THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

DON’T FIGHT THE SILENCE, YOUR APPOINTED TIME IS ON THE WAY

In 1 Kings 17, after the prophet Elijah had spoken the word of the Lord to wicked King Ahab, God told him to go hide by the Brook Cherith. Elijah wanted to continue to speak to the nation, but for the next three and half years, he experienced a season of SILENCE and WAITING before going on to perform many MIRACLES.

We all have times when we’re praying, but our prayers aren’t being answered. We’re being our best, but not getting good breaks, the problem isn’t turning around. It seems as though God is on vacation. But the SILENCE is not a sign that God is not WORKING. He may not be changing the CIRCUMSTANCES, but He IS changing US. God uses the seasons of SILENCE to PREPARE us, to develop our CHARACTER. You’re gaining EXPERIENCE, MATURITY, and STRENGTH that you’ll NEED for where God is TAKING you. Don’t FIGHT the silence. Keep being FAITHFUL, for your appointed time IS on the WAY!

Today’s Scripture

Psalm 22:2, NKJV

O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; and in the night season, and am not silent.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

ADVERSITY MEANS THE PROMOTION, THE HEALING, THE NEW LEVEL IS ON THE WAY

How do you respond when unfair situations come against you and people do you WRONG? It’s easy to get discouraged and think that because it’s not working out, it’s not meant to BE. But just because you have OPPOSITION doesn’t mean you’re not in God’s WILL. The apostle Paul described HIS work in the city of Ephesus as a wide-open door of OPPORTUNITY with MANY in opposition. Anytime you have OPPORTUNITY, anytime you’re about to move FORWARD to the next LEVEL, there will be OPPOSITION, people trying to DISCOURAGE you, things you don’t understand. The people who reach their DESTINY aren’t MOVED by what’s not working out, and they don’t give up because they had a setback or because somebody did them WRONG. They know GOD is in control, that HE’s directing their steps. They know that the setback is really a setUP for God to do something GREATER. The ADVERSITY means the PROMOTION, the HEALING, the new LEVEL is on the way.

Today’s Scripture

1 Corinthians 16:9, NLT

There is a wide-open door for a great work here, although many oppose me.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GET FOCUSED AND MAKE A DECISION TO REDEEM THE TIME

Time is one of the most VALUABLE commodities we have. It’s more valuable than MONEY. You can make more money, but you can’t make more TIME. To “REDEEM the time” means don’t WASTE it. We have a RESPONSIBILITY to use our time WISELY. Paul said in effect that if you’re going to reach your highest potential, you have to be an “on PURPOSE” person and INVEST your life in what’s BEST for you. You KNOW where you’re going. You’re not vague, distracted, waiting to see what happens. You’re FOCUSED. You’re making the most of each OPPORTUNITY.

God has given you a present. It’s called “TODAY.” Are you living it to the FULL? With purpose and PASSION? Pursuing your DREAMS? Or are you distracted? Indifferent? Just doing whatever comes along? Make this DECISION that you’re going to REDEEM the time. Get focused. Get organized. Set your goals. Make your plans. Once this day is over, you can NEVER get it back.

Today’s Scripture

Ephesians 5:15–16, NIV

Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

DO THE RIGHT THING EVEN WHEN IT’S HARD

It can feel good to give into the temptation to watch something you shouldn’t, to gossip about a friend, to be lazy, to tell someone off. The flesh likes the easy way. The reason some people don’t grow is because they’re not disciplined to do the right thing when it’s hard. You have to be consistent. The flesh is not going to go away. The apostle Paul said, “I die daily.” Every day we have to say no to things. “No, I’m not going to watch that. I won’t be sarcastic. I’m not going to hang out with that friend. I’m not going to eat whatever I feel like.”

Remember that every time you give into that temptation, become impatient, or get offended, you’re feeding and growing the flesh. If you’ll start to not give in to the temptation, the temper, the bad attitude, you’re going to step into a new season of freedom, of growth, of favor.

Today’s Scripture

Hebrews 12:11, NIV

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

LOOK AGAIN. YOU’RE ABOUT TO COME INTO YOUR SEVENTH TIME

After three and a half years of severe drought, the prophet Elijah was CERTAIN that God was going to send rain. He climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and began to pray. He told his assistant to go look on the other side of the mountain and see if there was any sign of rain. After the seventh “go and look again,” the cloud appeared, and rain CAME.

You may feel like YOU’VE been in a drought. You’ve been looking for a long TIME. You’ve been FAITHFUL, doing the right thing but nothing is CHANGING. It doesn’t LOOK like it’s doing any good but get ready. Look again. Like Elijah, you’re about to come into your SEVENTH time. You’re going to see a sign of what God is DOING. Don’t let the little cloud fool you. That small cloud is going to turn into a huge DOWNPOUR. Suddenly, there is an ABUNDANCE of favor, an abundance of HEALING, an abundance of good BREAKS.

