Actor Denzel Washington Delivers Incredibly Passionate Speech About Faith, Hard Work and Life's True Riches

Actor Denzel Washington recently delivered a passionate message to young aspiring actors, urging them to work hard to achieve their dreams -- and to remember the importance of thanking God in the process.

Washington, who captivated his audience during the brief speech, outlined a recipe for success: desire, discipline, consistency and remembering to be thankful.

"I pray that you all put your shoes way under the bed at night so that you gotta get on your knees in the morning to find them," he said. "And while you're down there thank God for grace and mercy and understanding. We all fall short of the glory, we all got plenty."

[sharequote align="center"]"Thank God for grace and mercy and understanding."[/sharequote]

The young people surrounding him on the stage as he spoke cheered at moments, listening intently as the successful actor shared his wisdom about the lessons he's learned both in life and the entertainment industry.

Watch the video below:

"True desire in the heart for anything good is God's proof to you sent beforehand to indicate that it's yours already," Washington said. "So the desire you have, that itch that you have to be whatever it is you want to be … that itch, that desire for good is God's proof to you sent already to indicate that it's yours. You already have it. Claim it."

Encouraging the aspiring performers to make their dreams a reality, he told them that they needed to set goals for themselves. And he reminded them that, though they may end up with riches and earthly possessions, their true value will be rooted in what they do with and in their lives.

[sharequote align="center"]"It's not how much you have, it's what you do with what you have."[/sharequote]

"I've been blessed to make hundreds of millions of dollars in my life," Washington said. "I can't take it with me and neither can you. So it's not how much you have, it's what you do with what you have."

The video was originally shared on Facebook by actor and singer Tyrese Gibson, as reported by Breathecast.

"Wow Denzel...my fellow Capricorn dropping knowledge," Gibson wrote.

(H/T: Breathecast)