THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

YOU HAVE TO WANT IT AND BE RELENTLESS

A blind beggar named Bartimaeus heard all the commotion of a great crowd following Jesus and began shouting, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” The people around him told him to be quiet, but the more they rebuked him and told him to be quiet, the louder he shouted. All of a sudden, Jesus stopped, commanded him to be called, and healed him.

How badly do you want the dreams God put in your heart and the promises He’s spoken to you? Badly enough to outlast people who are trying to talk you out of it, badly enough to overlook some insults, badly enough to do the right thing when the wrong thing is happening? Do you want it badly enough to keep pursuing it when all the circumstances say it’s not going to happen? There should be something you are believing for about which you are relentless. You aren’t moved by how impossible it looks.

Today’s Scripture

Mark 10:52, NIV

“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

YOU’RE GOING TO COME INTO WHAT GOD HAS ALREADY SET UP

In Luke 22, Jesus told Peter and John to go into Jerusalem and make arrangements for what is now known as the Last Supper. He gave them the exact details—the right person to meet, the right time, the right house—and everything fell precisely into place. They didn’t have to persuade the owner of the house to help. No, he was expecting them. The room was “already set up.”

When God laid out the plan for your life, He set up everything you need to fulfill your destiny—every good break, every person, every solution. Before you had that problem you think will never turn around, He had already set up the answer. You don’t have to try to manipulate people or convince someone to be good to you. The desires that God put in your heart may seem far out, but if you’ll stay in faith and keep honoring God, you’re going to come into what God has already set up.

Today’s Scripture

Luke 22:12, NLT

“He will take you upstairs to a large room that is already set up. That is where you should prepare our meal.”

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

IF YOU TOLERATE MEDIOCRITY, IT WILL RUB OFF ON YOU

It’s not only important how we spend our time, but with whom we spend it. The only thing that’s keeping some people from a new level of their destiny is wrong friendships. You may have to prune off some relationships that are not adding value to your life. Don’t hang around people who are not going anywhere, who have no goals or dreams, who compromise and take the easy way out. If you tolerate mediocrity, it will rub off on you. If you hang out with jealous, critical, unhappy people, you will end up jealous, critical, and unhappy. You cannot become who God created you to be hanging out with them.

Take a look at your friends. If your friends are winners, leaders, givers, and successful, if they have integrity and a spirit of excellence and are positive and motivated, those good qualities are going to rub off on you. Invest your time with them. They’re making you better.

Today’s Scripture

Proverbs 13:20, MSG

Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

GOD’S MERCY IS BIGGER THAN YOUR MISTAKE

The enemy knows that if we feel wrong on the inside, we’ll never become who we were created to be. He works overtime to try to bring guilt and shame on you, to make you feel as though you don’t deserve to be blessed. You have to turn off the accusing voices.

You may have made mistakes, but the moment you asked God to forgive you, He not only forgave you but He took it one step further and doesn’t even remember it anymore. Those condemning thoughts try to remind you of your past mistakes. You’ve already asked for forgiveness, which means that God doesn’t remember it. That voice is a sure sign the accuser is at work. You can either accept the shame and feel wrong on the inside or you can declare, “No, shame off me! I’ve been forgiven. I know God’s mercy is bigger than this mistake. If God doesn’t remember it, I’m not going to remember it either.”

Today’s Scripture

Isaiah 43:25, NKJV

“I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins.”

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

START CARRYING YOURSELF WITH CONFIDENCE KNOWING THAT YOU ARE GOD’S MASTERPIECE.

Too often we base our value on how someone is treating us, how successful we are, how perfect a life we’ve lived. We base it on what we do, what our income is, who we know. The problem is that all those things can change. If you’re trying to get your value from how people treat you, then if they hurt or disappoint you, you’re going to feel devalued. If you’re basing your value upon your achievements, then if something negative happens, your sense of value will go down.

Your value should be based solely on the fact that you are a child of the Most High God. You have royalty in your blood. How someone treats you doesn’t change your value. Nothing you ever do, nothing you ever achieve, and nothing you ever overcome will make you any more VALUABLE. You are valuable right NOW. You have been fearfully and WONDERFULLY made. God calls you a MASTERPIECE. Start carrying yourself with CONFIDENCE.

Today’s Scripture

1 Peter 1:18–19, NLT

For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

DON’T TALK YOURSELF OUT OF IT, JUST OBEY…..

