Nothing just happens automatically.

No vision. . .no matter how divinely inspired is self-fulfilling.

No calling. . .no matter how needed is ever fulfilled on its own.

No goal. . .no matter how excellent is ever accomplished without effort.

Every purpose birthed in the heart of man will require specific steps of faith and action.

It’s one thing to talk about being successful or even becoming a millionaire but it is entirely another thing to take the steps necessary to achieve the position God envisions for you in His Word and in the world.

To improve your position in life. . .to increase your possibilities for success. . .you must rely upon the Word of God and demonstrate a willingness to implement certain Biblical strategies.

Proverbs 24:3-4 in The Living Bible says:

Have you ever had someone say. . . “I’ve been thinking about you.”

While we assume those thoughts are good. . .we have no idea what they’re thinking or how long they even thought about us.

There is a pick-up line that single men sometimes use on single women. It goes like this.

“Girl, I’m so tired. . .because you’ve been running through my mind all day.”

By the way ladies, if a man ever uses that line on you. . .be flattered but quickly ask him. . .if he has a job. . .does he have a five-year plan for the future. . .if he doesn’t answer “yes” to both those questions. . .leave him in the rearview mirror of your life.

On a spiritual level. . .God does bring people to our minds. . .people he wants us to pray for.

In this teaching, I want to talk about someone who thinks about you 24/7.

1 Peter 5:7 in The Living Bible says:

One of the biggest reasons many Christians don’t enter into the fullness of God’s Word is that they read the Word of God as a spectator.

It is no doubt a fascinating collection of people, stories, miracles and events. . .but it’s much more. It is alive and interactive when we apply it to our lives.

In reading a red-letter edition of the Bible you will find that Jesus asked over 173 questions during His earthly ministry. While I found the number of questions Jesus asked interesting. . .I found why He asked them. . .profound.

God asked questions. . .because He wanted His listeners to think. . .it facilitates the learning process in each of us.

As I was studying this a few days ago, my fine wife, Bev and I agreed to reduce the number of questions to seven. . .for the purpose of this teaching. Seven. . .do you find that an interesting number?

Number one…what do you think?

Without a doubt. . .one of the best learning methods is to ask questions. After all, this technique was utilized by the greatest teacher of all. . .our Lord and Savior.

There are at least four recorded instances where He said to His disciples “what do you think?” He also asked “how think ye”, “won’t he” as well as other word choices to involve the disciples in the parable and to provoke their thinking.

2 Peter 3:9 says:

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

As I was reading this verse. . .God stirred in me to make a statement and then ask you and me a question. . .which He wants us to ponder before we answer.

First, here’s the statement. . .God is not slack concerning His promises and neither should we be.

Second, here’s the question? Are we spiritual slackers?

The American Heritage Dictionary defines slacker as:

“Moving slowly; sluggish; lacking in activity; not busy.”

When it comes to activating and appropriating His promises into our daily life. . .God does not want us moving slowly. A lack of spiritual activity on our behalf will most certainly be a subject of conversation on Judgment Day.

Did you know that the way we perceive God can keep us from knowing the truth about Him? It’s true.

Your perception of a person, even if it is wrong, will keep you from seeing him or her as they really are. That is the reason I make this statement:

You will have the God you perceive.

I encourage you to write down those seven words and get them engrafted into your spirit.

You will have the God you perceive.

Understand this is true in all aspects, however, since we teach finances, we will approach the financial side.

If you perceive Him as a poor God, you will always think He is trying to get money from you. But when you understand He is a rich God, you will realize His principles are designed to get money to you.

Your perception of God and His relationship to your financial status will cause you to see Him in one of two ways: He will be either Jehovah Needy or Jehovah Jireh.

According to the Bible, God is Jehovah Jireh and is ready and able to prosper and abundantly bless you beyond all you can imagine or think.

He is not Jehovah Needy, standing with His hand out trying to get all you have for his own selfish need.