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.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

CHOOSE TO BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING GOOD IS GOING TO HAPPEN TODAY

This morning when you woke up, what was the first thing that went through your mind? Maybe you have a deadline to meet or a big appointment at work. Maybe you are facing a challenge or going through a difficulty in a relationship that seems to consume your thoughts. Today, I want to ENCOURAGE you; instead of focusing on what your CIRCUMSTANCES have to offer, focus on what GOD has to offer you. His MERCIES are new every morning, and His COMPASSION never fails. He has VICTORY in store for you today; He has PROVISION in store for you today; He has JOY in store for you today, and He has PEACE in store for you today. He daily loads you with BLESSING!

The key to ACCESSING these daily benefits is setting your FOCUS in the right direction. You can’t WAIT to see how you feel, what kind of mood your spouse is in, what the traffic is like, or what the stock market is doing. No, you have to CHOOSE to set your focus by saying, “This is going to be a GREAT day. I am BLESSED and cannot be cursed! I know GOD is directing my steps; something GOOD IS going to happen to me today!

Today’s Scripture:

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits…”

(Psalm 68:19, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN YOU WEAR THE GARMENT OF PRAISE, YOU’LL STAND STRONG AND DISPLAY GOD’S SPLENDOR

What are YOU wearing today? Not on your physical body, but what’s covering your MIND and EMOTIONS? Are you clothed with despair and disappointment? Are you wearing “heaviness?”

If you’ve recently gone through a hurtful or disappointing situation, the Bible says there IS a TIME to grieve. It’s important to go through that process and release the hurt to God. But the Bible also says that God wants to give you a garment of PRAISE instead of a spirit of heaviness or despair. He wants to exchange your hurt for His HEALING. He wants to fill you with His PEACE and JOY.

Are the garments of yesterday holding you back and weighing you down? Maybe it’s time to exchange that heaviness for His garment of PRAISE. Maybe it’s time to release those heavy burdens. It’s time to FORGIVE those who have hurt you and begin to praise your way to VICTORY! Just start right now by thanking Him for the LIFE you have today. Thank Him for the OPPORTUNITIES today has to offer. Thank Him for the beautiful SUNRISE. When you wear that garment of praise, you’ll stand STRONG and display His splendor ALL the days of your life!

Today’s Scripture:

“And provide for those who grieve…a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”

(Isaiah 61:3, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

IT IS NOT GOD’S WILL FOR US TO LIVE IN ANXIETY AND FRUSTRATION

So many people today are living uptight, worried and anxious about the future, filled with frustration and concern. In the natural there may be good reason, but understand, that is NOT God’s BEST. God doesn’t WANT us to live in anxiety and frustration; He wants us to live in PEACE. You can find rest in Him knowing that no matter what is happening AROUND you, GOD ALMIGHTY has His HAND on you.

The next time you’re tempted to worry or be anxious about something, remember this verse. God invites us to COME to Him. In fact, the Bible says He is a REWARDER of those who diligently SEEK Him. But notice, we can’t just come to Him any old way. He wants us to come to Him with a heart of GRATITUDE and THANKSGIVING. Begin by simply saying, “Father in heaven, thank You for the PRIVILEGE to come before You. Thank You for HEARING my prayers.” As you come to Him with an OPEN and HUMBLE heart, He will hear you and fill you with His peace and joy ALL the days of your life.

Today’s Scripture:

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

(Philippians 4:6, NASB)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

BECAUSE HE LIVES, WE CAN LIVE IN VICTORY IN THIS LIFE AND IN ETERNITY

Jesus went before us and paved the way for VICTORY. Because HE lives, WE can live in VICTORY in this life AND in ETERNITY. Not only can we live in VICTORY, we can help OTHERS live in victory, TOO. We can help the people AROUND us, and we can help the people who are coming AFTER us. We can store up MERCY, PEACE and BLESSIINGS for FUTURE generations.

The life we live should make it EASIER for the people AFTER us. By living a life of EXCELLENCE, we are leaving a mark for FUTURE generations. And really, that’s what matters most in ETERNITY. It’s good to leave an inheritance, but the most VALUABLE thing you can leave on this earth is a legacy of FAITH.

Today’s Scripture:

“Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments.”

(Deuteronomy 7:9, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WE HAVE TO LEAVE SOME THINGS BEHIND IN ORDER TO EMBRACE THE NEW LIFE GOD HAS IN STORE FOR US

So many people today are looking for ways to be RIGHTEOUS or to be in “RIGHT STANDING” with God. The Bible simply says that when we BELIEVE God, that’s RIGHTEOUSNESS.

