Sometime last year, the Lord stirred me about the institution of marriage. Since Harold and I just celebrated our 47^th year of marriage … I thought this might be a good time to share.

Now understand this, I’m not sharing because I think we have a perfect marriage because there is no such thing as a perfect marriage.

As a matter of fact, Harold and I have often been asked to write a book on marriage. But, the longer I live the less I think that I know on the subject.

What works for one couple may not work for another.

That doesn’t mean there are not obvious foundational aspects that all marriages need like love and respect. But those are obvious.

However, there are probably just as many myths about marriage as there are foundations … so I decided to address some of those instead.

Myth 1 You will just naturally get along if you are meant to be together

Even if you know God put you together with your spouse…marriage is and always will be an ongoing effort.

Saying all that … there are certain things that can help a marriage last.

Many years ago, I came across the 10 Commandments of Success written by Charles M. Schwab, the steel magnet of the late nineteenth and early 20^th Century.

A few days ago, I came across a Rich Thoughts For Breakfast teaching I did about Schwab and his ten commandments for success.

As I read over what I had previously written. . .I was given a clear word from the Lord to expand this teaching and share it on SUNDAY NITE LIVE and in our Rich Thoughts Email.

What you’re about to see is the 10 Commandments of Success greatly expanded with fresh Holy Spirit revelation.

God loves it when we pull close to Him. . .He wants us reading and obeying His Word.

He wants us moving from glory to glory in His marvelous image. During a recent Rich Thoughts for Breakfast morning call, we taught from Revelation 2:19 in the Message Bible. The Lord used that scripture to show me seven keys of getting better in our spiritual walk every day.

Now, He directed me to put some meat on the bones of the seven points and share it with our world-wide Internet audience on Sunday Night LIVE.

But first, the letter to the church at Thyatira is the LONGEST of the seven letters, but was written to the smallest and seemingly least important of the seven cities. The point is God cares about each and every one of us. No one is ever left out.

Here’s our primary scripture for this teaching.

Revelation 2:19 in the Message Bible says:

Do you want to be an effective Christian here on planet earth? Of course, you do.

So what’s the key?

Handing out tracts in the workplace or leaving them wedged in the mirrors of public restrooms. Maybe.

How about telling people how Jesus has changed your life? That’s on the right track for sure.

What about when you laugh and sing praises to our Lord?

Can that be an effective witness for the Lord?

Yes, according to Psalm 126:2 in the Classic Amplified Bible which says:

“Then were our mouths filled with laughter, and our tongues with singing. Then they said among the nations, The Lord has done great things for them.”

Some people say. . .Brother Harold, things are so stressful that I can’t be filled with laughter. There’s nothing to laugh about.

First, God did not call you to be stressed. I Peter 5:7 in the Classic Amplified Bible says:

“Casting the whole off your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about your watchfully.”

I was talking with a man recently who said:

“People are getting laid off.”                             People can’t find jobs.”

People are taking pay reductions.”                 People can’t pay their bills.

People are slashing their budgets.”                   Home values are dropping

Investments have gone up in smoke.

He looked at me…smiled and said….that’s just what’s happening in my family.

I had another man ask me what was my best investment advice for right now….

I said buy stock in companies that sell antacids and ulcer medication.  

I was just kidding of course.

There is movement to bring businesses back to make American lives better but as is in everything, sometimes it will get worse before it can get better.

If a quarterback's timing is off. . .he's going to have a bad day with more interceptions than touchdowns. That's clearly evident in some of the National Football League games and it was definitely true in the Super Bowl last Sunday night.

In life. . .if your timing is off. . .you can miss possibilities and opportunities for success.

Timing is critically important in life. . .and every decision you make.

Something can be a good idea. . .it can be a great idea. . .it can even be a God idea but for it to be successful it must be in God's timing.

Here are seven facts we all need to be reminded of about God’s timing.

1.      The Holy Spirit gives you the timing.

Have you ever wondered if it was the right time to make a career change. . .to ask someone to marry you. . .to present your ideas to your supervisors?

Knowing when to speak. . .is equally important to what you’re going to say.

Acts 1:7-8 in the Message Bible says:

As of Sunday, January 27th, there are 338 days left in 2019. Now, we don’t know what you’ve done differently in the first 27 days of this year. . .but we challenge you to seize every opportunity from this day forward.

I’m going to ask you four questions . . .three of them come from the book 2 Chairs. If you have not read the book we encourage you to do so as soon as possible.

We spent the first two weeks of this year discussing the book on Rich Thoughts For Breakfast. . .the calls are available at www.haroldherring.com under podcasts.

If you take them seriously, these four questions will be life changing.

Question # 1, Does God know your situation?

Question # 2, Can God handle your situation?

Question #3, Does God have a plan for your life?

Question #4, Are you maximizing the opportunities God is sending your way?

First, what does the word opportunity mean to you?

According to Dictionary.com it means:

I’ve got a word for you. . .if you’re believing God for success . . .it’s going to happen.

It’s not a question of if. . .but when.

I remember when my fine wife, Bev, shared a scripture with me several days ago that ignited in my spirit and strengthened my belief that . . . whatever you’re believing for. . .trusting is going to happen. . .is going to manifest.

1 Chronicles 28:20 in The Living Bible says:

“Then he continued, “Be strong and courageous and get to work. Don’t be frightened by the size of the task, for the Lord my God is with you; he will not forsake you. He will see to it that everything is finished correctly."

In this powerful verse. . .we find seven reasons that what you’re believing for. . .is going to happen.

1.      Be strong

Since we began the Rich Thoughts for Breakfast outreach six years ago in January. . .we’ve had over 2,200 daily morning conference calls and 162 of those have the word success in the title.  A total of 1,566 teachings mention the word success at least once.

You would think that I’ve covered the topic rather thoroughly BUT GOD directed us to teach on it once again and from a slightly different perspective.

Let’s look at Unlocking Your Success In 2019.

1.      Decide what you want.

Psalm 119:130 in the Classic Amplified Bible says:

“The unfolding of Your [glorious] words give light; Their unfolding gives understanding to the simple (childlike).”