THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD HAS AN ‘AFTER-THIS’ IN YOUR FUTURE

Your life is not OVER because you had a setback. God has an “AFTER THIS” in your future. He has another VICTORY planned. He wants to take you further than you ever dreamed POSSIBLE! When you go through tough times, don’t be surprised if the enemy whispers in your ear, “You’ll never be as happy as you used to be. You’ve seen your best days. This setback is the end of you.” NO, let that go in one ear and out the other. God is saying to you, “After the bad break, after the disappointment, after the pain, there is STILL a FULL life.” Know today that you have NOT danced your best dance. You have not laughed your best LAUGH. You have not dreamed your best DREAM. If you will stay in FAITH and not get bitter, God has an “AFTER THIS” in your FUTURE. He’s not only going to bring you OUT, He is going to bring you out BETTER than you were BEFORE!

Today’s Scripture:

“And after this it came to pass that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them…”

2 Samuel 8:1, KJV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

KEEP YOUR EYES ON WHAT’S MOST IMPORTANT IN LIFE

In life, many of the challenges we face are simply DISTRACTIONS from the enemy to keep us from pursuing our DESTINY. Maybe someone in the office isn’t as friendly to you as you’d like. Maybe you have a neighbor who always parks in front of your house and blocks your mailbox. Those things may be frustrating, but they have little SIGNIFICANCE when you look at the big picture of ETERNITY. You can’t allow the little things to cause strife in your life.

In scripture, just before David fought the giant Goliath, his brother Iliab tried to confront him. But David knew that arguing with Iliab wasn’t even worth his TIME and STRENGTH. He knew his real battle was with Goliath, and he didn’t want to be DISTRACTED. He simply “TURNED AWAY” from Iliab and kept his FOCUS on what he was CALLED to do.

Let’s follow the example of David and keep our eyes on what’s most IMPORTANT in life. Instead of being led away by frustrations, let’s FOCUS on the BIG picture. Know when to TURN AWAY from strife and receive the mark of HONOR the Lord has for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“It is an honor for a man to cease from strife…”

(Proverbs 20:3, KJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

LOVE IS NOT A FEELING, IT’S A CHOICE

All throughout scripture, God commands us to LOVE. First Corinthians tells us that love is the GREATEST thing. Love is ALL that matters on this earth, and it’s all that will last in ETERNITY. But did you realize that we are PROTECTED when we WALK in love? When we are selfish or self-seeking, the scripture tells us that it opens the door to confusion and every evil work. But when we walk in LOVE, when we choose to put OTHERS first, when we choose to be PATIENT and KIND and walk in UNITY, we are PROTECTED by love. We close the door to the plans of the enemy in our lives.

Today, CHECK your love walk. Read 1 Corinthians 13 and see if you emulate the CHARACTERISTICS of love. Remember, love is NOT a feeling; it’s a CHOICE. Receive HIS love, WALK in it, and find His supernatural GRACE and PROTECTION.

Today’s Scripture:

“For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.”

James 3:16, NKJV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE, LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD!

EVERY day that we are given is a precious GIFT from Almighty God. We should wake up EVERY morning with a grateful ATTITUDE, full of FAITH and EXPECTANCY for what the Lord has in store. Sure, you may be facing some challenges in your life, or maybe things aren’t going the way YOU planned. But remember, each new day is a chance to STAND STRONG in the midst of adversity and see the FAITHFULNESS of God. Every new day is an OPPORTUNITY to PRAISE and THANK Him, to MAGNIFY your God instead of magnifying your problems. This is the day that the LORD has made; let us REJOICE and be GLAD in it! Be GLAD that God has PROMISED to NEVER leave you or forsake you. Be GLAD that God has given you a sound, healthy MIND. REJOICE that He IS making a way where there seems to be no way! FOCUS on the GIFT of each and EVERY day and REJOICE in what God has DONE in your life!

Today’s Scripture:

“This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Psalm 118:24, NKJV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

THE WAY WE HANDLE LITTLE THINGS, WILL DETERMINE WHAT KIND OF LIFE WE LIVE

Most often, it’s not the BIG things that happen in life that keep us from being happy; it’s the SMALL things. I’ve heard it said, “Tornados and hurricanes get more news coverage; but in REALITY, termites do more damage.” That’s what today’s scripture is saying. Most of the time, we’re not dealing with some major crisis like losing a JOB, a life-threatening ILLNESS, or a RELATIONSHIP breaking up. The big things are RARE. It’s the LITTLE inconveniences like not being able to find your CAR KEYS in the morning, or being in a hurry and getting behind a driver going 40 in a 60-mile-an-hour zone. It’s the little INTERRUPTIONS and FRUSTRATIONS that get our emotions worked up and cause us to lose our JOY and PEACE.

