#161: How Cliff Ravenscraft Transformed His Life

We often hear success stories of people who go from "rags to riches". We usually hear about the struggles they had when they started. What is uncommon is to hear about the struggles they still endure, and how they are overcoming them in the present moment. I'm very excited about today's show, which is mostly a recording of a conversation between me and my friend Cliff Ravenscraft, also known as The Podcast AnswerMan. During this totally unscripted, off-the-cuff interview, you'll discover: How the TV show Lost helped Cliff become a leading voice in the world of podcasting. How investing in one specific training program changed the entire vector of Cliff's life, and career. Why success on the outside may not be an indicator of success on the inside (Cliff opens up and tells of his most recent struggle, and the incredible way he is gaining victory.) The story of a prayer that brought a miraculous answer in the most unexpected place, and literally transformed Cliff's life in the moment. How "selfies" can actually be selfless. Two books you absolutely must read if you want to change your physical health once and for all (and chances are you've never heard of either of them). Plus, a whole lot more wisdom from the man who helps so many take their lives "to the Next Level." Tip Of the Week Periscope. A competitor to the similar app Meerkat, Periscope turns your mobile phone into a TV broadcast studio – in your pocket. I've been playing with this ever since I was at Social Media Marketing World. I really think this is a revolutionary technology and we have only begun to see the ramifications it carries for the future. Jump in and play, the water is fine. Spiritual Foundations The Secret of How to Lack Nothing "The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing." Psalm 23 I'm learning the deep lesson that if we believe God's Word is true, it literally means we lack nothing in this present moment. That is sometimes hard to accept, especially if we are sick, in pain, experiencing a broken relationship or home, have lost our job, or any of the myriad of hurtful challenges we deal with in day-to-day life. Yet God's word says that we "lack nothing". How can this be? God sees things from a different perspective than we do. He sees the whole picture. What may look like lack to us, he knows to be a temporary situation. God knows that He will ultimately tip the scales of justice in our favor, and that anything we feel we have lost will be restored to us. God is good, all the time, no matter what. Ground your faith in the bedrock of that confession. Know that God is your friend. Believe it or not, that is the message of the book of Job. How do we practice this idea that we lack nothing, especially when our circumstances tell us that we may lack everything? I believe the key is gratitude. You Can't Pay The Bills With Gratitude… Or Can You? When Jesus fed the 5,000 with only a little bread and a little fish, he prayed. But he did not ask for a miracle, groaning and pleading with his Father in Heaven. Scripture says he "gave thanks" and then had the disciples distribute the bread to the thousands of people present. I don't think it's an accident that we're told he "gave thanks". He expressed gratitude for what he had and he stepped into an aspect of the Kingdom that allowed miraculous provision to flow from a seemingly insufficient supply. That's how the Kingdom works. Your level of prosperity will equal exactly the level of your gratitude. So give thanks for what you do have, and give no attention to what you feel might be lacking in this moment. Because you, my friend, lack nothing. Feature Presentation: How Cliff Ravenscraft Transformed His Life I actually had a page full of questions I was going to ask Cliff during our interview. I did ask the first question, but from there, the interview took on a life of its own. And I'm so glad it did. You will enjoy and be blessed by Cliff's story, as I was. Have you ever experience a miraculous answer to prayer like Cliff did? I hope you'll share that story. May I Ask A Favor? Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Go ahead and subscribe now, and give us your star rating and review on iTunes. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also BACK on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. If you don't already get the email newsletter, sign up for that and get the new free video: "3 Keys to Change the World and Make Your Business Grow." Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Get The Transcript Click here to get the transcript. Transcripts provided by SuccessTranscripts – a great solution if you need your podcast, sermon, speech, or other audio transcribed.