THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE

In the Old Testament, God commanded His people to put down “memorial stones” that reminded them of specific victories. Every time they passed by certain stones, they would recall an event, such as when they crossed over the Jordan River into the Promised Land. Having these memorial stones helped them to keep God’s deeds fresh in their memories.

A wise person once said, “Freedom is not free,” and that is certainly true in our nation. Memorial Day is a time when we honor all the brave men and women who have given their lives in service for this country. As we remember them, let’s honor the gift of freedom they have given us by saying thank you with our actions and choosing to love and honor others. Let’s also honor all those who are serving in our armed forces and their families who are sacrificing so much today. Let’s pray for God’s peace, protection, and provision over every area of their lives.

Today’s Scripture

John 15:13, NIV

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

AS A BELIEVER YOU ARE HEAVY WITH FAVOR, WEIGHTED DOWN WITH GOD’S GOODNESS

King David said that God’s “FAVOR surrounds us like a SHIELD.” That means everywhere you go, you have an ADVANTAGE, a divine EMPOWERMENT, opening of doors, causing things to fall into place. But Isaiah took it one step further in today’s Scripture. The word GLORY in the original language implies that God’s favor is HEAVY upon you. There’s an emphasis on the weight. Isaiah was saying you didn’t just get a little favor, enough to get by or scrape through life. No, you are HEAVY with favor, weighted DOWN with God’s GOODNESS.

When you know you’re heavy with FAVOR, you’ll pray BOLD prayers, believe for the EXTRAORDINARY, and EXPECT doors to open that you could NOT open. You’ll expect to ACCOMPLISH your dreams, to BREAK that addiction, and to pay your house OFF. When you know you are heavy with FAVOR, you’ll ARISE, and God will cause you to SHINE. That’s when you’ll step into the FULLNESS of your DESTINY.

Today’s Scripture

Isaiah 60:1, NKJV

“Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.”

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

TRUST GOD’S TIMING. HE KNOWS WHAT HE’S DOING

The Israelites were surrounded by a huge army and greatly outnumbered. They were so worried and stressed out. Just before they went to battle, they decided to pray. Notice God’s answer. If you will be STILL and remain at REST, God will turn it to VICTORY. He is WITH you. He will VINDICATE you.

When YOU feel OVERWHELMED and you’re tempted to take everything into YOUR own hands, you have to make yourself be STILL. The battle is not YOURS. The battle is the LORD’S. As long as YOU’RE fighting it, God is going to step back and let YOU do it on your OWN. But when you put it back in HIS hands, God WILL fight your BATTLES. Now do YOUR part and REST. Trust God’s TIMING. He knows what He is doing. YOU may not understand why something is taking so long, but sometimes God will delay an ANSWER so He can show His power in a GREATER way.

Today’s Scripture

2 Chronicles 20:17, NLT

But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WITH A SINGLE WORD, YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO STIR UP SOMEONE’S DREAMS

The word encourage means “to urge forward.” Every one of us should have someone we believe in, someone we’re urging forward, someone we’re helping to achieve goals and dreams. How do you encourage someone? You study that person and identify what he or she does well. What excites him? What are her strengths? An encourager sees things in others that they often can’t see in themselves. A simple compliment, a single word of encouragement can give a person the confidence he or she needs to take that step of faith. You have the ability to stir up someone’s dreams by giving them permission to succeed. You can light a fire on the inside that glows joyfully for a lifetime. When you take time to believe in someone, and you speak faith into the heart of another, your words can become the seed God nourishes. You never know the impact a small note or a kind word of encouragement can have. Be a people builder.

Today’s Scripture

1 Thessalonians 5:11, NIV

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

KEEP YOUR FLAWS IN PERSPECTIVE. GOD IS THE POTTER, WE ARE THE CLAY

One of the worst mistakes you can make is to go through life being against yourself. Some people live with a nagging feeling that’s always telling them, “You’re not good enough. You still have that addiction. You’ll never get it right.” They’ve heard that playing in their minds for so long that it’s become normal.

You may have some areas in which you still struggle and need to improve—we all do—but being down on yourself is not going to help you do better. Keep your flaws in perspective. God is the Potter, we are the clay. He’s the one who is making and molding you. It may not be happening as fast as you would like, but you don’t control the timetable. Will you trust Him in the process you’re in right now? Will you enjoy where you are while God is in the process of changing you? You’re on the Potter’s wheel. God is still working on you.

