I’m not a big proponent of reverse motivation or psychology.

I like the direct. . .and yes, always the positive approach to every situation.

Except. . .this time.

Very clearly, God directed me to write the seven reasons some people are not successful.

I thought “Lord, why can’t I make this `seven reasons people are successful.’  His response was simple and direct…“Because I didn’t tell you to.”

Needless to say, in obedience to His divine direction here are seven reasons why people are not successful.

Happiness is an outward expression of an inner work.

Matthew 5:4 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Blessed and enviably happy [with a happiness produced by the experience of God's favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His matchless grace] are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted!”

Your happiness. . .depends on what you do and how you respond to what happens to you.

For people to be truly happy. . .there must be an inner realization of the mental and spiritual commitments they’ve made to be more than what they are. . .do more than what they’ve already done. . .and bless more than they thought imaginable.

Here are seven ways for you to be truly happy.

I’m saddened that millions, perhaps tens of millions of believers will be rushing into debt within the next few days and weeks. . .throwing financial restraint and caution to the wind.

A dear friend of mine sent me a link to a website for Black Friday.  When I saw the words. . .I thought about the day Jesus was betrayed. . .that was a very black Friday.

Once I clicked on the link I saw it was a website that offered online deals prior to Friday, November 23^rd. . .the day after Thanksgiving. . .the biggest shopping day of the year or as it’s called in the retail world, Black Friday.

May I suggest that today as you gather around the table for your Thanksgiving Day meal. . .that you take a moment and have everyone write out the things they’re thankful for this year. . .

When you begin praising God with an attitude of Thanksgiving . . . the devil gets nervous and calls 911. . .because he knows he’s in trouble.

Here’s ten things that I know to be true about thanksgiving.

Not so long ago, Steven, a young protégé of mine…showed me an excellent fifteen second promotional spot he created as an entry into a $50,000 competition.  You can’t say a lot in fifteen seconds but this young man spoke four words that ignited in my spirit. 

THINK BEYOND YOUR IMAGINATION

Though these four words were not original with him. . .they exploded in my spirit and I’ve been meditating and provoking close friends with them ever since.

Let’s start by establishing a very basic fact.  There are only two ways you can see something.

You may be a genius and you don’t even know it.

While you may not qualify for membership in the Mensa Society whose members have an IQ of 130 and above. . .I believe you are a genius.

If you went to college. . .you may have had a similar experience to mine.  I had a history professor. . .with whom I had a great relationship …explain to me the honors associated with a college graduate.

I will always remember. . .he said:

I just love the unction of the Holy Spirit. . .just about three weeks ago, I felt lead to teach “7 Reasons God Wants You To Prosper.”  I wrote down the seven points and a few scriptures. . .but I knew He wanted me to leave it until later.

On Thursday morning, I was praying about what to teach during our SUNDAY NITE LIVE service this week.  He immediately led me to this teaching and I knew it was the right time. . for the right audience. . .with a right now word from the Lord.

Here are seven reasons God wants you to prosper.

I woke up just before 2 AM this morning...Tuesday, November 6, 2012...Election Day. I knew God wanted me to pray.

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 evil.

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

I woke up at 4:30 this morning and couldn’t get back to sleep. . .so I knew God had a writing assignment for me.

As I opened my computer. . .the first scripture I saw was Psalm 112:5 in the New International Version:

“Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice.”

I looked up the verse in five other translations and was ready to write. . .but God led me in a totally different direction.

He said, “Write this down:”

“The Marine Corps is looking for a few good men. . .but not Me.”

God wants to raise up a generation of good men. . .REAL men who understand how to fulfill their destiny.

Heavenly Father, in the strong name of Jesus and in the powerful place of agreement we pray a hedge of protection for those in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

We ask that you protect them, their families, property and possessions from mighty winds, strong rains and surging waves.

We pray protection and effectiveness for first responders with emergency preparedness.

We know that our faith can move mountains and quiet fears

We rejoice that those who lose electricity will never lose the power of God guiding them.

We ask You, Heavenly Father, to dispatch angels to care for and protect all in the path of danger.

Finally, we ask for the peace of God comfort and strengthen everyone.

In the strong name of Jesus. . .we pray. . .Amen.