THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE, LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD!

EVERY day that we are given is a precious GIFT from Almighty God. We should wake up EVERY morning with a grateful ATTITUDE, full of FAITH and EXPECTANCY for what the Lord has in store. Sure, you may be facing some challenges in your life, or maybe things aren’t going the way YOU planned. But remember, each new day is a chance to STAND STRONG in the midst of adversity and see the FAITHFULNESS of God. Every new day is an OPPORTUNITY to PRAISE and THANK Him, to MAGNIFY your God instead of magnifying your problems. This is the day that the LORD has made; let us REJOICE and be GLAD in it! Be GLAD that God has PROMISED to NEVER leave you or forsake you. Be GLAD that God has given you a sound, healthy MIND. REJOICE that He IS making a way where there seems to be no way! FOCUS on the GIFT of each and EVERY day and REJOICE in what God has DONE in your life!

Today’s Scripture:

“This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Psalm 118:24, NKJV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

THE WAY WE HANDLE LITTLE THINGS, WILL DETERMINE WHAT KIND OF LIFE WE LIVE

Most often, it’s not the BIG things that happen in life that keep us from being happy; it’s the SMALL things. I’ve heard it said, “Tornados and hurricanes get more news coverage; but in REALITY, termites do more damage.” That’s what today’s scripture is saying. Most of the time, we’re not dealing with some major crisis like losing a JOB, a life-threatening ILLNESS, or a RELATIONSHIP breaking up. The big things are RARE. It’s the LITTLE inconveniences like not being able to find your CAR KEYS in the morning, or being in a hurry and getting behind a driver going 40 in a 60-mile-an-hour zone. It’s the little INTERRUPTIONS and FRUSTRATIONS that get our emotions worked up and cause us to lose our JOY and PEACE.

The way we handle the LITTLE things will determine what kind of LIFE we will live. When we allow negative THOUGHTS of frustration to come in, we are allowing the little foxes to spoil the vines. Make the DECISION today to “CATCH” those foxes by choosing to think on the RIGHT things. Let HIS WORD bring LIGHT and LIFE to your emotions so you can move forward in PEACE and JOY each and EVERY day!

Today’s Scripture:

“Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines…”

Song of Solomon 2:15, NKJV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD’S PLAN ALWAYS LEADS TO PEACE

So many people today are looking for TRUE, INNER PEACE. They search through relationships, addictions, money, gadgets and even religion to try to find something that will fill the VOID inside. But TRUE peace isn’t found in anything this world has to offer, it can only be found through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Only HE can satisfy the longing in our souls and give us true, LASTING peace.

God gives FREELY, not as the world gives. You can’t earn it, and you can’t pay for it. There’s no catch, no fine print and no strings attached. You can rest SECURE that He’s not EVER going to take His peace away; His peace is ETERNAL! A life of peace begins when you invite JESUS to be your Lord and Savior. Then as you align your thoughts, attitudes and actions with His Word, that peace will flood EVERY area. PEACE is how we KNOW we are following God’s plan because God’s plan ALWAYS leads to peace!

If you’re looking for PEACE today, call on His name. Invite Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, follow His Word and allow HIS PEACE to flood EVERY area of your life.

Today’s Scripture:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 14:27, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

BE CONTENT WHATEVER THE CIRCUMSTANCES

It’s easy to get so FOCUSED on our DREAMS, our GOALS and what we want that it CONSUMES us. We can get to the point where we’re NOT going to be happy until it HAPPENS. But I’ve found that if we have to have something in order to be HAPPY, our lives are out of balance. When our GOALS and DREAMS start to FRUATRATE us, when we lose our PEACE and are not enjoying LIFE, that’s a sure sign that we’re holding on TOO tightly. What’s the SOLUTION? You’ve got to RELEASE it. Freedom comes when you say, “God, I’m turning it ALL over to YOU. You know my desires, and You know what’s BEST for me. I’m choosing to TRUST You and YOUR timing.”

When we learn to be content WHATEVER the circumstances, it takes away the POWER of the ENEMY. It takes away his ability to frustrate us. Not only THAT, but by our ACTIONS, we show our faith in GOD. Choose to trust in HIS timing; choose to live in PEACE and JOY, and find REST knowing that He has GOOD things in store for YOUR future.

Today’s Scripture:

“…I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”

Philippians 4:11, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

MAKE IT A HABIT TO SEEK GOD FIRST

In the Bible, David was called a man after God’s own heart. He knew God and saw AMAZING miracles throughout his life. But notice in this verse what David DID. He set the tone for his WHOLE day by spending time with the Lord in the MORNING. It didn’t matter what was going on in his life, David had his PRIORITIES set. Even though he was mistreated by his family, manipulated, made fun of, hunted down by King Saul, and even made some major mistakes on his own, David realized that each morning held the promise of NEW HOPE.

Just like David, if YOU’LL make spending time with God a PRIORITY in your life, you will see Him move mightily on YOUR behalf. Make it a HABIT to seek Him first EVERY SINGLE DAY no matter WHAT is happening. Set the tone for your DAY and set your course for VICTORY!

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:

DECLARE THAT YOU ARE FREE, AND CELEBRATE YOUR FREEDOM

Today in America, we celebrate Independence Day. July 4, 1776 was the day America declared their independence, but the BATTLE for freedom went on until 1783—seven years later. Even though the people DECLARED their freedom in 1776, they had to STAND AND FIGHT for many years before the British would accept and RECOGNIZE the United States of America.

