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

10. What you do for God’s House. . .He will do for your house.

  9. Praying for this to be your greatest week ever…filled with infinite possibilities, unknown opportunities and divine connections.

  8.  If we focus on our hurts of the past we're stealing from our future.

  7.  Don’t let a negative doctor’s report seize you with panic. He reports the facts but facts change. Jesus the Healer never does.

  6.  You have more influence than you know…and certainly more than the enemy wants you to know. Acts 22:15

Here are the Top 5 Rich Thoughts Nuggets of the week.

  5.  True wealth is not measured by what people have but by what they give. John 6:41-44

  4.  If you have a pulse. . .you have a purpose. . .find it. . .live it.

  3.  The primary difference between a winner and a loser is the decision to be a winner.

  2.  Never be led by your feelings or what others think…always follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.

 # 1 Rich Thoughts Nugget you selected is:

  1.  God is more interested in where you’re going…than where you’ve been. Phil 3:13

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 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…a prayer cloth or anything that requires a step of faith toward the previously unknown.

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

A failure to act. . .is an action that is sure to fail.

We make a decision to fail. . .when we allow fear to prevent us from stepping out of our comfort zone or from taking a step of faith.

Faith destroys fear. . .crushes doubt. . .conquers the unknown. . .inspires others. . .and makes us victorious in all our hands find to do.

If we want to do more than we’ve done. . .be more than we’ve been. . .then we need to take a risk when it lines up with His Word.

God’s Word tells us what to do. . .if we take a risk and fail to succeed.

Proverbs 24:16 in the New Living Translation says:

“The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.  But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.”

I’ve found that scripturally directed action. . .even though it appears risky in the natural. . .produces successful results.  Sometimes those results are immediate, other times they’re progressive . . .as a result of the actions taken.

Here are seven reasons to do it and not just talk about it.

First, taking action is your duty.

January is in the rearview mirror for 2023.