first in everything you do,” said Academy Award winner Denzel
Washington during a commencement speech.
The crowd cheered as the 60-year-old admonished graduates of the historically black Dillard University
in New Orleans to honor God always.
“Everything I have is by the grace of God. Understand that. It’s a gift,” said Washington.
He explained that the gift of success seemed unlikely 40 years ago when he was flunking out of college
with a 1.7 grade point average.
But a turning point came one day while the then 20-year-old was standing in his mother’s beauty salon
and noticed a woman looking at him.
Washington told the audience, “She said ‘Somebody get me a pen, get me a pencil. I have a prophecy.’ [It
was] March 27, 1975, she said, ‘Boy, you are going to travel the world and speak to millions of people.’”
Now, at the time, her prophetic utterance didn’t sound likely to come true with his collegiate failure. But it
did happen.
“What she told me that day has stayed with me since. I’ve been protected, I’ve been directed, I’ve been
corrected. I’ve kept God in my life and it’s kept me humble,” he said. “I didn’t always stick with Him, but
He always stuck with me.”
He added, “If you think you want to do what you think I’ve done, then do what I’ve done and stick with
God.”
The Christian actor’s focus on God is not surprising. He has been outspoken about his faith for years.
In a 2012 issue of GQ Magazine, Washington, who is a member of West Angeles Church of God In Christ
under the leadership of Bishop Charles Blake, said “I read from the Bible every day, and I read my Daily
Word.”
In that same issue he also reminisced about a spiritual experience, when he was first filled with the Holy
Spirit. “I was slobbering, crying, sweating. My cheeks blew up. I was purging. It was too intense,” he said.
The encounter frightened him, Washington said and nearly drove him away, but he stayed with God and
is now advising others to do the same.
Washington told the grads, “I pray that you put your slippers way under the bed tonight, so that when
you get up in the morning, you have to get on your knees to reach them. And while you’re down there,
say thank you…”
The commencement took place at the university's Rosa Freeman Keller Avenue of the Oaks, where 218
students received diplomas for their degrees from the College of Business, College of Arts and Sciences,
and Nursing.
Watch below.
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