THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD REQUIRES TRUTH IN OUR INNER PARTS

Psalm 51 is a prayer of REPENTANCE in which David acknowledged a sin he had covered up. His first step was to accept RESPONSIBILITY. You can’t overcome what you don’t CONFRONT—a hidden addiction, a failure, a hurt. When you hide things, it’s going to eat away at you like a poison. David went on to say that God requires truth in our INNER parts. You can’t pretend and have God’s blessing at the same time.

If you’re covering things up, it’s not going to magically go away. When you come to God and ask for His FORGIVENESS and MERCY, He’ll begin to restore and put you back on the path to your DESTINY. David says, “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Restore to me the joy of my salvation.” He got it out in the open and asked for FORGIVENESS—that was the turning point. God forgave and RESTORED him, and David went on to do GREAT things.

Today’s Scripture

Psalm 51:3, 6, NKJV

For I acknowledge my transgression. Behold, You desire truth in the inward part.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

OUR TONGUE IS LIKE A FLAME AND ONE WORD CAN START A MAJOR FIRE

We need to realize that God hears what we SAY every day. He hears us when we BLESS people, when we COMPLIMENT and ENCOURAGE them, and when we PUSH them forward. He ALSO hears when we criticize and stir up trouble. The prophet Isaiah said that we will eat the fruit of our words. If you sow disrespect, sarcasm, discord, and judgment, you’re going to REAP those things. But when you sow KINDNESS, ENCOURAGEMENT, and MERCY, that’s what you’re going to REAP.

James said that our tongue is like a FLAME OF FIRE, and it only takes one tiny spark to set a whole forest ABLAZE. ONE WORD can start a major problem or a major BLESSING. You can start some GOOD fires. Ignite DREAMS, ignite HOPE, ignite PASSION. Your words can put people on their feet, breathe new life into their DREAMS. Don’t be a part of the problem, be a part of the SOLUTION. Be a LIFTER, be an ENCOURAGER, be a HEALER.

Today’s Scripture

James 3:5–6, TLB

The tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do. A great forest can be set on fire by one tiny spark. And the tongue is a flame of fire.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

THE WINDS MAY BELOW, BUT YOU’RE STILL STANDING

When the ground is saturated, even a big sturdy oak tree with an extensive root system that extends beyond its canopy can be blown over by high winds. That’s because most of its roots are less than twelve inches deep and don’t have anything to anchor to.

It’s the same principle in life. We all have things that come against us—a medical issue, a business downturn, a child gets in trouble. What’s going to determine whether or not you stand STRONG and outlast these storms is the DEPTH of your ROOTS. The reason some people are always upset, offended, and discouraged is that they only have SURFACE roots. They’re moved by what somebody said or did or something unfair. They’re always being tossed to and fro. But when you have DEEP roots, when you know that GOD is in control, you’re NOT moved by what doesn’t go your way. The winds may BLOW, but you’re still STANDING.

Today’s Scripture

Proverbs 12:3, MSG

You can’t find firm footing in a swamp, but life rooted in God stands firm.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

BE A PEACEMAKER, SHAKE IT OFF AND MOVE ON

It’s easy think, If my coworker wasn’t so disrespectful, I wouldn’t argue. No, you have to be the bigger PERSON. Just because they’re doing wrong doesn’t mean YOU have to engage. That’s the enemy baiting you, saying, “Argue, fight, set the record straight, prove you’re right.” Do NOT take the bait. It takes a mature person to overlook an insult and say, “NO, I’m staying in PEACE.”

Jesus didn’t say, “Blessed are those who are right.” For the sake of peace, sometimes you have to let the other person think they’re right, even when you know they’re wrong. We think, I’m right, and I’m going to prove it and win this fight. Can we tell you that being RIGHT is overrated? You can win EVERY battle, prove your points, but your relationships are being DAMAGED. Put your EGO down and let them be right even though you think YOU’RE right. Be a peacemaker and learn to SHAKE IT OFF and move on.

Today’s Scripture

Matthew 5:9, NIV
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

OUR GOD IS THE SUPREME COURT ALL BY HIMSELF AND HE’S ABOUT TO RULE IN YOUR FAVOR

In the legal system, a court will rule on a case and give their verdict, but that verdict can be appealed to a higher court that has more AUTHORITY and can overrule what the lower court decided. Finally, the SUPREME Court has the HIGHEST authority, and it can overrule ANY lower court decision.

In today’s Scripture, the psalmist is saying that the enemies that come against YOU —the fear, the lack, the sickness, the addiction—are NOT permanent. Our God is called the MOST HIGH God. He IS the Supreme Court all by HIMSELF. God is about to rule in your favor. He’s about to OVERRULE some things. You’re about to get a NEW verdict. God’s about to turn some things AROUND. You’re going to see a BREAKTHROUGH in your health. Doors are going to open BIGGER than you’ve IMAGINED. God’s going to bring divine CONNECTIONS, the right PEOPLE. He’s going to THRUST you to a NEW level of your destiny.