The PROOF, or EVIDENCE, of our faith in Him is found in our ACTIONS. Faith WITHOUT works is dead. That means when we really BELIEVE something, our actions will SUPPORT what we believe. Because ABRAHAM believed God, he obeyed His word and left his father’s land even when he didn’t know where he was GOING. In the same way, when WE believe God, we have to leave some things behind in order to embrace the NEW LIFE He has in store. As you let go of the old and, by faith, EMBRACE God’s promises, know that He is leading you down paths of righteousness for His name’s sake! Keep BELIEVING and keep stepping OUT, knowing that your best days are AHEAD of you!

Today’s Scripture:

“Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”

(Genesis 15:6, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

NO MATTER HOW UNCERTAIN THINGS MAY SEEM, GOD STILL HAS HIS EYE ON YOU

Do you need to know which way to go? Maybe you are facing an important decision in your JOB, at HOME or in your RELATIONSHIPS. Know this: God HIMSELF will teach you what you should do. He PROMISES to show you the path you should take. He’s watching over you and giving you ADVICE every step of the way.

God’s not just concerned with the goal or end RESULT. It’s NOT just about getting you from point “A” to point “B.” He is with you EVERY step of the way during the ENTIRE process. He wants to see your CHARACTER develop and mature. Most times, our growth in life happens when circumstances seem to be the MOST uncertain. Those uncertain times cause us to rely MORE on God.

No matter how uncertain things may SEEM, God STILL has His eye on you. He’s making sure that you make the right CHOICES. He’s working with you to shape your CHARACTER and ATTITUDE. Remember, He’s promised to NEVER leave you NOR forsake you. YOU may not always know the answer right away, but He’s ALWAYS teaching you and LEADING you into BLESSING all the days of your life!

Today’s Scripture:

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.”

(Psalm 32:8, ESV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

IN ORDER TO HAVE A BRIGHT FUTURE, YOU MUST FIRST LET GO OF THE PAST

The Bible tells us that EVERY person, no matter HOW much FAITH they have, no matter how GOOD they are, will face disappointments. It may be something simple like not getting the PROMITION you hoped for, or not closing a BUSINESS deal you worked so hard on. Maybe you didn’t qualify for a HOUSE you really wanted, or maybe something MORE serious happened like a RELATIONSHIP not working out, the death of a LOVED one, or some kind of ILLNESS in your body. Whatever it may be, the REALITY is that we’re ALL going to suffer some setbacks. I believe one of the main keys to OVERCOMING disappointments is learning to let GO of the past.

If you feel “stuck” today, you may want to examine what you’re holding ON to. Be willing let GO of past disappointments by choosing FORGIVENESS. Who hurt you? Who wronged you? RELEASE it to GOD. Do you need to forgive YOURSELF? Do you need to receive GOD’S forgiveness? Make the choice today to FORGIVE. LET GO of the past so you can OVERCOME disappointments and experience the bright FUTURE God has in store for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.”

(Isaiah 43:18, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN YOU PLAN FOR WHAT IS GOOD, YOU WILL FIND GOD IN THE MIDST OF YOUR PLANS

Do you wake up every morning expecting FAVOR and BLESSING on EVERYTHING you do? Do you PLAN for what is good? When we plan for what is GOOD, Scripture tells us that we find LOVE. Ultimately, GOD is love which means when you plan for what is GOOD, you will find GOD in the midst of your plans.

Don’t let the negative voices of the world get you focused in the wrong direction. It doesn’t matter what is happening in the economy or the stock market, God’s plan is ALWAYS for your good. Set your mind on GOOD things and stay in agreement with GOD. You and God are a MAJORITY. Stay in STEP with Him, plan for what is GOOD, and move forward into the life of VICTORY He has in store for YOU!

Today’s Scripture:

“…those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness.”

(Proverbs 14:22, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

START SPEAKING FAVOR TO THOSE MOUNTAINS IN YOUR LIFE AND GET READY FOR VICTORY

Everyone goes through SEASONS when the challenges of life FEEL overwhelming. During these times, it’s easy to be tempted to talk about how BAD things are. Maybe you are facing a situation right NOW that looks impossible. Don’t get discouraged and give up because God wants to do something AWESOME in your life. Instead of talking to God about how BIG your problems are, talk to your problems about how big your GOD is. Be BOLD and start speaking FAVOR to that situation. Every day say, “Father, thank You that Your favor is turning this around. Thank You that Your FAVOR is making a way even though I don’t SEE a way. Lord, thank You that Your favor is doing REMARKABLE, ASTOUNDING, OVERWHELMING things.” When you RELEASE your faith like THAT, you’ll see God show up and do AMAZING things that you’ve NEVER seen happen before!

Remember, even if you don’t SEE how things could ever work out, God DOES. Just do YOUR part and keep SPEAKING to those mountains in your life. Declare FAVOR over those situations and get ready to move FORWARD in the VICTORY and BLESSING God has prepared for you!

Today’s Scripture:

Jesus replied to them, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, if you have faith [personal trust and confidence in Me] and do not doubt… you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen [if God wills it].”

(Matthew 21:21, AMP)