THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

TODAY, GIVE THANKS AND PRAISE TO GOD FOR ALL THAT HE HAS DONE

Today, take time to REFLECT on and give THANKS to God for all of His BLESSINGS in your life. Whether you are eating turkey, playing games with your family, watching football or visiting a friend, remember to take time to focus on God’s GOODNESS. Count your BLESSINGS and notice all the GRACE, FAVOR and LOVE that God has given you. Psalm 95:2 says to “come before His presence with THANKSGIVING…shout JOYFULLY to Him with psalms.”

No matter the circumstances in your life, give THANKS and PRAISE to God for all that He has done. Remember how GOOD He is and that His love will endure FOREVER. The Bible says that you show your love for God through your actions toward OTHER people. Reach out to those AROUND you this holiday season and share His love and FORGIVENESS with them. You are BLESSED to be a blessing to OTHERS!

Today’s Scripture:

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

(1 Corinthians 15:57, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

SWITCH OVER INTO PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING AND DECLARE THAT GOD IS GOOD

We all face challenges and obstacles in this life. We all have DREAMS in our hearts, and at times, it looks like they’re not going to come to pass. During these difficult SEASONS, we have a choice. We can get negative and discouraged and talk about how things are not going to work out, or we can switch over into PRAISE and THANKSGIVING which opens the door for God to move on our behalf.

A lot of times people think, “I’ll have a good attitude as soon as I get over this health issue.” “Mark, I’ll give God praise when I get through these tough times.” But that’s not how FAITH works. As long as we’re negative, discouraged and focused on our problems, it LIMITS what God can do. You’ve got to give God PRAISE FIRST, and THEN the BREAKTHROUGH will come. You’ve got to change your FOCUS FIRST, and then things will change in your FAVOR. Praise ALWAYS precedes the VICTORY.

Today, if you’ve been dwelling on the wrong things and focusing in the wrong direction, SWITCH OVER into PRAISE and THANKSGIVING. Begin to declare that God IS good. Declare that He is FAITHFUL. Declare His PRAISES and open the door to VICTORY in EVERY area of your life!

Today’s Scripture:

“Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines…yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”

(Habakkuk 3:17-18, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

YOUR DAYS ARE DESTINED TO SHINE BRIGHTER BECAUSE GOD IS FAITHFUL

In the Old Testament when this scripture was written, God’s people were going through a VERY dark time. They were being held captive against their will and mistreated by other nations. God sent this word to ENCOURAGE them and give them HOPE for their FUTURE. When the time came, God was FAITHFUL to His Word!

Are YOU going through a difficult time today? Let this word bring you encouragement, TOO. God wants to give you DOUBLE for your trouble. He is the God of RESTORATION—that means He’s not going to just repay you for every wrong done, He’s going to go above and BEYOND and make things even BETTER than they were before.

If you are facing challenges today or going through a time of adversity, remember, it’s ALWAYS darkest just before the dawn appears. Your days are DESTINED to shine brighter because God is FAITHFUL. As you stay in faith and are obedient to His Word, you’ll receive DOUBLE for your trouble and the BLESSINGS He has in store for YOU!

Today’s Scripture:

“Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.”

Isaiah 61:7, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

THE WAY WE LIVE OUR LIVES SHOULD BRING GLORY TO GOD

When others look at YOUR life, what do they see? Does your daily life win the RESPECT of others? As believers, we are Christ’s REPRESENTATIVES in the earth. We are called to a HIGHER standard. The way we LIVE our lives should bring glory to God the FATHER.

Notice this verse doesn’t say, “Go out of your way to do something major so that everyone will notice and respect YOU.” It doesn’t say, “Win a gold medal or Pulitzer prize so that people will glorify your Father in heaven.” No, it says that your daily life should win the respect of OTHERS. That simply means always taking the HIGH road and living a life of EXCELLENCE. It means doing the right thing even when NO one is looking. It means finding common ground in order to be a PEACEMAKER. It means living with an attitude of FAITH and THANKSGIVING.

Remember, you WILL BECOME like those you spend the most TIME with. If you are committed to spending time with God the Father every day, you’ll develop HIS character. You’ll win the RESPECT of outsiders and bring glory to HIM all the days of your life!

Today’s Scripture:

“So that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders…”

(1 Thessalonians 4:12, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GRATTITUDE IS A POWERFUL FORCE THAT OPENS THE DOOR TO GOD’S BLESSING

No matter what may be happening in the world AROUND you, you can always find SOMETHING to thank God for. GRATITUDE is a powerful force that opens the door to God’s blessing. Having constant gratitude proves your FAITH in God because not only do you thank Him for what He HAS done in the PAST, you thank Him for what He WILL do in the FUTURE. It’s that kind of faith that PLEASES God. Constant gratitude also shows HUMILITY because when we are thankful, we magnify GOD instead of magnifying our PROBLEMS. It gives us proper PERSPECTIVE and opens the door for God’s GRACE, FAVOR and supernatural EMPOWERMENT.

So what are YOU grateful for today? Are you grateful for the SUN that shines and brings a new DAY? Are you thankful for the gift of eternal LIFE? As you choose an attitude of constant GRATITUDE, you’ll experience His mercy and loving-kindness in GREATER ways. You’ll be filled with His PEACE and JOY and pave the way to move forward into the ABUNDANT life He has prepared for YOU!

Today’s Scripture:

“O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever!”

