The story of David and Goliath is probably the favorite story of most all children. . .I know it was mine.

The giants that you and I face define our identity and establish the reality in which we’ve chosen to live.  The giants we face and defeat outline the places and spaces where we’ve chosen to live.

The giants in our lives. . .are determined to keep us out of our promised land where the promises of God are manifested.

By the way, you’re in your promised land. . .right now. . .the question is whether or not we embrace His promises to make it a land flowing with milk and honey. . .abundance and success.

Our ability to face and defeat our giants. . .will determine the extent of the success we achieve.

Slaying our giants will move us from a life of mediocrity to unlimited success.  And, yes, from fear to freedom.

While our giants aren’t necessarily physical, they are nevertheless foreboding and at times, terrifying.

It’s not unusual for us to wage an internal, mental war on when and how to face our giants.

Failure is an event. . .it’s not who you are.  Failure is never final if you have the God-given desire and direction to change your destiny.

Here are the A to Z’s on how to turn failure straight into success.

A-Admit it when you mess up.  The best way to overcome failure is to face it, learn from it and move on.

Proverbs 28:13 in The Living Bible says:

“A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them, he gets another chance.”

B-Boldy refuse to accept failure as final regardless of how badly you may have messed up. 

On May 29, 1953, Sir Edmond Hillary was the first man to climb Mount Everest. . ..29,000 feet straight up. He was knighted for his efforts.

People remember his triumph but few people know that he failed in his first attempt a year earlier.

Later he was asked to speak to an audience that recognized his first attempt at greatness. But Edmund Hillary saw himself as a failure.

He walked to the edge of the platform, made a fist and pointed at a picture of Mount Everest. Then he said in a loud voice:

Do you have “it”?  You should have…

Romans 12:8 in the New International Version says:

“If it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”

Everybody should have the gift of encouragement.

“Well, I’m not sure God wanted me to have that gift.”  Then it’s apparent that you’ve never read Hebrews 3:13 in the Amplified Bible:

“But instead warn (admonish, urge, and encourage) one another every day, as long as it is called Today, that none of you may be hardened [into settled rebellion] by the deceitfulness of sin [by the fraudulence, the stratagem, the trickery which the delusive glamor of his sin may play on him].”

We’re to encourage one another. . .HOW OFTEN?. . .EVERY DAY.

So let’s look at what encouragement means.

According to Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary the word encouragement is defined as:

“1. The act of encouraging; incitement to action or to practice; 2. That which serves to incite, support, promote, or advance, as favor, countenance, reward, etc.; incentive; increase of confidence.”

William Arthur Ward, noted for his inspiration maxims, said:

“Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you. Love me and I may be forced to love you.”

An unknown writer once said:

Have you ever read a scripture that just ignited a mental firestorm. . . stirring your spirit and energizing your fingers on a laptop keyboard?

Here’s the scripture that fired me up today.

Proverbs 12:24 in the New Living Translation says:

“Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave.”

As I read that scripture I began thinking about the differences between successful and unsuccessful people.

Brian Tracy, a noted author and success teacher, said:

“Successful people are always looking for opportunities to help others. Unsuccessful people are always asking, 'What's in it for me?'”

Being successful is not necessarily the result of your education, experience, family background or luck. . .but neither is being unsuccessful the result of those same things.

Here are twelve differences between successful and unsuccessful people.

1.      Successful people make plans. . .unsuccessful people make excuses.

For most of my life I was taught that talents were gifts of abilities and not financial gifts.  That’s not the case… talents as discussed in Matthew 25 is clearly defined as money.

If you have any doubt about the accuracy of what I’m saying… consider Matthew 25:16 in the New English Translation Bible:

“The one who had received five talents went off right away and put his money to work and gained five more.”

Next, take a look at Matthew 25:18-19 also in the New English Translation Bible which says:

“But the one who had received one talent went out and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money in it.”

I realize some people might say, “Well, yes but you’re just quoting those new -fangled translations.  What does the King James Version say?”

Glad you asked.

Matthew 25:18 in the King James Version says:

“But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.”

He hid his Lord’s what. . .oh, yes. . .MONEY.

Growing up. . .I saw illustrations in church with a fifty-cent piece or a silver talent representing a talent. . . yet that’s far from the truth.

In Jesus’ day, a talent referred to a large sum of money.  According to the commentary found in the Dake Bible, one talent equaled roughly $29,000.