Today’s Scripture

Psalm 9:3–4, NLT

My enemies retreated For you have judged in my favor; from your throne you have judged with fairness.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

OUR GOD IS A MORE THAN ENOUGH GOD. DARE TO ASK BIG

When God laid out the plan for your life, He didn’t just put into it what you need to get BY and ENDURE until the END. He put MORE than enough in it. He’s a God of ABUNDANCE. We see this all through the Scripture. David says, “My cup runs over.” He had an ABUNDANCE, more than he NEEDED. Yes, we should thank God that our needs are supplied, but don’t SETTLE there. He is a more-than-enough God. He wants you to have an ABUNDANCE so you can be a blessing to those around you.

Are you asking for the abundant, overflowing, MORE-than-enough life that God has for you? God says you are to REIGN in life, that whatever you touch will PROSPER and SUCCEED. Don’t pray to just get by. Dare to ASK BIG. Ask for what God has PROMISED you. Ask Him for NEW levels. Ask Him for EXPLOSIVE blessings. Ask Him to propel you into your PURPOSE.

Today’s Scripture

Matthew 21:22, NKJV

And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

BE PROUD OF WHO GOD MADE YOU TO BE

Jesus said that if you don’t love yourself in a HEALTHY way, you will never be able to love OTHERS in the way that you should. This is why some people don’t have good RELATIONSHIPS. If you don’t get along with yourself, you’ll NEVER get along with others. We all have weaknesses, shortcomings, and things that we wish were different. But if you see YOURSELF as less than, not talented, and not valuable, you will become exactly THAT. If you feel unattractive on the INSIDE, you will convey feelings of unattractiveness. That’s going to push people away. You carry yourself the way you SEE yourself.

PEOPLE see you the way you see YOURSELF. Perhaps if you quit focusing on your FLAWS and start LOVING yourself in a HEALTHY way, being PROUD of who God made you to be, then as you send out these DIFFERENT messages, it’s going to bring new OPPORTUNITIES, new RELATIONSHIPS, and NEW levels of God’s FAVOR.

Today’s Scripture

Matthew 22:39, NIV

Love your neighbor as yourself.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

NOTHING THAT’S HAPPENED TO YOU IS A SURPRISE TO GOD

In today’s Scripture, some people asked Jesus whose FAULT it was that this man was born blind. They were looking for somebody to BLAME. Some reason, some excuse. Jesus said, “It’s NOBODY’S fault. The reason he was born this way was so that the GOODNESS of God could be displayed.”

When something unfair happens, don’t get stuck looking for a REASON, trying to find someone or SOMETHING to blame. All that blaming is going to do is give you a reason to feel SORRY for yourself. You’re not going to UNDERSTAND why everything happens. Nothing that’s happened to you is a surprise to GOD. He sees EVERY wrong that’s been done to you and every DISADVANTAGE, and He is a God of JUSTICE. If you stay in FAITH, it won’t work against you, it will work FOR you. God will use it to show OUT in your life. He’ll take what was meant for your harm and use it to your ADVANTAGE.

Today’s Scripture

John 9:2, NLT

“Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?”

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

WHEN YOU’RE THE SMILE OF GOD, HE’LL MAKE SURE PEOPLE SMILE BACK ON YOU

Genesis 25 and 27 record two deceptions by Jacob that resulted in such great losses for his brother, Esau, that he vowed to KILL Jacob. For many years, the brothers lived estranged. Finally, the day came when Jacob returned to his home, only to hear that Esau was coming to meet him with FOUR HUNDRED men. Vengeance seemed certain. But when Esau saw Jacob, he RAN to him and HUGGED him, weeping and welcoming Jacob BACK. Jacob was so moved by Esau’s kindness that he said, “Seeing your face was as the face of God SMILING on me!”

Life is not about getting revenge and HURTING people who hurt you. It’s easy to try to pay someone back, ignore them, and make them suffer. All that’s doing is holding YOU down. Why don’t you be the smile of God and show them the KINDNESS they don’t deserve? When you’re the smile of God, He’ll make sure people smile BACK on you.

Today’s Scripture

Genesis 33:10, MSG

Jacob said, “Please. If you can find it in your heart to welcome me, accept these gifts. When I saw your face, it was as the face of God smiling on me.”

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO LET NEGATIVITY GO ALONG FOR THE RIDE

Scripture says to give no PLACE to the enemy. That’s not just talking about forces of darkness; that means to give a foothold to THINGS that weigh us down—GUILT, RESENTMENT, WORRY, DOUBT and BITTERNESS. These things come NATURALLY. The PROBLEM is that when we allow them IN, they take up space that SHOULD be reserved for the GOOD things God created us to be filled with—JOY, PEACE CONFIDENCE and CREATIVITY. But the negative can’t come in automatically and take over. YOU control what comes into your life. You have CONTROL over negative thoughts and emotions. You have to make the CHOICE and say, “I’m NOT going to give space to negativity and let it poison my LIFE. I WILL NOT let an offense make me sour and BITTER.” Take inventory of what you’re giving space to. LIFE IS TOO SHORT for you to go through it with negative things holding you BACK.

Today’s Scripture

Ephesians 4:27, NIV

Do not give the devil a foothold.