March 11

54 comments

This practice was critical to their success…

By Michael Q. Pink

March 11, 2015

Norvel Hayes, Peter Daniels, success, worship

Two of the most successful men I know, both in their eighties, one, a multi millionaire, Bible school founder and church planter. The other, a billionaire, of Baptist persuasion I’m told, who has given more money for the advancement of the gospel than most people will earn in ten lifetimes.

Twenty-five years ago, I had a chance to speak with one of them and ask his “secret” for success. I was so impressed that a man with a powerful ministry had a successful business background and continued in both, though ministry was clearly his focus.

He told me his secret.

worshipHe said he worshiped God daily. He got on his knees and worshiped God Almighty. He was not referring to Bible reading, praying or even singing songs to the Lord, as good as those things are. He was adamant that he spent time kneeling or laying prostrate before the Lord, worshiping Him.

I couldn’t comprehend it. It made no sense to me. I wanted a step-by-step process or method for success. I wanted strategies. He said… Worship God. The rest will follow. I was sad because it made no sense to me. Besides, I didn’t really know how to worship God for an extended time.

Then last year, I met Peter Daniels, a man of conservative faith. He was the first billionaire I’ve ever spoken with. I was surprised to discover that he begins his day laying prostrate on the floor, worshiping the Lord. Two very different men. Both highly successful and both them are purposeful about worshiping God in a deliberate, set aside time, daily.

I still didn’t make the connection until I watched a video online the other day of the first man, Norvel Hayes, now age 87, still telling people they need to worship God daily for an extended time. That if they did that, the rest of their life would come in to order.

I finally connected the dots.

So now I set aside at least 30 minutes a day to do nothing but worship God. Why? I will answer that in more detail in the next blog, but it’s enough for me to know that the Scripture repeatedly exhorts us to worship the Lord.

I’m going to throw out a challenge to the students in the International Christian Business Institute this week. I’m calling it the 30/30 challenge. I want to see what happens in the lives of those folks who decide for the next 30 days, they will set aside at least 30 minutes a day to simply worship God. Whether they do that all at once or in short intervals throughout the day is up to them.

Let me know if you want to take up the challenge and if you do, please let me know what changes for you.

Until next time, be fruitful and multiply!

Michael Q. Pink

About the author

Michael is America's leading authority on applying Biblical Wisdom and Natural Law to sales and business and has authored 19 books including The Bible Incorporated, Selling Among Wolves and God's Best Kept Secrets. Using that knowledge, he has helped thousands of professionals and entrepreneurs experience radical transformation in their lives and careers, including helping a start-up with 3 struggling sales reps turn the corner and become the 16th fastest growing company on the INC 500 list. 

  • Interesting, Michael. Norvel Hayes is the first one I ever heard to say this years again in one of his meetings. I was so intrigued I purchased everything he had at the time and listened to them until some of the tapes would no longer work. The business decisions he made at the prompting of the Lord came from having a keen discernment of the voice of God. I learned a long time ago to seek out the “gray hairs” for wisdom, for whatever the younger ones were attempting to do, the gray hairs already knew how to do them God’s way. The challenge that comes for most of us is the discipline required that many of these old saints functioned in. I remember hearing Kenneth Copeland tell how he would stand on the edge of his bathtub to stay awake in the effort to honor his commitment to the Lord to pray daily at a certain time. Thank you for extending the challenge of worship. My prayer is that it become a way of life and not a way of works to get work. I remember very well the days of doing things for the blessings. Later, I learned from an old missionary in Mexico that you don’t give to live…you live to give…and that changed everything further for me. Loving the Father because He is who He is will cause us to want what He wants, when He wants it and How He wants to give it. I do not remember a day of lack since. We will not always have what we think we want…but we will have what we need to fulfill His purpose in the destiny He has given to us. Bless you as you embark upon this journey. Even more blessings as others take the journey with you. There is nothing that can surpass corporate worship…and the outcome and the way it comes will be a delightful surprise! Count me in!

    • Hi Joanne;

      It was occurring to me recently, that so many of the “gray hairs” have gone on to be with the Lord. I had come across one of Lester Sumrall’s last messages. It moved me! That made me sad that I didn’t recognize what a gift he was to the body of Christ when he was alive and accessible. That got me to thinking of others who had passed on and I remembered Norvel Hayes. Apparently he is still going strong!

      I also remember the story that Kenneth Copeland told about standing on the edge of the bathtub! Haven’t thought of that in a long time!

      As for your wise comment that our worship not be a way of works but rather a way of life, I say a hearty AMEN!

      Thank you for posting your encouraging remarks. Watch what God does in the next month and let Judy and I know.

