THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

DON’T EMPOWER DOUBT WITH YOUR WORDS

LEARNING to walk in the destiny God has for you is a PROCESS. The first step is to get a VISION, a clear picture from God that you can SEE. The next step is to TRUST Him – to believe in faith that it WILL happen. And then finally, you take a step of FAITH and live out what God has promised no matter WHAT your circumstances or people AROUND you have to say. First you DREAM it, then you BELIEVE it, and then you LIVE it. Every dream I’VE ever received from God has followed this same pattern. We see in Scripture that even the great men and women of the Bible walked through this process. They had to overcome doubts, they struggled on their journey, but they held fast to what God said knowing that He is FAITHFUL to complete what He STARTED in us!

Today, if you are having a hard time believing what God has promised will come to pass, understand that you are in a PROCESS. Don’t empower DOUBT with your words. Instead, keep DECLARING that He who promised is FAITHFUL! Keep the VISION in FRONT of you knowing that it is for an appointed TIME. DREAM it and BELIEVE it because it won’t be long until you are LIVING the blessed life God has prepared for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

(Philippians 1:6, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

IF YOU ALLOW SOMEONES WORDS OR ACTIONS TO UPSET YOU, YOU’RE ALLOWING THEM TO CONTROL YOU

Did you know that when you ALLOW someone else’s WORDS or ACTIONS to upset you, you’re allowing them to CONTROL you? When you say, “You make me so mad,” you’re really just admitting that their actions have POWER over you. As long as that person knows they can push your buttons, as long as you keep RESPONDING the same way, you are giving them exactly what they WANT. Sure, people have a RIGHT to say and do things that are upsetting, but we ALSO have a right to NOT get OFFENDED. We have a right to OVERLOOK their actions. In fact, the Bible says that it’s an HONOR for a man to keep “ALOOF” from strife. In other words, we have to REMOVE ourselves, either physically or emotionally, from strife and offense. It’s not easy, but we can choose to let it roll off of us like water off a duck’s back! Remember, you don’t NEED everyone to agree with you all the time. You don’t have to have the APPROVAL of others in order to be approved by GOD. YOUR job is to be the person God MADE you to be. OVERLOOK offenses and LET GO of strife so you can live in PEACE and VICTORY all the days of your life!

Today’s Scripture:

It is an honor for a man to cease from strife and keep aloof from it, but every fool will quarrel.

Proverbs 20:3, AMPC

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHATEVER YOU CONFESS AND PUT YOUR FAITH IN WILL COME TO PASS IN YOUR LIFE

Scripture tells us that SALVATION comes when a person confesses that Jesus is Lord and believes in their HEART that He was raised from the dead. In the same way, God’s Word comes alive in our hearts when we CONFESS and BELIEVE it.

The question is: What are you CONFESSING today? What are you SAYING about your situation? Are you confessing the Word and believing that God is at work behind the scenes? Or, do you talk about your problems and always believe the WORST? Whatever you confess and put your faith in WILL come to pass in your life.

If you’ve been saying the wrong things, it’s time to simply STOP and turn your thoughts and words around. You can choose to speak the Word of God ANY time. Don’t just let your mind and mouth wander. Be INTENTIONAL. Write down a few Scripture verses and take them with you. Be determined to speak the Word. Confess and believe and walk in victory in EVERY area of your life.

Today’s Scripture:

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Romans 10:9, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

PERSONAL FAILURES ARE ONLY TEMPORARY, BUT GODS WORD REMAINS FOREVER

Are you down on yourself today because of past mistakes you’ve made or because you’re not where you want to be in life? God knows every poor choice, every difficulty, every wrong turn you may have made, and He’s already planned your COMEBACK! In the Bible, Jonah took a detour, so to speak. It took him a little bit longer, but because he called out to God, because he BELIEVED, God not only rescued him, God got him to his final destination.

Friend, know today that failure is NOT final. God always has the final say. Mistakes don’t have to keep you from your DESTINY. God’s plan can override EVERY setback. Your world may be in turmoil today in a relationship, in your finances or health. But know this: not only will God RESCUE you; He will set your feet on a rock and lead you to your final destination in life. Remember, the promise He placed on the inside of you didn’t go away because you had some personal failures. No, that failure is only temporary, but His Word remains FOREVER! Keep HOPING, keep BELIEVING because He will move you into the BLESSING and VICTORY He has prepared for you!

Today’s Scripture:

…But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead

Phillipians 3:13, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

BE PROACTIVE, AIM FOR KINDNESS AND SEEK TO DO GOOD

Are you KIND and CONSIDERATE to people? Do you walk in LOVE and prefer others ABOVE yourself? This passage tells us to be PROACTIVE! Notice the word “aim” and “seek.” You must be on the LOOKOUT to share God’s MERCY and KINDNESS and be good to ALL people. Moreover, we need to be kind to people even when they DON’T deserve it. We need to walk in LOVE and be COURTEOUS even when somebody is unkind to us,

The way you treat OTHERS has a great impact on how much of the blessings and favor of God YOU’RE going to experience. AIM for kindness and SEEK to do good. As you do, God will reward your efforts and pour out His abundant blessing on YOU. As you extend God’s mercy to ALL those around you, you will discover the CHAMPION in YOU!

Today’s Scripture:

See that none of you repays another with evil for evil, but always aim to show kindness and seek to do good to one another and to everybody.

