THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

IN THE END, ALL THINGS ARE GOING TO WORK TO YOUR ADVANTAGE

The Scripture says that God declares “the end from the BEGINNING.” When God planned out YOUR life, He started with where He wants you to end UP, and then He worked BACKWARD. His plans for you are “to give you an EXPECTED end.” The GOOD news is that you don’t end in defeat, in failure, in disappointment, or in heartache. You end in VICTORY, fulfilling your DESTINY. You can live in PEACE, knowing that in the END, ALL things are going to work to your ADVANTAGE.

But there will be difficult SEASONS in your life when it looks as though things didn’t work out. You MAY be in a difficult season right NOW, and it may look as though your DREAM has died. You have to remind yourself that’s NOT how your story ends. The Most High God has already planned it for an EXPECTED end. If you’ll keep moving FORWARD, He’ll weave it all together. He’s already ESTABLISHED the end.

Today’s Scripture

Jeremiah 29:11, KJV

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

KEEP WHAT GOD HAS PROMISED AND SAID ABOUT YOU CLOSE TO YOUR HEART

Mary was engaged to the man of her DREAMS when the angel appeared and said she was going to have a BABY, the MESSIAH, WITHOUT knowing a man.

We focus on how AMAZING that supernatural birth was and FORGET that she had to explain that to her FIANCE, JOSEPH, who would in all likelihood call off the wedding. She had to accept the FACT that for her whole LIFE she would have to put up with shameful rumors and negative comments about who the father was. She could have EASILY been defensive, cynical, and bitter. But today’s Scripture says she took in all that God had said and “PONDERED it in her heart.” She thought about it over and over. What she kept close to her HEART was what God PROMISED her.

When worries come, people are spreading rumors about you, or a loss happens, keep what God has PROMISED and SAID about you close to your HEART. You will rise ABOVE the negative.

Today’s Scripture

Luke 2:19, NIV

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

TRUST GOD’S TIMING AND BE CONTENT WHERE YOU ARE

It’s good to have dreams and goals. We should be stretching our faith. But while we’re waiting for promises to come to pass, we shouldn’t be discontent where we are. When we’re unhappy, frustrated, and wondering if something is ever going to change, we’re dishonoring God. We’re so focused on what we want that we’re taking for granted and not being thankful for what God has given us.

The apostle Paul said he had to learn to be content. It doesn’t happen automatically. It’s a choice we have to make. Being content doesn’t mean that we don’t want change, that we give up on our dreams, or that we settle where we are. It means we don’t live our life always wanting something else. We see the gift in what we have right now, and we’re trusting God’s timing. We know He is working behind the scenes, and at the right time, He will get us to where we’re supposed to be.

Today’s Scripture

Philippians 4:11–12, NKJV

I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

KNOWING WHO YOU’RE NOT WILL HELP YOU STAY FOCUSED ON BECOMING WHO YOU ARE

John the Baptist was baptizing people and gaining a lot of ATTENTION when the Jewish leaders asked him if he was the MESSIAH. Without missing a beat, John said, “I am NOT.” It’s important to know who you ARE and who you’re NOT. If you don’t KNOW this, you can spend your LIFE trying to be something you’re NOT. Knowing what you’re NOT will help you stay FOCUSED on becoming who you ARE because there will ALWAYS be PRESSURES to be THIS, to be THAT, to be the OTHER. If you’re trying to be something you’re NOT, you’ll be FRUSTRATED. There’s no GRACE for it. It will be a constant STRUGGLE, like it’s always UPHILL. When you’re YOU, you activate your ANOINTING. The ANOINTING on your life is to be who GOD CALLED you to be. There’s a FAVOR, a BLESSING, a GRACCE that is UNIQUE to your life.

Be CONFIDENT in what you HAVE. Keep being who God’s MADE you to BE.

Today’s Scripture

John 1:19–20, NLT

This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, “Who are you?” He came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.”

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

NO ONE LIKES ADVERSITY, BUT KEEP THE RIGHT PERSPECTIVE. IT’S NO MATCH FOR OUR GOD

When it came TIME for God to promote David from the shepherds’ fields to the THRONE, what did He DO? God sent David a giant ENEMY. David could have said, “God, Samuel anointed me to be the next KING, but he didn’t say I was going to face a gigantic WARRIOR.” Instead, he REALIZED the giant had NOT been sent to defeat him but to SHOW people the ANOINTING on his life. That ONE victory gave David INSTANT respect from all the people of Israel and LED to the throne.

NO one likes ADVERSITY but keep the right PERSPECTIVE. It’s no match for our GOD. The forces FOR you are GREATER than the forces AGAINST you. Don’t run AWAY from the giant; run TO the giant. Overcoming that GIANT is going to ESTABLISH you and give you a new level of INFLUENCE. If you stay in FAITH, you’re going to come out PROMOTED to a NEW level of your DESTINY.

