THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

INSTEAD OF DWELLING ON WHAT ‘YOU’RE’ NOT, DWELL ON WHAT OUR GOD ‘IS’

There are many misconceptions about God in the world today. Some people think He’s mad at them, and other’s think He’s keeping a list of all their wrongs. But that isn’t what SCRIPTURE tells us. Scripture tells us that God is GRACIOUS, PATIENT and LOVING; that He is FORGIVING and doesn’t treat us as our sins DESERVE. Scripture tells us that God is FOR us, and if God is for us, who can be AGAINST us?

Think about THAT for a moment. The same God who created the heavens and earth, the one who spoke the universe into existence and knows everything about you, He is on YOUR side and wants the BEST for YOU. Today’s verse is a great reminder that when God is FOR you, NO one can win AGAINST you. Not the pain of your past. Not any mistake you’ve made. Not the forces of hell, your worst enemy, a bad economy, a difficult housing market or ANYTHING else on this earth.

Today, instead of dwelling on what you’re NOT, dwell on what HE is—He is FAITHFUL, He is LOVING, He is WITH you, and He is FOR you! And with God on your side, you are headed for victory ALL the days of your life!

Today’s Scripture:

“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?”

Romans 8:31, NLT

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

ANYTIME YOU HELP OTHERS, YOU ARE HELPING GOD HIMSELF…..

When we live in PEACE and UNITY, it PLEASES God. When we LOVE and SERVE others, putting their needs ABOVE our own, we are honoring HIM. When we carry each other’s burdens, we are fulfilling the law of Christ, which is to LOVE others.

What does it mean to carry each other’s burdens? There are many ways to reach out to people and help shoulder their load, so to speak. Just by giving an encouraging WORD or SMILE, you can help lighten the load for someone. When you PRAY and INTERCEDE for others in their day of difficulty, you are helping to carry their burdens. Maybe there are OTHER ways to help the people around you. Maybe you can pay for someone’s groceries or give someone cash at the gas pump. ANYTIME you help others and reach out to those in need, scripture says you are directly lending a hand to God HIMSELF.

Today, look for ways to lighten the load for the people AROUND you. Be a burden LIFTER. Remember, in God’s kingdom what you SOW, you shall REAP. When you help OTHERS, God promises to REPAY you. He’ll pour out His VICTORY and BLESSING on you ALL the days of your life!

Today’s Scripture:

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

Galatians 6:2, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD WILL FIGHT YOUR BATTLES, STAY HOPEFUL, POSITIVE AND FULL OF EXPECTANCY

God has put DREAMS and DESIRES in EVERY person’s heart. But most times, there’s a season of WAITING involved. Maybe you’re waiting for a relationship to improve; waiting to get married; waiting for a promotion, or waiting to overcome an illness. MUCH of life is spent waiting. But there’s a RIGHT way to wait and a WRONG way to wait. Too often, when things don’t happen on OUR timetable, we get down and discouraged or anxious and fretful. That’s because we’re not waiting the RIGHT way.

Notice that today’s verse doesn’t say IF you wait; it says AS you wait. The fact is that we’re ALL going to wait. It goes on to say that we should consider how the FARMER waits—PATIENTLY and EAGERLY. We’re not supposed to sit around and be discouraged; we’re supposed to be HOPEFUL, POSITIVE and full of EXPECTANCY!

Today, no matter what you are praying for, EXPECT things to change in your favor. TODAY could be the day that God turns it all around. As you wait with PATIENCE and EXPECTANCY, you’ll open the door for God to MOVE. HE’LL fight your battles, and you’ll see that abundant HARVEST He’s promised in EVERY area of your life.

Today’s Scripture:

Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen.

James 5:7, NLT

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHERE YOU ARE TODAY, IS NOT WHERE YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO STAY

Oftentimes, people set their focus on what God has done in the past—how He parted the Red Sea or stopped the sun for Joshua or fed thousands of people with just a little boy’s small lunch. Yes, God has performed many AMAZING miracles throughout history. And it’s important that we give Him PRAISE, but at the same time, we also have to look forward to what God wants to do in our lives TODAY.

In today’s verse, Paul says that “in the ages to come” God would do things that EXCEED anything He’s ever done before. I believe that the “ages to come” is this day and time we’re living in RIGHT NOW. God wants to outdo Himself in OUR generation!

Remember, God is a God of INCREASE. Where you are today is NOT where you are supposed to STAY. He has GREATER levels of His favor and blessing in store for your FUTURE. Dare to dream BIG! Dare to keep a God-sized VISION in front of you! Dare to take hold of EVERY spiritual blessing He has in store for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us…raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”

(Ephesians 2:4-7, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD PROMISES TO OPEN THE DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU IN YOUR LIFE

In today’s Scripture, Paul was writing these words while he was in chains in prison. He was arrested for preaching the gospel. Everything in his surroundings shouted “LIMITATIONS,” but instead of looking at his surroundings, Paul kept his eyes on the LIMITLESS God. He kept looking for the open door of OPPORTUNITY that God would have for him next.

No matter what “chains” you may FEEL like you are in today, remember, we serve a God who’s in the business of setting people FREE. Remember, He has equipped you with His POWER. He’s PROMISED to walk with you ALL the days of your life. When doors look closed all around you, when your surroundings look limited, when you feel like you’re in chains, remember, God is STILL at work in your life. Like Paul, keep your hopes UP. Keep EXPECTING. Keep BELIEVING. Pray for those opportunities to be OPENED to you. If you fall, get right back up and press forward with even GREATER determination to ACCOMPLISH the dream that God has planted in your heart. The prayer of the righteous avails MUCH, so keep PRAYING because He promises to BREAK the chains and OPEN doors of OPPORTUNITY in your life.

