THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE TODAY, GOD WANTS TO GIVE YOU A NEW, BETTER FUTURE

Isn’t it interesting that the Bible says we should be PRISONERS of HOPE? Prisoner of hope means that you can’t get away from it. You’re HELD by hope. A prisoner of hope is someone who has an attitude of FAITH and EXPECTANCY even when things are bad because God has promised to RESTORE what was lost . . . and far MORE. That’s a great word of HOPE you can hold ON to! It means your HEALTH, your JOB situation, and your FINANCES may not be what you WANT them to be today, but they are all subject to CHANGE! God wants to RESTORE these things to you—not just the way they were BEFORE—but with MORE so that you are better off than when you began. No matter where you are TODAY or what happened to you YESTERDAY, God wants to give you a NEW future filled with JOY, FULFILLMENT and ABUNDANCE.

Today’s Scripture:

“Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double.”
Zechariah 9:12, ESV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

KEEP ABIDING IN HIM AND HE’LL BRING YOU THROUGH AND MAKE YOU STRONG AND STABLE

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:

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)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

YOUR DAYS ARE DESTINED TO SHINE BRIGHTER BECAUSE GOD IS FAITHFUL

In the Old Testament when this scripture was written, God’s people were going through a VERY dark time. They were being held captive against their will and mistreated by other nations. God sent this word to ENCOURAGE them and give them HOPE for their FUTURE. When the time came, God was FAITHFUL to His Word!

Are YOU going through a difficult time today? Let this word bring you encouragement, TOO. God wants to give you DOUBLE for your trouble. He is the God of RESTORATION—that means He’s not going to just repay you for every wrong done, He’s going to go above and BEYOND and make things even BETTER than they were before.

If you are facing challenges today or going through a time of adversity, remember, it’s ALWAYS darkest just before the dawn appears. Your days are DESTINED to shine brighter because God is FAITHFUL. As you stay in faith and are obedient to His Word, you’ll receive DOUBLE for your trouble and the BLESSINGS He has in store for YOU!

Today’s Scripture:

“Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.”
Isaiah 61:7, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

IF YOU DO YOUR PART, GOD WILL ALWAYS BE FAITHFULL TO DO HIS PART

The best way to ease stress in your life is to get your mind OFF the pressures by reaching out to help somebody ELSE. Sow good seeds in someone else’s life with a kind WORD or a helping HAND and you will begin to reap a harvest of BLESSING. God asks you to GIVE, but He doesn’t do it to stress you out or frustrate you. He does it to give you wonderful OPPORTUNITIES. God is trying to help you PLANT your seeds, so that you can reap the HARVEST of your labors and your work. When you serve others, you’ll feel a SATISFACTION, PEACE, a JOY, a STRENGTH, and a FULFILLMENT that only GOD can give. STRENGTH, JOY, ENERGY, PEACE, and HEALING come to those who SERVE. If you’re faithful to do YOUR part, He will be faithful to do HIS part. Don’t let the enemy deceive you into thinking that you CAN’T sow seeds of blessing in someone else’s life. Get that seed into the GROUND so it can grow into a harvest of BLESSING and VICTORY!

Today’s Scripture

Mark 10:45, NIV
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

REAL FREEDOM COMES FROM KNOWING YOU DON’T NEED APPROVAL FROM ANYONE BUT GOD

The apostle Paul was obviously NOT worried about trying to please the people around him. It’s not that he didn’t CARE about others. It’s just that he was FOCUSED on serving the Lord. Many times, you may be too worried about what PEOPLE think of you, which inhibits you from following God with your WHOLE heart. There is a real FREEDOM when you realize you don’t NEED the approval of others. You have Almighty GOD’S approval. Stop trying to keep everyone AROUND you happy. Some people don’t even WANT to be happy. You’ve got to be secure enough to say, “I love you, but I won’t allow you to CONTROL me. You may not give me your blessing, but that’s OKAY. I have GOD’S blessing. I’m not a PEOPLE pleaser; I’m a GOD pleaser.”

Today’s Scripture

Galatians 1:10, NIV
Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

 

 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WE CAN’T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT WE CAN, AND SHOULD ALWAYS CONTROL OUR REACTION

Every day, we have opportunities to get upset, be frustrated, or get offended. Maybe you had plans that didn’t work out, or someone was rude to you at the office. Maybe you were doing something that should have taken one hour and it ended up taking three. Life is full of inconveniences, but even though we can’t always control our circumstances, we can control our REACTION. I heard somebody say, “Life is 10% what happens TO you, and 90% how you RESPOND.”