      Bless you,

      Michael

    • I appreciate your thoughts on how we spend our time within our Christian community. Hadn’t thought of it as idolatry, although I have thought of it as taking away from spending that time personally with God. Pleased to be in such good company.

    • Excellent Steve! I really want to hear about your progress. It seems like it would be easy but it can be a real struggle to make the time consistently. I believe things will change in your life (and mine) if we spend that time in His presence. Thanks for posting!

  • I am on board with that, Michael. A lifestyle of deliberate and focused commitment to worship and love God for who He is (His heart) and not just for what He can give us (His hand) will guarantee the FAVOR of God upon us and with His favor, we have extravagant blessings and advantages. Concentrated worship takes us into the Holy of Holies where intimate communion is found in the presence of His glory. To many people stay in the outer courts with praise and hurried worship. I want to go behind the veil, seek His heart, hear His mysteries, receive His wisdom and achieve the highest and the greatest destiny I was created for by becoming all that He wants me to become.

    Thank you for all you do, Michael, you are an inspiration and encouragement to me and so many others. May God prosper the work of your hands.

    • Hi Lili… You obviously understand what worship is. I have learned more about this from Judy (my wife) as she has had some of the most profound encounters with the Lord in her times of worship and intercession. She goes behind the veil with ease and carries the presence of the Lord wherever she goes. By that I mean, people notice that about her. She doesn’t have to say a word to them.

      Thank you for posting your comment.

      Blessings,

      Michael

      • I know exactly what you mean, that happens to me most often. The light and glory of Christ shining through a person is absolutely noticeable and it changes the atmosphere of a room or space. It is immediately recognized by all spirits, godly and ungodly and many times human intellect. No words need to be spoken by that vessel that carries the glory of God. We are promised that in the end times, God will cover the earth with His glory and I believe He will do it thru His vessels of honor, overflowing with His glory and light. As Moses was shining with the glory of God after spending concentrated time in His presence, so we can be filled in the same way by spending dedicated time in worship and intimacy with God. As we decrease, He can increase in us….praise God! Thank you for placing the subject of worship on the table, Michael, it is something so often not talked about and so misunderstood.

  • I am up for the challenge! And I have already reread twice trying to figure :). This to me is an answer, been telling God how I want to know Him more and didn’t know what else I could do. Thanks Michael. This is truly a great year for me.

  • Hi Mr. Pink-

    Your session in class today was incredible. My son has taken everything to heart and is in seeking the Lord right now.

    Your challenge has resonated deeply with me, and I just want to let you know that I am in. I am moving forward with trepidation and I can’t wait to grow closer to God.

    Jason is in too. 🙂

    May God bless you and your work! We love you and Judy Ann.

    • That’s awesome RaShell. Please tell Daniel, he will gain wisdom beyond his years.

      Judy asked me to tell you that she loves and appreciates you and your family. She also asked me to ask you guys to keep us in prayer as we travel to Israel and for their elections and for walking in all that God wants to accomplish through us while we are there.

      Blessings,

      Michael

  • I just watched a video of Novel Hayes, ” Worship brings victory” and it’s touched me deeply. Before this blog post I had never heard of Him. Thanks.

  • I’ve been a bit behind on my emails and just now got to this…but I too plan to take the challenge. 30 minutes for 30 days. My Daddy God has been stirring my heart and it leapt within me when I said yes to this. Thank you for this challenge, I can hardly wait to start!

    • Hi Debby… Thanks for sharing. That encourages Judy and I.

      I hope you will be able to keep up with the posts that follow this one, as we hope to share much more, now that we are in Jerusalem.

      Blessings,

      Michael

  • Hi Mr Pink,

    Did I stumbled into this or is this the Holy spirit leading me?

    My prayers both for me and others is that, whether we are in this for works or for who He is, may this lead to knowing Him as such that worship becomes our life style forever.
    Going to search about Novel Hayes online now.

    God bless you.

      • Day 1 of the 30/30 challenge (March 3/16 easy to remember as in John 3:16)

        Early morning time of worship was wonderful and found myself humming worship songs throughout the morning, long after the undisturbed time with the Lord was over.
        Need to go to sleep earlier as the Spirit is willing and but the Flesh is weak.

        Prior to the email I received (thank you) Michael I have never heard of Norvel before. i have now watched 3 of his sermons and i am a little disturbed as my inner man senses the “Name it Claim it” theology being presented here. I am finishing up a sermon now (running in the background at my office) and he is encouraging the crowd to come down front “and claim the miracle that is yours” If you are sick, handicapped, diseased, come down and claim your miracle. you do not have to live like this anymore.