Today’s Scripture

1 Kings 18:43–44, NLT

Seven times Elijah told him to go and look. Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea.”

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN WE PRAY, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW IT UP WITH EXPECTANCY

Notice that in today’s Scripture David didn’t just pray and say, “Okay, God, I did MY part.” He prayed and then WAITED with EXPECTATION. He had his HOPES up. He went through the day looking for God’s GOODNESS, talking like it was going to HAPPEN. He EXPECTED God’s favor. He said, “Surely GOODNESS and MERCY will follow me EVERYWHERE I go.”

When you pray, you have to follow it up with EXPECTANCY, with a knowing that the Creator of the universe has gone to work because He is a FAITHFUL God. What He PROMISED you, He WILL bring to PASS. You may have been waiting for a long time, but down in your spirit you have to have a RESOLVE, a CONFIDENCE: “I KNOW the answer is on the way. I KNOW the miracle is in motion. I’ve asked according to God’s WILL. I KNOW He’s heard me. It’s just a matter of TIME before it shows UP.”

Today’s Scripture

Psalm 5:3, NIV

“In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.”

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

YOUR OBEDIENCE WILL BRING A BLESSING…. JUST DO IT!

Did you know that even Jesus had to HUMBLE Himself. It takes HUMILITY to walk in obedience. Without humility, Jesus could have thought, I’m the Son of God. I don’t have to put up with the way people TREAT Me. I’m not GOING to the cross. It was humility that caused Him to NOT retaliate against those who did Him wrong. Because of His humility, He could spend His life serving OTHERS when He had every right to be SERVED. Because of His humility, He could hang on the cross and say, “Father, FORGIVE them. They don’t know what they’re DOING.”

When you humble yourself and do HARD things that you know God is asking you to do—FORGIVE the person who did you wrong, HONOR your spouse’s request, take ADVICE from somebody who doesn’t have your experience—your OBEDIENCE will bring a BLESSING. As Jesus did, do what God is ASKING you to do. Don’t reason it out; just DO it.

Today’s Scripture

Philippians 2:8, NIV

“And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross!”

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

YOU CAN BECOME SOMEONE ELSES MIRACLE…..

Many people are praying for a MIRACLE. “God, please send me a FRIEND. God, I need help with my CHILDREN. I need TRAINING. God, I need a good BREAK.” We have to realize that WE can become the miracle they need. God uses our lives to touch and encourage and bless OTHERS. God will bring people across our path so that WE can be the answer to THEIR prayers.

Take time to BECOME the miracle. You can’t help EVERYONE, but you CAN help SOMEONE. Be aware of who is in your life. Listen to what they’re saying. Is there any way that you can HELP? Those are OPPORTUNITIES to become their MIRACLE. God put them there on purpose. It’s because you are FULL of miracles. There is HEALING in you. There is RESTORATION, there’s FRIENDSHIP, there are new BEGINNINGS. You can LIFT the fallen. You can restore the BROKEN. YOU can be kind to a stranger. You can become someone’s MIRACLE.

Today’s Scripture

1 Thessalonians 2:8, NIV

“…Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.”

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

GOD IS LONGING TO BE GOOD TO YOU…

Many people are trying to EARN God’s goodness, trying to be GOOD enough, trying to work HARD enough, thinking that then maybe they’ll DESERVE God’s blessings. That’s a slave mentality. You don’t have to EARN God’s love. You don’t have to work for His APPROVAL. You don’t have to pay God back for your MISTAKES. The Scripture tells us to come BOLDLY to the throne of grace, not as a servant saying, “God, I know I don’t deserve it.” If you want to put a SMILE on God’s face, go to Him with BOLDNESS, go to Him like you KNOW He’s pleased with you, like you know you have a RIGHT to be there as a SON, like you know He WANTS to be good to you. Ask Him for your DREAMS. Pray BOLD prayers. You’re not inconveniencing Him. Jesus says, “It is the Father’s good PLEASURE to give you the KINGDOM.” God is LONGING to be good to you.

Today’s Scripture

Hebrews 4:16, NLT

“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

DON’T STAY A GRATEFUL PATIENT, BECOME A PHYSICIAN

In today’s Scripture the apostle Paul is saying, “You were comforted in the loss of your loved one; help somebody else through their loss. You’ve been healed; now go help somebody else get healed.” God didn’t heal you just so you could be well, but so you could become a healer. He favored you so you could show people favor. He gave you a new beginning so you could help others make it through their loss. You’re no longer a patient needing help; you’ve become a physician.

Every one of us has had experiences that make us a physician. If you’ve been through cancer treatment, a divorce, a loss, or a rough childhood, you are uniquely qualified to help others in that situation. You’ve been in their shoes. You know the pain, the discouragement, the battles they fight in their mind. You can help them in a way that others who’ve not experienced it can. Don’t stay a grateful patient, become a physician.

Today’s Scripture

2 Corinthians 1:4, NLT

“He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”