THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

CONTENTMENT IS AN ATTITUDE GOD CAN WORK WITH

It’s easy to be tempted to go through life COMPETING with everyone around us when we see someone who’s more TALENTED, BETTER LOOKING or has more GIFTS. Instead of running OUR race and being comfortable with who WE are, oftentimes, we feel inferior and think, “I’ve got to catch up to THEM.” The problem with this unhealthy COMPETITION is that it’s a NEVER-ENDING CYCLE.

There will ALWAYS be someone ahead of us. But, it’s a very freeing thing when you realize, “I’m not competing with YOU. I don’t have to have as big a HOUSE as my neighbor to feel good about MYSELF. I don’t have to keep up with my CO-WORKER. I don’t have to be a certain SIZE. I don’t have to have as many CHRISTMAS LIGHTS outside. No, I understand that I’m NOT in competition with my FRIEND, my NEIGHBOR or my CO-WORKER. Instead, I’m going to be the best ME that I can possibly BE.”

CONTENTMENT is an attitude God can WORK with. When you focus on being who God made YOU to be and focus on running YOUR OWN race, that’s when you’ll see things HAPPEN. That’s when you’ll rise up HIGHER and position yourself for every spiritual BLESSING He has in store for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…”

Hebrews 12:1-2, NKJV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

YOUR DESTINY IS TOO GREAT TO LET YOURSELF GET DISTRACTED

If you’re going to pursue GREATNESS, if you’re going to be a great BUSINESSPERSON, a great TEACHER, a great PARENT, a great LEADER, you have to understand that not EVERYONE is going to cheer you on. I’d love to tell you that your family, friends and co-workers will CELEBRATE you, but that’s not necessarily the CASE. Some people simply can’t HANDLE your success. As you GROW and INCREASE, as God pours out His FAVOR on you, someone will get jealous. Someone will start finding fault. Don’t be surprised if a relative tries to belittle or discredit you. You can’t focus on making everyone AROUND you happy or you’ll start changing and lose sight of what GOD has placed in your heart.

Remember, your destiny is too GREAT to be distracted by people who are NEVER going to affirm you. Don’t take it personally. It’s not ABOUT you. It’s THEIR problem. Shake it off, run YOUR race, and be great ANYWAY.

Having greatness in the midst of criticism begins with FORGIVENESS. Don’t hold a grudge. BLESS those who curse you; PRAY for those who spitefully USE you. As you keep doing what is RIGHT, God will HONOR you. He’ll PROMOTE you, and you’ll be GREAT in the midst of criticism!

Today’s Scripture:

“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”

(Matthew 5:44, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

CHOOSE TO WALK IN LOVE, EVEN WHEN YOU DON’T FEEL LIKE IT

Spiritual MATURITY isn’t measured by how long you’ve been a Christian, or how much you know, or how often you go to church. Spiritual maturity is measured by the way you TREAT OTHER PEOPLE. It’s measured by the LOVE you allow to operate THROUGH you.

First Corinthians 13 tells us about the characteristics of love. When we are walking in love, we treat other people with COURTESY and RESPECT. Are you KIND to the person at the checkout counter that may be moving too slowly? Are you GENTLE when you are driving down the highway and someone cuts you off? Are you PATIENT with your family and coworkers? These are all ways we show LOVE.

Scripture also tells us that love is PATIENT. It is KIND. It does not ENVY; it is not proud. It is not rude. Love is not easily angered, and it keeps NO RECORD OF WRONGS. Love NEVER fails. Notice that these characteristics don’t have anything to do with feelings. That’s because love is a CHOICE. You can choose to walk in love toward people even when you don’t feel like it–and THAT’S what being spiritually mature is all about!

Today’s Scripture:

“Now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

1 Corinthians 13:13, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

LOOK FOR WAYS TO BRING OUT THE BEST IN OTHERS

You may have heard this verse many times before, but one translation says that “love looks for a way to be CONSTRUCTIVE.” In other words, KINDNESS isn’t just about being nice; it’s looking for ways to IMPROVE someone else’s life. It’s bringing out the BEST in others.

