Make no mistake in your thinking . . .God created you to be a leader.

You can also know that the enemy has used and is continuing to use some clever tactics to keep you from realizing that YOU ARE A LEADER.  Sadly, many believers allow him to get away with this deadly deception.

You may never have thought of yourself as a leader and truthfully, what you think will hinder what you accomplish. 

The real question is what does God think and say about your being a leader. . .how does God see you?

Ephesians 2:10 in the New Living Translation says:

“For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

“You are God’s masterpiece” . . .does that sound like you’re a failure, a has been or a never was?  Not only are you His masterpiece. . .but He has plans for you.

I’m going to make a statement and I want you to get it down inside of you. . .in fact, if you get nothing else from this teaching, get this:

We have 73 days remaining in 2016. . .it’s time for each of us to prepare for the battles ahead. . .and the victories to come.

Here are seven preparations for your inevitable successes even in the midst of adversity.

# 1     Prepare for battle.

Alexander Graham Bell once said:

“Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.”

Ephesians 6:13 in the Message Bible says:

“Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.”

The World English Dictionary defines preparation as:

I’m going to say something that is an absolute fact.

There is nothing or nobody that can rob you of your divine destiny or keep you from manifesting the promises of God in your life.

Debt cannot. . .Depression cannot. . .Disappointment cannot. . .Discouragement cannot.  Nothing, and I mean nothing, can keep you from having perfect peace and His confidence in every situation unless you choose otherwise.

We choose . . .every day. . . whether we will serve the world with all its tribulation, trials, distress and frustration or whether we will serve the God of perfect peace.

John 16:33 in the King James Version says:

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.  In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

I think it’s also important to notice that the scripture says “be of good cheer.”  That means not to mope around with an “oh- woe- is- me attitude.”

Try this. . .the next time the enemy attacks you, your family, finances or health, laugh at him or the circumstances.  Tell him that you are wise to his tricks and they’re not going to work on you anymore and go back to keeping your eyes on the Lord.

But “Brother Harold, how can I be of good cheer with what I’m going through?”

You choose . . . because you are a creature of free will. . .you can choose to be cheerful (that’s what the Word says we’re to do when we stand on His Word) or you can choose the “nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen” mentality.

Here are two scriptures that confirm the success of God’s way over the world’s way:

“Brother Harold, there’s just no money available.  It seems if the windows of heaven have closed over us.”

You would be surprised and saddened by how many times I hear variations of that statement.

According to the FBI there is $1.4 trillion dollars in U.S. notes (paper money) in circulation.  If that cash were to be divided equally among the 322,762,018 people living in the United States each person would have an average of $4,337.56 in cash on hand (not counting what’s been stuffed in mattresses or other hiding places no one knows about.

The problem is not a shortage of money. . .we just need it to end up in the right hands.

Most Christians believe there is great insufficiency in the world …that they must live their lives in insufficiency.

Let me assure you God says, “There is more than enough.” In fact, He says, “The good life is your portion!”

Do you see how Satan is waging a battle in your mind, a battle of containment? It is hard for many to grasp just “having enough,” let alone seeing God wants you to have more than enough.

Remember, it is the world’s money managers that teach insufficiency, shortage, and want. They feel that’s the way to keep prices up, through contrived, manipulated shortage!

But we are not of this world, and our God and King declares that the basis of His Kingdom is abundance! John 10:10 in the King James Version plainly says:

A few days ago I read an interesting quote by someone who said:

“I’m gonna make the rest of my life, the best of my life.”

I really like that quote, however, I would make a small, but significant change.

I’m gonna make the rest of my life, the best of my life because the Word of God says I can.

There’s no question God wants us to have the best life we can.  In fact, in this teaching you’ll hear over 20 scriptures where we’re told to experience the good life.

So what does it really mean to live the good life?

Does the good life consist of having the latest electronic toys and gadgets. . .traveling to exotic locations for lengthy vacations. . .living in the biggest house in the nicest neighborhood. . .being successful in business and in your investments?