THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

QUIT COMPLAINING ABOUT THE DIFFICULTIES AND EMBRACE THEM

Gideon was HIDDEN from his enemies, threshing wheat on the floor of the winepress, when God said he was to deliver the people of Israel from the Midianites. But Gideon was INSECURE and didn’t feel qualified to do ANYTHING great. The threshing floor was where the wheat was separated from the chaff, and symbolically it became the place where God separated Gideon from what was LIMITING him. When God called him a “mighty HERO,” it SEPERATED him from his LOW expectations and little DREAMS and EMPOWERED him to great VALOR.

We ALL go through the threshing floor of DIFFICULTIES because God is PREPARING us. He’s separating what’s holding you BACK, and you’re about to see new GROWTH, new OPPORTUNITIES, new FRIENDSHIPS. You’re coming out REFINED, POLISHED, STRONGER, MATURED. On the threshing floor, God will stir up your GIFTS and CONFIDENCE. Now quit COMPLAINING about how big the OBSTACLES are. If you EMBRACE the threshing floor, you’ll be promoted to a LEVEL that otherwise you would NEVER have.

Today’s Scripture:

Judges 6:11–12, NLT

Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites. The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the LORD is with you!”

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

CHECK UP ON WHAT YOU’RE SAYING TO OTHERS…..

Jesus says that we will give account for every “IDLE word” we speak, which MEANS negative, discouraging, condescending, hurtful WORDS. You’ve heard the saying to make your words SWEET, for one day you’re going to have to EAT them. When we come to the END of life, God is going to ask, “Did you LOVE the spouse and children whom I gave you? Did you help them GROW, to become more CONFIDENT? Are they HAPPIER, STRONGER, more SUCCESSFUL?” If they are not BETTER from being with you, you need to step it UP a notch. Check up on what you’re SAYING. Every time you say, “I LOVE you. I’m PROUD of you. I’m SO glad your mine,” not only will they get STRONGER, but you are moving them toward their PURPOSE. Use your WORDS to BLESS them and to put people on their FEET, to make them feel BETTER about themselves. It’s amazing how a few SENTENCES can breathe LIFE into others’ spirits, lifting them UP, giving them STRENGTH and JOY.

Today’s Scripture:

Matthew 12:36, NLT

And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

IF YOU’LL HAVE FAITH IN THE MIDDLE, GOD WILL OPEN DOORS THAT NO MAN CAN SHUT

You may be in deep WATERS today. The BUSINESS suffered a setback, the medical report WASN’T good, or the ADDICTION SEEMS permanent. But GOD is saying, “You’re NOT staying there. You’re going THROUGH it.” When YOU’RE in deep waters, you need to REMIND yourself that it’s TEMPORARY. Now quit wasting TIME by WORRYING about that SITUATION that you can’t CONTROL. The trouble is NOT permanent. The sickness, the loneliness, or the difficulty is just a stop along the WAY. But if you give IN to it and let it OVERWHELM you with discouragement, you’ll SETTLE there and let what SHOULD have been temporary become PERMANENT.

The GOOD news is that your heavenly FATHER, the Most High GOD, is WITH you in the deep waters. There may be obstacles that LOOK insurmountable, but HE has the final say. If you have FAITH in the MIDDLE, He’ll open up doors that NO man can shut. He’ll turn situations around that look IMPOSSIBLE. He’ll take you further than you’ve EVER imagined.

Today’s Scripture:

Isaiah 43:2, NLT

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME WITH THOSE WHO DON’T ACCEPT YOU, LIKE YOU OR UNDERSTAND YOU…….IT’S A DISTRACTION

It’s it interesting that the people who were most AGAINST Jesus were the RELIGIOUS people. He didn’t TRY to convince them to change their mind. He didn’t spend hours arguing over DOCTRINE. He IGNORED the critics and just ran HIS race, even when His LIFE was on the line before Pilate. You have to accept the FACT that not EVERYONE is going to ACCEPT you, LIKE you, or UNDERSTAND you. If you’re going to reach your highest POTENTIAL, you have to be OKAY with that. Jesus had more critics than ANYONE, but He didn’t waste His TIME trying to convince people who HE was.

How much time are YOU spending thinking about what that person said about you at the OFFICE or on social MEDIA, trying to straighten out that friend who made you LOOK bad? You don’t have time to WASTE on all that PETTINESS. It’s NOT between you and your DESTINY. It’s a DISTRACTION. God said HE will protect your reputation. Use that ENERGY to move toward your God-given DREAMS.

