Hebrews 12:12-13 in the Message Bible says:

“So don't sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it!”

I started wondering why people sit on their hands and drag their feet….and realized it happens when people make excuses.

Believe me, I’ve heard hundreds, maybe thousands of the excuses … and some that would make you laugh if you didn’t know the person speaking the words was serious.

I believe if I set my mind to it…I could come up with some of the greatest excuses in the world.

But the real question is what does the greatest book ever written have to say about excuses.

Proverbs 24:11 in the Message Bible says:

“Rescue the perishing; don't hesitate to step in and help. If you say, "Hey, that's none of my business," will that get you off the hook? Someone is watching you closely, you know— Someone not impressed with weak excuses.”

2 Thessalonians 3:10-13 says:

Have you ever read a quote by someone that just ignited in your spirit.  I read it this morning and it was a quote by Anonymous that fired me up.  Here it is:

“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 read 40 scriptures where we’re told to and how to experience the good life.

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

Does the good life consist of having what the world has in 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…but loving Jesus along the way?

For those who are sick. . .battling a disease or condition. . .the good life is divine health.

For those who’re having trouble with their children.  . .the good life is everybody knowing and serving Jesus as Lord.

As my fine wife, Bev and I were in special prayer for our partners...God allowed us to see the intense spiritual battle faced by some our partners and His many children.

We felt the concern of His children over their prayers going seemingly unanswered.

You may have been praying for changes in your finances...a new job or a promotion...a healing for your body...turning lack into more than enough or overcoming addictions to alcohol, drugs or sin…but your answer hasn’t manifested…yet.

As we were praying. . .our attention was turned to Daniel 10:12-13 where He drew a direct parallel to what happened to Daniel and what may be happening 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

I vividly remember the first time I heard 1 Corinthians 12:22 in the New Living Translation.  I immediately knew it was a verse that should be taught and/or quoted on a regular basis.

I knew God would use this verse to touch and change people’s lives who feel they are weaker or less important to Him as others.

The entire verse of 1 Corinthians 12:22 in the New Living Translation says:

“In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary.”

As I was re-reading that verse God immediately gave me seven reasons why you and every other believer are strong, important and necessary to the Body of Christ.

Before getting to the seven reasons you are necessary I want to share 1 Corinthians 12:22 in two other translations.

First, the Contemporary English Version of 1 Corinthians 12:22, says:

"In fact, we cannot get along without the parts of the body that seem to be the weakest."

Second, the New International Reader’s Version of 1 Corinthians 12:22, says:

“In fact, it is just the opposite. The parts of the body that seem to be weaker are the ones we can’t do without.”

If I had a penny for every time someone said to me. . . “the enemy is just trying to hold me down” or “my circumstances are holding me back”. . .I would be able to pay for my dream trip of two weeks in Bora Bora.

When people say that to me my usual response is. . .you know. . .you’re right. . and I don’t want to know your circumstances.

Dictionary.com defines circumstances as:

“a condition, detail, part, or attribute, with respect to time, place, manner, agent, etc., that accompanies, determines, or modifies a fact or event; a modifying or influencing factor”

Spiritually speaking. . .I define circumstance as the circle you’re standing in.

We shouldn’t be standing still. . .we should be moving from glory unto glory. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

In which case, we would be leaving our circumstances behind.

So for me. . .the question is why do I want to hear about what the person ought to be leaving behind.

Every time someone painstakingly reviews, renews and refreshes their circumstances they are forcing themselves to live them again.

We don’t need to revive our current dilemma . . .we need to seek answers. . .ways to rise above our circumstances. . .whatever they may be.

However … in a chronic circumstance… it may call for changing how we view those circumstances.

There is absolutely, no doubt that God wants you manifesting biblical success in your life.

It’s important to understand the significance of biblical success. . .that’s where you and everyone around you. . .recognizes that God makes you successful.

Deuteronomy 30:9 in the New Century Version says:

“The Lord your God will make you successful in everything you do. You will have many children, your cattle will have many calves, and your fields will produce good crops, because the Lord will again be happy with you, just as he was with your ancestors.”

Did you notice that first sentence in this passage of scripture says:  “The Lord your God will make you successful in everything you do. . .”

First off, He’s not just any God.  He’s your God. . .your personal God, the one who has your picture on His refrigerator. Yes, He loves you that much!

Second, He will make you successful in EVERYTHING you do.  Not just some things.  Or the most pressing or important things.  No, He, the Lord God Almighty, is going to make you successful in ALL you do.