Today’s Scripture

1 Samuel 17:48, NLT

As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WE SHOULD LIVE ON A MISSION TO GO OUT EACH DAY AND STRENGTHEN OTHERS

Jesus was telling Peter that FORCES were trying to keep him from his DESTINY, but He had prayed for Peter, and he WAS going to make it through. Then Jesus said something IMPORTANT. “When you have TURNED again, when you’re OUT of this trial, when you’re on the other SIDE with the VICTORY, HEALED, PROMOTED, and RESTORED, THEN strengthen your BROTHERS.” Whatever God has brought YOU through, whatever He’s turned AROUND, whatever He’s made happen that you COULDN’T make happen, that’s an OPPORTUNITY to STRENGTHEN someone. Every BLESSING, every HEALING, every BREAKTHROUGH was not just designed for YOU. It was to strengthen your BROTHERS.

We should LIVE on a MISSION. “I’m out to STRENGTHEN someone today. I’m going to ENCOURAGE someone. I’m going to help HEAL someone.” If you’ll let it flow to OTHERS, tell what GOD has done, speak LIFE and HEALING, share your SKILLS, TALENTS, and RESOURCES, then there’s no LIMIT to how HIGH God will take YOU.

Today’s Scripture

Luke 22:31–32, NIV

“Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

THE LORD IS MY LIGHT AND MY SALVATION SO WHY BE AFRAID?

David had all KINDS of things come against him—people, armies, even his own FAMILY. He had MANY reasons to live worried, upset, and bitter. But HE said, “The LORD is my light and my SALVATION—whom shall I fear? Why SHOULD I be afraid?” David lived with THIS attitude, “God’s GOT this. I’m NOT going to worry or live in fear. He will HIDE me when trouble comes. He will place me out of REACH.”

You may have discouraging situations and difficulties coming against YOU, but God has placed you out of REACH. They can’t defeat you. Now do like David and remain CONFIDENT. Keep your PEACE. You may feel like you’re surrounded by an ARMY, but the truth is you’re surrounded by God’s FAVOR. The forces that are FOR you are greater than the forces that are AGAINST you. God’s GOT this. He’s done it in the PAST, and He’s not going to stop NOW.

Today’s Scripture:

Psalm 27:5, NLT

For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

TAKE THE PRESSURE OFF AND RECEIVE GOD’S LOVE TODAY…

“REAL love” is not our love for GOD, it’s God’s love for US. When we try to PERFORM to gain His love, the problem is that we can NEVER measure up. There will ALWAYS be something we can’t do right, some reason we can’t feel GOOD about ourselves. Why don’t you take the pressure OFF and receive REAL love, God’s love for YOU?

That’s what the lady who was caught in the act of ADULTERY had to do in John 8. When her religious accusers walked AWAY, failing to CONDEMN her, Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin NO more.” He didn’t say, “Go and change your WAYS, quit giving in to the TEMPTATION, and THEN I’ll love you, then I’ll be FOR you.” Just the OPPOSITE. He FIRST said, “I don’t CONDEMN you.” BEFORE He talked about her behavior, before he addressed the ISSUES, Jesus made SURE she knew SHE was the one whom He LOVED.

Today’s Scripture

1 John 4:10, NLT

This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN EVERYTHING COMES TOGETHER, IT WILL FIT PERFECTLY INTO PLACE

We all go through painful TIMES when we’re hurting, lonely, undergoing medical treatment, and on the SURFACE, the pieces of our life don’t make SENSE. We think they CAN’T be a part of God’s plan. Pain is a part of LIFE, and it often feels like a dark PLACE. It’s easy to get discouraged and think, God, why did this HAPPEN? You have to trust that even THEN, God doesn’t make any mistakes. He’s already designed your life and laid out EVERY piece down to the smallest DETAIL. He never said we would UNDERSTAND everything along the way.

God didn’t promise that there wouldn’t be any pain, suffering, or disappointment. But He DID promise that it would all work out for our GOOD. That PIECE that’s painful, that doesn’t LOOK as though it makes sense—when everything comes TOGETHER, it’s going to fit PERFECTLY in place. You just can’t see it NOW because the other pieces are not in PLACE.

Today’s Scripture

1 Corinthians 13:12, NLT

Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

YOU HAVE TO STIR UP WHAT GOD PUT IN YOUR HEART….

Scripture says, “Without FAITH it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God.” That means you can be OBEDIENT and yet have a sour ATTITUDE and NOT please God. You can GIVE, help the POOR, and VOLUNTEER, which are good things we should DO, and NOT please God. If you’re not believing for things BIGGER than you can accomplish on your OWN, if you’re not EXPECTING difficulties to turn AROUND, if you’re not anticipating new LEVELS, and thanking God that He’s opening doors you CAN’T open, thanking Him that He’s bringing PROMISES to pass, then you’re not releasing your FAITH. You HAVE to stir up what God put in your HEART.

Maybe you’ve been PRAYING, BELIEVING, EXPECTING for a long TIME. Stay in FAITH; it’s going to happen SOONER than it looks. Get ready because God is FULL of SURPRISES. Many times He’ll do it SUDDENLY, out of the ORDINARY, you didn’t see it COMING. EXPECT His goodness, and you’ll PLEASE God.

Today’s Scripture

Luke 8:48, NIV

“Your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”