On August 30, 2017 while riding in the car with her Mom. . .Sophia Lee PreJean, our first precious Grand Sugar from Abby and Chris was recorded on a video as saying . . .

“I am wise

I am kind

I am gracious

I am strong

I am loving”

Then with an Academy Award winning smile. . .Sophia would say it again.

Needless to say, my fine wife Bev, and I watched that video over and over again.

Not only was the video cute. . .but it was instilling in Sophia. . .a belief that will serve her well all the days of her life.

Even now at six years of age she is living in Haifa, Israel, enrolled in an all-Hebrew speaking school…and learning Hebrew like a champ.

With a grandfatherly pride. . .I showed that earlier video to many of my friends but didn’t think about teaching it until now.

Why now?  Bev and I are reading a nightly devotional from the “Book of Mysteries” written by Rabbi Jonathan Cahn, the author of The Harbinger, I & II and others.  We read Day Two of the devotional every night for two weeks. . .I’m going to share part of what Rabbi Cahn wrote:

One of the primary keys to success in life is. . .drum roll. . .persistence.  We must learn to keep on keeping on if we want to be a winner in life.

Perseverance is in the New Testament 32 times and its most frequently translated as:

“patience; endurance; patiently waiting”

The term literally means “remaining under” or standing firm despite opposition.

In life, we will face many challenges. . .and adversities.

Human nature will want you to rationalize that other people seem to have it easier than we do. . .and in some cases, that may be right.

But the Bible says that joy is based not on an absence of difficulty but on discovering your gifts and developing them for the benefit of the Kingdom of God.

Booker T. Washington said:

During the past few weeks on our Rich Thoughts For Breakfast conference calls we've discussed scriptural insights to living a better life.

These insights are all contained in Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 in the Message Bible which says:

“After looking at the way things are on this earth, here’s what I’ve decided is the best way to live: Take care of yourself, have a good time, and make the most of whatever job you have for as long as God gives you life. And that’s about it. That’s the human lot. Yes, we should make the most of what God gives, both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what’s given and delighting in the work. It’s God’s gift! God deals out joy in the present, the now. It’s useless to brood over how long we might live.”

As I’ve read and re-read that verse in preparing the teachings. . .I was stirred by Ecclesiastes 5:19 which says:

“Yes, we should make the most of what God gives, both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it.”

The word capacity ignited in my spirit and God showed me seven ways to expand our capacity for success as we move in His blessing flow.

But first, let’s lay a foundation for this teaching.

I’ve read Isaiah 54 many times. . .generally focusing on verse 17 particularly in the Amplified Bible which says:

God wants us producing fruit in our lives. . .manifesting the gifting and blessings of the Lord.

God wants us to greet each new day realizing that we have the opportunity to plant “seeds quickened into life, i.e. germinating, springing up, growing.”  God wants us to attempt great things for Him.

Without question, God wants us to understand that “the thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. . .” (John 10:10)

However, I don’t feel God wants us focusing on the first part of that verse. . .where the emphasis is on the attacks of the enemy.  God wants you and I to grasp, manifest and make alive the last part of John 10:10 in our lives.

“. . .I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

The last part of John 10:10 in the New Living Translation says:

“. . . My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”

The last part of John 10:10 in the Amplified Bible says:

“. . . I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it [a]overflows).”

This is a good verse to personalize. 

Are you facing any giants today?

How do your giants compare with Goliath?

1 Samuel 17:4 says:

“And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.”

Based on the King James Version of the Bible six cubits and a span would make Goliath over nine feet tall.

When you consider the average height of a man in Biblical times was five feet three inches. . Goliath was truly a giant.

1 Samuel 17:5 says:

“And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.”

According to my historical research Goliath’s helmet weighed roughly 66 pounds and his brass coat weighed roughly 175 pounds.

Can you imagine your 9’ neighbor carrying a 175-pound backpack and a 66 pound Yankee hat?