THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

MAKE TIME TODAY AND EVERY DAY, TO SPEND WITH JUST YOU AND THE LORD….

If you’ve ever said to yourself, “I don’t even have time to think,” then you know how hard it is to CONCENTRATE when you’re being bombarded with noise from all sides. It can be even harder to hold on to PEACE when we don’t make time to read His Word. God doesn’t often shout to get our ATTENTION. Instead, the Bible says that He speaks in “a still, small voice” (1 Kings 19:12), which means we need to listen CLOSELY. What can you do to put yourself in a position to hear GOD’S voice? The key is to MAKE TIME every day away from the busyness and distractions. Find a room in your house, outside under the trees, or some other place where you can be STILL for a few minutes each day to spend time with HIM. As you spend TIME with Him, He will renew your SPIRIT and restore your PEACE.

Today’s Scripture:

…he leads me beside quiet waters.

Psalm 23:2, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD LOVES YOU TOO MUCH TO LEAVE YOU WHERE YOU ARE

Does there seem to be a problem waiting for you no matter where you turn? Do you sometimes wonder if your dreams are EVER going to come to pass? Maybe you’ve asked why God would allow you to struggle in your JOB, your RELATIONSHIPS, your HEALTH or some OTHER area of life. Sometimes God allows us to go through CHALLENGES because He knows it’s the STRUGGLE of life that builds STRENGTH in us. If God simply delivered us from EVERY struggle, then we might not continue to grow and learn to TRUST Him. When you stretch your FAITH, ENDURE, OVERCOME and PERSEVERE through the DIFFICULT times, you’ll begin to realize a greater level of JOY, PEACE, VICTORY and ABUNDANCE than you ever dreamed possible. Remember, God loves you TOO MUCH to leave you where you are. He’s PREPARING you for something BETTER!

Today’s Scripture:

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

2 Corinthians 4:17, NKJV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GIVE GOD AN OFFERING OF THANKSGIVING EVERY DAY

Did you know that having a life full of joy and fulfillment is a matter of CHOICE? Many people are not living in victory today because they have walked around with a CHIP on their shoulder. They are constantly complaining, always dwelling on what they DON’T have, or focusing on their PROBLEMS.

Let me encourage you to stay OUT of that trap. Wake up every morning and begin each new day by counting your BLESSINGS. Take time to make a LIST. Write down at least ten things that you are THANKFUL for. WHATEVER your situation in life, find things to add to the list.

Keep your list in a place where you can SEE it every day. When you feel yourself getting negative, when you’re beginning to get discouraged, check your LIST; read it out loud. Focus on all of the BLESSINGS that God has given you. Begin to thank Him for what He has ALREADY done for you and for all that He has in store for your FUTURE.

Give God an offering of thanksgiving EVERY day. As you begin to express your APPRECIATION and PRAISE to the Lord, you will begin to see Him pour out His BLESSINGS and FAVOR in greater portions, and you’ll experience the overcoming life of VICTORY He has in store for you.

Today’s Scripture:

“You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.”

(Psalms 128:2, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

THERE IS SOMETHING IMPORTANT THAT ONLY YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH FOR GOD

There’s nothing more ENCOURAGING than to discover your PURPOSE and to walk in it! Don’t let the enemy convince you that you’ve been forgotten or left out. You were NOT made to sit on the sidelines. You have a DESTINY to fulfill!

God has entrusted everyone with different GIFTS and TALENTS. That means you ALREADY have the ABILITY, the CREATIVITY, the IDEAS you need to FLOURISH in what He has called you to do. There is something important that only YOU can accomplish for God.

Many heroes of the Bible had humble beginnings and were overlooked. David was the youngest of many sons, yet he was destined to become KING. Moses had a SPEECH impediment, but God chose him to deliver a NATION. It’s not about where you start, it’s about how you FINISH. Be bold enough to FOLLOW your God-given purpose and fulfill the DESTINY He has for YOU!

Today’s Scripture:

Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly…

Romans 12:6, NASB

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

YOU MAY BE STRUGGLING NOW, BUT SOON YOU’LL COME INTO GOD’S ANNOINTING OF EASE

We all go through seasons of struggle with our FINANCES, our HEALTH, or our RELATIONSHIPS. Too often we lose our ENTHUSIASM and think it’s never going to change. In Matthew 11, Jesus was saying that there will be SEASONS where you have to stand strong and fight the good fight of FAITH. But a few verses later He said, “My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” He was saying that you’re going to go through times of difficulty, but that’s not permanent.

You may be struggling now, but you’re about to come into an anointing of EASE. Where there’s friction, oil makes things flow. God is going to anoint your life with a supernatural GRACE, a FAVOR that lightens the load and takes the PRESSURE off. You’re going to ACCOMPLISH more with less work. You’re going to flow right past what may have stopped you in the past and think, I never DREAMED it would happen that easily.

Today’s Scripture

…You have anointed and refreshed my head with oil.

