THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

BE A PEOPLE BUILDER, HELP OTHERS FULFILL THEIR DREAMS

God designed us to live in relationship with OTHERS. He wants us to help each other GROW. None of us will reach our highest POTENTIAL by ourselves. We need people in our lives to ENCOURAGE us, and WE need to encourage the people in OUR lives and help THEM reach THEIR potential. The word “encourage” means to “urge forward.” Many times, you can see things in other people that they don’t see themselves. You can see their STRENGTHS and TALENTS. YOU can see that God has a special PLAN for them even though they may be going through a difficult time. Don’t assume that people SEE what YOU see in them.

Take a moment and ENCOURAGE them either with a kind word or a simple note. There might be a special GIFT you can give that will remind them of their GOAL or DREAM. In whatever way you can, urge the people in your life to keep moving FORWARD. If you’ll be a PEOPLE builder and help others fulfill THEIR dreams, God will help YOU fulfill YOUR dreams ALSO, and you’ll live in BLESSING all the days of your life.

Today’s Scripture:

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up…”

1 Thessalonians 5:11, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

AS BELIEVERS, NO MATTER WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCE, WE ARE CALLED TO FORGIVE

Is there someone in your life who has wronged or offended you? Maybe it was intentional, or maybe they don’t even know they’ve hurt you. No matter WHAT the circumstance, as believers, we are called to FORGIVE. When we forgive, we seek LOVE, and the Bible says that God IS love. If we don’t FORGIVE, we are turning in the OPPOSITE direction—AWAY from God.

Choosing forgiveness doesn’t EXCUSE the other person’s behavior. It simply releases the DEBT they owe you so that God can release the debt you owe Him. Forgiveness opens the door so that you can be FREE. Choose FREEDOM today by choosing FORGEIVNESS. Seek LOVE and know that GOD is looking at your heart!

Today’s Scripture:

“…The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN JESUS CAME, HE WAS THE FINAL SACRIFICE

When God sent His Son to earth, He opened the door of salvation to WHOEVER would BELIEVE. That means ANYONE can become a child of His and have EVERLASTING life!

Before Jesus came, people had to observe MANY laws in order to be considered holy enough to go into God’s temple. They were constantly performing sacrifices to pay for their sins just so they could be around the PRESENCE of God. Even then, their sins were only COVERED up. They were still THERE. But when JESUS came, He was the FINAL sacrifice. His blood doesn’t just COVER our sins; it washes them AWAY! Now, instead of going to the temple to be NEAR God, the Bible says we ARE the temple, and He chooses to live INSIDE of us. Today, THANK God for the FREE gift of SALVATION.

Today’s Scripture:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

John 3:16, NKJV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

LOOK FOR WAYS TO WALK IN UNITY WITH THE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE

Strife is a very destructive force. It can creep into relationships by starting small, maybe through a comment or a wrong look from someone, and it can then escalate into something much bigger. But when you choose to CEASE from strife and OVERLOOK an offense, you are acting HONORABLY, and you are honoring GOD.

How do you AVOID strife? Scripture tells us that LOVE covers over many offenses. Love gives people the benefit of the doubt. Maybe someone was short with you at the office, but they may also have a loved one in the hospital. Instead of getting upset, walk in love—be PATIENT, be KIND to them. Extend GRACE.

Today, look for ways to walk in UNITY with the people in your life. When we walk in unity, there is a commanded BLESSING. Always AVOID strife and choose PEACE and watch the hand of God move MIGHTILY in your life!

Today’s Scripture:

“It is an honor for a man to cease from strife…”

Proverbs 20:3, KJV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

TODAY IS THE DAY FOR NEW GARMENTS!

Do you need a new GARMENT today? I’m not talking about a PHYSICAL garment. I’m talking about what’s covering your MIND and EMOTIONS. When you feel that heaviness and discouragement are trying to overtake you, the first thing to do is take OFF the old coat of heaviness and put on a NEW coat of PRAISE. When you put on the garment of praise, that spirit of heaviness HAS to go. Sometimes you won’t FEEL like being grateful. That’s why God says to offer up the SACRAFICE of praise. God knew it would not always be easy. You will have to dig your heels in and say, “God, I’m tired and discouraged, but I know YOU are GOOD. You are good ALL the time, so I choose to give You PRAISE.”