The way we handle the LITTLE things will determine what kind of LIFE we will live. When we allow negative THOUGHTS of frustration to come in, we are allowing the little foxes to spoil the vines. Make the DECISION today to “CATCH” those foxes by choosing to think on the RIGHT things. Let HIS WORD bring LIGHT and LIFE to your emotions so you can move forward in PEACE and JOY each and EVERY day!

Today’s Scripture:

“Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines…”

Song of Solomon 2:15, NKJV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD’S PLAN ALWAYS LEADS TO PEACE

So many people today are looking for TRUE, INNER PEACE. They search through relationships, addictions, money, gadgets and even religion to try to find something that will fill the VOID inside. But TRUE peace isn’t found in anything this world has to offer, it can only be found through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Only HE can satisfy the longing in our souls and give us true, LASTING peace.

God gives FREELY, not as the world gives. You can’t earn it, and you can’t pay for it. There’s no catch, no fine print and no strings attached. You can rest SECURE that He’s not EVER going to take His peace away; His peace is ETERNAL! A life of peace begins when you invite JESUS to be your Lord and Savior. Then as you align your thoughts, attitudes and actions with His Word, that peace will flood EVERY area. PEACE is how we KNOW we are following God’s plan because God’s plan ALWAYS leads to peace!

If you’re looking for PEACE today, call on His name. Invite Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, follow His Word and allow HIS PEACE to flood EVERY area of your life.

Today’s Scripture:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 14:27, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

BE CONTENT WHATEVER THE CIRCUMSTANCES

It’s easy to get so FOCUSED on our DREAMS, our GOALS and what we want that it CONSUMES us. We can get to the point where we’re NOT going to be happy until it HAPPENS. But I’ve found that if we have to have something in order to be HAPPY, our lives are out of balance. When our GOALS and DREAMS start to FRUATRATE us, when we lose our PEACE and are not enjoying LIFE, that’s a sure sign that we’re holding on TOO tightly. What’s the SOLUTION? You’ve got to RELEASE it. Freedom comes when you say, “God, I’m turning it ALL over to YOU. You know my desires, and You know what’s BEST for me. I’m choosing to TRUST You and YOUR timing.”

When we learn to be content WHATEVER the circumstances, it takes away the POWER of the ENEMY. It takes away his ability to frustrate us. Not only THAT, but by our ACTIONS, we show our faith in GOD. Choose to trust in HIS timing; choose to live in PEACE and JOY, and find REST knowing that He has GOOD things in store for YOUR future.

Today’s Scripture:

“…I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”

Philippians 4:11, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

MAKE IT A HABIT TO SEEK GOD FIRST

In the Bible, David was called a man after God’s own heart. He knew God and saw AMAZING miracles throughout his life. But notice in this verse what David DID. He set the tone for his WHOLE day by spending time with the Lord in the MORNING. It didn’t matter what was going on in his life, David had his PRIORITIES set. Even though he was mistreated by his family, manipulated, made fun of, hunted down by King Saul, and even made some major mistakes on his own, David realized that each morning held the promise of NEW HOPE.

Just like David, if YOU’LL make spending time with God a PRIORITY in your life, you will see Him move mightily on YOUR behalf. Make it a HABIT to seek Him first EVERY SINGLE DAY no matter WHAT is happening. Set the tone for your DAY and set your course for VICTORY!

Today’s Scripture:

“In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.”

Psalm 5:3, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

DECLARE THAT YOU ARE FREE, AND CELEBRATE YOUR FREEDOM

Today in America, we celebrate Independence Day. July 4, 1776 was the day America declared their independence, but the BATTLE for freedom went on until 1783—seven years later. Even though the people DECLARED their freedom in 1776, they had to STAND AND FIGHT for many years before the British would accept and RECOGNIZE the United States of America.

Do you know what the early colonists did once they signed the Declaration of Independence? They read it OUT LOUD in public. They published it in the newspaper. They spread the word. They continued to DECLARE and CELEBRATE even though they were in the midst of the BATTLE.

In the same way, we have to declare OUR freedom and be determined to stand against the opposing forces of darkness in OUR lives. We have to declare our freedom from ADDICTION, POVERTY, SICKNESS and LACK. We have to stand and fight until we fully experience HIS FREEDOM and the PEACE that He has promised.

Today, no matter what battle YOU may be facing, declare that you are FREE and CELEBRATE your freedom because victory IS on the way!

Today’s Scripture:

“You have been set free from sin…”

Romans 6:18, NIV