Our goal is to always be a learner. We want to receive something from everything we read.


We take notes on what we’ve read that we feel God wants us to make applicable to our lives or often share with others like you.


Your mindset is simply a collection of the dominant thoughts in your life.


Proverbs 4:23 in the New Century Version says:


"Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life."


If you want to be successful. . .spiritually and professionally. . .you need to learn how to collect, assimilate, activate and utilize the dominant thoughts in your life.


And we might add . . . keep your dominant thoughts the pure, the powerful and the positive from the Word of God.


Here are seven ways to develop a successful mindset. They’re not the only ways but they are the seven I felt stirred to share with you in this teaching.


1. Divine Direction


You can listen to all the financial authorities our society is celebrating at the moment . . .but if we want our success to be lasting. . .we need to seek divine direction about our ideas, our plan and the ultimate journey to our destiny from the ageless source who knows us better than we know ourselves.


Proverbs 3:5-6 in the Message Bible says:

“Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track.”


There are times when every believer doesn’t know what to do or which way to go, but there is NEVER an acceptable excuse for thinking you can’t find out.


If you try to figure things out on your own . . .to solve your problems by yourself then you don’t need God.


Simply said, only one of you will be working on and through the problem, situation or attack. . .that’s either you or Him.


As the verse says, you must “. . .listen for God’s voice in everything you do. . .”


The reason you listen for His voice is because He’s the one who will “. . .keep you on track.”


One more encouragement is found in Isaiah 48:17 says:


“Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.”


Not only should you quit worrying and listen for His voice. . .but realize He’s the only One who will teach you to be successful in everything your hands find to do.


According to Strong’s Concordance the word profit is the Hebrew word ya`al (H3276) which means to: “gain, benefit, profit.”


Child of God, be encouraged when you follow His divine direction. He will sustain you through every attack and even cause you to “gain, benefit and profit” from the attacks of the enemy.


But the key is to follow His direction. The words of Isaiah 48:17 in the Message Bible say it even more clearly:


“I am God, your God, who teaches you how to live right and well. I show you what to do, where to go.”


2. Develop Knowledge


I’m great with numbers.


I can tell you almost exactly the number of people in a crowded room or auditorium with just a glance. I can count cash in my head with amazing accuracy. I can look at a large stack of mail and tell you right at the exact number of pieces even when the count is larger than 50.


Having said that. . .I never made great grades in Algebra, Trigonometry or Calculus for two reasons.


First, I never saw the need. . .meaning under no scenario could I figure why I needed to master these mathematic courses.


Second, and most importantly, my lack of motivation caused me to never fully understand the concepts.


Get ready for this next statement.


It’s impossible to succeed at something you don’t understand.


Knowledge allows you to navigate the future while avoiding pitfalls, sinkholes and minefields.


It’s been said that “knowledge is power.” If that’s true and I believe it is. . .then a lack of knowledge diminishes the power over your own destiny.


The Word confirms that knowledge is power in two amazing verses.


Proverbs 8:14 in the Amplified Bible says:


“I have counsel and sound knowledge, I have understanding, I have might and power.”


When you know what you need to know. . .you know you’ve got what it takes to succeed.


Proverbs 24:5 in the Message Bible says:


“A strong man knows how to use his strength, but a person with knowledge is even more powerful.”


3. Develop Confidence


If you’re not confident in your knowledge, attitude and abilities then you will become complacent in your efforts.


Psalm 71:5 in the Amplified Bible says:


“For You are my hope; O Lord God, You are my trust from my youth and the source of my confidence.”


While having others validate you, believe in you or have confidence in you is important, it’s not the deal breaker in life. Once you have faith. . .then you can get confidence.


That is why no Christian should fail because of a lack of confidence.


Ephesians 3:12 in the Amplified Bible says:


“In Whom, because of our faith in Him, we dare to have the boldness (courage and confidence) of free access (an unreserved approach to God with freedom and without fear).”


When your confidence is born in faith. . .it gives you a boldness in knowing that you can achieve anything . . . regardless of the obstacles because God is on your side.


1 John 5:4 says:


“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:”


To know His will … we have to know His Word. Then our faith creates confidence which births boldness which produces happiness.


2 Corinthians 7:16 in the New Living Translation says:


“I am very happy now because I have complete confidence in you.”


When you’re confident in who you are, what you know and what you’re doing. . .it shows.


Your confidence will be contagious to those around you. . .giving you uncommon favor in everything your hands find to do.


Here is a statement we want you to get deep inside of you.


Fear flees when confidence in God’s Word shows up.


Psalm 86:7 in the Message Bible says:


“Every time I'm in trouble I call on you, confident that you'll answer.”

1 John 5:15 in the Message Bible says:


“And if we're confident that he's listening, we know that what we've asked for is as good as ours. “


4. Develop Motivation


What gets you going in the morning?


. . .an alarm clock?


. . .the words “it’s time to get up” spoken softly at first but increasing in volume with each passing tick of the clock?


. . .the smell of coffee wafting from the kitchen where it perked at its appointed time.


For me, it’s none of the above.


From the moment my eyes open. . .I’m ready to glorify God, terrify the devil and maximize the opportunities set before.


Am I this way because I’m in ministry. . .nope, I’m been that way since the 10th grade.


I remember sitting in an Algebra II class. . .when I wrote out the 19 things I needed to do to be the youngest United States Senator ever elected from North Carolina. I spent time in the class planning my future instead of learning something that would never impact that future. Said with due respect to all math geeks and teachers everywhere. That kind of math has its place but I knew it wasn’t in my life.


