THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GET EXCITED ABOUT WHAT GOD IS DOING IN YOUR LIFE

A few years ago, I was watching the news when Captain Sullenberger successfully landed a jet airplane in the Hudson River. All 155 passengers survived. It’s known as the “Miracle on the Hudson.” A reporter asked one passenger what he thought about it all. He was soaking wet, freezing cold, a little bit frazzled, but he had this incredible GLOW about him, an EXCITEMENT in his voice. I’ll never forget what he told the reporter, “I was alive before, but now I’m REALLY alive.”

My question today is, “Are YOU really alive?” Are you PASSIONATE about the life God has given you? Do you get up every morning with ENTHUSIASM, pursuing your DREAMS? God doesn’t want you to just “be alive” or just exist or endure. He wants you to be REALLY alive! You have seeds of GREATNESS on the inside. There is something MORE for you to accomplish. Get EXCITED about what God is doing! Lift up your eyes of FAITH to Him. Keep HOPING, keep BELIEVING, keep TRUSTING and keep LIVING because God has a WONDERFUL plan in store for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“The thief comes only to steal and Kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

(John 10:10, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

EMBRACE CHANGE AND SEE THE BLESSING

CHANGE is one of the most difficult things for people to face; however, change is INEVITABLE. In fact, Mark Twain once said, “The only person who LIKES change is a wet baby.” One reason people don’t like CHANGE is because they get comfortable with where they ARE in life. They get used to their friends, job or the place they live. And even if it’s not perfect, they accept it simply because it’s FAMILIAR. However, when we are not willing to change, we get STUCK in life holding on to what God did in the past instead of GROWING and moving FORWARD into what God wants to do in the FUTURE.

Today, I encourage YOU to be open to the NEW things God has in store for you. Always remember that just because God has blessed you where you ARE doesn’t mean you can just sit back and SETTLE there. God wants to do something new IN you and THROUGH you. He wants to see you GROW, PROSPER and FLOURISH. Get ready and keep your heart focused on HIM. EMBRACE change and see the BLESSING God has in store for YOU!

Today’s Scripture:

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”

(Isaiah 43:19, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WALK WITH THE WISE, AND BECOME WISE

Sometimes, in order to embrace the DESTINY God has in store, you have to be willing to make some CHANGES in your life. You have to be willing to examine where you ARE and what you need to move FORWARD. This MAY mean that you need to change some FRIENDS that you’re spending time with. Maybe they were fine for a SEASON in your life, but now you’ve OUTGROWN them. This is a NEW season, and in order for you to rise HIGHER, you have to break away from RELATIONSHIPS that are LIMITING you. You have to develop some NEW relationships with people who are going to pull you UP and INSPIRE you to rise HIGHER.

And this doesn’t JUST mean separating yourself from people who are holding you back SPIRITUALLY. I’ve found that if you’re the SMARTEST one in your group, your group is too SMALL. Find people who are SMARTER than you are, people who will CHALLENGE you to stretch to the NEXT level and become everything God’s CREATED you to be. Remember, he who walks with the wise becomes WISE. Choose your FRIENDS wisely and don’t be DECEIVED. Choose your friends wisely so you can walk and LIVE in the destiny GOD has in store for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits.’”

(1 Corinthians 15:33, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN YOU HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, YOU WILL BE SPRITUALLY SATISFIED

In the NATURAL, what do you do when you’re hungry and just not sure what will SATISFY you? You may try to think of what to eat, but maybe you’re not sure what will hit the spot. SPIRITUAL hunger works the same way. You may feel a restlessness or unsettledness, but you can’t quite figure out what will SATISFY it. You may try to fill that need with other things—food, addictions, people—but ONLY God can fill that hunger.

Today’s verse tells us what will FILL that hunger in our soul—RIGHTEOUSNESS. When you hunger and thirst for righteousness, which is God’s way of doing things, you will be SPIRITUALLY satisfied. But just like you have to take time to eat in the natural, you have to take time to “eat” or partake of God’s righteousness. Every day, He has a table of BLESSING set for you. When you spend time in PRAYER, WORSHIP and reading His WORD, you are PARTAKING of His righteousness. You are filling your SOUL. The more time you spend with HIM, the more He will FILL you and SATISFY your hunger all the days of YOUR life!

Today’s Scripture:

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

(Matthew 5:6, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS

Jesus came to BREAK the curse of sin, shame and CONDEMNATION in our lives. He came so that we could see things the way GOD sees them. Do you know how God sees YOU? He sees you as VALUABLE. He sees you as STRONG. He sees you as CAPABLE, TALENTED and TRUSTWORTHY. The VOICE of condemnation says exactly the opposite. Condemnation is a loss of VALUE. It’s the accusing voice of the enemy that says, “You’re not good enough…you’ll never be good enough…you’re a failure.”

Condemnation is NEVER from God. The Bible tells us there is NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. When you embrace and declare God’s TRUTH in your life, you activate His power to OVERCOME the voice of condemnation. No matter how you may be FEELING, wake up every morning and DECLARE that the GREATER One lives in you. Declare that you are STRONG in the Lord and in the power of His MIGHT. Declare that He LOVES you and has called you according to His PURPOSE. Choose to see yourself as VALUABLE, the way GOD sees you. Embrace His TRUTH so that you can OVERCOME condemnation and live in VICTORY all the days of your life!

