THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

YOU WOULDN’T STILL BE ALIVE IF GOD DIDN’T HAVE SOMETHING AMAZING PLANNED FOR YOUR FUTURE

One thing I’ve noticed is that so many people are walking around who aren’t really living to the FULL the way God INTENDS. Have you ever noticed that many people just quit living around the age of fifty, but yet they are going to stay on the planet until after they’re EIGHTY? Maybe they went through a disappointment or had a failure. Someone hurt them, and now they’ve lost their JOY and settled where they are. NO, God has another VICTORY in store! You wouldn’t be breathing unless God had something amazing in your FUTURE. It’s time to get your PASSION back and be DETERMINED to REALLY live out ALL of your God-given days!

The scripture says that God wants to bring you to a FLOURISHING finish, not a fizzled-OUT finish. Don’t let disappointment or SELF-PITY hold you back. God has PROMISED that what was meant for your HARM He will turn around and use for your GOOD. Not only will He bring you OUT, but He will bring you out BETTER OFF than you were before. Receive it by FAITH today and press forward into the ABUNDANT, FULFILLED life He has in store for YOU!

Today’s Scripture:

The fear of the Lord leads to life, and he who has it will abide in satisfaction; he will not be visited with evil.

Proverbs 19:23, NKJV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

COVER YOURSELF WITH THE WORD OF GOD, AND YOU’LL BE STRONG AGAINST TEMPTATION

Is there something in your life that you would like to put a STOP to today? Maybe it’s a certain behavior, addiction or bad attitude that isn’t PLEASING to God? Just as Adam and Eve were EXPOSED in their sin and needed to be CLOTHED in the Garden, we need to CLOTHE ourselves to protect us from SIN. When you “clothe yourself” with the Lord Jesus Christ, He STRENGTHENS you against TEMPTATION.

How do you clothe yourself with Jesus Christ? In the same way you cover yourself in the natural with clothing—by putting something ON. You have to daily “put on” the Word of GOD. You have to COVER your ears by listening to the WORD. You COVER your eyes by watching only what is PLEASING to the Lord. You COVER your mouth by speaking the Word and ENCOURAGING those around you. As you COVER yourself with Christ, you will be STRONG against temptation, and you will walk in the victory the Lord has PLANNED for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“Clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and make no provision for [indulging] the flesh [put a stop to thinking about the evil cravings of your physical nature]…”

(Romans 13:14, AMPC)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

EACH DAY IS A GIFT FROM GOD, UNIQUE AND IRREPLACEABLE

Have you stopped to consider that TODAY is a special gift from God? Sometimes, our days can be so full and busy that we forget how fragile life really IS. It can be easy to allow little things to creep in and STEAL our peace and joy. Maybe something doesn’t go our way, or someone says something upsetting. Even traffic can cause us to lose focus if we let it. We have to remember that each day is a GIFT. If we choose to focus on what’s wrong, we’ll miss the BLESSING that each day has to offer.

I encourage YOU today; don’t let the precious MOMENTS of life pass you by. Don’t wait for holidays and birthdays to show people that you care. Remember, each day is UNIQUE and IRREPLACEABLE. You have been given time that can be INVESTED or WASTED; hours that can be USED or MISUSED. That’s why the psalmist prayed to God, “Teach us to number our days.” He was saying, “Teach us to VALUE every moment we’ve been given.” As you DAILY keep a proper perspective, you’ll gain a heart of WISDOM. You’ll draw CLOSER to God and experience the FULL blessing that He has for you each and EVERY day!

Today’s Scripture:

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

CHOOSE FORGIVENESS, CHOOSE TO MOVE FORWARD IN BLESSING AND VICTORY

God never promised that life would always be FAIR. In fact, He WARNS us of just the OPPOSITE! People aren’t perfect; we all make mistakes and bad decisions. You may have been hurt by others in the past, but what’s most important is how YOU CHOOSE to deal with that hurt.

When you harbor hurts and offenses, it keeps you stuck in the past. It only causes harm in your life. If you want to move forward in JOY and PEACE, you have to choose FORGIVENESS.

Yes, forgiveness is a CHOICE, and it has NOTHING to do with the person who hurt you. Forgiveness is the choice to hand your hurts over to God and let HIM make up the difference. When we choose to extend FORGIVENESS, that’s when we choose to receive HIS forgiveness! Today, choose GOS’S way, choose FORGIVENESS, and choose to move FORWARD in the BLESSING and VICTORY He has prepared for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.”

Mark 11:26, NASB

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

TAKE CAPTIVE EVERY THOUGHT, AND BOLDLY DECLARE GOD’S PROMISES

Do you ever feel like things in your life are out of control? Usually that happens when we allow our CIRCUMSTANCES to DICTATE our THOUGHTS and ATTITUDES. You might say, “Well, the economy is wreaking havoc on my business.” Or, “This relationship is just too far gone.” But today is the day to take your life BACK! We LIVE in this natural realm, but as BELIEVERS, we are not LIMITED by this natural realm. We can tap into God’s SUPERNATURAL power, but it starts by making every THOUGHT line up with the Word of GOD.

Take your life back by taking your THOUGHTS back. Don’t allow the enemy to have access ANY longer. Instead, meditate on the Word of God DAILY and allow His TRUTH to sink down DEEP into your spirit. Let His truth make you FREE.

Today, as you take captive every thought and boldly declare His PROMISES over your life, you are setting yourself up for VICTORY. You are POSITIONING yourself to receive EVERY spiritual blessing, and you are taking your life BACK!