My motivation was my future. Where did my dreams come from. . .our Heavenly Father.


The word motivation is not found in any of the 12 translations of the Bible I checked but here are seven scriptures that should motivate any child of God.


First, you are a work of divine art.


Ephesians 2:10 says:


“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”


Second, He wants to make you happy.


Psalm 37:4 says:


“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”


Third, He will even show you how to be happy


Psalm 37:23-24 says:


“The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they may stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.”


Fourth, He has given you potential that’s still unknown to you.


Ephesians 3:20 says:


“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”


Fifth, you may not understand it all. . .but He will explain it to you.


Proverbs 3:5-6 says:


“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”


Sixth, your focus needs to be on others.


Ephesians 6:7 says:


“Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”


Seventh, He has created you without limitation.


Philippians 4:13 says:


“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”


I can’t think of any better motivation than the Word of God.


5. Develop A Strategic Plan- Bev


Proverbs 24:6 in God’s WORD Translation says:


“After all, with the right strategy you can wage war, and with many advisers there is victory.”


We need to remember that when we became born again, we were called to be spiritual warriors. Too many believers forget that when they are confronted by the problems of this world. God equipped you to overcome, remember?


If you weren’t in a war. . .then why would God tell you about your spiritual armour?


Ephesians 6:11 in the Amplified Bible says:


“Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.”


If the enemy is employing strategies and deceits. . .simply put. . .it means he’s waging war on you.


How serious is the war against you? Consider the words of Ephesians 6:13 in the Message Bible:


“This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.”


Our weapons may not be carnal. . .but his surely are.


The enemy uses seduction to get you in debt, deception to get you out of your marriage, rationalization as to why you aren’t tithing and manipulation to convince you that where you are is where you will stay. . .for the rest of your life.


But with the right strategies . . .you can defeat the enemy and become successful the way God wants you to be.


Wow…I was looking at Ephesians 6:13-18 which describes our spiritual armor when God showed me an amazing parallel in the Message Bible translation.


“Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.”


I’m going to share those parallels with you . . . because we don’t have time right now.


For this teaching just understand you need strategies if you want to defeat every attack of the enemy and win the war for your future.


6. Develop Resourcefulness


If I were to ask you if you were a resourceful person . . .many of you would say “yes.” But for some, there might be just a hesitation or even a small doubt based on past perception or performance.


I can spiritually prove that you’re resourceful even beyond your current level of expectation.


Dictionary.com defines resourceful as:


“Having inner resources; adroit or imaginative; "someone who is resourceful is capable of dealing with difficult situations.”


I must tell you that when I first read this definition . . .I got a huge smile on my face and a bubbling inner joy and knowing.


“Inner resources.”


Can you say “Holy Spirit?”


That’s right. . .the Holy Spirit is your inner resource.


There are seven things you should know about this inner resource but I’m only going to give you three in this teaching.


First, the Holy Spirit strengthens you when you’re overwhelmed by adversity.


Romans 8:26 in the Amplified Bible says:


“So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance.”


Second, the Holy Spirit will never withhold knowledge and/or ability from you.


1 Corinthians 1:7 in the Amplified Bible says:


“That you are not [consciously] falling behind or lacking in any special spiritual endowment or Christian grace [ the reception of which is due to the power of divine grace operating in your souls by the Holy Spirit], while you wait and watch [constantly living in hope] for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and [His] being made visible to all.”


Third, the Holy Spirit will cause you to profit.


1 Corinthians 12:7 in the Amplified Bible says:


“But to each one is given the manifestation of the [Holy] Spirit [the evidence, the spiritual illumination of the Spirit] for good and profit.”


Your inner resources become your outward resourcefulness.


Exodus 31:3 in God’s WORD Translation says:


“I have filled Bezalel with the Spirit of God, making him highly skilled, resourceful, and knowledgeable in all trades.”


7. Develop Thankfulness


Thankfulness should be a continual expression in the life of every successful believer.


As long as we recognize the origin of our creativity and opportunities then we will continue to live without limitation.


I want you to write down how God has blessed you in the past 24 hours. . .in every area of your life. Then, I want you to praise Him for it.


“But Sister Bev, this has been a rougher than usual year, what do I have to be thankful for?”


Even though nearly everyone has experienced setbacks financial and otherwise this year, we have plenty to be thankful for. There are too many basics in life that we take for granted.


The fact that you can breathe on your own, walk on your own, feed yourself. Did you have a roof over your head last night? Those are great places to start.


“Yes, but my house was foreclosed on, what do I have to be thankful for?”


The only way to escape what you’re going through is by praising God for what you’ve got.


Colossians 2:7 in the New International Version says:


“. . . rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”


Colossians 4:2 in the New International Version says:


“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”


Colossians 3:15 in the Amplified Bible says:


“And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ's] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].”


The Message Bible translation of Colossians 3:15 says:


“Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.”


Our thankfulness will create fruitfulness in our lives thus ensuring our success as a born-again Child of God.


One of the greatest weapons we have it a grateful heart…not just this week or on Thanksgiving Day … but every day.

If you know you are not born again please say this short prayer:
Lord Jesus I come to you today as a sinner. I believe you died for me to be save on the cross of Calvary. Right now I accept you as my Lord and personal saviour. I receive You in my heart and I am born again to serve the living God. Thank you for saving me. Amen

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