THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

ACKNOWLEDGE GOD AND PRAISE HIM FOR HIS GOODNESS

Sometimes I think about my life, “How in the world did I get to where I am?” I’m not the most TALENTED or the most QUALIFIED. I’ve done my best to be FAITHFUL, to make the most of what God has given me. The fact is that you can only go SO high in your own strength. You can reach a certain level with your education, your talent and your ability, but it’s the goodness of GOD that will open doors you could NOT open on your OWN. The goodness of God will cause the right PEOPLE to notice you. The goodness of God will take you places you NEVER dreamed of.

I know many people can say that God has given them FAVOR, PROMOTION and INCREASE. He has made things happen that you could not make happen by yourself. It’s important to ACKNOWLEDGE Him and PRAISE Him for His GOODNESS. Why don’t you take some time today and tell someone about what God has done for YOU. PRAISE Him and GLORIFY Him because He IS worthy. Tell of His GOODNESS and watch what He will do in YOUR future.

Today’s Scripture:

“I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life.”

(Psalm 119:93, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

DON’T LET EXCUSES KEEP YOU FROM YOUR DESTINY MOMENT

In Scripture, there was a lady who had been sick with a bleeding disorder for twelve years. She went to the best doctors, received the finest treatment, but her health continued to decline. One day, she got word that Jesus was coming through her town. When she heard that, something came ALIVE on the inside. She had so much coming AGAINST her, but she didn’t FOCUS on that; she knew it was HER TIME for healing. Instead of giving up, she fought her way through the crowds and touched the edge of Jesus’ robe. When she did, IMMEDIATELY she was made WHOLE.

I wonder how many other people were there like her in that same type of situation. They were sick. They were discouraged. They had trouble. But they just watched Jesus pass by. They let EXCUSES keep them from their miracle. Friend, do NOT let that be YOU. Don’t let your CIRCUMSTANCES keep you from reaching out to Jesus. It doesn’t matter what’s happened in your past, just keep moving FORWARD. God has destiny MOMENTS in store for you. Keep pressing in, keep BELIEVING, keep PRAYING and, like THIS woman, reach OUT to Him. Know that He is FAITHFUL, and He will meet YOUR FAITH with HIS POWER.

Today’s Scripture:

“Jesus turned and saw her. ‘Take heart, daughter,’ he said, ‘your faith has healed you.’ And the woman was healed at that moment.”

(Matthew 9:22, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD WANTS TO BRING YOU RESTORATION AND MAKE THINGS EVEN BETTER THAN BEFORE

In the Old Testament, God’s people were going through a very difficult time. They were being held captive against their will and mistreated by other nations. God sent this word to EMCOURAGE them and give them HOPE for their future. When the time came, God was FAITHFUL to His Word!

Are YOU going through a difficult time today? Let this word bring you encouragement, TOO. We serve a God who goes above and BEYOND our expectations. He wants to give you DOUBLE for your trouble. He wants to bring you RESTORATION and make things even BETTER than before.

If you are facing challenges today or going through a time of adversity, REMEMBER, it’s ALWAYS darkest just before the dawn appears. Your days are DESTINED to shine BRIGHTER because God is FAITHFUL. As you stay in faith and are obedient to His Word, you’ll receive DOUBLE for your trouble and see God go above and beyond in EVERY area of your life!

Today’s Scripture:

“Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.”

(Isaiah 61:7, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

NO MATTER WHAT YOU MAY BE FACING TODAY, GOD WANTS TO BRING YOU COMFORT

Oftentimes when people face challenges, their natural tendency is to seek COMFORT in things that are FAMILIAR. It may be work, an activity or relationships; and of course, we all know about “comfort food.” But, those things only bring TEMPORARY comfort. TRUE comfort is only found in a relationship with JESUS.

According to Webster’s dictionary, COMFORT means to give STRENGTH and HOPE; to ease grief or trouble. No matter what difficulty YOU may be facing today, God wants to bring you COMFORT. Like a mother cares for her child, He longs to give you STRENGTH, HOPE and CONFIDENCE. Turn to HIM. Receive His LOVE. Let go of things that would hold you back. Let Him HEAL your heart and give you STRENGTH for the FUTURE. Let Him EMPOWER you to rise up and overcome EVERY obstacle in Jesus’ name!

Today’s Scripture:

“As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you…”

(Isaiah 66:13, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN WE ARE FAITHFUL WITH THE LITTLE, GOD WILL MAKE US RULER OVER MUCH

In the book of Genesis, we see that God established a system of SOWING and REAPING in the earth. When we are FAITHFUL with what God HAS placed in our hands, we position ourselves for INCREASE. Many people pray, “God bless me!” But God is saying, “Are YOU being faithful with what I have ALREADY given you?” Scripture tells us that when we are faithful with the LITTLE, God will make us ruler over MUCH.

