Harold wanted me to share a story with you about waking up on election day knowing God wanted him to pray.  He stated:

“As I prayed...God stirred in my imagination what would happen if someone were to die today before the election results were known.”

“As the person entered heaven...God allowed me to see this person asking Him ‘who won the election.’ To which, God boldly replied, ‘I did.’"

"The people whose candidate lost...prayed to me for the safety and protection of the country from the things they don’t agree with.

"The people whose candidate won...praised me for his victory and the next four years.

"In both cases...I WIN....because the people prayed."

Over the last many years of ministry, Harold has written over 90 blogs and television programs on leadership.  I, in turn, am an editor so I take and tweak what he’s written and we at times discuss the blogs and scriptures together.

You would think we’d have covered the bases on the do’s and don’ts of being a leader.  Until God allowed us to see something in a way that we’ve never seen it before.

In 2 Timothy 3:1-4 it states:

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

² For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

³ Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

⁴ Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God….”

And Timothy goes on to list more of the problems of his times … which we can all pretty much agree … are the problems of our times at well.

When we became born again believers we were called to Kingdom business. 

We may or may not be looking the end of the world in the face but that essentially doesn’t matter because no matter how much longer the earth remains… we have all been called to do Kingdom business. 

What we are doing in the here and now will be what we are judged for in the by and by.  And the by and by is going to come sooner or later for all of us.

I’m pretty sure that as Nazi Germany was attacking countries and gathering Jews across Europe, they felt this had to be the end of the world. It certainly looked like the end of theirs. 

It is said that 6 million people were annihilated in Poland alone, one of the few countries that had always been open to the Jewish population.  I might add it is said 3 of the 6 million who died were Christians trying to protect the Jews but that is often forgotten or put in the last sentence of the article.

Jesus’ disciples felt the end was imminent.

The years surrounding the year 1000 were filled with predictions about the imminent return of Christ - to the point where Christians didn’t plant crops for the next year, buildings weren’t repaired and the details of daily life were ignored.

Two scriptures have captured my attention today.

The first scripture is 1 Corinthians 15:20-22  which says:

“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”

I looked up the words “. . .in Christ shall all be made alive” in the Strong’s Concordance.

The word “alive” is the Greek word zōopoieō (zō-ah-poi-e'-ō) (G2227) and it means:

“to cause to live; by spiritual power to arouse and invigorate; to give increase of life; or of seeds quickened into life, i.e. germinating, springing up, growing.”

As I read the definitions the Lord quickened several things in my spirit.

Many people want “success to be convenient and instantaneous”.  If possible, they’d like to have an app on their smartphone or be able to order it on the internet with free overnight shipping.  It doesn’t work that way.

There is a process to being successful. . .and being faithful is one of the major keys.

Write down this next statement. . .get it embedded in your mental hard drive. . .available for instant recall.

If you’re not faithful with what you’ve got. . .that’s all you’ll ever get.

If you cannot be faithful where you are with what you've got...you'll never arrive at any other destination than where you're at. . .at the moment.

If you're not faithful where you are with what you've got...it'll take more than Map Quest for you to ever find your way out of mediocrity.

If you're not faithful where you are with what you've got...you'll never have to worry about your future success because you'll never find it

If you're not faithful where you are with what you've got...you'll never hear God say well done My good and faithful servant.

If you're not faithful where you are with what you've got...then He will never reveal to you secret riches and hidden treasures.

Here are seven keys to being faithful and successful.

Even before the coronavirus shutdown it was easy to get into our comfort zone and like it.

Now, so many who get out just want to get back to the comfort of their own home at night and not leave until they have to. 

I can relate…however, as Christians we are called to make a difference not make excuses.

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.

But don’t take my word for it ... what does the greatest book ever written have to say about excuses?

Twenty-Twenty has certainly introduced us to spiritual warfare in a new way but the truth is … we were called into service in God’s Army the minute we accepted Jesus as our Savior.

Ephesians 6:11 tells us to put on the whole armor of God.  Eph 6:12 tells us the weapons or our warfare are not against flesh and blood.

And there are so many more scriptures that deal with the battles of this life and the necessity of knowing who we are in Christ in order to defeat the enemy in our lives.

So let’s dive in…

One of the favorite tactics of the enemy is to create an illusion which makes you think that the problems you encounter. . .are unique to you. . .that no one else has to face what you face.

Not true.  First, let’s establish three facts.

First, the devil is a defeated foe.

Colossians 2:15 says:

“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”

John 16:33

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

John 12:31 in the Amplified Bible says:

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.

In this teaching we're going to share with you very specific ABC's Of Success Over Failure.

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:

When I ask believers on daily conference calls or our live streaming broadcasts to determine the #1 hindrance that’s been holding them back from doing what God and they want to accomplish in the remainder of 2020 the answer is almost always the same.

It’s procrastination. . .the inability to make a decision or get started. After considering this problem in prayer. . .we were led to talk about this major basic hindrance on tonight’s broadcast.

God reminded us of Job 22:28 in the Classic Amplified Bible which says:

“You shall also decide and decree a thing, and it shall be established for you; and the light [of God’s favor] shall shine upon your ways.”

When a king made a decree. . .it carried the force of the law with it.  It was always a written document. . .specific in nature. .  bearing his signature. And obeyed without question.

As we read your correspondence. . .it was easy to see. . .there were some who believed without a shadow of a doubt that they would accomplish their goals in 2020.  There were some who wanted to move forward but they were being hindered by fear of COVID19 or a lack of confidence. 

During the 2,801 calls we shared together during the past 7 years and eight months on Rich Thoughts for Breakfast, I’ve written forty-nine teachings just on faith. I’ve also mentioned faith on over 2,000 of the daily calls.

You would think I’ve said what should be said or taught about faith. . .but that’s not the case.

Here are seven things faith makes possible.

First, Faith Positions Us to Receive Forgiveness.

Romans 3:25 in the Amplified Bible says:

“For we hold that a man is justified and made upright by faith independent of and distinctly apart from good deeds (works of the Law). [The observance of the Law has nothing to do with justification.].”

As the scripture says we are saved by grace through faith.

Ephesians 2:8-9 in the Amplified Bible says:

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 even thought about us.

There is a pick-up line that single men sometimes use on single women.  It goes like this.

“Girl, I’m so tired. . .because you’ve been running through my mind all day.”

By the way ladies, if a man ever uses that line on you. . .be flattered but quickly ask him. . .if he has a job. . .does he have a five-year plan for the future. . .if he doesn’t answer “yes” to both those questions. . .leave him in the rearview mirror of your life.

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.