Many times we don’t realize that God is speaking to us. We feel an impression on the inside, a prompting to be good to someone. That’s not random. That’s God talking to us. Or, maybe you’re in a situation where you feel an uneasiness. Something says, “It’s not right. Stay away.” That’s not just your nerves. It’s God protecting you. Don’t ignore it, don’t talk yourself out of it; just obey. If you’ll follow that still, small voice, God says He will guide you along the best path for your life. If we’re listening to His still, small voice—the promptings, the suggestions, the alarms—He will save us from heartache and pain. He’ll lead us into promotion and favor. Too often we feel these impressions on the inside, but we dismiss them as not making sense, or override or overanalyze them. Don’t talk yourself out of it. Just obey. Anytime you obey, a blessing will always follow.

Today’s Scripture

Psalm 32:8, NIV

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

SCARS ARE A REMINDER OF GOD’S GRACE, POWER AND GOODNESS

We all carry invisible scars that come from inner wounds—perhaps from a divorce, from what somebody did, from a mistake we made, from a loss. So often we try to hide our scars. They remind us of the hurt. But you can be at peace with your scars. Those scars are your testimony; they tell your story. Instead of being depressed over what you’ve been through, have a new perspective—the enemy tried to stop you, but God brought you through it, healed you, and you have a scar to prove it. The scars can remind you of His grace and power.

Jesus’ back was lashed with thirty-nine stripes and His hands and feet and side were pierced. When He rose from the dead, you would think He would be perfectly restored, but He still had scars. This was significant. God could have taken them away. Maybe, in part, it was to show us that it’s okay to have scars.

Today’s Scripture

John 20:20, NLT

As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

STAY IN FAITH, YOU ARE CLOSER THAN YOU THINK

In 2 Kings 4, there was a wealthy lady who had been extraordinarily kind to the prophet Elisha. The only thing missing in her life was a child. She was barren and her husband was old. One day Elisha said, “By this time next year, you will hold a son in your arms.” She nearly passed out. She’d tried to have a baby for years. She said, “Please don’t lie to me like that!” She was saying, “How can this happen? It’s impossible.” But God is a supernatural God. He can make things happen out of season. A year later she had her son.

We all have situations that look permanent. All the circumstances say it’s going to take years to get out of debt, years to accomplish that dream, but God is going to surprise you. Don’t believe the lies that say it’s permanent. You may not see anything changing, but stay in faith—you are closer than you think.

Today’s Scripture

2 Kings 4:16, NIV

“About this time next year,” Elisha said,”you will hold a son in your arms.”

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

YOUR FAITH CAN ACTIVATE GOD’S POWER TO DO AMAZING THINGS

In many of the healings that Jesus performed, He laid His hands on people. But in this case, the woman laid her hands on Jesus. There were other sick people in the crowd that day. Many people with needs bumped up against Jesus and nothing happened, but this lady believed in Him, touched Him, and was healed.

Are you brushing up against Jesus or are you touching Him, so to speak? Are you waiting for God to lay hands on you? Are you living with expectancy, knowing that He’s bigger than your specific problems, or are you discouraged, thinking it will never change? God is passing by. He has all power. Don’t just brush up against Him. Don’t be passive and think you’ll never accomplish your dreams, never start your business, never meet the right person. Your faith can activate God’s power to do amazing things. Do like this woman—touch Him and believe it will happen!

Today’s Scripture

Mark 5:27–28, NIV

When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.”

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

YOU ARE A CHILD OF ALMIGHTY GOD, KEEP YOUR CROWN ON

When somebody tries to make you feel small, they make derogatory statements. Instead of being upset and believing what they say, just reach up and straighten your crown of righteousness. They can’t change who you are. They don’t control your destiny or determine your value. God does. He calls you a masterpiece. He says you’re a king, a queen. You’re supposed to reign in life. He put the crown on your head to remind you of who you are.

Don’t take off your crown because somebody told you that you’re not talented enough, not attractive enough, not tall enough, not smart enough. Your crown was put there by your Creator. It has nothing to do with how you feel, how you look, or what other people say. It’s based solely on the fact that you are a child of the Almighty God. Keep your crown on, keep being your best, and He will get you to where you’re supposed to be.

Today’s Scripture

Romans 5:17, NIV

…how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!