THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

PLEASING GOD IS ALL THAT MATTERS WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE

So many people live life worried about what everyone else thinks and wondering how they can impress other people. But we have to realize that when we come to the end of life, we’re not going to stand before people to give an account of our lives, we are going to stand before Almighty God. He is not going to say, “Why didn’t you do what so-and-so said to do? Why didn’t you fit into their mold? Why didn’t you take their opinion?” No, He is going to ask, “Did you become who I CREATED you to be? Did you stay TRUE to what I put in your HEART?”

This is where Saul missed it. Saul had a big DESTINY. God had great things in his future, but Saul was so insecure that he let people squeeze him into THEIR mold. He was afraid he was going to disappoint somebody. He said in First Samuel 15:24, “I disobeyed the Lord’s instructions because I was afraid of the people, so I did what they asked.” Notice Saul knew what to do. He even admitted it, “I disobeyed God’s instructions.” Why? He was a PEOPLE pleaser. He forfeited his DESTINY in order to please people. Friend, don’t let that be you! Don’t be a people pleaser, be a GOD pleaser because pleasing God is ALL that matters when all is said and done!

Today’s Scripture:

“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.”
(Hebrews 9:27, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD’S PLAN IS TO DO A NEW THING IN YOUR LIFE

Can you see the “brand new thing” God is doing in your life? Sometimes it’s easy to see the hand of God moving, and sometimes the storms of life can cloud our vision. But no matter where you are in life today, meditate on this TRUTH that God is working even when you can’t see Him. Like a seed buried deep in the ground, it may seem dark and lonely and there may be dirt all around, but that’s the place where LIFE springs forth. Trust that God is doing a NEW thing! You can TRUST Him because He is FAITHFUL!

His plan for you today is BLESSING. His plan is to give you a FUTURE and a HOPE. His plan is to do a NEW THING in your life. Let go of the thoughts of the past and open your heart to what God is doing TODAY. Ask Him to show you what He’s doing. Ask Him to REVEAL it to your heart. SEEK Him and you will FIND Him and see the brand new thing He’s doing in YOU!

Today’s Scripture:

“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun!”
(Isaiah 43:19, NLT)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

 

KEEP YOUR HEART AND MIND SUBMITTED TO GOD AND BE FREE

In life, there will always be people who try to squeeze you into THEIR mold; people who try to pressure you into being who THEY want you to be. They may be good people. They may mean well. But the problem is that they aren’t your CREATOR. They didn’t breathe LIFE into you. They didn’t EQUIP you, EMPOWER you or ANOINT you; Almighty GOD did! If you’re going to be all that God CREATED you to be, you can’t focus on what everybody else thinks. If you change with every criticism, trying to win the favor of OTHERS, then you’ll go through life being manipulated and letting people squeeze you into their box. You have to realize that you can’t keep every person happy. You can’t make everyone like you. You’ll NEVER win over ALL of your critics.

Instead of trying to please PEOPLE, when you get up in the morning, ask the Lord to search your heart. Ask Him if your ways are pleasing to HIM. Stay focused on your GOALS. If people don’t understand you, THAT’S OK. If you lose some friends because you wouldn’t let them CONTROL you, they weren’t true friends ANYWAY. You don’t need other’s approval; you only need Almighty GOD’S approval. Keep your heart and mind submitted to Him and be FREE from people pleasing!

Today’s Scripture:

“Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the LORD means safety.”
(Proverbs 29:25, NLT)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

YOU CAN’T WORRY AND WORSHIP AT THE SAME TIME

Are you struggling with trying to make a dream come to pass? Are you frustrated in a relationship, trying to make someone else change or live right? You may mean well, you may have good GOALS, but if you are trying to orchestrate things to happen YOUR way, on your timetable, you are only going to frustrate yourself. At some point, you have to turn those circumstances over to God and TRUST that He has YOUR best interest at heart.

How do you turn things over to God? Start by making the choice and declaring your RESOLVE. Simply say, “Father, I choose to let YOU be God of this situation. I take my hands off. I TRUST You.” Then, choose to WORSHIP Him. Worship is one of the best ways to set your HEART and MIND in the right place. You can’t worry and worship at the same time! Worship is a sign that you are TRUSTING God; worry is a sign that YOU are trying to control things.

Today, take the pressure off yourself and turn things over to God. Give Him control and let Him take your setbacks and turn them into COMEBACKS. Remember, the God who holds the universe holds YOU in the palm of His hand. TRUST Him and let God be God in EVERY area of your life!

Today’s Scripture:

“Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him…”
(Psalm 37:7, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

AS BELIEVERS, GOD WILL CAUSE IT TO ALL WORK OUT FOR OUR GOOD

What a powerful promise we have from Almighty God! When we put our hope in Him, we will NEVER be disappointed. Of course, that doesn’t mean that things will always go our way. There may be TEMPORARY disappointments, but we will never be permanently disappointed. Somewhere down the road, God will cause it to all work out for our good. With God on your side, you will always end in VICTORY!

Are you carrying frustration, worry or aggravation about something? That’s usually a clear sign that your HOPE is in the wrong place. If you hope in circumstances, it will deplete you of JOY and PEACE. But when you turn those circumstances over to God, when you REFUSE to worry, when you REFUSE to allow the temporary things of this world to dictate your HAPPINESS, that’s when God can do a work in your life. When you TRUST in Him, He will make your crooked places straight; He will cause you to mount up with wings like the eagle.

Today, choose to put your HOPE in the Father; you will NOT be disappointed. TRUST Him because He is FAITHFUL. Find REST for your soul in knowing that He is GOOD, and He has GOOD things in store for your future!

