On August 30, 2017 while riding in the car with her Mom, Abby. . .Sophia Lee PreJean, our most precious Grand Sugar, was recorded 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.

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

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

Motives are what makes us do what we do.

According to dictionary.com the word motive means:

“something that causes a person to act in a certain way; do a certain thing; an inner drive, impulse or intention that causes a person to do something or act in a certain way.”

Motivation to a Christian is like gas in the tank of your car.  It gives you what’s desired and/or necessary to be a success in life.

Motivation unfortunately is not a class you take in school.

Motivation can’t be inherited.  It’s not hereditary. 

Motivation is not circumstantial or environmental. . .it’s an inner working.

It’s also important to point out that motivation can be good or ungodly.

Here are examples of seven Biblical characters and what motivated them to accomplish their God-given goals.

It’s important to understand that when God gives us a vision, a goal or a prophetic Word, it is then up to us to see it through.

The vision, goal or Word is the reward but it is up to us to follow the process to the end result.

Wow…I was looking at Ephesians 6:13-18 which describes our spiritual armor when God showed me an amazing parallel in the Message Bible translation.

"Be prepared.  You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. (1) 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. (2) Truth, righteousness, peace, faith and salvation are more than words.  Learn how to apply them.  You'll need them throughout your life. (3) God's Word is an indispensable weapon. (4) In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare.  Pray hard and long.  Pray for your brothers and sisters. (5)  Keep your eyes open. (6)  Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.(7)"

From this powerful scriptural passage God showed me seven facts you should know about your spiritual armour.

1.      Be prepared.  You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. 

The World English Dictionary defines preparation as:

“the act or process of preparing and the state of being prepared; readiness”

Preparation is a mental decision because it becomes a practical reality.

Before any well-trained soldier goes into battle. . .he/she will inspect their equipment to make sure they’re fully prepared to face and defeat every attack of the enemy.

In preparation for spiritual warfare. . .the most important you can do. . .is to sanctify yourself for battle.

Have you ever had something come through at just the right time to meet a specific need?

I know we have. . .

I remember once when our bookkeeper made a mistake which resulted in our owing $14,000 in taxes. . .which we discovered a few days before it had to be paid.  And frankly, not sure how many people have that kind of money just lying around!  

We prayed. . .and moved ahead believing God would provide.

I was speaking that next Sunday at a church in southern California. . .it was an incredible service but...

Can you imagine my surprise when the Pastor handed me a check for $16,000 for preaching a one-hour Sunday morning service?

I discovered later that a man in the church had given $10,000 in the offering in appreciation for advice I had given him a year or so before.  He later told me the advice made him hundreds of thousands of dollars.

This offering was an answer to prayer and it came through at just the right time in a totally unexpected way.

I also remember the days when someone gave us $20 which was exactly what we needed to finish paying a bill.

Whether the amount is small or large. . .we serve an on-time God who will comes through at just the right time.  But don’t be discouraged if His timing is not your timing. Just stay in Faith!

If you feel something is holding you back, here are a few hinderances that may need changing:           

A few days ago I was writing a Rich Thoughts TV show and blog about expectation.  I made the following statement.

“I begin each day filled with supernatural expectation about the manifestation of God’s presence, power, provision, protection, promotion, peace and promises.”

As I was typing those words something ignited in my spirit and I knew God had just given me the seven things we can expect to receive from Him.

1.         Presence

The best place for you to be. . .is not in the Presidential Suite of a four-star hotel . . . the Lincoln Bedroom at the White House. . .the luxury suite of a cruise ship sailing through the Mediterranean Sea. . .even though all those places are nice . . . the best place for a believer to be is in God’s Presence.

And the best part is anyone can reach out for God!

As a born-again believer you have the privilege of access into His presence. That is something that we can’t take for granted.  It is beyond awesome if you think about it.

Psalm 118:20 in the New Living Translation says:

“These gates lead to the presence of the Lord, and the godly enter there.”

Not only can you enter into His presence but He even tells you the best time to find Him.