Remember, you can’t reap a harvest without first PLANTING some SEEDS. God has given each of us SEEDS to sow, so don’t hold on to them! Be faithful to GIVE, be faithful to PRAY, be faithful to SPEAK LIFE over your FUTURE. Develop faithfulness in the SMALL things. Develop faithfulness in your CHARACTER. Be on TIME. Keep your WORD. Be DEPENDABLE. As you develop FAITHFULNESS, God WILL see your good works, and He’ll make you RULER over MUCH!

Today’s Scripture:

“…Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”

(Matthew 25:23, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

LIKE AN ARROW, YOUR FAITH POINTS TO THE TARGET OF HOPE

So many people today are depressed and discouraged simply because they only focus on their PRESENT circumstances. They’re constantly DWELLING on their PROBLEMS, what they DON’T have, and what’s WRONG with them. They don’t realize it, but they’re allowing the enemy to steal their HOPE. This negative frame of mind is what keeps people from moving FORWARD in life.

Understand today that FAITH is CONFIDENCE and ASSURANCE about the things we HOPE for according to the PROMISES of God. Like an arrow, your faith points to the TARGET of HOPE. If you don’t have hope, that arrow of faith will just drop to the ground. It won’t ACCOMPLISH anything. But when you keep your hopes UP, when you keep EXPECTING and BELIEVING, it’s as if that target gets larger and LARGER–EASIER to hit!

Choose today to live with an attitude of EXPECTANCY. Get your HOPES up! Start by taking captive ANY negative thoughts you may have one at a time. As you FOCUS on God’s GOODNESS and FAITHFULNESS, you’ll feel that hope inside you GROWING. You’ll give your faith a TARGET, and you’ll move CONFIDENTLY into the BLESSINGS and PEACE the Lord has in store for YOU!

Today’s Scripture:

“Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.”

(Hebrews 11:1, NLT)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

IF YOUR SOURCE IS OK, THEN YOU ARE OK TOO

When you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you have access to EVERYTHING He is: PEACE, PROVISION, PROTECTION and more. That means no matter what is happening in the world today, as you obey God’s Word, your needs WILL be met. No matter what is going on with the economy, gas prices or housing market, God is STILL your Source; and if your SOURCE is okay, then YOU are okay, TOO. Rest assured, there is NO lack in heaven!

Not only is God ABLE to meet your needs, He WANTS to meet your needs. It gives Him great PLEASURE to bless and prosper you. EXPECT that God is working behind the scenes on your behalf. Look for His hand of PROVISION in your life and PRAISE Him for His FAITHFULNESS. Do WHATEVER He says to do and watch Him open the windows of heaven!

Today’s Scripture:

“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

(Philippians 4:19, NASB)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

IN YOUR FUTURE, GOD HAS PLANS TO BRING YOU INTO A FLOURISHING FINISH

Everyone goes through seasons of disappointment or difficulty. We all have unexpected setbacks. Maybe you’re going through something right now that you don’t understand. Here’s the good news: that disappointment is NOT the final chapter. God NEVER ends in a negative. If you will keep moving forward with your life, God promises that He will bring you to a FLOURISHING finish. Not a defeated finish, a bankrupt finish, a betrayed finish, or a barely-get-by finish. No, in YOUR future, God has a VICTORIOUS finish.

That setback, disappointment or betrayal that seems like it’s working AGAINST you, God knows how to turn it around and cause it to work FOR you. The key is that when you’re in difficult times, do NOT settle where you are. Don’t put your roots down and think that things are never going to CHANGE. No, for EVERY setback, God has already lined up a COMEBACK. For every injustice, He has VINDICATION. For every disappointment, He has RESTORATION. Right now, just begin to THANK Him for what He’s GOING to do. PRAISE Him for His FAITHFULNESS. REJOICE today because He has a plan to bring YOU into a FLOURISHING finish!

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:

DON’T WAIT FOR EVERYTHING TO BE PERFECT BEFORE YOU CELEBRATE WHAT GOD IS GOING TO DO

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)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

MAKE THE DECISION TODAY TO GET YOUR JOY BACK

Did you know that it is God’s will for you to be joyful ALWAYS? It’s TRUE! He wants you to be HAPPY and CAREFREE. He wants you to love your life no matter WHAT your circumstances LOOK like. In fact, when you have JOY in the midst of DIFFICULT circumstances, that is EVIDENCE that you have FAITH and trust that God will bring you through.

Joy is STRENGTH. When you have His supernatural JOY, you can stand strong no matter WHAT’S going on around you. You might say, “Mark, I’m just not a real JOVIAL person. I’m more serious. I never laugh much.” And of course, God made us all differently, but you CAN train yourself to laugh more. One article said that the average child laughs over 200 times a day, but the average adult only laughs 4 times a day. What’s happened? We’ve allowed the pressures of life, stress and more responsibilities, little by little, to STEAL our joy.

Make the decision TODAY to get your joy BACK! DECIDE that you ARE going to look beyond your problems and look at what God WILL do on your behalf. Ask Him every day to fill you with His supernatural PEACE and JOY so that you can live in His STRENGTH and VICTORY, ALL the days of your life!

Today’s Scripture:

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NLT

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.