THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

ONCE YOU ARE PREPARED, THEN GOD WILL OPEN NEW DOORS

When people hear the story of David and Goliath, sometimes they think, “That was ALL God.” And yes, in a sense, it WAS all God; but God didn’t sling the stone. David had a ROLE to play, too. God gave David the SKILL that he had to develop in order to be PREPARED for that defining moment.

Like David, God has put skills inside of YOU so that YOU can slay the giants in YOUR life. You HAVE the skills that can open new doors, skills that can lead to an abundant LIFE, but the key is that the skills have to be DEVELOPED. Every day that you spend growing, learning and improving, you’re getting PREPARED for that new level.

Today, while you’re WAITING for that new opportunity, start sharpening your SKILLS. STUDY your boss. Study your manager. LEARN that position. Be able to step into their shoes. When God sees that you are PREPARED, then He will open new doors. The Bible says, “Your gifts will make room for you.” Keep developing your skills because there IS a giant slayer in YOU!

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:

A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men.
Proverbs 18:16, NASB

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

AT SOME POINT, YOU HAVE TO STOP AND SAY, “GOD, I REST IN YOU”

In our world today, most people are used to having constant activity: computers, cell phones, television, email, video games. There’s nothing wrong with any of that, but the Bible tells us that we need to stop and BE STILL so we can FOCUS on knowing God. This is especially true during the difficult times. When you are facing a challenge, it’s easy to want to run to a friend or talk about it with a co-worker. But at some point, you have to STOP and say, “God, I rest in You. I know You have me in the palm of Your hand.”

Remember, our battles are SPIRITUAL battles. The people in your life aren’t the source of your problems, the forces of darkness ARE. When you choose to be still and know that the Greater One lives on the inside of you, you are putting yourself in a position of STRENGTH. So today, take time to be still before Him. Let His PEACE cover you. Let Him REFRESH you by His Spirit.

Remember, the battles you face belong to the Lord. Be STILL before Him so you can see His hand of VICTORY in every area of your life!

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

DECIDE TODAY, TO LEAN ON YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER

Scripture says that God wants to be our sun and shield. What does the sun do for us? It lights our way, it keeps us WARM, it NOURISHES the plants of the earth so that we can have food. The earth is SUSTAINED by its relationship to the sun, and God wants to SUSTAIN you through your RELATIONSHIP with Him. He also wants to be your SHIELD of PROTECTION against all the fiery darts of the enemy. He wants to LIGHT and DIRECT your path.

Are you ready to RECEIVE Him as your sun and shield today? Have you been relying on something or someone else to be your PROTECTION or give you DIRECTION? If you have, DECIDE today to lean on your heavenly Father. Open your heart and RECEIVE all He has for you. Receive His FAVOR, BLESSING and PROTECTION today. Let Him be your sun and shield as you move forward in VICTORY all the days of your life!

Today’s Scripture:

“For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”
(Psalm 84:11, KJV)

 

 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD WANTS TO FREE YOU FROM EVERYTHING THAT WOULD HOLD YOU BACK

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is FREEDOM—and God’s FREEDOM is free for everyone! It doesn’t matter what your nationality or heritage is, or who your family is. It doesn’t matter how much money you have or don’t have; God wants you free from EVERYTHING that would hold you back from your relationship with Him!

God wants to pour out His abundant BLESSING on all who honor Him and do what is right. In fact, the Bible says in Galatians that in Christ, there is no Jew or Greek or even male or female. That means God’s not judging you based on physical conditions. He’s looking at your HEART. He’s looking at the GIFTS He’s placed inside of you.

Don’t let the enemy lie to you and tell you that God is blessing everyone else but you. Look for the ways He is pouring out blessing in YOUR life. Thank Him for His ACCEPTANCE, LOVE and FREEDOM. Focus on HONORING Him and doing what is right, and you’ll see His hand of BLESSING in EVERY area of your life!

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:

“…God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.”
Acts 10:34-35, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GO OUT IN JOY AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE

The Bible says that we are MORE than conquerors through Christ. It doesn’t say that we will be more than conquerors when we grow stronger, get older or achieve some super-spiritual level. Scripture says we are more than conquerors right NOW. Rise up and see yourself as a CHAMPION in Him! You can be and WILL be victorious through Him. The problems that so often intimidate and defeat many people won’t have a firm hold on YOU when you’re walking with Christ and have the joy of the LORD! When you walk with Christ, strength and victory are yours through HIM. Here’s something to remember today: if Christ is on your side, it doesn’t really MATTER who is against you! The opponents you face don’t really matter and don’t amount to much. Friend, take another look at YOUR life today. You are a FRIEND of God! No matter what you may face or who may seem AGAINST you, let this truth anchor deep within you—GOD is for you. Now go out in JOY and make a DIFFERENCE for Him TODAY, knowing who is on your side!

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:

…If God is for us, who is against us?
Romans 8:31, NASB

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

YOU’RE IN PRIME POSITION TO SEE A FLOOD OF GOD’S GOODNESS

Anytime you are going through difficult, dark times, know this; God already has a plan to bring you through to VICTORY. When you call on His name, when you surrender your circumstances to Him, that’s when His light will come forth through the darkness. It’s not going to trickle in, it’s not going to just barely get there. No, like a FLOOD, like the breaking forth of waters, it’s going to come BURSTING in!