Since we began Rich Thoughts For  Breakfast. . .I’ve written 137 blogs or television programs just on leadership.

You would think that I had covered on the bases on the do’s and don’ts of being a leader.  At least, that’s what I thought . . .until God allowed me to see something in a way that I’d never seen it before.

As this passage in Exodus begins, Moses is being paid a visit by Jethro, his father-in-law.   

Exodus 18:17-23 in the Message Bible says:

“Moses' father-in-law said, "This is no way to go about it. You'll burn out, and the people right along with you. This is way too much for you—you can't do this alone.

“Now listen to me. Let me tell you how to do this so that God will be in this with you. Be there for the people before God, but let the matters of concern be presented to God. Your job is to teach them the rules and instructions, to show them how to live, what to do.

“And then you need to keep a sharp eye out for competent men—men who fear God, men of integrity, men who are incorruptible—and appoint them as leaders over groups organized by the thousand, by the hundred, by fifty, and by ten.

“They'll be responsible for the everyday work of judging among the people. They'll bring the hard cases to you, but in the routine cases they'll be the judges. They will share your load and that will make it easier for you. If you handle the work this way, you'll have the strength to carry out whatever God commands you, and the people in their settings will flourish also."

As I was reading these verses, God shared me seven characteristics of leadership and what it takes to be successful in this world of ours.

Exodus 18:17-19 in the Message Bible says:

When I was dating my fine wife Bev. . .there was a popular song by Diana Ross entitled “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”

“If you need me, call me

No matter where you are

No matter how far

Just call my name

I'll be there in a hurry

On that you can depend and never worry”

The lyrics to the chorus are:

“Ain't no mountain high enough

Ain't no valley low enough

Ain't no river wild enough

Jesus is our Great Physician and His power, knowledge and abilities are without limitation because He is Jehovah-Rapha, our God who heals.

Exodus 15:26 says:                                     

“And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.”

According to Strong’s Concordance. . .the very name of God. . .Jehovah-Rapha reveals He is “. . .the Lord that healeth thee.” (H7495)

The fact that Jesus paid the price for our healing was prophesied 700 years before His birth by the prophet Isaiah.  In fact, Isaiah 53:4-5 says:

“Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses) and carried our sorrows (pains); yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.”

Isaiah prophesied long before Jesus ever walked the earth as a man. . .long before He was crucified and resurrected.  That’s why some people who don’t believe in divine healing cite this verse as historical fact with no spiritual application.  However, we cannot ignore the words of Matthew 8:16-17 which says:

“When evening came, they brought to Him many who were under the power of demons, and He drove out the spirits with a word and restored to health all who were sick.  And thus He fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, He Himself took [in order to carry away] our weaknesses and infirmities and bore away our diseases.”

Have you ever misplaced something you not only wanted to find. . .but you had to find?

Perhaps it was your car or house keys, an important document for work or some back-up files for your taxes.

After some time passed and more mental anguish than you care to admit, you finally found the misplaced items.

Recently, a precious, close friend of ours, Pastor Malc Burton sent me the following text.

“Good morning, Pastor.  Read Psalm 62:5 when you get a moment.  God stirred me this morning about misplaced expectation and misplaced trust.  Love you.”

Pastor Malc is full of revelatory insight.  He has ghost written over 100 books for many well-known Christian leaders. . .names you would immediately recognize.

As I read Pastor Malc’s text I was stirred as well.  Even before reading his scripture. . .I felt impressed to write seven things never to misplace.

1.      Misplaced expectation.

Psalm 62:5 in the Amplified Bible says:

“My soul, wait only upon God and silently submit to Him; for my hope and expectation are from Him.”

I was sitting in a hotel room praying about what I should teach the next morning during my three-hour seminar.

For me, the question isn’t so much what to teach as what not to teach.  I’ve written the equivalent of over eight hundred half-hour television shows at the unction of the Holy Spirit in the past three years.

On that particular Friday evening I was seeking the will of the Lord and what He wanted me to teach based on who was going to be in that room.

Suddenly, five thought-provoking words dropped into my spirit.

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

I instantly knew that was the question God wanted me to pose to those in attendance.

Several musical artists have written and performed songs entitled “What Are You Waiting For.”  However, there is one song written by Natalie Grant that says the right things and asks the right questions.

So you wanna change the world

What are you waiting for

You say you're gonna start right now