THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

…DO WHAT’S REQUIRED TO GET TO YOUR PLACE OF BLESSING

In the Bible, the prophet Elijah was living in a certain city. God said to him, “Leave this place and go down to the brook Cherith for I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” When he got to the brook, every morning just like clockwork, the ravens brought him food. He had his provision; a prepared blessing. Here’s the key. Elijah didn’t have to try to find the ravens. He just had to get to where GOD wanted him to be, and the ravens found him.

In the same way, there is a place where God has commanded YOU to be blessed. The ravens are already there – your PROVISION, FAVOR, ABUNDANCE. The real question today is will YOU do what’s required to get to your place of blessing? Elijah could have said, “God, I don’t want to leave. I’m comfortable. I like it here. My friends are here.” But if he had stayed, he would have missed where he was commanded to be blessed.

Are you willing to do what God is asking YOU to do today? Listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit inside, FOLLOW His leading, and enter into the place of blessing!

Today’s Scripture:

“Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.”

1 Kings 17:3, ESV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

…….STILL STANDING BECAUSE OF THE GOODNESS OF GOD

All of us can look back at things that SHOULD have defeated us. Maybe a divorce or a breakup should have taken you down but look—you’re still STANDING! That’s the goodness of GOD. That addiction, all that partying should have killed you, but because of a praying loved one, you’re still standing and becoming freer. Or, maybe you lost a loved one and didn’t think you could go on. You thought you’d seen your best days, but God breathed NEW life into you. He lifted you OUT of the pit, put a new SONG in your heart, and here you are today, STILL STANDING.

When you go through difficult things, it’s an OPPORTUNITY to see the goodness of God shine in the darkness. You see Him lift you UP, RESTORE you, PROMOTE you and HEAL you. When you have this HISTORY with God, you don’t GET discouraged by every difficulty. You don’t fall apart because of a disappointment. You don’t get upset because people are talking about you. You know that God brought you through the darkness in the past, and He is GOING to bring you through in the FUTURE! REJOICE today because you are STILL STANDING and headed to the place of TOTAL victory!

Today’s Scripture

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

Psalm 40:2, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

HAVING GREATNESS IN THE MIDST OF CRITICISM BEGINS WITH FORGIVENESS

If you’re going to pursue GREATNESS, if you’re going to be a great BUSINESSMAN, a great TEACHER, a great PARENT, a great LEADER, you have to understand that NOT everyone is going to cheer you on. I’d love to tell you that your family, friends and co-workers will CELEBRATE you, but that’s not necessarily the case. Some people simply can’t handle your SUCCESS. As you grow and INCREASE, as God pours out His FAVOR on you, SOMEONE will get jealous. Someone will start finding fault. Don’t be surprised if a RELATIVE tries to belittle or discredit you. You can’t focus on making everyone AROUND you happy or YOU’LL start changing and lose sight of what God has placed in your HEART.

Remember, your DESTINY is too GREAT to be distracted by people who are NEVER going to affirm you. Don’t take it personally. It’s not about you. It’s THEIR problem. Shake it off, run your race, and be great ANYWAY.

Having GREATNESS in the midst of criticism begins with FORGIVENESS. Don’t hold a grudge. BLESS those who curse you; PRAY for those who spitefully use you. As you keep doing what is RIGHT, God will HONOR you. He’ll PROMOTE you, and you’ll be GREAT in the MIDST of criticism!

Today’s Scripture:

“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”

(Matthew 5:44, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

….WHEN THE INTENSITY GETS TURNED UP…….

Whenever life gets difficult and it seems like the INTENSITY has been turned up, that’s a sign you are closer to your VICTORY. When those lies are bombarding your mind, when you’re tempted to get discouraged or feel like throwing in the towel, that’s NOT the time to back down. That’s the time to dig your heels in and put on a NEW ATTITUDE because you are closer to your VICTORY.

Maybe you’ve had a lot of things come against you. It seems like the more you pray the worse it gets. You’re doing the right thing, but the wrong thing is happening. The easy thing is to say, “Forget it. I don’t have to put up with this.” “This marriage is never going to work.” “I’ll never be able to raise this child.” Or, “I don’t like this job.” NO, instead of getting discouraged, instead of going around sour and bitter, you need to say, “I’ve come TOO far to stop now. I’ve been through too MUCH to back down. I realize the reason the INTENSITY has been turned up is because I’m about to embrace my VICTORY!” Keep STANDING, keep PRAYING, keep HOPING and stay in FAITH even when the INTENSITY gets turned up!

Today’s Scripture

1 Chronicles 16:35, ESV

“Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather and deliver us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.”

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

FAITH THAT’S ALIVE AND ACTIVE IS THE FAITH THAT YOU HAVE FOR TODAY

So often, we have FAITH for the FUTURE. We believe “ONE DAY” God is going to do something GREAT. One day we’ll get a good break. One day we’ll start to FEEL better. One day we’ll SEE a problem turn around. It’s good to have faith for the future and believe that God is going to take care of us, but we can become so future-minded that we lose sight of the fact that God wants to do something great in our life TODAY. TODAY, God wants to show you His FAVOR. Today, God wants to AMAZE you with His GOODNESS. He is called “The Great I Am,” not “The Great I WAS,” or “The Great I WILL Be.” God is ALWAYS in the present.

It’s good to have FAITH for the future, but you also need to start releasing your faith for right NOW. The Bible says, “NOW faith is.” The faith that’s really ALIVE and ACTIVE is the faith that you have for TODAY. Every morning we should get up with the attitude, “Something good is going to happen to me TODAY!”

