THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

THE PAST IS THE PAST, LET IT GO AND LIVE IN PEACE

We’ve all had negative things happen to us. People did us wrong, the company let us go, someone was rude to us. It’s easy to go through life carrying offenses, trapped in self-pity, blaming ourselves and others. Because we’re always looking BACK, reliving the negative, we end up carrying around emotional baggage that weighs us down. One of the best things you can learn to do is DROP IT. Whether it happened twenty years ago or twenty minutes ago, don’t carry negative baggage from yesterday into today. Now do your part and LET IT GO.

Past hurts occurred ONCE. Don’t let them CONTINUE to hurt you by always THINKING about them. As long as you’re dwelling on the past, you’re going to miss “THE NEW THINGS” God wants to do. You need to be looking forward to NEW beginnings. But God will not release new OPPORTUNITIES as long as you’re reliving old hurts and old failures. LET IT GO!

Today’s Scripture

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

Isaiah 43:18–19, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

THE GREATEST “NEW START” COMES THROUGH JESUS CHRIST

With the new year comes fresh STARTS, RESOLUTIONS and new BEGINNINGS. It is a time for making PLANS, setting GOALS and writing VISIONS. But, the GREATEST “new start” of all comes through Jesus Christ. Second Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if ANY one is in Christ, he is a NEW creation; the old has passed away, behold the NEW has come.”

If you need a new beginning this year in any area of your life, allow Christ to make you a new creation, and the old WILL pass away! He will put a new and RIGHT spirit within you when you call on His name! This year, make your relationship with Him your NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. As you develop an intimacy with Him through daily prayer and the study of His Word, you will experience the JOY of NEWNESS of life!

Today’s Scripture:

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

Psalms 51:10, ESV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD HAS SO MANY BLESSINGS IN STORE FOR YOU, IF YOU KNEW THEM ALL, YOU WOULD BE OVERWHELMED

God wants your year, your life and everything about you to be SUCCESSFUL and WONDERFUL. He wants you to be PRODUCTIVE, PROSPEROUS and FULFILLED in every way. God has SO many wonderful BLESSINGS in store for you that if you could know them all, you would be OVERWHELMED with His goodness. In 1 Chronicles, a man named Jabez called out on the Lord and asked for the blessings that he KNEW God had for him — and don’t you know, God ANSWERED his prayer! If Jabez could know God’s favor , then YOU can TODAY. The answer is simple, but AMAZING: you can ask the same FAVOR from the Lord. SEEK those blessings TODAY!!

Today’s Scripture:

“Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, ‘Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!’ And God granted him what he requested.”

1 Chronicles 4:10, NASB

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

IF YOU DON’T GET HAPPY WHERE YOU ARE…

YOU’LL NEVER GET TO WHERE YOU WANT TO BE….

Are you enjoying LIFE? If not, maybe it’s because you are taking for granted what you already HAVE. You may think, “Well, I can’t enjoy my life. I’ve got too many problems.” Let me encourage you not to focus on what you DON’T have and begin focusing on the GOOD things in your life. Take just a moment today and thank God for your HEALTH and STRENGTH. If you suddenly lost your health and felt miserable, you would be OVERJOYED to be in the same position you are today. Thank God for your JOB—it may be difficult at times, but it’s one source of God’s PROVISION for your needs. Thank God for the BLESSINGS you have right NOW. Nothing will hinder your relationship with the Lord and stop you from going to the next level more than having an ungrateful ATTITUDE.

The apostle Paul said he had to “LEARN” to be CONTENT. It’s a CHOICE we have to make. This mighty man of God discovered the secret of TRUE happiness—ENJOY life REGARDLESS of your circumstances. If you don’t get happy where you ARE, you will NEVER get to where you want to be. Learn to enjoy EVERY stage of life’s journey. Have a GRATEFUL attitude and be CONTENT no matter WHERE you are. If you DO, God will take you to VICTORY, and you’ll live the abundant, JOY-filled life He has in store for you.

Today’s Scripture

…I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

Philippians 4:11, NASB

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

YOUR DESTINY STANDS BEFORE YOU, DON’T PUT IT OFF

God will never ask you to do something without giving you the ability to do it. You may get passive or complacent and think, “Yes, I know I need to do that. Maybe next week.” Well, next week turns into next month. Next month turns into next year. When we put off what God has told us to do, we miss that season of GRACE. But, if you’ll DEAL with things as soon as God brings them to light, you’ll have a special GRACE, a special EMPOWERMENT. You’ll feel God’s ENABLING power HELPING you to do it.

Today, is there something you’re putting off? Something you know in heart that you are supposed to do? Don’t let the season of GRACE pass. Don’t let complacency destroy you. Your DESTINY stands before you. God has something AMAZING in your future. Be BOLD, be STRONG. Step out in FAITH, be OBEDIENT, and EMBRACE the good things God has in store for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“For the turning away of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.”

