THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

SET YOUR MIND ON THINGS ABOVE

Sometimes when people look toward the FUTURE, they don’t see how they will EVER rise higher or fulfill their DESTINY. That’s because they are looking at things in the earthly, NATURAL realm. But if we’ll set our minds HIGHER, if we’ll set our minds on things ABOVE, we will have a DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.

We walk by FAITH and NOT by sight. In other words, we have to BELIEVE it before we’re ever going to SEE it. If we walk only by what we see in the NATURAL realm, we can easily allow circumstances and FEAR to keep us from moving forward. But when we set our minds HIGHER, we are walking by FAITH, and we can see things GOD’S way.

Make the DECISION to set your mind on things ABOVE. Focus on the GOOD things God has in store. Be DETERMINED to close the door on fear and doubt and choose to listen to that INNER prompting of the Holy Spirit. WALK and LIVE by FAITH and set your mind on HIGHER things!

Today’s Scripture:

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

Colossians 3:2, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

OUR GOD IS GREATER THAN ANY STRUGGLE WE FACE

We all go through seasons of difficulty and face storms in life. But during those times, we have to REMEMBER that Almighty God is GREATER than any struggle we face! He’ll take those challenges and use them to STRENGTHEN us, but we have to do OUR part and take a step of FAITH toward the VICTORY.

Think about the caterpillar before it becomes a butterfly. When it’s wrapped in its dark cocoon on the backside of some tree, it doesn’t look like it has many OPTIONS. But inside that cocoon as it becomes a butterfly, it doesn’t just sit and wait for someone to come and let it out. No, that butterfly knows that it has to make a MOVE if it’s going to be set FREE to fly. In the same way, we have to DO something to get out of the confining places WE are in. We have to PRAY, we have to BELIEVE, and we have to PRESS THROUGH to victory.

Today, no matter what YOU may be facing, remember HIS GRACE is sufficient for you. His STRENGTH is made perfect IN you. He has given you EVERYTHING you need to OVERCOME in this life. NOW is the time to break free and RISE to NEW levels because He has VICTORY and BLESSING prepared for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness’…”

(2 Corinthians 12:9a, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

TOUGH TIMES DON’T LAST, BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD STANDS FOREVER

So many people today are living in “SURVIVAL” mode. They have a mentality that says, “If I can just make it through…” or “If I can just get by…” Of course, there are some seasons that are more difficult than others. Sometimes it’s challenging to get a VISION for the future. But if you are constantly living with a survival MANTALITY, you are missing out on God’s BEST. Scripture doesn’t say, “Jesus came so you could survive.” NO, it says that He came to give you a full, ABUNDANT life!

If you are living in survival mode right now, I believe that TODAY can be your TURNING POINT. If you’ll take a step of faith and begin to DECLARE, “My days of survival are OVER; my days of THRIVING have begun,” then I believe God will meet your FAITH. I believe He will open an UNEXPECTED DOOR. He’ll pour out His FAVOR and BLESSING on you. He’ll make a way where there seems to be NO way! Even if you’re in a tough time right NOW, remember tough times don’t last, but the Word of the Lord stands FOREVER. Begin to declare what GOD says about your circumstances because you are created for MORE than to just get by—you are created to THRIVE!

Today’s Scripture:

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

(John 10:10, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD HAS SENT YOU A SPECIAL DELIVERY OF JOY

When you WAKE UP each morning, God sends you a special delivery of JOY. It comes knocking at your door. When you get up in FAITH and make the declaration that “this is going to be a GOOD day,” do you know what you just did? You just ANSWERED the door. You just RECEIVED the gift of JOY that God SENT to you. The problem is that some people never ANSWER the door. Joy has been knocking for months and months, years and years saying, “Come on! LET ME IN! You can be HAPPY! You can ENJOY your life!”

Make up your mind that You’re going to ANSWER THE DOOR for joy. Wake up every morning and say, “Father, THANK YOU for another beautiful day. I’m going to be HAPPY. I’m going to ENJOY this day. I’m going to brighten somebody ELSE’S life. I RECEIVE Your gift of JOY, today!”

Today’s Scripture:

“…Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.”

Psalm 30:5, NLT

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

JESUS IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN SATISFY YOUR INNER THIRST

In the NATURAL, every day, we get THIRSTY. Water is what we need to sustain LIFE. When we are out in the heat or exerting our bodies PHYSICALLY, even MORE water is required to keep us hydrated and functioning OPTIMALLY. SPIRITUALLY, we need water every day, TOO. We need to refresh our HEARTS and MINDS as much as we need to refresh our bodies. Jesus said, “I am the LIVING Water. If you drink of Me, you will NEVER thirst again.”