Proverbs 8:17 says:

“I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.”

How’s your vision?

I’m not talking about your natural eyesight but your spiritual vision.

Do you know God’s vision for your life?  And if not, why not?

If you already know His vision for your life. . .what are you doing to bring it to pass?

The word vision appears in the King James Version of the Bible a total of 96 times.

Genesis 15.1 says:   “… the Lord came to Abram in a vision.”

Genesis 46.2 says:  “And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night…”

Daniel 2:19 says:

“Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.”

Hosea 12:10 says:

Some years ago (29 to be exact), there was a movie entitled “Jerry McGuire.”

Truthfully, I’ve never watched the entire movie. . .however, I did see part of the Oscar –winning performance by Cuba Gooding, Jr., as an athlete seeking a more lucrative financial contract.

Throughout the movie, Gooding would say to Tom Cruise, his agent, “Show me the money” which became an immediate pop culture sensation.

The phrase “Show me the money” was then repeated for some time by celebrities and normal people like you and me.

A few days ago, I was doing a search on money. . .when I came across the phrase “show me the money.”  Evidently, it’s still around.

I smiled and did an immediate search on “show me.”  The result of which. . .is this teaching on seven things God wants to show us.

1.         Show me the way.

There are actual people who live the words of the Hank Williams, Sr. song which goes like this.

“I’ve wandered so aimless, life filled with sin

I’ve written on success more times than I can remember. . .however, once again, at the unction of the Holy Spirit, my fingers are typing what I know to be His further thoughts on success. . .yours and mine.

I have taught for years that your mentality for success, wealth, financial freedom or for that matter, lack. . .is a collection of the dominant thoughts in your mind. 

Where you are today is a result of the thoughts you had yesterday...where you will be tomorrow will be a result of the thoughts you have today.

Someone once said, "What you think about, you bring about."

Proverbs 23:7 says:

“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.”

Successful people think differently than unsuccessful people.

Some months ago, I taught “12 Differences Between Successful and Unsuccessful People.”  I strongly recommend you read this insightful teaching which you may find on our website www.haroldherring.com by using the search function.

Here are 7 Things Successful People Think About.

1.         Wisdom

One of the favorite scriptures was emphasized to me by my wisdom mentor and good friend, Dr. Mike Murdock, which is Proverbs 4:7 in the Amplified Bible which says:

Giving is important to God. . .that’s why it should be important to us.

In fact, God sets giving apart from going to church. . .praying. . .even living a righteous life.

Genesis 8:22 says:

“While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.”

As long as the earth exists there will be temperature changes. . .cold and heat thus establishing the seasons of the year.

God is clearly saying that day and night. . .a separation of time will exist as long as the earth remains.  A time for working and a time for resting.

It is interesting to note that the very first thing listed in Genesis 8:22 is giving.

God establishes giving and receiving as a powerful dynamic in the earth.  A force that is immoveable. . .just like days, seasons and temperature changes.

Here are seven powerful reasons why you should be a giver.

1.         We Worship God by Our Giving.

The sequence of worshipping God by our giving is beautifully laid out in three verses in Psalm 116 where verse 12 in the Amplified Bible says:

As I was in special prayer for our partners. . .God allowed me to see the intense spiritual battle faced by many His children and especially, our Spiritual Entrepreneurs.

Like others. . .you may have prayed for change. . .about birthing a new habit. . .turning lack into more than enough. . .and accomplishing your goals for 2023.

Suddenly. . .God directed my attention to Daniel 10:12-13 where He drew a direct parallel to what happened to Daniel and what may have happened to you.

“Then he said to me, Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your mind and heart to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come as a consequence of [and in response to] your words.”

Here are seven keys to getting your prayers answered.

1.      Fear Not

In the King James Version of the Bible we’re told nine times that we should be “born again.”  So I think it’s fair to say that being born again is significant and obviously important to God.  After all, He paid the ultimate price by sending His only begotten Son that we should not perish but have everlasting and abundant life. . .by being born again.