        Theologically I have some challenges with this, but overall spending extended time with the Lord in a Spirit of “worship” will yield fruit. Looking forward to day 2. Amen

        • Hi Brett;

          We are all a work in progress. Receive what you can and leave the rest.

          Thanks for sharing!

          Bless you,

          Michael

  • This has to be the best message or lesson I’ve encountered in years.

    This article opened my eyes to the fact I have let Bible study, Hebrew study, and all manner of sermons, ‘worship’, and Christian involvement cloud the one ‘prime directive’.

    In a real sense, I’ve allowed ‘Christianity’ to come first in my life – an idol. The trappings about God have, in a real sense, clouded and hidden God Himself. I have worshiped an image of Him, and not the Creator our Savior Himself.

    Somewhere along the way I lost true worship. Thanks to your article I’ve begun to re-discover it.

    Thank you.

    • Hi George!

      Well said my brother. In a round about way, that is what Jesus was saying in John 5:39-40. Please keep up with the subsequent posts and share your own thoughts. What you said here is probably more indicative of most us than we would like to think. That’s why I’m doing this. Gotta press into the person of Jesus Christ, not the recorded version of Him.

      Thanks George,

      Michael

  • Michael,

    I’m not a part of the ICBI, but I have followed you for years (and have some of your books and CD series). I believe you’re the real deal, with a heart for God. I’m in. I did my first night tonight.

    Thanks for the suggestion. And richest blessings on you and Judy!

    Paul

  • AMEN!

    I remember 8 years ago, in the middle of circumstances that the Lord was using to teach me a deeper brokenness while I was crying out in desperation for answers, the Lord moved on my heart to read Lamentations. Chapter 3 says it all. Specifically, verse 21-29,
    “This I recall to my mind,
    Therefore I have hope.
    22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
    Because His compassions fail not.
    23 They are new every morning;
    Great is Your faithfulness.
    24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
    “Therefore I hope in Him!”
    25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
    To the soul who seeks Him.
    26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
    For the salvation of the Lord.
    27 It is good for a man to bear
    The yoke in his youth.
    28 Let him sit alone and keep silent,
    Because God has laid it on him;
    29 Let him put his mouth in the dust—
    There may yet be hope.

  • Hello 30/30 Family, I hope this Post finds you doing well. Day 11 today and strongly committed to the 30/30 challenge and getting up and staying up is getting easier each day, thank you Jesus. 30 minutes of worship sets the condition of the heart to walk in obedience and praises seem to “ooze out” of my spirit easier than a few days a go. Amen

    There has been a significant “bump” in my business recently, almost double that of usual times, thank you Lord and there has been a significant “bump” in my prostate cancer activity as well. Thankful to the Lord for the detection of this new information.

    For the last 4 years i have been on “watchful waiting” (doctor supervised surveillance) of my prostate cancer issue and now I need to take action, radiation or surgery soon. I appreciate your prayers 30/30 team and i will continue to praise and worship Him through this storm. My memory verse for today just happened to be Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him”.Amen.

    • Hi Brett;

      There’s a lot going on in your life right now. Worshiping God anchors us to Him in ways that nothing else does. He is obviously committed to us, but it is the worship experience that orients us to Him. And it is in that orientation that we find everything we need for life and Godliness. Praying for you now as I post this comment that you will experience total victory and health. Bless you Brett!

  • Hi Brett, I like the 30/30 Family name :). I am on Day 17, hit a bump on Day 12 and 13 the enemy came in like a flood, I was so overwhelmed but bless the Lord I am back and it indeed gets better each day, I find that I now go beyond 30 minutes easily.
    A significant door has opened for me to do that which I have always dreamed to do, additionally and quite important for me as I have clarity in regard to purpose.
    I have prayed for you and Duet 28:7 comes to mind.
    For the 30/30 Family, this morning I was reminded of the blog post Michael wrote I think titled Now in relation to faith.

  • […] breeze and warm sunlight in my face, I was quite frankly overwhelmed. On that day, I had my entire 30/30 worship experience on the Sea of Galilee. And what an experience of God’s presence I had! Can’t explain […]

  • Just reread this after a discussion with a friend and God is speaking to us the same about NOW, about Faith. He had already started his worship sessions by the time 30/30 started. I know this post is on this site but I am posting the link anyway https://blog.michaelpink.com/important-business-lesson-know/. This morning during the quiet time after worship, the question posed to me was, “Where is the substance of your Faith?”. I have been feeling the push to action for sometime and I was in Hesitation Valley simply because I have just gotten a job, had taken a break from business so my thought was “Surely God understands, after 4 years of doors opening and shutting so fast, of being penniless He surely doesn’t expect me to get back into the risky world of business,I should first stabilise, service part of the mountain of debt..”. But the time is NOW. He has opened a door, and each morning has given me scripture for confirmation. I am walking through that door!

