THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

RESIST BEING AFRAID, THE SPIRIT OF FEAR DOES NOT COME FROM GOD

Regardless of today’s events AROUND you, you can maintain INNER peace. Scripture advises us NOT to let our hearts be troubled. Essentially, avoid dwelling on the world’s negativity to the extent that it robs you of your PEACE. If you experience fear, worry, or anxiety about ANYTHING, understand that these feelings do NOT originate from God, for He has assured us of a spirit of POWER, LOVE, and a SOUND mind. Peace holds immense POWER. With INTERNAL peace, your thoughts become CLEARER. God’s voice becomes more DISCERNIBLE. Your DECISIONS improve. Even your physical BODY reacts positively to peace. The adversary is AWARE of this and aims to DISRUPT your peace. However, when you embrace the peace from GOD, NO adversity will prevail. You can live in peace, joy, and the abundant life that God has PLANNED for you.

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:

GOD IS FAITHFUL AND WILL FULFILL WHAT HE HAS BEGUN IN YOU

In the moment Jesus uttered, “It is finished,” on the cross, it APPEARED to be the END. It SEEMED all was concluded. Yet, perhaps it was not merely a statement of fact but one of FAITH. He proclaimed to His Father, “I have played my role. I have achieved my DESTINY. Now, I place my full trust and confidence in You to complete what You initiated THROUGH me.” Although it SEEMED like the conclusion, it was, in truth, just the BEGINNING.

When your life seems engulfed in darkness, when events don’t unfold as you wish, have the courage to declare that statement of FAITH as Jesus did: “It is FINISHED.” In essence, you are affirming, “God, I trust You will COMPLETE the work You’ve STARTED in my life. You will orchestrate a TURNAROUND. I believe You will provide the BREAKS I need. Let YOUR will manifest on earth as it does in heaven!” Always speak VICTORY over your circumstances, for He is FAITHFUL and WILL fulfill what He has BEGUN in you.

Today’s Scripture:

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

(Philippians 1:6, NLT)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN YOU LIVE TO PLEASE GOD, IT’S A BEAUTIFUL FRAGRANCE THAT CAPTURES HIS ATTENTION

Are you aware that your life is a delightful FRAGRANCE to God? Consider the effect of a pleasant aroma on YOU. In the spring, when flowers bloom, everything seems RENEWED. The sweet scent in the air signifies that the flowers are vibrant and FRESH. It grabs your ATTENTION and entices you to inhale DEEPLY the lovely FRAGRANCE.

God CHERISHES this same SENSATION about you! He ADORES delightful scents, and when your life is lived to please HIM, it becomes a beautiful AROMA that seizes HIS attention. Just as the springtime scent indicates to YOU that the flowers are THRIVING, so does the fragrance of your LIFE show that Christ is thriving within YOU. It brings JOY to the Heavenly Father! When you next encounter a refreshing SCENT, remember that your LIFE is a fragrance to GOD. Take comfort in knowing He is CONTENT with a heart that pursues Him. As you PERSIST in this pursuit, you will EMBODY that sweet aroma, and you will witness His magnificent BLESSINGS in EVERY aspect of your LIFE.

Today’s Scripture:

“For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which exhales] unto God…”

2 Corinthians 2:15, AMP

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

OPEN YOUR HEART, BE WILLING TO HEAR GOD’S VOICE, AND YOU WILL HAVE PEACE…..

Regardless of the current EVENTS in your life, the Lord PROMISES that you can experience PEACE. Notice how the psalmist chooses to listen to what GOD says. By deciding to listen to GOD and follow HIS guidance, you will find PEACE. You might think, “God doesn’t speak to me,” but the Bible ASSURES you that as His sheep, you CAN hear His voice and will NOT follow a stranger’s.

The Lord communicates in VARIOUS ways—perhaps through a friend, a song, or the beauty of NATURE. Sometimes, it’s an innate “KNOWING” WITHIN you. If you’re UNCERTAIN about how God speaks to you, ask Him to TEACH you. Simply open your heart and be READY to hear His voice. As you DO so, He will SPEAK, and you will dwell in His PEACE throughout your life.

Today’s Scripture:

“I will listen to what God the Lord says; he promises peace to his people…”

Psalm 85:8, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

THERE IS POWER IN YOUR WORDS WHEN YOU’RE IN AGREEMENT WITH GOD

Do you believe in God for something today that seems IMPOSSIBLE? We serve a great and MIGHTY God who can create SOMETHING from nothing. He can forge a path where none APPEARS to EXIST. He can CREATE whatever your life requires. Genesis tells us that in the BEGINNING, God created the heavens and the earth. Yet, BEFORE He commanded the world into being, it was formless and VOID. If God could craft the WORLD from nothing, He can fill the voids in your LIFE with beauty as WELL. He can bring LIGHT into your darkest MOMENTS. He can shape your unformed DREAMS and revive your dormant GIFTS and TALENTS. He can STRAIGHTEN your twisted paths. Remember, YOU are made in the IMAGE of Almighty God. There is POWER in your words and in AGREEMENT with Him. Echo what GOD says about your circumstances. Speak LIFE into your shattered dreams today. Maintain a stance of FAITH and EXPECTATION, and as you DO, God will lead you to places BEYOND your wildest dreams. He will create BEAUTY from EVERY shattered piece of your life.

