THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD WANTS YOU TO EXPERIENCE HIS GOODNESS

In the natural, when WE’VE wronged someone, sometimes it’s easier to avoid them than to face the discomfort or potential rejection. It isn’t surprising that people sometimes have this same approach to GOD. Have you ever heard someone say, “If I walk into a church, the roof will cave in”? They think they should keep their distance because of what they’ve done. But nothing could be further from the TRUTH! God’s not mad at you; He’s madly in LOVE with you! He’s waiting for you with OPEN ARMS. It doesn’t matter WHO you are or what you’ve DONE; know that His GOODNESS is what’s drawing you to Him.

Today, don’t let condemnation keep you from turning to God. Trust His KINDNESS. Trust that He wants you to experience His GOODNESS. He wants to show you His FAITHFULNESS. He’s promised He’ll NEVER leave you nor forsake you. Turn to Him TODAY and let Him pour His loving KINDNESS on you and EMPOWER you to walk in VICTORY all the days of your life!

Today’s Scripture:

“…the goodness of God leads you to repentance”

(Romans 2:4, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD IS BIGGER THAN YOUR PROBLEMS, AND BIGGER THAN FEAR

Fear always presents itself as much bigger than it really is. It’s always the worst-case scenario. It always tries to get you worried, anxious, uptight and panicked. Fear’s goal is to separate you from God by trying to get you to doubt His Word. But when the spirit of fear comes, RECOGNIZE that it has no power unless you GIVE it power. Don’t give it power by speaking what FEAR speaks. Don’t give it power by meditating on it. Instead, let the POWER of the Word of God rise up WITHIN you. DECLARE what God says; declare that God has given you ALL AUTHORITY in heaven AND earth. Declare that NO weapon formed against you shall prosper.

Remember that no matter how big fear PRESENTS itself, it’s no match for the power of Almighty GOD. When you yield yourself to HIM, you tap into His POWER. Greater is He that is in YOU than he that is in the world. God is BIGGER than your problems and bigger than FEAR. Let FAITH rise up in your heart because faith is the victory that OVERCOMES the world.

Today’s Scripture

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith.

1 John 5:4, NASB

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

DON’T LET EXCUSES KEEP YOU FROM YOUR DESTINY MOMENT

In Scripture, there was a lady who had been sick with a bleeding disorder for twelve years. She went to the best doctors, received the finest treatment, but her health continued to decline. One day, she got word that Jesus was coming through her town. When she heard that, something came ALIVE on the inside. She had so much coming AGAINST her, but she didn’t FOCUS on that; she knew it was HER TIME for healing. Instead of giving up, she fought her way through the crowds and touched the edge of Jesus’ robe. When she did, IMMEDIATELY she was made WHOLE.

I wonder how many other people were there like her in that same type of situation. They were sick. They were discouraged. They had trouble. But they just watched Jesus pass by. They let EXCUSES keep them from their miracle. Friend, do NOT let that be YOU. Don’t let your CIRCUMSTANCES keep you from reaching out to Jesus. It doesn’t matter what’s happened in your past, just keep moving FORWARD. God has destiny MOMENTS in store for you. Keep pressing in, keep BELIEVING, keep PRAYING and, like THIS woman, reach OUT to Him. Know that He is FAITHFUL, and He will meet YOUR FAITH with HIS POWER.

Today’s Scripture:

“Jesus turned and saw her. ‘Take heart, daughter,’ he said, ‘your faith has healed you.’ And the woman was healed at that moment.”

(Matthew 9:22, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD WANTS TO BRING YOU RESTORATION AND MAKE THINGS EVEN BETTER THAN BEFORE

In the Old Testament, God’s people were going through a very difficult time. They were being held captive against their will and mistreated by other nations. God sent this word to EMCOURAGE 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. We serve a God who goes above and BEYOND our expectations. He wants to give you DOUBLE for your trouble. He wants to bring you RESTORATION and make things even BETTER than 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 see God go above and beyond in EVERY area of your life!

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:

NO MATTER WHAT YOU MAY BE FACING TODAY, GOD WANTS TO BRING YOU COMFORT

Oftentimes when people face challenges, their natural tendency is to seek COMFORT in things that are FAMILIAR. It may be work, an activity or relationships; and of course, we all know about “comfort food.” But, those things only bring TEMPORARY comfort. TRUE comfort is only found in a relationship with JESUS.

According to Webster’s dictionary, COMFORT means to give STRENGTH and HOPE; to ease grief or trouble. No matter what difficulty YOU may be facing today, God wants to bring you COMFORT. Like a mother cares for her child, He longs to give you STRENGTH, HOPE and CONFIDENCE. Turn to HIM. Receive His LOVE. Let go of things that would hold you back. Let Him HEAL your heart and give you STRENGTH for the FUTURE. Let Him EMPOWER you to rise up and overcome EVERY obstacle in Jesus’ name!

Today’s Scripture:

“As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you…”

(Isaiah 66:13, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN WE ARE FAITHFUL WITH THE LITTLE, GOD WILL MAKE US RULER OVER MUCH

In the book of Genesis, we see that God established a system of SOWING and REAPING in the earth. When we are FAITHFUL with what God HAS placed in our hands, we position ourselves for INCREASE. Many people pray, “God bless me!” But God is saying, “Are YOU being faithful with what I have ALREADY given you?” Scripture tells us that when we are faithful with the LITTLE, God will make us ruler over MUCH.

Remember, you can’t reap a harvest without first PLANTING some SEEDS. God has given each of us SEEDS to sow, so don’t hold on to them! Be faithful to GIVE, be faithful to PRAY, be faithful to SPEAK LIFE over your FUTURE. Develop faithfulness in the SMALL things. Develop faithfulness in your CHARACTER. Be on TIME. Keep your WORD. Be DEPENDABLE. As you develop FAITHFULNESS, God WILL see your good works, and He’ll make you RULER over MUCH!

Today’s Scripture:

“…Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”

(Matthew 25:23, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

LIKE AN ARROW, YOUR FAITH POINTS TO THE TARGET OF HOPE

So many people today are depressed and discouraged simply because they only focus on their PRESENT circumstances. They’re constantly DWELLING on their PROBLEMS, what they DON’T have, and what’s WRONG with them. They don’t realize it, but they’re allowing the enemy to steal their HOPE. This negative frame of mind is what keeps people from moving FORWARD in life.

Understand today that FAITH is CONFIDENCE and ASSURANCE about the things we HOPE for according to the PROMISES of God. Like an arrow, your faith points to the TARGET of HOPE. If you don’t have hope, that arrow of faith will just drop to the ground. It won’t ACCOMPLISH anything. But when you keep your hopes UP, when you keep EXPECTING and BELIEVING, it’s as if that target gets larger and LARGER–EASIER to hit!

Choose today to live with an attitude of EXPECTANCY. Get your HOPES up! Start by taking captive ANY negative thoughts you may have one at a time. As you FOCUS on God’s GOODNESS and FAITHFULNESS, you’ll feel that hope inside you GROWING. You’ll give your faith a TARGET, and you’ll move CONFIDENTLY into the BLESSINGS and PEACE the Lord has in store for YOU!

Today’s Scripture:

“Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.”

(Hebrews 11:1, NLT)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

YOUR MISTAKE DID NOT CHANGE ‘WHO YOU ARE’ TO GOD

When we make mistakes in life, there are three main things that we need to do. Number one, ask for FORGIVENESS. Number two, RECEIVE God’s mercy. And number three, move FORWARD with your life. Let it go and press AHEAD. So many people today are still beating themselves down over something they did five years ago. They’ve asked God to forgive them a thousand times, but can’t let it go. They go around living depressed, defeated and feeling unworthy. If that’s you, realize today the price has ALREADY been paid. The first time you asked God to forgive you, He FORGAVE you. Now YOU’VE got to receive God’s MERCY and press AHEAD. That mistake did not change WHO you are to God. My daughter has never once gotten up in the morning as a Justice and then done something wrong and gone to bed that night with a different last NAME. No matter what she DID, she’s still my CHILD. You may have made mistakes today, but because of the blood of JESUS, you are still your Father’s CHILD. You are still the apple of God’s EYE. You are still His most PRIZED possession. God may not be pleased with EVERY action, but He IS pleased when you receive His FORGIVENESS by FAITH!

Today’s Scripture:

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”

(1 John 1:9, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

IN YOUR FUTURE, GOD HAS PLANS TO BRING YOU TO A FLOURISHING FINISH

Everyone goes through seasons of disappointment or difficulty. We all have unexpected setbacks. Maybe you’re going through something right now that you don’t understand. Here’s the good news: that disappointment is NOT the final chapter. God NEVER ends in a negative. If you will keep moving forward with your life, God promises that He will bring you to a FLOURISHING finish. Not a defeated finish, a bankrupt finish, a betrayed finish, or a barely-get-by finish. No, in YOUR future, God has a VICTORIOUS finish.

That setback, disappointment or betrayal that seems like it’s working AGAINST you, God knows how to turn it around and cause it to work FOR you. The key is that when you’re in difficult times, do NOT settle where you are. Don’t put your roots down and think that things are never going to CHANGE. No, for EVERY setback, God has already lined up a COMEBACK. For every injustice, He has VINDICATION. For every disappointment, He has RESTORATION.

Right now, just begin to THANK Him for what He’s GOING to do. PRAISE Him for His FAITHFULNESS. REJOICE today because He has a plan to bring YOU into a FLOURISHING finish!

Today’s Scripture:

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

(Philippians 1:6, NIV)