Psalm 23:5, AMP

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

YOUR PROMOTION IS IN YOUR HUMILITY

We all have times when we know we’re SUPPOSED to do something, but it doesn’t seem fair. It might be to forgive someone who did you wrong, help someone who never says thank you, or honor your spouse’s repeated request to do something their way rather than your way. Everything on the INSIDE will say, “No way! They don’t deserve it.”

After Peter had fished all night and caught nothing, Jesus said to him, “Launch your boat into the deep and let down your nets.” Peter could have said, “Jesus, I’m an expert fisherman, and the fish are not there now.” Instead he HUMBLED himself and said, “It doesn’t make sense, but at Your word I’m taking this step of FAITH.” When he did, he caught so many fish that his nets began to break. If you’re going to reach your highest POTENTIAL, you have to humble yourself and do things you don’t UNDERSTAND. Your PROMITION is in your HUMILITY.

Today’s Scripture

And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear!

Luke 5:6, NLT

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR GOD’S GOODNESS, DON’T TAKE IT FOR GRANTED……

Just like the sun radiates heat, God radiates GOODNESS. It’s not just what He does; it’s who He IS. God’s very NATURE is good. It’s important that we recognize that EVERY good gift comes to us from our Father in heaven, both large AND small.

You need to be on the LOOKOUT for God’s goodness. Too many times, God is working in our lives, showing us FAVOR, PROTECTING us, sending us HEALING, but we don’t RECOGNIZE His goodness. When something GOOD happens, make sure you give HIM the credit and THANK Him for it. The question is, are you RECOGNIZING it? Look around today. Be more AWARE. Psalm 34:8 says, “Taste and see that the LORD is good.” If you’re going to taste God’s goodness, you have to realize that every good BREAK, every time you were PROTECTED, every DOOR that opened, and every ADVANTAGE you’ve gotten has been GOD working in your life. Do NOT take it for granted.

Today’s Scripture

…Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light.

James 1:17, MSG

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

YOU HAVE TO DAILY, PUT ON GOD’S APPROVAL TO PROTECT YOUR HEART

Every morning when you get up, you need to put on God’s APPROVAL as your breastplate and say, “Father, thank You that You are PLEASED with me.” You have to put it on. It’s not going to happen automatically. Thoughts will try to convince you that you don’t DESERVE God’s blessing, and you’ll start feeling condemned, unworthy, and not expect anything good. You have to put ON God’s approval to protect your HEART.

Something powerful happens when you say, “I LIKE who I am. I have some faults and failures, but I’m CHANGING and GROWING. Since GOD approves me, I approve MYSELF.” When you put on the breastplate of God’s APPROVAL, chains of guilt, chains of inferiority, chains of low self-esteem are broken in the unseen realm, and God’s FAVOR is released. God is going to keep making and molding you, and you’re going to break free from things that are holding you back and become EVERYTHING He’s CREATED you to be.

Today’s Scripture

So then, take your stand! Fasten truth around your waist like a belt. Put on God’s approval as your breastplate.

Ephesians 6:14, GW

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN THINGS SEEM DARKEST, SUDDENLY, THAT’S WHEN GOD’S LIGHT WILL COME BURSTING IN

We know that God is always with us, but the psalmist says that in times of difficulty, God is very PRESENT. You’ll never see the FULLNESS of who God is if you’re in the light all the time. It’s in the storms, in the difficulties that God is most present. When you don’t see a way out and it’s dark, you’re in prime position for God’s light to come BURSTING in. It’s going to happen SUDDENLY—a burst of FAVOR, of HEALING, of STRENGTH. You didn’t see it coming. One moment you were struggling with debt, and suddenly—one CONTRACT, one PROMOTION, one good BREAK—you have MORE than enough. What happened? The LIGHT came bursting in. The God who is a very present help in trouble said, “Your night season was only temporary. It’s time for your BREAKTHROUGH. Now it’s time to propel you FORWARD.” God is about to do that for YOU.

Today’s Scripture:

When darkness overtakes him, light will come bursting in…

Psalm 112:4, TLB

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

HUMBLE YOURSELF AND GET REAL, THEN GOD WILL HELP YOU TO GROW

We live in a society that stresses IMAGE. It’s easy to go through life trying to impress people, to show them that we’re STRONG, that we have it all together. It’s good to carry ourselves with CONFIDENCE, but sometimes we have such a need to keep up our image that we put on a mask and start pretending. We can’t let someone see that we have weaknesses, that we’re struggling in areas, and we don’t have all the answers. But the Scripture says that if we go around wearing MASKS, God’s POWER is not going to show up. God won’t bless the IDEAL you, the PRETEND you, the FUTURE you; He’s looking for the REAL you.

Remember that there’s power in VULNERABILITY. When you empty yourself out, God can FILL you. But if you’re full of YOURSELF—acting, pretending, keeping up your image—there’s no ROOM for God. If you’ll HUMBLE yourself and get REAL, God will help you to GROW.

Today’s Scripture:

Each time he said, My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness. So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

2 Corinthians 12:9, NLT