The key to our biblical success is our obedience to His instructions.

Joshua 1:7 in the New Century Version says:

“Be strong and brave. Be sure to obey all the teachings my servant Moses gave you. If you follow them exactly, you will be successful in everything you do.”

Our obedience to God’s instructions as a pre-requisite for our success is mentioned several other times in scripture as well.

Have you ever been around someone who says that God is always telling them. . .this or that?

Let me quickly say that I’m not in any way necessarily criticizing or condemning those who say such.  Because I know from personal experience that God not only does but desires to speak to us.

Does the enemy use those to whom He speaks or hears His voice make you feel like you somehow don’t measure up spiritually?

I can tell you without equivocation. . . God would never do that.

Galatians 6:4 in the Classic Amplified Bible says::

“But let every person carefully scrutinize and examine and test his own conduct and his own work. He can then have the personal satisfaction and joy of doing something commendable [in itself alone] without [resorting to] boastful comparison with his neighbor.”

Don’t worry about what others say. . .God said to them.  Just be concerned about yourself and the ways God can use to direct you in the path He would have you follow.

Here are seven ways to get God’s personal direction for your life.

First, God will lead you through His Word.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 says:

Your Perception Generally Becomes Your Reality

Did you know that the way you perceive God can keep you from knowing the truth about Him? It’s true.

Your perception of a person, if it is wrong, will keep you from seeing him or her as they really are. That is the reason I make this statement:

You will have the God you perceive.

If you perceive Him as a poor God, you will always think He is trying to get money from you. But when you understand He is a rich God, you will realize He is trying to get money to you not from you.

Your perception of God and His relationship to your financial status will cause you to see Him in one of two ways: He will be either Jehovah Needy or Jehovah Jireh.

According to the Bible, God is Jehovah Jireh and stands ready and able to prosper and abundantly bless you beyond all you can imagine or think.

He is not Jehovah Needy, standing with His hand out trying to get all you have for his own selfish need.

Here is the bottom line. You are a living epistle (letter) that is being read by every unsaved person who observes your life.

… you yourselves are our letter of recommendation (our credentials), written in your hearts, to be known (perceived, recognized) and read by everybody. 2 Corinthians 3:2, Amplified

If the God you perceive from the teaching you have received is a needy God, all who observe you will perceive your God to be needy or greedy, and they will have no desire to know him.

However, if the God you perceive from a correct understanding of His Word is a God who abundantly blesses and prospers His children, those who observe His goodness to you will perceive Him to be a good God who supplies and blesses, and they will come to your light.

…Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!

… His glory shall be seen on you.

The first time I ever heard the term “point of contact” was while watching one of Oral Roberts old healing crusades when it played on our small black and white TV.

I remember Dr. Roberts stretching out his hands toward the TV camera and asking the viewers at home to extend their faith by touching his hand on the television screen as a point of contact.

Over the years I’ve heard some men and women of God talk about a point of contact when it comes to the prayer of agreement.

I believe a point of contact is anything God instructs us to do to help release our faith.

We can say it another way. . .a point of contact provides a way for us to act on what the Word says and when we do. . .we release our faith to move the hand of God.

Our point of contact could be the prayer of faith…the laying on of hands…an act of faith that causes you to move outside your comfort zone, Holy Communion, water…a prayer cloth or anything that requires a step of faith toward the previously unknown.

A point of contact is one method we use to reach God and obey His divine instructions. 

Point of contact is also used in transferring the anointing and healing.

I’ve checked a dozen different translations and the actual phrase “point of contact” is nowhere to be found in the scriptures.  However, I have personally experienced the power of God manifested through a point of contact and have seen its principle outlined in scripture. 

Here are seven biblical instances where a point of contact was established by an amazing step of faith. 

Have you ever had someone say. . . “I’ve been thinking about you?”

While we assume those thoughts are good. . .we have no idea what they’re thinking or how long they thought about us.

On a spiritual level. . .God does bring people to our minds. . .people he wants us to pray for.

In this teaching, I want to talk about someone who thinks about you 24/7.

1 Peter 5:7 in The Living Bible says:

“Let him have all your worries and cares, for he is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you.”

He is “always thinking about you.”

Not only that but He is “watching everything that concerns you.”

Can somebody say “Hallelujah”?  You need to stop and really embrace that.

One of my favorite scriptures is Psalm 40:17 in The Living Bible which says: