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

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD’S MORE INTERESTED IN CHANGING YOU, THAN HE IS IN CHANGING YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES

Sometimes when God is doing a work in our lives, it can begin to feel a little UNCOMFORTABLE. We may encounter people who are hard to get along with or have CIRCUMSTANCES that seem beyond our control. When this happens, instead of complaining, getting sour or trying to change everything AROUND you, why don’t you look deep inside and say, “Lord, thank You for doing a WORK in me.” See, I’ve learned that God is more interested in changing ME than He is in changing my CIRCUMSTANCES. If I choose to stay sour because I’m not getting MY way or discouraged because things aren’t happening on MY time table, that’s going to keep me right where I AM.

If you want to see CHANGE, if you want to see God open up new doors, the key is to BLOOM right where you’re planted. You can’t wait until everything gets better before you decide to have a good ATTITUDE. You have to be the BEST that you can be right where you ARE. When you BLOOM where you’re PLANTED, you’re allowing God to WORK in you, and He will be FAITHFUL to complete what He’s STARTED in you!

Today’s Scripture:

“…He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

(Philippians 1:6, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

DON’T LET DISCOURAGEMENT OR NEGATIVE THOUGHTS TALK YOU OUT OF GOD’S BEST

God is a FAITHFUL God! You may be praying for things that haven’t HAPPENED yet, but just because things aren’t happening on YOUR timetable doesn’t mean they aren’t going to HAPPEN. Don’t give up on that PROMISE; GOD has the final say. Don’t let discouragement or negative thoughts talk you OUT of it. Get your FIRE back! Get your PASSION back. If GOD said it, He WILL DO it. If God SPOKE it, He WILL bring it to PASS.

This is what the apostle Paul did in Scripture. He said, “None of these things move me.” What were “these things?” CIRCUMSTANCES that looked impossible. Persecution. People trying to talk him out of it. Negative, discouraging THOUGHTS. His ATTITUDE was, “That doesn’t change my mind. I’m not moved by what I SEE. I’m moved by what I KNOW, and I KNOW if God be FOR me, who DARE be against me? I know all of God’s PROMISES are yes and amen. I know God has the FINAL say!”

Today’s Scripture:

“But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”

(Acts 20:24, NKJV)

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)