It means that SUDDENLY, you’re going to get well. Suddenly, you will meet the right person. Suddenly, you’re able to pay your house off. Our attitude should be, “My child may be off course, making poor decisions, but I’m expecting a flood of God’s mercy to bring him back.” Or, “My house has been on the market for a year and still hasn’t sold, but I’m expecting a flood of favor to cause it to stand out and sell.”

In the midst of that difficulty, don’t get discouraged. You’re in a prime position to see a flood of God’s GOODNESS. Keep PRAISING Him. Keep THANKING Him and stay in FAITH because His light will break through the darkness!

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:

When darkness overtakes him, light will come bursting in…
Psalm 112:4, TLB

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

IF YOU WANT TO MAKE GOD HAPPY, GO TO HIM WITH BOLDNESS

As a Dad, there’s no one I’d rather help than my own child. There’s no one I’d rather see successful and doing well. It’s the same way with our heavenly Father. It gives Him pleasure to give His children His Kingdom. It brings a smile to His face.

If my own child never acted like I wanted to help her, and she was always afraid to ask me for something, or acted like she was bothering me or intimidated, it would break my heart! I want her to be BOLD and come to me. I want her to ask when she needs help or wants something.

The Scripture tells us to come BOLDLY to the throne of grace. If you want to make God happy, go to Him with BOLDNESS, go to Him like you know He’s PROUD of you, like you know you DESERVE to be there, like you know He WANTS to be good to you. Ask Him for your dreams. Pray bold prayers. You’re not inconveniencing Him. You don’t have to EARN God’s love. You don’t have to work for His APPROVAL.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:

“…it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
Luke 12:32, NKJV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

ACKNOWLEDGE GOD IN ALL YOUR WAYS, ASK FOR HIS HELP

Scripture says that we are to ACKNOWLEDGE God in ALL of our ways. One way to acknowledge God is to simply ask for His help. On the way to the grocery store, under your breath, “God, help me to find what I’m looking for. Help this to be a productive trip.” That’s acknowledging GOD. You’re saying in effect, “God, I need You right now. I WANT You in my life.”

That simple acknowledgment is an act of FAITH. It opens the door for Him to direct your steps, even in the little things. God will help you find what you may not have found. He will put you at the right place at the right time. And sure, you can do this without God’s help. You can do it in your own strength. But when you learn to hear His voice in the LITTLE things, you’ll be confident to hear Him in the BIG things. When you acknowledge God, He breathes His FAVOR on you. You’ll come into an anointing of EASE. What should have been a struggle won’t BE a struggle. That’s God crowning your efforts with SUCCESS.

Today and EVERY day, ask Him for help and let Him lead you and guide you in EVERY area of your life!

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:

So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord…
2 Chronicles 20:4, NKJV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED, AND WHEN YOU NEED IT

In the Bible, it says that God did NOT lead the Israelites by the shortest route to the Promised Land; He took them the long way on purpose because they were not prepared for war. God knew that if He would have taken them into the land too quickly, they would have been easily defeated. Their enemies were much bigger and much more experienced. I’m sure they prayed many times, “God, we’re uncomfortable out here in the desert. We’re hot. We’re tired. Where’s our Promised Land?”

But God didn’t answer that prayer, not because He was trying to make their lives miserable, but because He knew what was up in front of them. He had to PREPARE them to step into the FULLNESS of their DESTINY!

In the same way, God has already laid out the PLAN for your life. He knows exactly what you NEED and when you need it. If you are in a difficult situation that’s taking longer than you had hoped, know that God is PREPARING you. He is STRENGTHENING you. Stay in FAITH and keep PRAISING Him as you move forward into the Promised Land He has for YOU, YOUR DESTINY!

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:

Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear.
Psalm 10:17, NKJV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

DARE TO START SEEING YOURSELF AS GOD SEES YOU…

Many people feel inadequate to do anything for God. But God doesn’t see you as inadequate. He sees you as COMPLETE, lacking NOTHING in Him! In the Scripture, Gideon was hiding out from his enemies. He was afraid and didn’t feel equipped to do what God called him to do. Gideon was focused on his circumstances and his limitations, but God was focused on what HE could do through Gideon. Gideon felt weak; God saw him as STRONG. Gideon felt unqualified; God saw him as COMPETENT to do the job. Gideon felt insecure and full of fear; God saw him as FEARLESS and full of BOLDNESS. Sure enough, when Gideon OBEYED God, against all odds, he ended in VICTORY!

You may feel that you’re average. You may think you’re ordinary, but God sees you as a CHAMPION. He BELIEVES in you and regards you as a STRONG, COURAGEOUS, SUCCESSFUL, OVERCOMING person. You may not see YOURSELF that way, but that doesn’t change GOD’S image of you. God still sees you exactly as His Word describes you. Dare to start seeing yourself as GOD sees you—as a VICTOR!

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:

…”The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!”
Judges 6:12, NKJV