THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

DIFFICULTIES ARE A SIGN THAT SOMETHING AMAZING IS IN YOUR FUTURE…..

When you have a big FUTURE, the enemy is NOT going to roll out the red carpet and let you FULFILL it. The apostle Paul recognized that a wide door of OPPORTUNITY had opened for him, but he had MANY adversaries because of the FAVOR that was on his life. The ENEMY recognized that Paul was a HISTORYMAKER, which is why he came against Paul so STRONGLY.

Many of the challenges YOU’VE faced–the things that didn’t seem FAIR, the OBSTACLES that came out of NOWHERE, the PEOPLE who TURNED on you–are because there are seeds of GREATNESS in YOU. You may not see it YET, but the ENEMY sees it. Have a new PERSPECTIVE. Those difficulties are a sign that something AMAZING is in your FUTURE. There’s something IN you that the enemy doesn’t want OUT. There’s an ASSIGNMENT God has for you that the enemy is trying to STOP–an ANOINTING, an EMPOWERMENT, a FAVOR that he doesn’t want you to SEE. The GOOD news is that GOD has the final SAY.

Today’s Scripture:

1 Corinthians 16:9, ESV

…for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN YOU’RE IN THE WAVES, GRAB ON TO THE BROKEN PIECES

In Acts 27, in the midst of the storm at sea, God PROMISED the apostle Paul that he and the ship’s CREW would SURVIVE, but the ship would be lost. It would have been much LESS traumatic if God had saved the SHIP, but SOMETIMES our boat goes down. The GOOD news is that the wooden boat’s broken PIECES helped float them to SAFETY. We think we have to have the BOAT, but God had a PLAN so that their BROKENNESS became their BREAKTHROUGH.

YOU may have lost someone or something precious to YOU, but what you have LEFT is what you NEED. God didn’t let you lose SO much that you can’t make it to where He’s TAKING you. When you’re in the waves, grab on to the BROKEN pieces. That means to keep believing that what God PROMISED is still on the WAY. Keep THANKING God for His GOODNESS. He doesn’t CHANGE His mind. The boat may have broken APART, but you’re still going to make it to your DESTINY.

Today’s Scripture:

Acts 27:41, NIV

But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

STAY HEALTHY AND DISCONNECT FROM THOSE THAT BRING DIVISION

HEALTHY people are NOT jealous of others and don’t talk about others behind their BACKS. Secure people don’t BAD-mouth others. They FORGIVE others and move ON. They’re NOT bitter, they don’t live with REGRETS, and they’re not MAD at themselves or others. They CELEBRATE other people’s SUCCESS and are HAPPY for those who are AHEAD of them. GRATEFUL people don’t FIND fault and focus on what’s wrong with others.

The Scripture says love COVERS others’ faults. Love covers others’ WEAKNESSES. If someone just goes around EXPOSING others and talking about their FAULTS, don’t sit there and listen to their gossip, criticism, or judgment. Don’t spend TIME on the phone with a friend who talks negatively about all your other friends. If you’re spending TIME with people who are critical, bitter, disgruntled, and FAULTFINDERS, those same QUALITIES are going to rub off on YOU. Keep your spirit PURE from all that discord. Don’t take the bait and join them in making others look BAD. Stay healthy and DISCONNECT from anyone who brings division.

Today’s Scripture:

1 Peter 4:8, NLT

Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

THE MOST HIGH GOD HAS APPROVED YOU AND HE’S THE ONLY ONE THAT MATTERS

It’s very POWERFUL when you can say, “I HAVE the talent I need. I have the LOOKS I need. I have the PERSONALITY I need. I have the STRENGTH I need.” David had PLENTY of opportunities to live with a deficit mentality. Before he became the greatest king who ever lived, it is well documented that he was DISCOUNTED by his father and his brothers. They made him FEEL as though he was unqualified, not GOOD enough, AND inferior. If David had relied on other PEOPLE to get his APPROVAL, he never would have stepped into his DESTINY.

Maybe someone has discounted YOU and made you feel that you’re NOT attractive enough, not TALENTED enough, not up to PAR. Don’t believe those LIES. THEY didn’t breathe life into you. They don’t DETERMINE your destiny. Do as David did and say, “Father, THANK You that I have EVERYTHING I need in YOU.” You don’t need other PEOPLES approval or validation. The Most High GOD has APPROVED you. He’s the ONLY One who matters.

Today’s Scripture:

Psalm 23:1, TLB

Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

TODAY, RECEIVE CHRIST’S LOVE AND EXTEND IT TO OTHERS

BEYOND the Christmas lights and presents, beyond the MUSIC and great FOOD, God reminds us of the most WONDERFUL gift that has EVER been given…this gift is JESUS. The BABE in the manger. The Savior of the WORLD, who brought the promise of UNCONDITIONAL love, unending HOPE, and ETERNAL life to EVERY person who BELIEVES in Him. The apostle Paul was so OVERWHELMED at the thought of all that God has GIVEN us that instead of trying to put it all in words, he simplified it THIS way: “Thanks be to God for his SON–a gift too WONDERFUL for words” (2 Cor. 9:15).

Jesus is God’s PERFECT, INDESCRIBABLE gift. And the AMAZING thing is that not only are we personally able to RECEIVE this gift that is too wonderful for WORDS, but we are able to SHARE Him with OTHERS today and EVERY day. We need to make sure our hearts are READY, both to RECEIVE Christ’s love AND to extend it to OTHERS. This is what Christmas is ALL about.

