It was early morning when the Lord began this rapid-fire succession of the seven things we should do if we want to finish 2024 strong. 

As He was revealing these seven things. . .it was clear that our success for the remainder of 2024 was dependent upon our ability to stop doing certain things.

I am a positive person but the truth of the matter is this. . .there are some things we just don't need to do!

# 1    Not believing

There is an old saying. . .if you don’t believe in something you’ll fall for anything.

More properly said, if you don’t believe in the Word of God then you’ll more likely fall for the tricks, traps, lies, deceptions and wiles the enemy throws your way.

The word believe is found in 131 verses in the King James Bible.  However, I feel led to share with you seven things you must believe.

First, You must believe He is a miracle working savior.

Matthew 9:28 says:

Have you watched a television series where the star of the show is seemingly always in eminent peril?

No matter how real the scene feel. . .you can know for sure. . .that the creator and writers of the television show will never kill the hero or the star. . .who plays the hero.

Just like the movies. . .you’re a star that will never defeated by the enemy.  In fact, not only will you not lose. . .God wants you to win every single time.

Here are three scriptures which should strengthen and energize your faith against every attack of the enemy.

First, 2 Corinthians 4:8 in the Amplified Bible says:

“We are hedged in (pressed) on every side [troubled and oppressed in every way], but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair.”

The attack on you, your family, health or finances. . .may be intense. . you can trust God that you will never be defeated.  So why be afraid?

Hebrews 13:6 in the Amplified Bible says:

Someone once said, "what you think about, your bring about."

Proverbs 23:7 says:

“As a man thinketh in his heart…”

Successful People Think Differently.  Some people think about what they’ll get when they become successful.  They fantasize about the cars, electronic toys, trips and even the house they’ll live in.

Nothing wrong with dreaming. . .or seeing yourself vacationing in exotic locations.

However, if you want to be successful. . .here are 7 things you should be thinking about FIRST.

1.         Wisdom

If you want to be successful you need an insatiable hunger for wisdom.

You must want wisdom more. . .than your favorite television show.

You must want wisdom more. . .than reading your friend’s posts on Facebook or Tweets on Twitter.

You must want wisdom more. . .than watching the latest game of your favorite sports team.

You must want wisdom more. . .than anything else other than your time with the Holy Spirit.

How do you get wisdom?  The same way you get anything else that you want. . .you ask for it. . .you seek it.

As I was reading Isaiah 55:11, my spirit was stirred to write “Seven Things For the Next Seven Days.”

“So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”

You can’t send forth what you don’t know.

Your mouth can’t send forth what your heart doesn’t understand.

Let’s look at this verse in greater detail.

# 1    “So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth. . .”

It’s the Word that goes forth. . .not in a written form. . .but the spoken Word of God.

And these are not just any words. . .they’re the words of God from the Word of God.

It’s not enough to know the Word. . .you must speak the Word.

The Message Bible translation of Isaiah 55:11 begins with this sentence.

Why were you born?

I can tell you. . .it wasn’t just because your Mom and Dad wanted to have a beautiful baby.

You were born for a purpose. . .God knew you before you were formed in your mother’s womb.

Yet too few believers understand their purpose or why they were born.

Ephesians 5:14:

“Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”

According to Strong’s Concordance the word “sleepest” means “to fall asleep” but it also means:

“to yield to sloth and sin” and “to be indifferent to one's salvation.”

The Lord kept bringing the phrase “indifferent to one’s salvation” back to my remembrance and I was prompted to ask this question.

What does it mean to be “indifferent to one’s salvation?”