We should always go out each day with a POSITIVE ATTITUDE, full of HOPE and expecting God’s FAVOR. But at the same time, we should RECOGNIZE that most days are not going to go exactly as we plan. Remember, we were created to live in PEACE. Peace is our position of POWER. If you get stressed because you got off schedule or upset because your child wouldn’t eat his breakfast, or frustrated because somebody offended you, what you’re doing is giving away your POWER. Instead, make the DECISION to release those offenses and disappointments so you can live in PEACE and enjoy the day as the BLESSING God prepared for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“Good sense makes a man restrain his anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression or an offense.”
(Proverbs 19:11, AMPC)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

LOOK FOR THE GOOD IN OTHERS AND HONOR THEM FOR WHO GOD MADE THEM TO BE

We don’t often hear the word ESTEEM used in our culture, but the Bible tells us to esteem and DELIGHT in one another. One definition of esteem is to ‘hold in high regard.’ That means we are to HONOR and VALUE one another. You may not always agree with everyone around you. THEY may not always act honorably, but we are to honor and esteem people because they are valuable in the eyes of GOD.

If you had a very costly and valuable piece of jewelry, you wouldn’t just wear it to the gym or leave it on the kitchen sink. No, you would treat it CAREFULLY. You would put it in a safe place and PROTECT it. When we see others as valuable, the way God sees them; we TREAT them carefully as well. We should watch how we TALK to other people. We should look for the GOOD in others and HONOR them for who God MADE them to be. The Bible tells us that the way we treat OTHERS is like sowing seeds, and it will come BACK to us. CHOOSE to esteem and delight in one another. Sow GOOD seeds, and you will see a harvest of blessing in your OWN life in return!

Today’s Scripture:

“And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us…”
Ephesians 5:2, AMP

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

PUT YOUR FAITH AND TRUST IN GOD, AND REST

God PROMISES that there are SET TIMES in our future, but He doesn’t tell us when they will be. Your set time may be tomorrow morning at 9:47. You’ll get the phone call you’ve been waiting for. Your set time may be TWO YEARS from now. You’ll get a good break and that will THRUST you to a NEW LEVEL. My question is, “Do you TRUST God enough to believe that your set times ARE coming?” Are you willing to wait with a good ATTITUDE? Are you willing to get a new PERSPECTIVE?

Remember, that set time is ALREADY in your future. Don’t let the negative thoughts talk you out of it. The way you know that you’re really BELIEVING is that you have REST on the inside. You’re at PEACE. You know the answer IS on the way. You trust that God IS working things out.

Today put your faith and trust in HIM and enter into rest. Know that He IS good and He IS for you! YOUR set time of FAVOR IS on the way!

Today’s Scripture:

“For we who have believed do enter that rest…”
(Hebrews 4:3, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

DETOX YOUR MIND AND FILL YOUR THOUGHTS WITH GOD’S PROMISES

When something is toxic, it’s poisonous; it can destroy you. When we go around dwelling on the wrong thoughts, thinking about what we can’t do or how we’ll never get ahead, those are toxic thoughts. Toxic thoughts left alone become like toxic waste that sinks into your heart. It will eventually contaminate your whole life. It affects your self-image, your attitude, your confidence, and ultimately, your SUCCESS. That’s why the Scripture says to GUARD your heart because the condition of your heart and mind determines the condition of your whole LIFE.

You need to go through a mental CLEANSING. Make the decision today to detox any negative, self-defeating thoughts by meditating on God’s promises INSTEAD. Make the decision to DETOX bitterness, detox low self-esteem, detox negative words that may have been spoken over you, detox condemnation. Make the decision to dwell on what GOD says about you. God says, “You are FORGIVEN.” God says, “Your BEST DAYS are in front of you.” God says, “I’ll RESTORE the years that the enemy has stolen.” As you detox your MIND and fill your thoughts with HIS promises, you’ll see His hand of BLESSING on your life. You’ll rise up HIGHER, and you’ll live the ABUNDANT life HE has for you!

Today’s Scripture

Proverbs 4:23, AMPC
Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.