When you start your day, don’t just spend time thinking about yourself or how you can make your OWN life better. Think about ways you can make someone ELSE’S life better, TOO! Ask yourself, “Who can I ENCOURAGE today? Who can I BUILD UP?” You have something to offer those around you that no one else CAN give. Someone in your life needs your ENCOURAGEMENT. Someone in your life needs to know that you BELIEVE in them. We are responsible for how we TREAT the PEOPLE He’s placed in our lives. He’s COUNTING on us to bring out the best in our FAMILY and FRIENDS.

Today, ask the Lord to give you creative WAYS to ENCOURAGE those around you. As you sow seeds of encouragement and bring out the BEST in others, God will send people along your path that will build YOU up, TOO. Keep showing KINDNESS so you can move forward into the BLESSING and FREEDOM He has for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“…love is kind…”

1 Corinthians 13:4, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD HAS GIVEN EACH OF US A MEASURE OF FAITH, BUT IT’S UP TO US TO DEVELOP IT

God wants you to be PERFECT and COMPLETE, living in His ABUNDANCE and lacking NOTHING on this earth. That may seem like a stretch from where you are TODAY. It may seem far off; but in an INSTANT, things can turn around. God has set up a system of BLESSING for you, and it starts with His WORD. The Bible says that God has given each of us a MEASURE of faith. We ALL have faith, and it’s up to us to DEVELOP it. Romans 10:17 says that faith GROWS as we read and study His WORD. FAITH, in turn, produces PATIENCE, and when we allow patience to have its perfect WORK in us, we will lack NO good thing.

Today, no matter where you are in the PROCESS, the key is to keep moving forward by READING and HEARING His Word. His Word is ALIVE. His Word will heal your heart and restore your soul. His Word will produce PATIENCE in your life so that you can move forward, being COMPLETE and lacking NOTHING all the days of your LIFE!

Today’s Scripture:

“…knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

(James 1:3-4, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD WILL COMPLETE THE GOOD WORK HE’S STARTED IN YOU

Something SUPERNATURAL happens when you submit your mind and heart to the Lord. First, your HEART changes; then your THOUGHTS begin to change. Your ACTIONS begin to change. Your life begins to bring forth FRUIT, or it displays the CHARACTER of God. The Bible tells us in Galatians that the fruit of God’s spirit is LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS and self-CONTROL. These character traits are PROOF that God is at work in our lives. Do you have more LOVE than you used to? Are you more at PEACE than you used to be? Are you more GENTLE? Self-CONTROLLED? That’s because GOD is at work in your life, and it brings Him PLEASURE when you act more like Him.

If you need to grow in any of these areas today, simply open your heart and ask Him to WORK in your life. He PROMISES that He will COMPLETE the good work He’s started in you. Don’t give up! Keep praying, keep believing, keep repenting and submitting your life to Him. Put His Word as a PRIORITY in your life and you will continue to grow and bring forth His fruit and live in His abundant blessings in EVERY area of life!

Today’s Scripture:

“Bring forth fruit that is consistent with repentance [let your lives prove your change of heart]”

(Matthew 3:8, AMP)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

STAY IN FAITH AND GOD WILL OPEN NEW DOORS AND TAKE YOU TO A NEW LEVEL OF HIS GLORY

In life, we ALL go through a PRUNING process. God will PRUNE our lives so that we can bear much FRUIT. To “PRUNE” means something is cut away, something is removed. In other words, maybe a good FRIEND that you counted on moved to another city. Maybe a BUSINESS shut down that you were connected to, or a RELATIONSHIP went a different direction.

Friend, God knows what you NEED in your life in order to GROW and FLOURISH. Sometimes when things happen that we don’t understand, we have to just TRUST that He is working behind the scenes PREPARING you for INCREASE, preparing you to go to another LEVEL. Don’t put a question mark where God has placed a period.