Today’s Scripture:

“The earth was formless and empty…and God said, ‘Let there be light’…”

(Genesis 1:2-3, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

…..IT’S INTENTIONAL, GOD IS STEERING YOUR PATH…..

God is always seeking to elevate us to higher levels. He desires our GROWTH and INCREASE in every aspect of life. CHANGE often serves as a CATALYST for our growth, preventing us from becoming stagnant. God will miraculously open and close doors to guide us towards our DESTINY. He will “stir us” from comfort and stretch us, for His love is too GREAT to let us settle for mediocrity. You may have been content for YEARS, but when He closes a door He once opened, it’s INTENTIONAL. God is STEERING your PATH. Whether a FRIEND wrongs you, you face a SETBACK, experience LOSS, or encounter workplace CHANGES, EMBRACING these changes can ELEVATE you, while RESISTING them may lead to stagnation and MEDIOCRATY. Remain OPEN to change. It may seem negative INITIALLY, but God allows it for a PURPOSE. EMBRACING change can transform the very winds you FEARED into forces that propel you towards your divine DESTINY.

Today’s Scripture:

“He changes times and seasons…”

Daniel 2:21, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

SUPPORT FROM GOD IS ALL THAT COUNTS….

Faith PERMEATES our lives. People place their FAITH in a MULTITUDE of things: the loyalty of a FRIEND, the direction of their CAREER, or even the CHAIR they sit on to support them. Faith is essentially BELIEF in something. However, there are varying degrees or LEVELS of faith. I have identified two types of faith—DELIVERING faith and SUSTAINING faith. Delivering faith occurs when God IMMEDIATELY alters your circumstances, which is WONDERFUL when it happens. Yet, I believe that SUSTAINING faith requires GREATER faith and a CLOSER relationship with God. Sustaining faith is when God guides you THROUGH hardships. Amidst doubt, anxiety, fear, and bitterness, knowing that God IS in command, and TRUSTING that He WILL take care of you even as you face these challenges, is SUSTAINING faith. You can declare, “God, no matter WHAT opposes me, no matter how long it TAKES, I will NOT be defeated. I am ASSURED of Your love and SACRIFICE for me. YOUR support is all that counts.”

Today’s Scripture:

“And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Galatians 2:20, ESV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO, TO INCREASE OR DECREASE YOUR IMPORTANCE TO GOD

God LOVES and VALUES you immensely today. You are cherished as the apple of His eye; you are His TREASURED possession! In today’s world, people are deemed important for various reasons—titles, positions, possessions, places they visit, or the cars they drive. HOWEVER, God’s value system is vastly DIFFERENT from the world’s. If you’ve ever felt that God has too many other significant matters to attend to than to be concerned with you and YOUR life, be ASSURED today—you are God’s GREATEST concern. There is NOTHING you can do to increase OR decrease your IMPORTANCE to Him. God VALUES you today simply because He CREATED you, and your worth is UNCHANGING. You are SIGNIFICANT. Your LIFE is significant. The things that concern YOU, concern GOD. He meticulously attends to EVERY aspect of your life, and NO issue is too GREAT or too TRIVIAL for His care. Asking for God’s HELP in your daily life is not a BOTHER to Him. God desires to be GENEROUS to you. He desires to extend His FAVOR to you in NEW ways. His MESSAGE to you today is, “I DARE you to ask.”

Today’s Scripture:

“Keep me as the apple of your eye…”

Psalm 17:8, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

NOTHING IS WORTH LOSING YOUR PEACE WITH ALMIGHTY GOD

Do you need God’s help in an area of your life? Often, we hesitate to ask for TOO much, but Scripture encourages us to bring ALL our needs to God. He YEARNS to fulfill the desires of your heart and bestow His FAVOR and BLESSINGS upon you. The apostle James said, “You do not HAVE because you do not ASK” (James 4:2). By asking for God’s favor, blessings, and INCREASE, you activate your FAITH. Pray and invite Him to examine your HEART and MIND. Check for any UNFORGIVENESS that may hinder your prayers and RELATIONSHIP with Him. The OTHER person may have been WRONG and caused deep HURT, but NOTHING is worth losing your PEACE with Almighty GOD. Today, as you pray, embrace FORGIVENESS and don’t let ANYTHING obstruct the blessings God has planned for your FUTURE.

Today’s Scripture:

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Matthew 7:7, NIV