"It filled me with such pride to call myself a Bostonian. I kind of beat my chest for reasons other than what Larry Bird did, or the Patriots do. This love and strength is so powerful, and knowing that we can still come out after a horrible event and radiate this love is special for me," he told PEOPLE in a recent interview.While growing up in Boston, Mark got into quite a bit of trouble in his youth. [rsnippet id="3"]
"I had to make the choice personally, and then I had to focus on my faith." he explained. "And my faith has really allowed me to overcome a lot of things. And hard work. You know, nothing comes easy especially when you've got your back against the wall and you've got a lot going against you. But I wanted to prove to people through my actions, and not my words, that I was going to change."
"Once I focused on my faith wonderful things started happening for me. And I don't mean professionally – that's not what it's about," he said. "For me to sit down and ask for material things is ridiculous. It's a much bigger picture than that. I want to serve God and to be a good human being and to make up for the mistakes I made and the pain I put people through. That's what I'm praying for, and I recommend it to anybody."RELATED: 10 Hollywood celebrities who believe in God It's through his faith that Mark finds the strength to be a committed husband to his wife, Rhea, and a devoted father to their four children.
"What I do every day is pray for the strength to be a good servant, father and husband," he said. "I ask for the ability to raise my kids, to teach and protect them, and to be disciplined and firm and loving and nurturing. It can be a fine line, so I ask God for the strength to not lose my patience with my children."RELATED: Christian news anchor puts his faith before his career and refuses to work on Sundays
"I think the fact that I've been able to turn my life around and really make my mom proud and become a better person through focusing on my faith, it always gives me great sense of pride to come home," Mark said.The glitz and glamour of the Hollywood life can quickly become a distraction for most. But even with all of his success, Mark Wahlberg makes a point to never forget what his life was like before God was at the center. And he keeps his eyes turned to the Giver rather than the gifts.
"Anything that's good in my life is because of my faith," he said. "A lot of people get in trouble, go to jail and find God, and the minute they don't need God anymore, they're gone. But I spend a good portion of my day thanking God for all the blessings that have been bestowed on me. If it all ended today, I'd be happy. I've had such an amazing journey."What an inspiration Mark Wahlberg is in reminding us that no matter what circumstances we face, God is the answer. God has a different plan for each of us, and it is always good! [rsnippet id="2"]