Today’s Scripture:

John 3:16, NIV

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.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

THIS CHRISTMAS EVE, TAKE TIME TO REJOICE WITH THE ANGELS

On the night Jesus Christ was born, shepherds were out in a field near Bethlehem when an angel appeared to them and told them the good NEWS about His BIRTH. Then SUDDENLY, a vast HOST of angels appeared who were PRAISING God. The Scripture tells us that there are angels in HEAVEN singing God’s praises day and NIGHT. Think about THIS: When YOU praise God, you are JOINING with the angels in HEAVEN! What an AWESOME thought that we can be ONE with the HEAVENLY hosts when WE worship.

As you celebrate the birth of Jesus on this Christmas EVE, take time to REJOICE with the angels that the Son of God came to US as a BABY. Turn your thoughts toward our Lord and Savior because He is GOOD and WORTHY of ALL our praise. In the words of Psalm 95, “So come, let us WORSHIP: BOW before Him, on your knees before God, who MADE us! Oh yes, He’s OUR God, and WE’RE the people He PASTURES, the flock He FEEDS.”

Today’s Scripture:

Luke 2:13–14, NLT

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others–the armies of heaven–praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

WHEN GOD PUTS A PROMISE IN YOUR HEART, JUST AGREE WITH HIM…..

Words are POWERFUL. A teenage girl named Mary became pregnant, not by a man, but by a WORD from God. The angel Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Mary, you are highly FAVORED! You will conceive and have a baby WITHOUT knowing a man. He will be the MESSIAH, the Son of GOD.” When God wants to create, He doesn’t use MEATERIAL things; He uses WORDS. Mary could have said to the angel, “THAT’S impossible. It’s never HAPPENED before.” Instead, she said, “Be it unto ME even as you have SAID.” She got in AGREEMENT with God. She used HER words to confirm what she HEARD, not to DEBATE what she heard.

When God puts a promise in YOUR heart, just AGREE with Him. The Scripture says, “By His stripes you are HEALED.” Don’t debate it. “I don’t feel healed. My back is still sore.” Get in a HABIT of speaking FAITH-filled words. “Lord, thank You that I AM healed. Be it unto ME even as You have SAID.”

Today’s Scripture:

Luke 1:37–38, NIV

“For no word from God will ever fail. I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

FOCUS ON THE BLESSING AND NOT THE BURDEN

Mary was told SHE would give birth to the Savior of the WORLD. You can’t GET any more FAVORED than THAT. But with that blessing came a BURDEN. She was favored but MISUNDERSTOOD. FAVORED but ridiculed. Favored but CONTOVERSIAL. People whispered, “She got pregnant BEFORE her wedding.” On one hand, she’s EXCITED and can hardly believe the BLESSING. On the OTHER hand, she must tell Joseph and face having her HEART broken.

Sometimes God will ask us to DO things that are DIFFICULT. It would be much EASIER to stay in our COMFORT zone and NOT rock the boat. But God loves you too MUCH to let you miss your DESTINY. He’s SAYING, “You’ve been HIGHLY favored. I’m going to take you where you’ve never DREAMED and open doors that you couldn’t OPEN.” You can handle the BLESSING, but can you handle the BURDEN? Do as MARY did and keep the right ATTITUDE, knowing that the difficulty is part of the package. FOCUS on the blessing NOT the burden.

Today’s Scripture:

Luke 1:28, NKJV

The angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

HOPE IS THE ANCHOR OF OUR SOUL THAT PREVENTS AIMLESSLY DRIFTING

The Scripture describes HOPE as the ANCHOR of our soul. It wouldn’t say “ANCHOR” unless there was a possibility of DRIFTING. This is what happens in LIFE. If we don’t keep our ANCHOR down and stay full of HOPE, then little by little we start DRIFTING, getting negative and DISCOURAGED. “I don’t think I’ll ever get out of DEBT.” “I’ll never get WELL. It’s been so LONG.” “I’ll never meet the right PERSON.” Pretty soon we feel down and overwhelmed and have DRIFTED to a dark PLACE. The PROBLEMS is that you don’t have your anchor of HOPE down.

When you find yourself being consumed by worry, full of doubt, thinking it’s never going to work out, RECOGNIZE what’s happened and put your ANCHOR back down. Quit DWELLING on the negative thoughts. You may have HAD some bad breaks, but that doesn’t mean you’re not going to fulfill your DESTINY. Shake OFF the self-pity, shake off the DISAPPOINTMENT. What God PROMISED you, He’s STILL going to bring to PASS.

Today’s Scripture:

Hebrews 2:1, NIV

We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN YOU KISS THE PAST GOODBYE, IT RELEASES YOU INTO YOUR FUTURE…….

We get EXCITED about new BEGINNINGS. We talk a LOT about God being the ALPHA and doing NEW things, but we don’t hear much about how He, the OMEGA, brings things to an END. It COULD be a relationship, a broken DREAM, a BUSINESS that didn’t MAKE it, or a loved one who passes away. This is HARD for us because an ending can feel like a SETBACK, and often it FEELS like a failure. But just as God OPENS a door, He closes doors and brings things to an END. The reason He CLOSES a door is because He has something BETTER. Instead of being sour and losing your JOY, the best thing you can do is to just say GOODBYE to the hurt, the QUESTIONS, the DISAPPOINTMENT, and the self-PITY. QUIT beating yourself up; quit bringing failures from yesterday into TODAY. Accept it as part of God’s PLAN, be at PEACE with what’s behind you, and move ON. When you kiss the past GOODBYE, it RELEASES you into your FUTURE.

Today’s Scripture:

Revelation 1:8, NLT

“I am the Alpha and the Omega–the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God.