Today’s Scripture:

“…those who hope in me will not be disappointed.”
(Isaiah 49:23, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

STAND STRONG AND FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH

So many people today run from anything that’s hard. They run from their problems. They run from responsibility. They run from people they don’t like. They run from the past. They run from anything that makes them uncomfortable. Instead of facing the issues and dealing with them, they just take the easy way out and go down the path of least resistance. But if you’re going to live in victory the way God intends, you have to learn how to face your challenges HEAD ON.

Notice today’s verse doesn’t say, “Keep running until you see the salvation of the Lord.” It doesn’t say, “Bury your head in the sand until God delivers you.” No, God wants us to STAND STRONG, set our faces like a flint, and fight the good fight of FAITH. And the good news is that you don’t have to do it in your OWN strength! He’s EQUIPPED you with HIS supernatural POWER to overcome every obstacle.

Make the DECISION today to stand strong and face the challenges in your life. Be BOLD and dare to CONQUER! As you stand in FAITH, you will see the SALVATION, the DELIVERANCE of Almighty God in EVERY area of your life!

Today’s Scripture:

“…stand and see the salvation of the Lord…”
(2 Chronicles 20:17, NASB)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

AS YOU HELP OTHERS SUCCEED, YOU’LL FIND ABUNDANT SUCCESS OF YOUR OWN IN RETURN

God has a SYSTEM that is based on the principle of sowing and reaping. In other words, what you pour out to OTHERS will come back to YOU in increased measure. When you GIVE generously, a generous harvest will return to YOU. When you help OTHERS succeed, you will find abundant success on YOUR path, too.

Are YOU helping others SUCCEED? Are you helping others get ahead? There are SOME people in your life who hold the keys for YOU to reach your full POTENTIAL. These are people that God has PLACED in your life for you to help along. The higher THEY rise up, the higher YOU will rise up, too. When you give generously of your TIME, TALENTS and RESEOURCES, you are setting yourself up for greater SUCCESS. People will come across your path that will help you GROW and reach your full POTENTIAL.

Do YOUR part to step out and sow the seed. Be on the lookout for ways you can help OTHERS. As you give of yourself to help OTHERS grow, YOU’LL see increase in return. You’ll see SUCCESS and live the abundant life He has prepared for you.

Today’s Scripture:

“Send your grain across the seas, and in time, profits will flow back to you.”
(Ecclesiastes 11:1, NLT)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT OTHERS THINK, IT MATTERS WHAT GOD THINKS

Anytime you set out to do something GREAT in life, there will be critics. If you’re going to be a great BUSINESSPERSON, COACH, STUDENT, LEADER or EMPLOYEE, there will be opposition. The more SUCCESS you have, the more opportunities there will be for distractions. The HIGHER you go, the more haters will come out. When you start stretching to a new level and pursuing what God has placed in your heart, the jealous people, the critical people, and the small-minded people come out of the woodwork and start making negative comments, but you don’t have to let that distract you.

If you are under pressure today, if the critical voices are coming against you, know that it’s because YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE. Don’t let them throw you off course. Instead, DIG YOUR HEELS IN, set your face like a flint, and say, “I will NOT get distracted. I will NOT get drawn into battles that don’t matter. It doesn’t matter what OTHERS think; it matters what GOD thinks!”

Today, look beyond the critics. Stand strong in adversity. Press forward to what lies ahead and win the prize of life that He has prepared for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise…”
(Micah 7:8, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

YOU DON’T NEED THE APPROVAL OF EVERYONE AROUND YOU, YOU ONLY NEED GOD’S APPROVAL

In order to live the life of victory God has promised, you have to be very selective about what you give your time and attention to. You have to RECOGNIZE which THOUGHTS to ignore, which COMMENTS to ignore, and sometimes, which PEOPLE to ignore. Every “battle” that comes across your path is not a battle that you’re supposed to fight. Many battles are simply DISTRACTIONS to try to lure you off course. If that battle is not between you and your God-given DESTINY, it’s a battle you should ignore.

Many people get thrown off course because they are always trying to straighten everyone else out or win their approval. But if that’s your focus, you are wasting valuable TIME and ENERGY that you should be using to pursue your dreams. Turn away from that distraction! You don’t need the approval of everyone around you; you only need GOD’S approval!

Friend, it’s very freeing when you realize you don’t have to fight every battle. You don’t have to straighten people out. You don’t have to pay somebody back. Instead, FOCUS on what matters, FOCUS on God and His Word so you can live in PEACE and HAPPINESS every day of your life!

Today’s Scripture:

“Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.”
(Psalm 119:37, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD WANTS YOU TO BE BLESSED SO YOU CAN BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS

We serve a God of INCREASE. He wants you to continually rise up HIGHER in Him. He wants you to know Him MORE so He can reveal His glory THROUGH you. He wants you to be BLESSED so that you can be a BLESSING to others. He wants to take you to the next level in EVERY area of your life!

The “NEXT LEVEL” looks different for each of us. For you, it may be seeing your family RESTORED. It may be HEALING in your body. It may be a PROMOTION at work or new FRIENDSHIPS that you’ve desired. No matter what it is, know that God has your BEST in His heart. He DESIRES to do EXCEEDINGLY, ABUNDANTLY above and BEYOND what you could ask, think or IMAGINE. He loves to do above and beyond and show Himself STRONG on your behalf.

Today, MEDITATE on the fact that God loves you so much. As you submit every area of your life to Him, He will cause you to rise up higher. He will give you STRENGTH and take you to the next level in EVERY area of your life.

Today’s Scripture:

“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
(Isaiah 40:31, KJV)