1 Thessalonians 5:15, AMPC

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

MAKE PLANS TO START YOUR DAY RIGHT. PUT GOD FIRST PLACE

It’s amazing how taking a few minutes at the START of each day to plan and set your thoughts in the right direction can help you get ahead and EMPOWER you to accomplish SO much more. But too often, people get so caught up in the activity of life that they tend to just “go with the flow” instead. I’m not saying we shouldn’t be flexible, but when it comes to your life, YOU should be the one setting the flow. Of course, unexpected things happen. Our days won’t always go according to plan, but if you’ll take time each day to set your heart and mind in the right DIRECTION, you’ll be EQUIPPED for whatever comes your way!

Today I encourage you to make plans to start your day right and set your thoughts in the right DIRECTION. Say something such as “This IS going to be a GREAT day. God IS guiding and DIRECTING my steps. His FAVOR is surrounding me.” Put God first place. Let Him GUIDE you and order your steps. Even if it’s just five minutes a day, make spending time with Him a HABIT. PLAN your day with Him because CAREFUL planning is the way to get ahead.

Today’s Scripture:

Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run; hurry and scurry puts you further behind.

Proverbs 21:5, MSG

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

STAY TRUE TO WHO GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO BE

I read a report from a nurse who takes care of people who are close to death. She asked hundreds of patients in the last twelve weeks of their life what their biggest REGRET was. The number one regret reported was, “I wish I had been true to who I was and not just lived to meet the expectations of others.”

How many people today are not being TRUE to who GOD created them to be simply because they are afraid they’re going to disappoint somebody? They’re afraid they may fall out of someone else’s good grace. They worry about not being accepted into a certain group. I say this respectfully, but you cannot live trying to be who your parents want you to be, or who your boss wants you to be, or who your friends want you to be. You’ve got to stay TRUE to who GOD has called you to be.

Today, make the DECISION to live life with NO regrets. Surrender yourself WHOLEHEARTEDLY to who God CREATED you to be. Let Him MOLD and SHAPE your character. Let HIM order your steps. As you submit your ways to HIM, He will SHINE DOWN on you, and you will live the FULFILLED, ABUNDANT life He has prepared for you!

Today’s Scripture:

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Galatians 1:10, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHAT YOU FOCUS ON, IS WHAT YOU WILL SEE. FOCUS ON THE GOODNESS

David was going through a tough time when he made the DECLARATION in today’s verse. Things weren’t going his way. But he said in effect, “I’m not worried. I’m not upset. I am CONFIDENT I will see God’s goodness.” In other words, “This situation I’m in may be rough, but that’s NOT going to steal my VISION. That’s not going to cause me to give up on my DREAMS. I am confident that this year, I will see God’s favor in a NEW way.”

That’s what OUR attitude needs to be TODAY because what you FOCUS on is what you will SEE. No matter what the medical report says, no matter what your finances look like, no matter how bad that relationship may seem, be CONFIDENT that you WILL see His GOODNESS! He is the ALL-powerful, OMNISCIENT, Creator of the UNIVERSE, and He holds YOU in the palm of His hand. NOTHING is too difficult for Him. Take hold of this truth by FAITH and FOCUS on His GOODNESS today. Allow His PEACE to settle in your heart and mind as you move forward in His blessing ALL the days of your life!

Today’s Scripture:

“I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living”

(Psalm 27:13, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

LOOK FOR WAYS TO GIVE, AND GIVE GENEROUSLY

Did you know that when you give to others in need, the Bible says it’s like giving directly to God Himself? When you step out and bless OTHER people, you are HONORING and BLESSING the LORD. The scripture tells us to give our BEST, to give GENEROUSLY. In other words, STRETCH yourself. Go out of your way. It may be uncomfortable to walk over and pay for someone’s gas, but that’s being GENEROUS.

I encourage YOU today, LOOK for ways to give generously and meet the needs of others. Remember, people have many different TYPES of needs. There may be someone who needs some ENCOURAGEMENT. Give GENEROUSLY when you give that encouragement. There may be someone in your life that just needs a FRIEND; they need some quality TIME. Give GENEROUSLY of your time and POUR into that person. As you give GENEROUSLY to OTHERS, God will multiply those seeds in YOUR own life in return!

Today’s Scripture:

” …The righteous give generously”

(Psalm 37:21, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

NO MATTER HOW THINGS MAY LOOK RIGHT NOW, PRAISE GOD BECAUSE VICTORY IS ON THE WAY

God PROMISES to always lead us into VICTORY! That means, no matter what you are facing, no matter what’s going on in the world AROUND you, no matter what anybody SAYS, you should always be thanking God because victory is on the way!

You don’t have to wait for everything to be perfect before you decide to CELEBRATE what God is GOING to do in your life. Put some ACTION behind your FAITH. In the middle of that adversity or tough time, start making a list of who you’re going to invite to your VICTORY CELEBRATION. That means if you’re in the hospital, start planning what you’re going to do when you get out. If you lost some money when the stock market went down, start planning your coming-out-of-debt party. When things don’t look good in the natural, remember, we serve a SUPERNATURAL God. With God leading you into VICTORY, you can always plan for INCREASE. You can plan for RESTORATION. You can plan for a COMEBACK that will make you STRONGER AND BETTER than you ever were before!

Today’s Scripture:

“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ…”

2 Corinthians 2:14, NKJV