Do you know what the early colonists did once they signed the Declaration of Independence? They read it OUT LOUD in public. They published it in the newspaper. They spread the word. They continued to DECLARE and CELEBRATE even though they were in the midst of the BATTLE.

In the same way, we have to declare OUR freedom and be determined to stand against the opposing forces of darkness in OUR lives. We have to declare our freedom from ADDICTION, POVERTY, SICKNESS and LACK. We have to stand and fight until we fully experience HIS FREEDOM and the PEACE that He has promised.

Today, no matter what battle YOU may be facing, declare that you are FREE and CELEBRATE your freedom because victory IS on the way!

Today’s Scripture:

“You have been set free from sin…”

Romans 6:18, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WE SERVE AN EXTRAORDINARY GOD, AND WE ARE CALLED TO BE A REFLECTION OF HIM

ZEAL is simply another word for PASSION. Sadly, too many people today have LOST their passion and ENTHUSIASM for life. At one time, they were EXCITED about their dreams and woke up every day with PURPOSE and PASSION. But now, because time has passed and they’ve experienced disappointments, they’re not as excited about those dreams anymore. They’ve lost their FIRE.

Today know that God wants you to live with PASSION! You weren’t meant to live a stagnant, ordinary life. You serve an EXTRAORDINARY God, and you are called to be a REFLECTION of Him.

The truth is, most of life can be VERY routine. We have to WORK to keep things fresh. We have to put forth EFFORT to stay passionate about our JOBS, RELATIONSHIPS and our walk with the Lord. Every day we need to stir ourselves UP. Just like the apostle Paul told Timothy, we have to fan the FLAME! In other words, don’t let the fire go out. Stay PASSIONATE about your life and the DREAMS God has placed on the inside of YOU!

Today’s Scripture:

“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the LORD.”

Romans 12:11 NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD’S PROMISES NEVER RETURN VOID

Did you know YOU can limit your life by dwelling on the WRONG THINGS? So often, wrong thinking keeps people stuck right where they are. If YOU think you’ll never accomplish your dreams, then you’ll stay stuck where you ARE. If you think you don’t have the TALENT, the CONNECTIONS or the FUNDS, then you are LIMITING yourself. We have to remember that God’s promises NEVER return void. His Word stands true FOREVER! Don’t LIMIT what God can do in your life by focusing on what you see in the NATURAL realm. You have to REALIZE that you serve a SUPERNATURAL God, and just because YOU don’t see a way doesn’t mean that GOD doesn’t have a way. God can bring one OPPORTUNITY across your path that will launch you to a whole NEW level. He has explosive BLESSINGS in store that can blast you out of where you ARE and into a place of ABUNDANCE! Shift your FOCUS from this LIMITED realm, start looking at God’s SUPERNATURAL realm, and see His unlimited POSSIBILITIES for your FUTURE!

Today’s Scripture:

“I have seen that everything [human] has its limits and end [no matter how extensive, noble, and excellent]; but Your commandment is exceedingly broad and extends without limits [into eternity].”

(Psalm 119:96, AMP)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FIRE, IS A PLACE OF ABUNDANCE AND BLESSING

In scripture, three Hebrew teenagers, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, were told to bow down to the king’s idol or they would be thrown into a fiery furnace. They said, “No, King. We’re not going to bow down. We know our God will deliver us.” Their attitude was, “We’re not worried about it. We know we have inside INFORMATION. We know everything is going to be alright.” Notice they didn’t fight it. They weren’t upset. They weren’t complaining. They were at peace. They KNEW God Almighty had His hand upon them. The guards threw them into the fiery furnace, and when all was said and done, they came out without even the SMELL of smoke on them!

Notice that God didn’t DELIVER them from the fire; He delivered them THROUGH the fire. Maybe YOU are going through the fire today. Know that God is WITH you. He’s doing a work IN you, and He’s displaying His glory THROUGH you. Remember, on the other side of the fire is a place of ABUNDANCE and BLESSING! Stand STRONG and see the FULFILLMENT of the PROMISES He has in store for YOU!

Today’s Scripture:

“…We went through fire and flood, but you brought us to a place of abundance.”

Psalm 66:12, NLT

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN YOU HAVE FAITH, YOUR WORDS AND ACTIONS REFLECT IT

A mustard seed is a very SMALL thing. But when it’s planted, it grows into a HUGE tree. In the same way, Jesus is saying that a little bit of FAITH can bring tremendous RESULTS! As a BELIEVER in Him, you ALREADY have enough faith on the inside of you to overcome ANY obstacle. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead actually dwells IN you! It doesn’t matter if you grew up in church or not; it doesn’t matter what you KNOW or don’t know, God wants to WORK in your life today. You may not see how, but all you have to do is believe GOD.

With God, ALL things are possible. Do you have mustard seed faith? The Bible says that faith without WORKS is dead. When you have FAITH, your words and actions REFLECT it. Take a step of faith TODAY and declare your trust in Him. Even if YOU don’t see how, declare that God is working BEHIND the scenes in your life. As you act on your mustard seed FAITH, you’ll see it grow stronger and stronger, and you WILL live in victory ALL the days of your life!

Today’s Scripture:

“If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.”

Luke 17:6, NIV