During the day, we all have things that come against us SPIRITUALLY. We all feel the HEAT, so to speak. It’s easy to get upset or stressed out, but that’s when you need to take a two-minute break and go drink of the LIVING WATER. Get quiet and say, “God, I NEED You. I’m asking You, God, to help me stay STRONG. Help me to stay in PEACE.” Remember, Jesus is the ONLY one who can truly SATISFY your INNER thirst. TURN to Him, RECEIVE from Him, and you will find REST and refreshing for your SOUL. Anytime you need to, just TAKE A DRINK!

Today’s Scripture:

But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.

John 4:14, NKJV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD WANTS US TO DELIGHT IN SERVING HIM

Have you ever noticed that people will go to great lengths to do things that make THEM HAPPY? They will work hard towards their GOALS or achieving a desired RESULT. They DELIGHT themselves in THEIR accomplishments. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying YOUR work but God wants us to delight ourselves in HIM. He wants us to find JOY in serving HIM.

That word “DELIGHT” actually means “to make SOFT and PLIABLE.” It gives the picture of CLAY in the hands of the POTTER. God wants us to be FLEXIBLE with Him and allow Him to MOLD us and make us into HIS image. That’s when He can USE You and that’s when He will give you the DESIRES of your heart!

Today’s Scripture:

“Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalm 37:4, ESV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD HAS AN ‘AFTER-THIS’ IN YOUR FUTURE

Your life is not OVER because you had a setback. God has an “AFTER THIS” in your future. He has another VICTORY planned. He wants to take you further than you ever dreamed POSSIBLE! When you go through tough times, don’t be surprised if the enemy whispers in your ear, “You’ll never be as happy as you used to be. You’ve seen your best days. This setback is the end of you.” NO, let that go in one ear and out the other. God is saying to you, “After the bad break, after the disappointment, after the pain, there is STILL a FULL life.” Know today that you have NOT danced your best dance. You have not laughed your best LAUGH. You have not dreamed your best DREAM. If you will stay in FAITH and not get bitter, God has an “AFTER THIS” in your FUTURE. He’s not only going to bring you OUT, He is going to bring you out BETTER than you were BEFORE!

Today’s Scripture:

“And after this it came to pass that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them…”

2 Samuel 8:1, KJV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

KEEP YOUR EYES ON WHAT’S MOST IMPORTANT IN LIFE

In life, many of the challenges we face are simply DISTRACTIONS from the enemy to keep us from pursuing our DESTINY. Maybe someone in the office isn’t as friendly to you as you’d like. Maybe you have a neighbor who always parks in front of your house and blocks your mailbox. Those things may be frustrating, but they have little SIGNIFICANCE when you look at the big picture of ETERNITY. You can’t allow the little things to cause strife in your life.

In scripture, just before David fought the giant Goliath, his brother Iliab tried to confront him. But David knew that arguing with Iliab wasn’t even worth his TIME and STRENGTH. He knew his real battle was with Goliath, and he didn’t want to be DISTRACTED. He simply “TURNED AWAY” from Iliab and kept his FOCUS on what he was CALLED to do.

Let’s follow the example of David and keep our eyes on what’s most IMPORTANT in life. Instead of being led away by frustrations, let’s FOCUS on the BIG picture. Know when to TURN AWAY from strife and receive the mark of HONOR the Lord has for you!

Today’s Scripture:

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

(Proverbs 20:3, KJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

LOVE IS NOT A FEELING, IT’S A CHOICE

All throughout scripture, God commands us to LOVE. First Corinthians tells us that love is the GREATEST thing. Love is ALL that matters on this earth, and it’s all that will last in ETERNITY. But did you realize that we are PROTECTED when we WALK in love? When we are selfish or self-seeking, the scripture tells us that it opens the door to confusion and every evil work. But when we walk in LOVE, when we choose to put OTHERS first, when we choose to be PATIENT and KIND and walk in UNITY, we are PROTECTED by love. We close the door to the plans of the enemy in our lives.

Today, CHECK your love walk. Read 1 Corinthians 13 and see if you emulate the CHARACTERISTICS of love. Remember, love is NOT a feeling; it’s a CHOICE. Receive HIS love, WALK in it, and find His supernatural GRACE and PROTECTION.

Today’s Scripture:

“For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.”

James 3:16, NKJV