THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

YOU HAVE TO CONCEIVE IT, BEFORE YOU ARE GOING TO RECEIVE IT

God is CONSTANTLY trying to plant new seeds of VICTORY on the inside of you. He’s trying to INCREASE you. He’s trying to ENLARGE your VISION. He wants to take you to new levels of VICTORY. But before you see a harvest, the SEED has to take root. You have to CONCEIVE it before you are going to RECEIVE it. In other words, before you’re ever going to be SUCCESSFUL, you’ve got to SEE yourself successful. Before you’re ever going to have your DREAMS come to pass, you have to look out through your eyes of FAITH and SEE them coming to pass. That’s how you allow the SEED to take root.

Today, I encourage you to examine your THOUGHT life. What are YOU allowing to take root? Are God’s seeds of VICTORY and LIFE growing in your heart and mind, or are you nurturing seeds of defeat and despair? The GOOD news is that you can CHANGE your thoughts right NOW, this VERY moment. Begin to dwell on God’s PROMISES and His GOODNESS, and you will be filled with HOPE. Let His good seeds take root in your MIND and HEART. It won’t be long before you’ll see that harvest of BLESSING come forth in EVERY area of your life!

Today’s Scripture:

He answered, He Who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.

Matthew 13:37, AMPC

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

FATHERS ARE SPECIAL

A father’s job is a lot more complicated today than it was for previous generations of dads. Instead, today’s father is expected to be right there in the delivery room, and more often than not, helping to guide his newborn into the world and cut the cord that connects mother and child.

The job that begins in the delivery room is one that continues throughout a child’s life. The father’s role, whether his child is a toddler or a teenager, is to encourage that tentative youngster to stretch his abilities. He is both teacher and coach to his young ones as they mature and take their first wobbly steps into a world filled with many challenges.

If you are fortunate enough to be able to talk to your father, thank him today for what he has meant to your life. If your father is no longer living, then thank your heavenly Father that you had a dad who cared about you. Or, you may have painful memories, and we pray that today you will be able to let go of that hurt.

Happy Fathers day to MY Dad today, in Heaven. He was the best. 🙂

Today’s Scripture:

“…and the glory of children are their fathers.”

Proverbs 17:6, KJV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

PERFECT LOVE IS ON THE INSIDE OF YOU

The Bible says that GOD is love. He doesn’t just HAVE love, He IS love. The love we have is an EXTENSION of Him. When you invite Jesus to be the Lord of your life, the Bible says that He actually makes His home in your HEART. Think about THAT for a minute. The Creator of the universe, who cannot be contained by anything, chose to make His home on the INSIDE of your HEART. That means that PERFECT love is on the inside of YOU. First Corinthians 13 tells us what that looks like. When we are walking in GOD’S love, we are PATIENT. We are KIND. Love always FORGIVES. That means choosing to let GO of bitterness, hurt and anger. If you have a mental list of all the people who have hurt or offended you, LET IT GO. Let His love work IN you and THROUGH you today.

Today’s Scripture:

…and [love] keeps no record of being wronged.

1 Corinthians 13:5, NLT

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

YOUR BEST DAYS ARE STILL OUT IN FRONT OF YOU

As a believer in Jesus and a child of His, God is on YOUR side! If you haven’t thought about it yet today, remember, you are created for GREATNESS. There is NO obstacle that can stop you. There is NO disadvantage that can hold you back. You’re in the palms of God’s hands, and He has EQUIPPED and EMPOWERED you. Quit telling yourself, “I’ll always struggle in this area. I’ll never lose this weight. I’ll never get out of debt.” Change your PERSPECTIVE. You are NOT weak, defeated OR inferior. You are full of “CAN DO” power. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives on the INSIDE of you.

God is on YOUR side. Let that sink down into your HEART today. Begin to EXPECT His favor. Expect Him to WORK in your life. FOCUS on the fact that God has EQUIPPED you. He has ANOINTED you. Your best days are STILL out in front of you! If God is FOR you, NO one can rise against you! As you meditate on this PROMISE, it will become REAL to you. You WILL walk in the FAVOR and VICTORY of God!

Today’s Scripture:

“…If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Romans 8:31, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

BE CONFIDENT AS THE PERSON GOD CALLED YOU TO BE

Many people are insecure about who they ARE, so they constantly try to gain the approval of everybody around them so they can feel BETTER about themselves. They end up living to please OTHER people, trying to fit into their molds so they can be ACCEPTED. They act one way for their boss, another way for their spouse, and another way for their friends.

If you are going to enjoy your life to the FULL, you must learn to be CONFIDENT as the individual GOD made you to be. You are ANOINTED to be the person GOD has called you to be! If you are secure in who God MADE you, you can resist those outside demands and pressures that try to mold you into something you’re NOT. Don’t rely on the opinions and approval of others. Don’t let them steal your unique creativity. God made each of us with a different PURPOSE. As you continue to grow in your RELATIONSHIP with the Lord, through PRAYER, WORSHIP and FELLOWSHIP, you WILL gain CONFIDENCE in the Lord that will FREE you from the opinions of man and allow you to be who GOD called you to be!