Today’s Scripture

Isaiah 64:8, NIV

Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

AS A BELIEVER, YOU’RE MORE POWERFUL THAN ANY FORCE TRYING TO STOP YOU

Some people live worried and afraid because they see the enemy as a powerful force that can control them and keep them defeated. They give him power that he doesn’t have. Our heavenly Father is on the throne. He’s the Judge. He has you in the palms of His hands. Nothing can snatch you away. God is the creator; Satan is a created being, a fallen angel. When Jesus came out of the grave, He took the keys of death and hell away from the enemy. Every force of darkness was broken when Christ rose from the dead. He said, “All power in heaven and earth has been given to Me. Now I give it to you.” You’re more powerful than any force that’s trying to stop you. Don’t be afraid of the enemy. He has already been defeated; he’s afraid of you. We’re in a fixed fight. We know the outcome. God said He always causes you to triumph.

Today’s Scripture

1 John 4:4, NIV

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

KEEP DIGGING THE DITCH AND GOD WILL SHOW UP WITH WATER

The armies of Judah and Israel had traveled through the desert for seven days on their way to a battle when they completely ran out of water. Fearing they were doomed, they sent word to the prophet Elisha, who told them to dig ditches throughout the valley to prepare for the coming water. Though it never rained there, Elijah was saying, “It’s going to happen supernaturally. Just dig.” So they did, and the next morning, out of nowhere water flowed into the valley.

Every time you’re discouraged and don’t know how a promise from God is going to happen, you need to dig a ditch. When the medical report isn’t good, say, “Father, thank You that You’re restoring health to me. It’s just a matter of time before the breakthrough shows up.” If you do your part and keep digging the ditch, God is saying, “I’ll do My part and bring the water. I’ll show you favor and open new doors.”

Today’s Scripture

2 Kings 3:16–17, NKJV

Thus says the LORD: “Make this valley full of ditches.” For thus says the LORD: “You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink.”

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD WILL GIVE YOU THE GRACE TO OVERCOME WHAT YOU CAN’T GET AWAY FROM

In Genesis 39, when Joseph was tempted to sin with Potiphar’s wife, this was a defining MOMENT in his life. As a slave, he could have said, “What’s it going to matter?” But INSTEAD he “ran from the house,” which led to the FALSE accusations that landed him in prison, from which he eventually was PROMOTED to being in charge of all the affairs of EGYPT. What he did in that DEFINING moment opened the way to the throne.

The Scripture tells us to RUN from temptation. Your DESTINY is at stake. Whether it’s a person who’s making ADVANCES, being over FRIENDLY toward you, a situation where you want to tell someone OFF, watching a MOVIE that you know you shouldn’t, or getting out of compromising SITUATIONS as fast as you can, God will give you the grace to OVERCOME what you can’t get away from. But He won’t give you the grace to overcome things you CAN get away from.

Today’s Scripture

1 Corinthians 10:13, ESV

God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE FRIEND WHO WALKS IN WHEN OTHERS WALK OUT

You can tell who your real friends are when you fail, when you get off course. Friends stay loyal to the people God puts in their lives. Good people make mistakes and blow it. People who love you can let you down. When your loved ones and friends make mistakes, they don’t need another judge to condemn them or add to their guilt and shame. You can help love them back into wholeness. To be loyal doesn’t mean you condone or approve their actions. You’re simply showing them the mercy you would want shown to you. You’re being a healer, a restorer. You lift people up.

Don’t be a fair-weather friend. Be the friend who walks in when others are walking out. Our attitude should be, “You can count on me. I’m committed to loving you for the long haul, through thick and thin.” They know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they can count on you.

Today’s Scripture

Proverbs 17:17, NIV

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

WHEN YOU KNOW THE LORD IS ON YOUR SIDE, IT GIVES YOU BOLDNESS

In today’s Scripture when David looked at where he was as the king and thought about all he had gone through to get there—King Saul trying to kill him, people betraying him, armies attacking him—he recognized that God was behind the scenes the whole time, not letting those enemies defeat him. It gave him a boldness for he knew the Lord was on his side.

All of us have some of these “by this I know” experiences. When you look back at how you survived that sickness, how you put yourself through college, how you broke that addiction, you realize it was only by the grace of God, and here you are. When you know the Lord is on your side, it gives you a boldness. You don’t fall apart when opposition comes. Your attitude is, “You’re messing with the wrong person. I may look ordinary, but I have a secret: the Most High God is on my side.”

Today’s Scripture

Psalm 41:11, ESV

By this I know that you delight in me: my enemy will not shout in triumph over me.