(1 Chronicles 16:34, AMPC)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD WANTS TO SEE US LIVE A BLESSED LIFE

Have you thought about the fact that God has already said “yes” to His promises in your life? You don’t have to beg God to be GOOD to you. You don’t have to plead with Him to HELP you. God WANTS to help you. He wants to pour out His abundant BLESSING on your life.

Scripture says His promises are “YES AND AMEN.” Amen means “SO BE IT.” In other words, it’s a done deal. All you have to do is make sure you are living up to YOUR end of the bargain. See, God’s love is UNCONDITIONAL, but we have to obey His commands in order to see His PROMISES come to pass. For example, Malachi 3:10 says that we have to bring our tithe to HIM in order to see the windows of heaven open. It says in Deuteronomy 5 that we are to HONOR our parents in order to live a long life.

The GOOD news is that when we surrender our HEARTS to Him, He EMPOWERS us to fulfill every one of His commands. He EQUIPS us for every good work because He wants to see us live a BLESSED life. That’s why His promises are “YES” and “AMEN!”

Today’s Scripture:

“For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.”

(2 Corinthians 1:20, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

IN A SINGLE MOMENT, GOD CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE

One thing I’ve learned is that God doesn’t always work on OUR time table. In fact, He RARELY does. But, in a single MOMENT, God can change your life! All throughout scripture, we see examples of how God was working behind the scenes and INSTANTLY turned things around for His people. Scripture tells us He is the same yesterday, today and FOREVER which means if He did it for them, He can INSTANTLY turn things around for you, TOO!

You may be going through some difficulty today, but be ENCOURAGED because your times are in God’s hands. Trust that He has YOUR best interest at heart. He wants to pour out His FAVOR. He wants to take you FURTHER than you dreamed possible and work in your life in ways BEYOND what you have EVER imagined.

Let this TRUTH sink down into your heart today. Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep STANDING, keep HOPING and keep BELIEVING because He IS working behind the scenes. Have FAITH because your times ARE in His hands, and He WILL lead you in the life of VICTORY He has for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“My times are in Your hand…”

(Psalm 31:15, NASB)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL, THE GIFT OF ETERNAL, ABUNDANT LIFE

Have you ever thought about how love affects GIVING? I’ve heard it said that you can give without loving, but you can’t LOVE without GIVING. Love prompts us to give of OURSELVES, our TIME, ABILITIES and RESOURCES. The Bible tells us that God IS love, and the world will know that we are His followers by the love WE show—and GIVING is what shows our LOVE! We are entering into a time in the year that the world knows as the SEASON of giving, but let’s remember to take time to focus on the greatest gift of ALL, the gift of eternal, abundant LIFE through JESUS. If you’ve never RECEIVED this gift, I invite you to open your heart and pray this simple prayer: “Lord Jesus, I come to You today, giving You all that I am. I repent of my sins and confess that I need You. I believe You died and rose for me. Be my Lord and Savior and make me new today. I receive Your love and Your gift of eternal life.” Then, go out and SHARE the gift of love with someone ELSE because it’s the ONLY gift that will last in ETERNITY!

Today’s Scripture:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

(John 3:16, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHERE WOULD YOU BE TODAY, IF NOT FOR THE GOODNESS OF GOD

If it had not been for the goodness of GOD, where would YOU be? Some of you, like ME, wouldn’t be ALIVE today. Some would still be ADDICTED. If it had not been for God’s favor some would still be STRUGGLING, barely making it. You may say, “Well Mark, I’ve got a LONG way to go.” And that may be TRUE, but I want you to take a moment and look back over your life and realize how FAR you’ve come today. The same God that brought you THIS far, the same God that has kept you ALIVE, is going to carry you through ANY difficulty you may be facing. The key is to just start PRAISING and THANKING Him for His GOODNESS. Thank Him for His FAVOR and BLESSING upon you. Praise PRECEDES the victory. PRAISE brings the walls of opposition DOWN. PRAISE is the invitation for God to intervene on your BEHALF!

Today, I declare that the goodness of God is ALL OVER you! HE is directing your steps, and you are following His LEADING. I declare that your best days are AHEAD, and as you PRAISE Him and THANK Him, you WILL move forward into the VICTORY and BLESSING He has prepared for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.”

(Psalm 119:92, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

NO MATTER WHAT IS HAPPENING AROUND YOU, WORSHIP GOD TODAY, DECLARE HIS GOODNESS

Have you ever thought about what it means to continually offer up a SACRIFICE of PRAISE? That word “SACRIFICE” means that it cost you something. It means doing something when you don’t feel like it. It’s when you say, “God, I’m hurting, but I give You PRAISE.” “God, I’m lonely, but I give You PRAISE.” “God, it wasn’t fair. They did me wrong, but I give You PRAISE.”

When you PRAISE God beyond your feelings, that’s when PRAISE becomes your FAITH at work. That’s when PRAISE becomes a WEAPON. Nothing gets God’s attention any more than when you call on Him in your time of trouble. When most people would become negative and bitter, you have a song of PRAISE. You’re thanking God for who He is and what He WILL do in your life. You’re not talking about how big your problems are; you’re talking about how big your GOD is!

Today, understand that PRAISE activates God’s POWER. He commands us to PRAISE because it opens the door to His VICTORY and BLESSING. No matter what is happening around you, WORSHIP Him! Declare His GOODNESS and see His RESTORATION in every area of your life!

Today’s Scripture:

Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.

Hebrews 13:15, NKJV