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1, NKJV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

THOSE WHO LOVE GOD’S WORD HAVE GREAT PEACE

Everything you need in this life is found in the Word of God—DIRECTION, HEALING, PEACE, JOY and PROVISION. No matter WHAT situation you may be facing today, you can live in peace and victory by knowing God’s Word and APPLYING it your life.

Notice this verse says that the people who LOVE God’s Word have great peace. How do you show your love for God and His Word? By STUDYING it, MEDITATING on it, and OBEYING His commands.

When you choose to obey God’s Word, it activates His PROMISES in your life. It activates His great PEACE in your heart. It activates His BLESSING, POWER and PROVISION.

When you hold God’s Word in your heart, NOTHING can take it from you! When you love the Word of God and apply it to your life, you will have great PEACE and NOTHING can make you stumble!

Today’s Scripture:

“Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing shall make them stumble.”

Psalm 119:165, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

NOT LIMITED BY THE NATURAL, WE SERVE A SUPERNATURAL, ALL-POWERFUL GOD

One beautiful, sunny day we were in the backyard enjoying the blue sky when all of a sudden, out of nowhere, it began to rain even though there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. The sun was out and very bright, but for about three minutes, there was a downpour. We thought, “Where in the world is this rain coming from?”

It was like God was saying, “I can make it rain whenever I WANT to. I can use a little cloud, a big cloud or NO cloud. I’m God. I’m the All-POWERFUL, Creator of the universe. When I say rain, I don’t NEED a cloud. When I say healing, I don’t HAVE to use medicine. When I say promotion, I don’t need the approval of your BOSS. When I say abundance, I don’t need a bank. I’m NOT limited by the NATURAL. I’m a SUPERNATURAL God.”

Whatever you are facing today, no matter what things look like in the natural, know that GOD has the answer. TRUST Him because He can make a way where there seems to be no way. He can make something out of nothing, and He doesn’t NEED a cloud to make it RAIN!

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:

“Is anything too hard for the Lord?…”

Genesis 18:14, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

FOLLOW GOD’S LEADING AND LET ‘HIM’ ORDER YOUR STEPS

In scripture, many times people would come against Jesus and criticize Him. Many times it says, “Jesus answered them not a word.” He simply didn’t respond to His critics. He didn’t try to convince them to change their minds. He didn’t get upset because somebody was talking about Him. No, He just IGNORED it.

When people come against YOU, and they’re jealous, trying to make you look bad, trying to discourage you, REMEMBER, you’re in good company! Jesus was probably criticized MORE than anyone else. I love the fact that He didn’t try to explain Himself. He didn’t try to make everyone understand Him. He just stayed FOCUSED on what He was CALLED to do. He simply ran HIS race.

Friend, Jesus set the example for you and me. We don’t have to try to win the APPROVAL of OTHERS. We have to understand that not everyone is going to UNDERSTAND us. Our focus should be on following GOD’S leading and let HIM order our steps. The next time someone CRITICIZES you, remember the example of Jesus. OVERLOOK it, don’t get offended, and keep moving forward in the DESTINY God has for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“…but Jesus refused to answer.”

(Luke 23:9, NLT)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

TODAY, CHOOSE FAITH AND FORGIVENESS AND TAKE THE LIMITS OFF GOD

We serve a God of unlimited GRACE, FAVOR and BLESSING! He longs to show you His goodness and pour out His ABUNDANCE in your life.

When GOD sees you, He sees unlimited POSSIBILITY. He sees unlimited POTENTIAL. He sees unlimited RESOURCES. It’s God’s grace and favor in your life that ENABLES you to become what HE sees. But first, YOU, have to open your heart and take the limits off!

How do we limit God? In Mark chapter 6, it says that Jesus could do NO mighty works in a particular town because of the UNBELIEF of the people. It works the SAME way today. We limit God in our thinking with thoughts of doubt and unbelief. We limit God with unforgiveness which closes the door of our hearts. But when you choose to FORGIVE, when you choose thoughts of FAITH and EXPECTANCY, you OPEN the door for God to WORK in your life. You are giving Him the opportunity to MULTIPLY what you have in your hand. Today, choose FAITH, choose FORGIVENESS, and choose to take the limits OFF!

Today’s Scripture:

“He raised us up together with Him…that in the ages to come He might [clearly] show the immeasurable and unsurpassed riches of His grace…”

Ephesians 2:6-7, AMP

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

JESUS WANTS TO BE THE HERO OF YOUR STORY

Have you ever been locked out of your car or house? It can be very frustrating and inconvenient. Not having your keys can keep you stuck and unproductive. It steals your time and can steal your peace and joy if you let it.

In the same way, we need spiritual keys to access what God has for us—eternal LIFE, PEACE, FREEDOM and BLESSING here on earth. But we don’t have to stand on the outside and be frustrated because Jesus holds the KEYS, and He has opened the way for us to walk through the door of eternal life. Eternal life begins the moment you make Him your Lord and Savior. You don’t have to live in defeat, mediocrity, sickness, sin or any kind of bondage any longer; you have access to the ABUNDANT life Jesus came to give!

Today, if you feel stuck, locked out or defeated, remember, Jesus is the one who holds the keys. All you have to do is call on His name, and He WILL answer. He promises to hear you and will deliver you. He wants to be the HERO of your story, so call on Him today and receive the VICTORY He has prepared for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”

Revelation 1:18, NIV