Today’s Scripture:

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”

(Romans 8:1, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD’S WORD IS LIKE A SHIELD, IT PROTECTS YOU

Did you know that the Word of God has the power to PROTECT you and keep you from doing the things you KNOW you shouldn’t DO? Hebrews tells us that the Word of God is LIVING and ACTIVE; it’s POWERFUL in our lives. God communicates to us through His written Word, the Bible, and He COMMUNICATES with us through His SPOKEN Word, which can come in MANY ways. In Scripture, God spoke to people through a burning bush, a still small voice, and even a donkey. Today, He may speak to your heart through a FRIEND, a worship SONG, or something in CREATION. One thing is for sure, when He DOES speak, your spirit KNOWS it. There is CONFIRMATION in your inner man. God ALWAYS speaks truth, and TRUTH always sets you free!

God’s Word also PROTECTS you. When you hold His Word close to your heart, it acts like a SHIELD around your heart. You hold His Word close to you by MEDITATING on it, FOCUSING on it, THINKING about it and DECLARING it. As you allow His truth to sink into your SPIRIT, it will EMPOWER you and CHANGE you. It will EQUIP you to live the GOOD life He has prepared for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“Your word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”

(Psalm 119:11, AMPC)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

CALL OUT THE SEEDS OF GREATNESS IN OTHER PEOPLE

Very often, we see POTENTIAL in other people that they can’t see in themselves. When you speak VISION into them, when you tell them what they can BECOME, you can help set the DIRECTION for their life. Your WORDS have the power to push people into their divine DESTINY. I believe that the reason some people are not living at their FULL potential is because no one has ever spoken FAITH into them.

One of our ASSIGNMENTS in life is to call out the seeds of GREATNESS in other people. Look around at who God has placed in your life. Speak VISION into them. Tell them what they can BECOME. Help them rise up in CONFIDENCE so they can be ALL God has called them to BE!

Today’s Scripture:

“…God…calls those things which do not exist as though they did.”

(Romans 4:17, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

UNLIKE ETERNITY, OUR TROUBLES ARE MOMENTARY

In this world, we ALL have troubles and trials, but aren’t you glad that Scripture PROMISES that they are only TEMPORARY? Today’s verse tells us they are MOMENTARY. Compared with ETERNITY, our troubles won’t last long at ALL! The second part of this verse tells us that when we stand strong in FAITH during times of adversity, we are building that faith and achieving eternal GLORY. When you confess your TRUST and RELIANCE on God, you are passing the TEST!

If you are in the middle of tough times today, look to God. The Bible says that Jesus is the Author and Finisher of your FAITH. He is the one who WRITES faith on your HEART and then develops it to COMPLETION on the INSIDE of you as you YIELD yourself to Him. YOUR part is to SEEK Him daily. Follow His commands. Open your heart and choose to speak His Word which is ALIVE and ACTIVE. Remember, your trials are only TEMPORARY, but His eternal glory outweighs it ALL!

Today’s Scripture:

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”

(2 Corinthians 4:17, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

SET YOUR MIND AND HEART ON SEEKING THE LORD

What things do you consider a vital NECESSITY in your life? In other words, what CAN’T you live WITHOUT? Most people would immediately think of food, water and shelter; but in reality, we can’t really live unless our MINDS and HEARTS are set on seeking the LORD. Sure, you can EXIST without seeking Him, but you are called to MORE than just mere existence. You are called to LIVE…to THRIVE…to enjoy your life ABUNDANTLY! The GOOD news is that you have complete CONTROL over what you set your MIND and HEART on. YOU decide what you THINK about. I encourage you today; set your mind and heart on seeking the LORD! Write down your favorite Scriptures and commit them to MEMORY. Whenever you can, THINK about those verses. MEDITATE on God and His infinite LOVE. Make a habit of SEEKING Him and ask Him to REVEAL Himself to you. When you require the Lord as a vital NECESSITY, you will truly ENJOY living the ABUNDANT life He has in store for YOU!

Today’s Scripture:

“Now set your mind and heart to seek (inquire of and require as your vital necessity) the Lord your God…”

(1 Chronicles 22:19 AMP)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD CAN TAKE WHAT YOU HAVE, AND TURN IT INTO WHATEVER IT NEEDS TO BE

Do you ever feel inadequate for what you are called to DO? You’re not the first one to FEEL that way! So often, when we think of Moses, we remember HIM as the great spiritual GIANT who led the Israelites out of captivity. But did you know that Moses doubted himself, TOO? He didn’t FEEL equipped. In fact, HE had a stuttering problem that made him self-conscious! God simply said to him, “What do you have in your hand?” God showed Moses that it didn’t matter what he THOUGHT he needed. The God of the universe can take what you HAVE and turn it into whatever it NEEDS to be in order for you to ACCOMPLISH what He’s CALLED you to do. What’s in YOUR hand today? It may not SEEM like much, but God wants to USE it. He wants to take you to places you NEVER dreamed. He wants to pour out His BLESSING and FAVOR so you can live the ABUNDANT life He has in STORE for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“Then the LORD said to him, ‘What is that in your hand?’…”

(Exodus 4:2, NIV)