THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

IT’S A VERY FREEING FEELING WHEN YOU REALIZE, IT’S NOT A COMPETITION…..

It’s easy to be tempted to go through life COMPETING with everyone around us when we see someone who’s more TALENTED, BETTER LOOKING or has more GIFTS. Instead of running OUR race and being comfortable with who WE are, oftentimes, we feel inferior and think, “I’ve got to catch up to THEM.” The problem with this unhealthy COMPETITION is that it’s a NEVER-ENDING CYCLE.

There will ALWAYS be someone ahead of us. But, it’s a very freeing thing when you realize, “I’m not competing with YOU. I don’t have to have as big a HOUSE as my neighbor to feel good about MYSELF. I don’t have to keep up with my CO-WORKER. I don’t have to be a certain SIZE. I don’t have to have as many CHRISTMAS LIGHTS outside. No, I understand that I’m NOT in competition with my FRIEND, my NEIGHBOR or my CO-WORKER. Instead, I’m going to be the best ME that I can possibly BE.”

CONTENTMENT is an attitude God can WORK with. When you focus on being who God made YOU to be and focus on running YOUR OWN race, that’s when you’ll see things HAPPEN. That’s when you’ll rise up HIGHER and position yourself for every spiritual BLESSING He has in store for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…”

Hebrews 12:1-2, NKJV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

YOUR DESTINY IS TOO GREAT TO BE DISTRACTED BY PEOPLE WHO ARE NEVER GOING TO BE ‘FOR’ YOU

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:

LOOK FOR WAYS TO DEVELOP THE GREATEST THING IN YOUR LIFE—LOVE

Spiritual MATURITY isn’t measured by how long you’ve been a Christian, how much you know, or how often you go to church. Spiritual maturity is measured by the way you treat other PEOPLE. Are you KIND to the person working the checkout counter when the line is moving too slowly for you? Are you COURTEOUS when someone cuts you off in traffic? Are you PATIENT with your family and coworkers? The Bible tells us that love is PATIENT; it is KIND. It does NOT envy; it is not proud; it is not rude. LOVE is NOT easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrong. Love NEVER fails. Notice that these characteristics don’t have anything to do with FEELINGS. You can choose to walk in LOVE even when you don’t FEEL like it! Show KINDNESS and COURTESY to others. Look for ways to develop the greatest thing in your life—LOVE!

Today’s Scripture:

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WE ARE RESPONSABLE FOR HOW WE TREAT THE PEOPLE GOD HAS PLACED IN OUR LIVES

You may have heard this verse many times before, but one translation says that “love looks for a way to be CONSTRUCTIVE.” In other words, KINDNESS isn’t just about being nice; it’s looking for ways to IMPROVE someone else’s life. It’s bringing out the BEST in others.

When you start your day, don’t just spend time thinking about yourself or how you can make your OWN life better. Think about ways you can make someone ELSE’S life better, TOO! Ask yourself, “Who can I ENCOURAGE today? Who can I BUILD UP?” You have something to offer those around you that no one else CAN give. Someone in your life needs your ENCOURAGEMENT. Someone in your life needs to know that you BELIEVE in them. We are responsible for how we TREAT the PEOPLE He’s placed in our lives. He’s COUNTING on us to bring out the best in our FAMILY and FRIENDS.

Today, ask the Lord to give you creative WAYS to ENCOURAGE those around you. As you sow seeds of encouragement and bring out the BEST in others, God will send people along your path that will build YOU up, TOO. Keep showing KINDNESS so you can move forward into the BLESSING and FREEDOM He has for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“…love is kind…”

1 Corinthians 13:4, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD HAS SETUP A SYSTEM OF BLESSING FOR YOU, AND IT STARTS WITH HIS WORD….

God wants you to be PERFECT and COMPLETE, living in His ABUNDANCE and lacking NOTHING on this earth. That may seem like a stretch from where you are TODAY. It may seem far off; but in an INSTANT, things can turn around. God has set up a system of BLESSING for you, and it starts with His WORD. The Bible says that God has given each of us a MEASURE of faith. We ALL have faith, and it’s up to us to DEVELOP it. Romans 10:17 says that faith GROWS as we read and study His WORD. FAITH, in turn, produces PATIENCE, and when we allow patience to have its perfect WORK in us, we will lack NO good thing.

Today, no matter where you are in the PROCESS, the key is to keep moving forward by READING and HEARING His Word. His Word is ALIVE. His Word will heal your heart and restore your soul. His Word will produce PATIENCE in your life so that you can move forward, being COMPLETE and lacking NOTHING all the days of your LIFE!

Today’s Scripture:

“…knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

(James 1:3-4, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

OPEN YOUR HEART AND ASK GOD TO WORK IN YOUR LIFE. HE PROMISES HE WILL….