(Proverbs 1:32, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN WE HAVE GOD’S FAVOR, WE HAVE EVERYTHING

Friends, SUCCESS in this life isn’t necessarily about how popular, influential or educated someone is. SUCCESS is about living a life of EXCELLENCE in obedience to God’s Word. When we step out to do what God has called us to do, scripture says that His favor surrounds us like a SHIELD. When we have His FAVOR, we have everything, and we have an ADVANTAGE for success!

God’s FAVOR opens the right DOORS. His favor will bring good BREAKS. The favor of God will cause you to ACCOMPLISH what you could not accomplish on your own. It gives you an EDGE. Now, if you’re going to see the gracious hand of God at work in your life, you can’t go through the day feeling intimidated, thinking that you’re average, looking around and comparing yourself to everyone else. No, you have to LIVE like you have His FAVOR, THINK like you have favor, TALK like you have favor, WALK like you have favor, DRESS like you have favor! Not arrogantly. Not in a way that portrays that you’re better than somebody else, but with a quiet CONFIDENCE knowing that you have the gracious hand of God on your life! LIVE like you’ve GOT IT because you DO!

Today’s Scripture:

“…his favor lasts a lifetime…”

(Psalm 30:5, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

MAN LOOKS AT THE OUTSIDE, BUT GOD LOOKS AT THE HEART

This time of year, people often take time to reflect and set goals for the New Year. But have you ever set “PERFECTION” as a goal on your list?

Now, that may seem a little strange or unobtainable to many, but really, in God’s eyes PERFECTION isn’t about performance. In fact, it isn’t about behavior at all. What God is looking for is a heart that is perfect toward HIM. Scripture says that man looks on the outside, but God looks at the heart. That means that He is more pleased with someone who has a heart toward HIM who may mess up than He is with someone doing all the right THINGS for all the wrong REASONS.

The condition of your heart is EXTREMELY important to God. When you have a RIGHT heart, you are HUMBLE before Him. You seek HIS ways. You get up each day with a DESIRE to please Him. You submit EVERY area of your life to Him, and you are willing to make adjustments and receive CORRECTION so you can GROW and come up higher.

As you prepare for the coming year, make knowing Him your number one PRIORITY. YIELD yourself to Him and let HIM shape your character. SERVE Him with all your might and let your heart be PERFECT toward Him!

Today’s Scripture:

“…I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.”

(Psalm 101:2, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN JESUS CAME, HE MADE A WAY…..

When Jesus came to earth, He brought with Him EVERYTHING you need to be empowered to live a life of VICTORY. He came as a little baby, but He represented all authority in heaven and earth. When you choose to serve Him, you have access to ALL of His resources. You have access to His PEACE, POWER, AUTHORITY, PROVISION, JOY and STRENGTH. He brought ALL of this to us when He came to earth. Unto us a child is born…unto us VICTORY is given. Unto us, PEACE is given. Unto us, PROVISION is given. Unto us HOPE and HEALING are given. Unto us ETERNAL LIFE is given!

Whatever you NEED today, remember, when Jesus came into the world, He made a way for EVERY one of your needs to be met SPIRITUALLY, EMOTIONALLY and PHYSICALLY. Surrender your life to HIM and receive all the spiritual BLESSINGS He has in store for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder…”

(Isaiah 9:6, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

TODAY, TAKE TIME TO REJOICE WITH THE ANGELS IN HEAVEN

On the night Jesus was born, there were some shepherds out in the field. An angel appeared to them to tell them about Christ’s birth. Then suddenly, a host of angels appeared who were PRAISING God.

In the Bible it says that there are angels in heaven singing God’s praises day and night. Think about this: When you praise God, you are joining in with the angels in heaven! What a cool thought that we can be one with the ANGELS when we WORSHIP.

As you celebrate Christmas Eve, take time to REJOICE with the angels. Turn your thoughts toward Him because He is good and worthy of all our praise!

Today’s Scripture:

“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’ “

Luke 2:13-14, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

THIS CHRISTMAS, TAKE TIME TO FOCUS ON THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL, ETERNAL LIFE

Have you ever thought about how LOVE affects your GIVING? I’ve heard it said that you can give without loving, but you can’t love without GIVING. LOVE, God’s love IN us, prompts us to give of OURSELVES—our TIME, ABILITIES and RESOURCES. In fact, God IS love, and the scripture tells us that the world IDENTIFIES Christians by their LOVE. That means the world will identify us as Christians by our generous, giving HEARTS.

During this Christmas holiday, the season of GIVING, remember to take time to focus on the greatest gift of ALL, the gift of eternal LIFE through JESUS. If you’ve never RECEIVED this gift, I invite you to open your heart and pray this simple prayer: “Lord Jesus, I come to You today, giving You all that I am. I repent of my sins, and confess that I need You. I believe You died and rose for me. Be my Lord and Savior and make me new today. I receive Your love and Your gift of eternal life, in Jesus’ name I pray…Amen!”

My friend, If you prayed that simple prayer and MEANT it, I believe you got born again! Now, enjoy your NEW life and go out and tell EVERYONE who will listen, about the GOODNESS of God and all He’s done for YOU this Christmas Season!

Today’s Scripture:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3:16, NIV