  • And ain’t it just amazing that at ICBI at this time we are studying the Genesis Model! And I bless God that the job is a Sales one which affords me the flexibility in transition. Bless the Lord O my soul.

    • Love the fact that you and so many others are experiencing a deeper relationship with our Lord and hope the Genesis Model will be of great help to you Carol.

      Blessings!

  • Hullo Brett, been praying for you. Any update?
    30/30 Day 21 and it is awesome, walking in faith of actions and actions with Faith, well it’s like first days of 30/30 challenge, though quite rewarding when I take a step ’cause it seems as though God is matching my tiny steps with a mile. It is exciting till it becomes daunting because His mile takes you to another place which requires you to once again step out in “more” 🙂 faith.

    • Hi Carol… So kind of you to check in on Brett! Been praying for him this afternoon. May God bless you mightily in the coming weeks!

  • Hello Carol and 30/30 Family. Thanks for your concern and reaching out to me during this season of “walking by faith’, I have been coming across many “faith” verses and the timing is Awesome. Without Faith it is impossible to please God. My faith is continuing to increase during this 30/30 discipline and trusting Him for His will with all of this. Last night we had our monthly Elders meeting at our church and I asked my fellow Elders to pray over me and anoint me with oil, which they joyfully did as i walk in obedience according to James 5:14 “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.”…

    Tomorrow morning i have a “bone scan” to see if there is any cancer outside the prostate and i am praying for none to be there, please pray with me as the Lord may lead. I don’t know any of you personally who read these posts but i sense that how many people and whoever reads this comment “has my back in prayer”. Thank you for your prayers and more updates to follow for His Glory. Amen

    • Was just about to spend some more time in worshiping my Lord when I saw your post Brett. I will be praying for you now. Please keep us updated. Love in Christ from Judy and I.

  • Amen, thank you “The prayers of a righteous man (and woman) avails much” Trusting Christ through this storm. May He be exalted! Thank you!
    Amen

  • Thanks Michael. Amen to that!
    Day 22, and the running theme for me too like Brett is faith. And today, just feels so special…I almost couldn’t stop, I kept getting back to worship.

  • Faith indeed. What else really is there? I was sharing a message with the church the other day and I was talking about what we actually bring to “the table” in God’s economy. We bring nothing, absolutely nothing of value or sustenance into the presence of God, nothing of our own – Worship yes, praises yes, Faith yes, Belief yes, nothing of our own. Without Faith it is impossible to please God. I have my bone scan today, injection at 11:15 bone scan X-Rays around 2:00 – thanks for your prayers.

    (running on my knees)
    Brett

    • Hi Brett… On my knees praying for you today as well. I do believe we do bring something of value to the Father. Something He really prizes. It is our love, our affection for Him. That is something we cultivate and can choose to give or withhold. Of course, there is something else that flows out of love. It is our obedience. I believe He loves our obedience. Praying for you now!

    • Hello Carol and 30/30 Family. Thanks for your concern and reaching out to me during this season of “walking by faith’, Thanks again Carol and Michael for “checking in” with me over the weeks. (actually 32 days now) and like you said Carol, this discipline, desire to praise, worship and honor the Lord each day has now become an internal spiritual ligament that is helping keep this spiritual being together and focused on the glory of God and glorifying God in all I do. Thanks for the prayers and if I could ask that you continue in prayer, I would appreciate those prayers. Overall the bone scan went well and there is an area of concern that we will be looking at on one of my ribs Monday at 9:30. Bone scans reveal many things about the bones that may cause concern, past injuries, bruises, breaks, arthritis, cancer etc. I have been in two motorcycle accidents, i use to “Box” in college, fought Judo for many years, had a really bad snow skiing accident a while ago and landed on my chest after falling off a 10 foot ledge to mention a couple of things. We are praying for any findings except the cancer but the test will show more clearly what is happening. I am in this season to glorify the Father and i trust this 30/30 challenge and locking arms with me inm prayer and this journey will glorify our Lord in your life as well. I will be in touch.

      (running on my knees)
      Brett

      • Hi Brett; You certainly have led an active lifestyle! Will continue to pray for a good outcome for you. I love your terminology about the habit of worship being an internal spiritual ligament. Keep us posted.

        In Him, Michael

  • Hello Mr Pink. This article is a blessing I must say. It has helped to see things in a new way. I do not consider myself as a consistent worshipper. I commit to the 30/30 challenge and I hope things change for the better.
    Blessings!

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