Something SUPERNATURAL happens when you submit your mind and heart to the Lord. First, your HEART changes; then your THOUGHTS begin to change. Your ACTIONS begin to change. Your life begins to bring forth FRUIT, or it displays the CHARACTER of God. The Bible tells us in Galatians that the fruit of God’s spirit is LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS and self-CONTROL. These character traits are PROOF that God is at work in our lives. Do you have more LOVE than you used to? Are you more at PEACE than you used to be? Are you more GENTLE? Self-CONTROLLED? That’s because GOD is at work in your life, and it brings Him PLEASURE when you act more like Him.

If you need to grow in any of these areas today, simply open your heart and ask Him to WORK in your life. He PROMISES that He will COMPLETE the good work He’s started in you. Don’t give up! Keep praying, keep believing, keep repenting and submitting your life to Him. Put His Word as a PRIORITY in your life and you will continue to grow and bring forth His fruit and live in His abundant blessings in EVERY area of life!

Today’s Scripture:

“Bring forth fruit that is consistent with repentance [let your lives prove your change of heart]”

(Matthew 3:8, AMP)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

IF YOU’RE READING THIS, IT’S NO ACCIDENT. THERE’S AN UNEXPECTED SHIFT, IN YOUR FUTURE!!

I know a man who had been out of work for over three years. He’s in construction management. For 25 years, he had a very good position at a successful company. But a few years ago when the economy went down, they had to let him go. He ended up taking a much lower level position in a small city and had to travel a couple of hours every day to work. It was taking a toll on his health, his marriage and his savings.

It looked like things would never change. But about six months ago, his former boss called and said, “Hey, are you ready to go back to work?” That company landed the largest contract in their history. He not only got his job back, but all of his benefits were restored. Plus, they increased his salary significantly. What happened? He came into a SHIFT. Suddenly, things changed in his FAVOR. One phone CALL. One CONTRACT. One good BREAK. He went from barely getting by to having MORE than enough. Now, GET READY because these SHIFTS are in YOUR future!

Today’s Scripture:

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

(Ephesians 3:20-21, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD WANTS TO BRING US TO A PLACE OF STABILITY

In life, we all have ups and downs. There are seasons that are more difficult than others, seasons of testing, trials and temptation where our CHARACTER is being developed and our faith in God is being STRENGTHENED. Sometimes it can feel like you are taking two steps forward and then three steps backward. But if we’re not careful, we’ll start thinking that life is ALWAYS going to be this way. Even in the STRONG seasons, you’ll start looking for things to go wrong.

God doesn’t want us to be living life like a roller coaster. He wants to bring us to a place of STABILITY where we remain STRONG in Him. Jesus said, “I am the vine. You are the branches. If you abide in me, you will bear much fruit and your fruit will REMAIN.” The word “REMAIN” means “to be FIXED, IMMOVABLE, not AFFECTED by circumstances.” If you will just keep ABIDING in Him, just keep MEDITATING on His Word, He’ll bring you THROUGH. He’ll make you STRONG, He’ll keep you STABLE, and you’ll keep moving forward into the life of BLESSING He has prepared for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you.”

(John 15:7, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN YOU PRAISE GOD AND DECLAIR THAT HE IS GOOD IT OPENS THE DOOR TO VICTORY

We all face challenges and obstacles in this life. We all have DREAMS in our hearts, and at times, it looks like they’re not going to come to pass. During these difficult SEASONS, we have a choice. We can get negative and discouraged and talk about how things are not going to work out, or we can switch over into PRAISE and THANKSGIVING which opens the door for God to move on our behalf.

A lot of times people think, “I’ll have a good attitude as soon as I get over this health issue.” “Mark, I’ll give God praise when I get through these tough times.” But that’s not how FAITH works. As long as we’re negative, discouraged and focused on our problems, it LIMITS what God can do. You’ve got to give God PRAISE FIRST, and THEN the BREAKTHROUGH will come. You’ve got to change your FOCUS FIRST, and then things will change in your FAVOR. Praise ALWAYS precedes the VICTORY.

Today, if you’ve been dwelling on the wrong things and focusing in the wrong direction, SWITCH OVER into PRAISE and THANKSGIVING. Begin to declare that God IS good. Declare that He is FAITHFUL. Declare His PRAISES and open the door to VICTORY in EVERY area of your life!

Today’s Scripture:

“Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines…yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”

(Habakkuk 3:17-18, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD IS WORKING BEHING THE SCENES ON YOUR BEHALF

Is there something you are believing God for? Does it seem like it’s taking a long time to come to pass? Be ENCOURAGED today because the Bible says that through faith and PATIENCE, you will inherit God’s promises. So don’t give up! Keep thanking God for His FAITHFULNESS in your life. Trust that His Word IS true. Keep PRAYING and keep an attitude of faith and EXPECTANCY. Keep ASKING. Keep SEEKING. Keep knocking on the door, and it WILL be OPENED to you. It may seem like it’s taking a long time, but know this: God IS working behind the scenes on your BEHALF. He is ORCHESTRATING things in your favor. His timing is ALWAYS perfect! As you stay faithful in your prayers and thanksgiving, the Lord will move MIGHTILY on your behalf. He’ll take you places that you’ve never DREAMED!

Today’s Scripture:

“For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

(Matthew 7:8, NIV)