When you’re going through TRANSITION, don’t get bitter. Don’t get down and think it’s the end. Don’t start thinking that you’re a failure. Have the attitude, “God, I let this go knowing that it was only TEMPORARY provision, and what You have in my future will be GREATER than what I’m letting go of.” If you will accept the change and stay in FAITH, God WILL open new doors. He will bring new OPPORTUNITIES, new FRIENDSHIPS, and take you to ANOTHER LEVEL of His GLORY!

Today’s Scripture:

He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

John 15:2, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD WILL BRING YOU TO A PLACE OF STABILITY, WHERE YOU REMAIN STRONG

In life, we all have ups and downs. There are seasons that are more difficult than others, seasons of testing, trials and temptation where our CHARACTER is being developed and our faith in God is being STRENGTHENED. Sometimes it can feel like you are taking two steps forward and then three steps backward. But if we’re not careful, we’ll start thinking that life is ALWAYS going to be this way. Even in the STRONG seasons, you’ll start looking for things to go wrong.

God doesn’t want us to be living life like a roller coaster. He wants to bring us to a place of STABILITY where we remain STRONG in Him. Jesus said, “I am the vine. You are the branches. If you abide in me, you will bear much fruit and your fruit will REMAIN.” The word “REMAIN” means “to be FIXED, IMMOVABLE, not AFFECTED by circumstances.” If you will just keep ABIDING in Him, just keep MEDITATING on His Word, He’ll bring you THROUGH. He’ll make you STRONG, He’ll keep you STABLE, and you’ll keep moving forward into the life of BLESSING He has prepared for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you.”

(John 15:7, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

SWITCH OVER INTO PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING AND DECLARE THAT GOD IS GOOD

We all face challenges and obstacles in this life. We all have DREAMS in our hearts, and at times, it looks like they’re not going to come to pass. During these difficult SEASONS, we have a choice. We can get negative and discouraged and talk about how things are not going to work out, or we can switch over into PRAISE and THANKSGIVING which opens the door for God to move on our behalf.

A lot of times people think, “I’ll have a good attitude as soon as I get over this health issue.” “Mark, I’ll give God praise when I get through these tough times.” But that’s not how FAITH works. As long as we’re negative, discouraged and focused on our problems, it LIMITS what God can do. You’ve got to give God PRAISE FIRST, and THEN the BREAKTHROUGH will come. You’ve got to change your FOCUS FIRST, and then things will change in your FAVOR. Praise ALWAYS precedes the VICTORY.

Today, if you’ve been dwelling on the wrong things and focusing in the wrong direction, SWITCH OVER into PRAISE and THANKSGIVING. Begin to declare that God IS good. Declare that He is FAITHFUL. Declare His PRAISES and open the door to VICTORY in EVERY area of your life!

Today’s Scripture:

“Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines…yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”

(Habakkuk 3:17-18, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

TODAY, GIVE THANKS AND PRAISE TO GOD FOR ALL THAT HE HAS DONE

Today, take time to REFLECT on and give THANKS to God for all of His BLESSINGS in your life. Whether you are eating turkey, playing games with your family, watching football or visiting a friend, remember to take time to focus on God’s GOODNESS. Count your BLESSINGS and notice all the GRACE, FAVOR and LOVE that God has given you. Psalm 95:2 says to “come before His presence with THANKSGIVING…shout JOYFULLY to Him with psalms.”

No matter the circumstances in your life, give THANKS and PRAISE to God for all that He has done. Remember how GOOD He is and that His love will endure FOREVER. The Bible says that you show your love for God through your actions toward OTHER people. Reach out to those AROUND you this holiday season and share His love and FORGIVENESS with them. You are BLESSED to be a blessing to OTHERS!

Today’s Scripture:

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

(1 Corinthians 15:57, NIV)