Today’s Scripture:

“Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains.”

Colossians 4:3, NLT

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN WE HELP OTHERS TO RISE HIGHER, WE ARE FULFILLING THE MISSION OF JESUS

It’s easy to be someone’s friend when they’ve got it all together, when they’re walking in BLESSING and PROSPERITY. Anybody can believe in people after they’re SUCCESSFUL, after they GRADUATE, after they’re PROMOTED, after they get their BIG BREAK. But, people need our prayer and support the most BEFORE they get their breakthrough. They need us to look PAST their faults and failures and see their POTENTIAL.

Most times, people just need a little bit of ENCOURAGEMENT to keep them moving forward. You may have some good ADVICE that could save someone a lot of heartache and pain. Don’t keep it to yourself. Pick up the phone. HELP them win. They may need to just hear, “I’m praying for you.”

Remember, you are the hands and feet of Jesus. When you help others rise higher, you are fulfilling HIS mission. Today, share your LOVE, SUPPORT and ENCOURAGEMENT. Invest LIFE in others, see their POTENTIAL, PRAY for them, and together, you’ll rise higher into the blessing God has for YOU!

Today’s Scripture:

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

Ephesians 6:18, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

JESUS IS RISEN, THIS IS WHAT WE CELEBRATE TODAY

Jesus is Risen! That’s what we celebrate today and EVERYDAY! The cross is bare and the tomb is EMPTY. His VICTORY over sin and death provides EACH of us the OPPORTUNITY to start over—to make a fresh, NEW BEGINNING.

As Christians, we BELIEVE in new beginnings. Jesus gave us UNCONDITIONAL love and UNLIMITED possibilities. He doesn’t care what you’ve done in the past; He cares only about your FUTURE.

I hope that during this Easter season you find your way to a group of caring people, dedicated to worshiping the risen Lord, reaching the lost, praying for your needs and helping you discover God’s perfect plan for your life.

God Bless you all my friends, Happy Easter!

Today’s Scripture:

“He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.”

Matthew 28:6, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN PEOPLE COME AGAINST YOU, CHOOSE TO KEEP THE PEACE

I’ve learned that in life, some people are peace STEALERS. They feel like it’s their calling to aggravate you, try to make you look bad, and tell you what you CAN’T do. They’ll try to bait you into an argument to get you upset, annoyed and frustrated. But don’t take the bait! NOTHING is worth losing your peace over. They may THINK they’re getting the best of you, but in the end, God can use that to take YOU higher. When people come against you, choose to KEEP your peace. Choose to FORGIVE. Pray for that person because that’s how you DISARM the enemy against you.

Scripture says your battle isn’t against flesh and blood. In others words, that person isn’t your enemy; the accuser—SATAN—is your enemy. HE’S trying to bring division and get you upset. But when you choose to keep peace, when you keep walking in LOVE and keep a smile on your face, you are OVERCOMING his tactics. That’s how you WIN. Today, choose PEACE, choose to walk in LOVE, and choose the VICTORY God has prepared for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”

Luke 6:28, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN YOU STAND AND FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH, GOD IS HONORED

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord! Many people today might find it difficult to see themselves as “good” in the eyes of God, but did you know that in the original Greek, this word means “STRONG” like a warrior? In other words, when you stand strong, when you are willing to fight the good fight of FAITH, you are giving God something to work with. HE is ordering your steps. He’s making a way when there seems to BE no way. He’s clearing a PATH for you, and He is DELIGHTING in you. That means He is PLEASED with your attitude of COURAGE. He is pleased that you are taking a stand for what is RIGHT. He is pleased that you are putting Him FIRST PLACE and relying COMPLETELY on Him. Remember, God loves your PASSION for Him. He loves it when you come BOLDLY to His throne of grace. He is HONORED when you stand and fight the good fight of FAITH. If you are facing difficulty today, know that God wants to lift you up and give you His STRENGTH. Receive it by FAITH today. Dig your heels in knowing that HE is ordering your steps; and when GOD is leading you, He’s ALWAYS leading you in the path of VICTORY!

Today’s Scripture:

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and He delighteth in his way.

(Psalm 37:23, KJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WITH GOD, IT’S NOT HOW YOU START, BUT HOW YOU FINISH THAT COUNTS

So often, when people make mistakes, they get down on themselves and think, “If only…” “I should have…” “What if…?” It’s easy to feel like you’ve missed the best plan for your life. That’s when people get discouraged and stop pursuing their God-given dreams. But understand today, just because you’ve made a mistake or failed in some way, that doesn’t cancel God’s plan. God never disqualifies you. He never says, “Go sit on the sidelines. You’ve blown it too many times. You’ve got too many weaknesses.” No, God ALWAYS gives you ANOTHER chance!

Some of the great people in the Bible made very poor choices. The apostle Paul started off as a murderer, yet his destiny was bigger than his mistakes. He ended up becoming a great leader and writing over half of the New Testament.

What am I saying? Our mistakes, our failures, our poor choices do NOT have to keep us from our God-given DESTINY. With God, it’s not about the way you START in life, it’s about the way you FINISH. Receive His grace today and embrace the BRIGHT FUTURE He has in store for you!

Today’s Scripture:

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith

2 Timothy 4:7, NIV