Today’s Scripture:

I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself.

1 Corinthians 4:3, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

JESUS CAME, TO GIVE YOU A FULL, ABUNDANT LIFE

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 mentality, 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 do NOT 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 LOVES YOU WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE

In our culture today, so many people are confused about what LOVE is. We love pizza, movies and sports, but we also love our family or spouse. If we look to the Word of God, we see GOD’s definition of love. First Corinthians 13 tells us that “love is PATIENT and KIND. It does not envy, nor boast. It is not proud. It is not rude. It does not seek its own way, is not easily angered, and keeps NO RECORD OF WRONGS. Love does not rejoice in evil, but rejoices in the TRUTH. Love BELIEVES, HOPES and ENDURES. Love NEVER fails.” This is how God responds to US, and this is how WE should respond to the PEOPLE in OUR lives—with PATIENCE, KINDNESS, HOPE, HUMILITY and LOVE. Scripture tells us that God IS love, and His character NEVER changes!

Today and EVERY day, know that God loves YOU with an EVERLASTING love. He will never leave you nor forsake you. He is FOR you and has a good PLAN for you. Receive His perfect love today and let Him transform you from the inside out. HIS love is the GREATEST love and will last throughout ALL eternity!

Today’s Scripture:

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love

1 Corinthians 13:13, NKJV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

RELEASE YOUR CARES TO THE LORD AND LET HIM FILL YOU WITH HIS PEACE AND JOY

God wants to give you rest. He wants to refresh and restore your soul—your mind, will and emotions. It’s so easy to get caught up in the “BUSYNESS” of life, and before long, your mind, will and emotions are so “SPUN UP” that you can barely THINK straight! But even in the hustle of life, you can find REST, EASE and RELAXATION. God wants to take care of EVERYTHING that concerns you so that you can find rest in your innermost BEING when you come to HIM.

Imagine how you would feel if someone came up to you today and said, “Give me all of your monthly bills; I’m going to pay them.” You’d get pretty excited, WOULDN’T you? But it wouldn’t happen until you did YOUR part to actually hand that person your BILLS. They can’t pay them for you if you never RELEASE them. In the same way, when we release our CARES and CONCERNS to God, He PROMISES to take care of them.

Today, RELEASE your cares to the Lord. Let Him fill you with His PEACE and JOY. Receive the REST that He promises and enjoy the FULFILLMENT and BLESSING He has for you!

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:

THIS IS A NEW DAY, AND GOD WANTS TO BREATHE NEW LIFE BACK INTO YOU

The word “enthusiasm” comes from the Greek word “entheos.” “Theos” is God. When you’re ENTHUSIASTIC, it simply means you are full of GOD. When you get up in the morning EXCITED about your future, recognizing that day is a gift and go out with a SPRING in your step, pursuing your GOALS and PASSIONATE about life, then God will breathe in your direction. Studies even tell us that people who are ENTHUSIASTIC get better BREAKS. They’re PROMOTED more often. That’s not a coincidence. When you’re full of PASSION, you have the favor of GOD.

Remember, God didn’t breathe His life into us to drag through the day. He didn’t create us in His image, crown us with His favor, and equip us with His power to just go through the MOTIONS of life. You may have had some setbacks, the wind may have been taken out of your sail, but this is a NEW day! God wants to breathe NEW life back into you. If you’ll get your FIRE back, get your PASSION back, the wind WILL start blowing once again. When you’re in AGREEMENT with God, He can cause the winds of FAVOR to shift in YOUR direction!

Today’s Scripture:

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace…

Isaiah 55:12, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

IT’S TIME TO STOP DWELLING ON THE PAST, AND NEVER LOOK BACK

It’s time to be aggressive and ENERGETIC when it comes to letting go of the past and pressing forward to the ABUNDANT life GOD has in store. You can’t sit around in self-pity and think about what you lost, who hurt you, and how unfair it was. It’s time to develop a WARRIOR mentality and BOLDLY go after your VICTORY! A warrior doesn’t complain about opposition; a warrior LOVES a good fight. It’s time to proactively pursue the HAPPINESS, HEALTH, and PEACE that is promised in God’s Word. God told Joshua to cross over the Jordan and go in and possess the land. Notice that the word “possess” implies action. It means to drive out the previous tenants. It’s time to quit dwelling on past mistakes and failures and determine to NEVER LOOK BACK! As you set your focus on the Word of God and HIS promises, you’ll discover VICTORY rising in EVERY area of your life—you’ll discover the CHAMPION in you!

Today’s Scripture:

“…the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.”

Matthew 11:12, ESV