Today’s Scripture:

“…take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

(2 Corinthians 10:5, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN YOU DRAW NEAR TO GOD, HE WILL DRAW NEAR TO YOU

In scripture, Jesus was called by many names according to His ATTRIBUTES. In today’s verse, He is called EMMANUEL, which means God with us. He’s not far away; He’s looking down on us; He is closer than the air we breathe. That means you never have to be alone or feel afraid. You never have to wonder where God is! But, we have to do OUR part. In the natural, you can have someone sitting right next to you and never really KNOW them. It’s the same way with God. We have to take time to ACKNOWLEDGE Him as Lord and talk to Him throughout the day. When you draw NEAR to God, HE will draw near to YOU!

Today, take some time to meditate on this verse. Be aware of His PRESENCE around you. PRAISE Him and THANK Him for being Emmanuel—God WITH us!

Today’s Scripture:

“Behold, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel—which, when translated, means, God with us.”

Matthew 1:23, AMP

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN A WISE PERSON SEEKS JESUS, THEY ARE FILLED WITH INDESCRIBABLE JOY

The wise men traveled a considerable distance to see the great King whose arrival the Bible foretold. They followed the bright star, and when they found Him, it says they REJOICED EXCEEDINGLY. Those men were SO happy that they COULDN’T hide it. Notice what they did next; they fell down and WORSHIPED Him.

When a WISE person seeks Jesus, they are filled with indescribable JOY. They are COMPELLED to worship Him! Let that be YOU and ME today. Let’s let the joy of the Lord fill our hearts and be reflected on our FACES during the holiday season and EVERY day of the year. Don’t allow the pressures and busyness of life STEAL your joy. Let those AROUND you see that you’ve been with JESUS. REJOICE in Him, WORSHIP Him, and WALK with Him in victory ALL the days of your life!

Today’s Scripture:

“…the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him…”

Matthew 2:9-11, NKJV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

NO FOE CAN STAND AGAINST YOU IN THE PRESENCE OF ALMIGHTY GOD

What are you letting arise in YOUR life? In other words, what are you focusing your WORDS, ENERGY and THOUGHTS on? You might say, “Oh, it’s just so hard right now. My finances are tight.” “My health doesn’t look good.” “Somebody walked out on me.” NO, you’re FOCUSING on the wrong things. You’re letting defeat, discouragement and self-pity rise up. Why don’t you turn that around and say, “God is still in CONTROL. Somebody may have walked out on me, but I know God is going to bring me somebody BETTER.” “I may be hurting right now, but I know God is the RESTORER of my soul.” “I may have an unexpected debt, but I know God is my PROVIDER. HE is supplying all of my needs. HE is fighting my battles.”

When you give God GLORY and let Him ARISE in your life, you CAN’T stay defeated. NO foe can stand against you in the presence of Almighty GOD. Your enemies will be SCATTERED! They will TREMBLE at your words of faith! Let God ARISE and embrace the BLESSING and VICTORY He has prepared for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered…”

(Psalm 68:1, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WE CAN’T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR REACTION

Every day, we have OPPORTUNITIES to get upset, frustrated or offended. Maybe you had plans that didn’t work out, or someone was rude to you at the office. Maybe you were doing something that should have taken one hour and ended up taking three. Life is FULL of inconveniences. Even though we can’t always control our CIRCUMSTANCES, we CAN control our REACTION. They say, “Life is 10% what happens TO you and 90% how you RESPOND.”

We should always go out each day with a POSITIVE attitude, full of HOPE and EXPECTING God’s FAVOR. But at the same time, we should recognize that MOST days are NOT going to go exactly as we planned. However, we are created to live in PEACE. Peace is our position of POWER. If you get stressed because you got off schedule, or upset because your child wouldn’t eat his breakfast, or frustrated because somebody offended you, you are giving AWAY your power. Instead, use good SENSE! Make the decision to RELEASE those offenses and disappointments so you live in PEACE. OVERLOOK offense, RELEASE offense and move FORWARD in the POWER and VICTORY the Lord has for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“Good sense makes a man restrain his anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression or an offense.”

(Proverbs 19:11, AMP)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

CONTENTMENT IS AN ATTITUDE GOD CAN WORK WITH

It’s easy to be tempted to go through life COMPETING with everyone around us when we see someone who’s more TALENTED, BETTER LOOKING or has more GIFTS. Instead of running OUR race and being comfortable with who WE are, oftentimes, we feel inferior and think, “I’ve got to catch up to THEM.” The problem with this unhealthy COMPETITION is that it’s a NEVER-ENDING CYCLE.

There will ALWAYS be someone ahead of us. But, it’s a very freeing thing when you realize, “I’m not competing with YOU. I don’t have to have as big a HOUSE as my neighbor to feel good about MYSELF. I don’t have to keep up with my CO-WORKER. I don’t have to be a certain SIZE. I don’t have to have as many CHRISTMAS LIGHTS outside. No, I understand that I’m NOT in competition with my FRIEND, my NEIGHBOR or my CO-WORKER. Instead, I’m going to be the best ME that I can possibly BE.”

CONTENTMENT is an attitude God can WORK with. When you focus on being who God made YOU to be and focus on running YOUR OWN race, that’s when you’ll see things HAPPEN. That’s when you’ll rise up HIGHER and position yourself for every spiritual BLESSING He has in store for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…”

Hebrews 12:1-2, NKJV