Today is the day for NEW garments! Thank Him for RESTORING you, even if you don’t see it yet. As this verse says, you will be called an oak of RIGHTEOUSNESS, STRONG and SECURE, and you will display the SPLENDOR of the Lord!

Today’s Scripture:

“Provide for those who grieve…a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”
Isaiah 61:3, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD WANTS TO GIVE YOU A LIFE, EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL YOU COULD ASK OR THINK

God wants to do EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY above all you can ever ask, think or IMAGINE. In another place in scripture, it says that no person has ever seen, heard or even IMAGNINED the wonderful things that God has in store for those who love the Lord. But notice that it’s “according to the power working IN us.” God’s power works in us by our FAITH, how we BELIEVE. Do you BELIEVE that God wants to work in your life EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY above all YOU could ask or think? Do you believe He wants to OVERWHELM you with His GOODNESS and BLESSING?

The Bible says that if we have faith the size of a tiny mustard seed, we can move MOUNTAINS. And no matter how much faith we have, faith can GROW in us as we hear, study and receive the Word of God.

Today, make God’s Word a PRIORITY. Believe that He will do exceedingly abundantly above ALL you can ask or think. He is FAITHFUL to His Word, and He will be FAITHFUL to fulfill every promise He’s made to YOU!

Today’s Scripture:

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Ephesians 3:20-21, NKJV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

LOOK OUT WITH YOUR EYES OF FAITH, YOUR DELIVERER IS COMING!

God is a mighty DELIVERER! Today, you may feel afflicted, overwhelmed or burdened by the cares of life. Know this: God is working to bring you OUT of that difficult situation. It may not be in the way YOU thought, but you have to trust that God has YOUR best interest at HEART.

Afflictions can take on many forms—a sickness or hardship, a temptation, a difficult coworker or contentious family member. There are so many things that can come against us. Remember, those afflictions are only TEMPORARY. Stand in FAITH today believing that God IS on your side. It doesn’t matter what your CIRCUMSTANCES look like, why don’t you get up every morning and say, “This is the day that the LORD has made; I WILL rejoice and be GLAD in it!” You may not feel like rejoicing in the MOMENT, but if you’ll look out with your eyes of FAITH, you’ll see your DELIVERER is COMING. As you stand and trust the Lord, He will EMPOWER you to overcome ALL of those afflictions, and you’ll see His hand of BLESSING in EVERY area of your life.

Today’s Scripture:

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.”

(Psalm 34:19, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

CHOOSE TO SET YOUR DAY IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

Did you know that every morning you have the opportunity to set the tone for your WHOLE day? When you put God FIRST and decide to go out with a grateful ATTITUDE and a POSITIVE frame of mind, not only will you FEEL better, but you’re going to draw in the GOOD things of God. You are paving the way for SUCCESS and VICTORY. But if you get up thinking, “Man, life’s a drag. Nothing good EVER happens to me. It’s going to be a lousy day,” then you are going to ATTRACT defeat, failure and mediocrity.

Today, CHOOSE to set your day in the right direction. Find something to THANK God for. If you have to, make a list of all the GOOD things in your life and post it on your bathroom mirror. As you continually CHOOSE to set your mind on HIM first thing in the morning, you’ll pave the way to VICTORY and enjoy the GOOD things He has in store for YOU!

Today’s Scripture:

“In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.”

Psalm 5:3, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GO OUT TODAY AND EVERY DAY, EXPECTING GOOD THINGS

Everyone goes through seasons of WAITING. A lot of times, people just sit back and wait for God to do EVERYTHING. But, you have to remember to do YOUR part and make PREPARATIONS. You have to TALK like it’s going to happen and ACT like it’s going to happen. Some people might say, “Well, Mark, what if I do this and it DOESN’T happen?” But I say what if you do and it DOES happen? And even if things don’t turn out the way YOU had hoped, you’d still be better off living your life POSITIVE and HOPEFUL than you would to go around down and discouraged.

I love what David said in the Bible, “God, my times are in YOUR hands.” He was saying, “God, I don’t know when it’s going to happen, but I know You know what’s BEST for me.” I’m going to go out today EXPECTING good things. And even if it doesn’t happen, I’m not going to go to bed all disappointed. I’m going to go to bed knowing that I’m one day CLOSER to seeing my DREAMS and DESIRES come to pass!

Today’s Scripture:

“…Prepare the way for the Lord…”

(Isaiah 40:3, NIV)