Today’s Scripture:

Matthew 27:13–14, NKJV

Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

THE JOY OF THE LORD WILL GIVE YOU STRENGTH TO MAKE IT THROUGH

God promises that JOY is found in His PRESENCE. When you don’t have JOY, you’re in SOME way being DISCONNECTED from God’s presence. If you go through the day stressed out, worried, offended, and on edge, you’re SEPARATING yourself from the BLESSING, the FAVOR, and the STRENGTH you need. In the tough times, you need to be FULL of joy, because the joy of the LORD is what gives you STRENGTH to make it THROUGH.

We ALL are dealing with difficult SITUATIONS. But no matter WHAT’S going on AROUND you, God wants you to experience His supernatural joy at ALL times. JOY manifests when you focus your HEART on the heavenly Father and PRAISE Him for who He IS and what He’s DONE in your life. The SCRIPTURE says that He inhabits the PRAISES of His PEOPLE. Anytime you feel depleted or overwhelmed, just begin to PRAISE and THANK God, draw NEAR to Him and He’ll draw near to YOU. In His PRESENCE you’ll be REFRESHED and RESTORED to His full JOY.

Today’s Scripture:

Psalm 16:11, NKJV

You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

HOLD TIGHTLY TO WHAT GOD PUTS IN YOUR HEART, BUT HOLD LOOSLEY TO HOW IT’S GOIING TO HAPPEN

I heard a story once about a couple that was CERTAIN they’d found their DREAM house. They said they PRAYED over it, THANKING God that it was THEIRS, and THEN made an offer. But the seller rejected their OFFER. They were DEEPLY disappointed, but if you’re only going to be happy if God does it YOUR way, that’s not TRUSTING Him; that’s giving God ORDERS. A few months later, they purchased ANOTHER house. A few years after that, they sold HALF of that property for MORE than they paid for the WHOLE property and built a NEW house there. God BLESSED them in ways greater than they’d ever IMAGINED.

I believe in praying BOLD prayers for your DREAMS, believing for big THINGS. But I’ve LEARNED to let God do it HIS way. Hold TIGHTLY to what God puts in your HEART, but hold LOOSELY to how it’s going to HAPPEN. Don’t get set in your WAYS. Don’t be DISCOURAGED because it hasn’t happened the way YOU thought. God is working out HIS plan for your life.

Today’s Scripture:

Isaiah 45:9, NIV

“Does the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you making?'”

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

YOU BELONG TO GOD. WHETHER YOU WEAR GUCCI OR GOODWILL, YOUR VALUE NEVER CHANGES…..

Many people can’t feel good about THEMSELVES unless they prove to OTHER people that they are IMPORTANT. They are always having to OUTDO, OUTPERFORM, OUTDRIVE, and OUTDRESS somebody ELSE. If you live in a PROVING mode, it’s as though you’re running on a treadmill that never STOPS. As soon as you prove to ONE person that you’re okay, you’ll see somebody ELSE you need to impress. It’s a never-ending CYCLE. You have to get OFF that treadmill. It’s very FREEING when you realize you don’t HAVE to prove anything to ANYONE.

Are YOU trying to prove YOUR value by WHO you know, what you WEAR, or what you DRIVE? Learn to be SECURE in who YOU are–you are a child of the Most High GOD. You BELONG to God. Whether you’re wearing Gucci or GOODWILL, whether it’s Calvin Klein or Fruit of the LOOM, your value NEVER changes. You don’t have to HAVE popularity, possessions, or performance to feel GOOD about yourself. You don’t have to prove anything to ANYONE.

Today’s Scripture:

Job 15:31, NIV

Let him not deceive himself by trusting what is worthless, for he will get nothing in return.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

 

GOD’S MERCIES ARE NEW AND AVAILABLE TO YOU EVERY MORNING

Where would YOU be if God had not REDEEMED you from your wrong choices? Perhaps some of the things in your past–the group of FRIENDS, the DRUGS AND ALCOHOL, the reckless DRIVING, a freak ACCIDENT–could have taken you OUT. You were headed down the WRONG path, doing things that you KNEW were not God’s best, but you encountered the God who OVERRULES. He loves you TOO much to let you miss your PURPOSE. Today’s Scripture talks about the tender MERCIES of God–NOT “mercy” but “MERCIES.” Again and again, God shows you MERCY. His MERCIES are new and available to you EVERY morning.

You may have made a lot of MISTAKES, but the GOOD news is, you don’t have to carry that AROUND with you. Do you feel like there’s something BETWEEN you and God right NOW? Come to His throne of grace and receive His MERCY. Ask for His FORGIVENESS for EVERY failure. Don’t carry around YESTERDAY’S mistakes ANY longer. Let Him REFRESH and RESTORE your soul RIGHT now.

Today’s Scripture:

Psalm 103:4, NKJV

Who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies…

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

DON’T BE AFRAID, ONLY BELIEVE…..

In Mark 5, after Jesus told a synagogue leader named Jairus that He would come to his house and heal his dying daughter, He was DELAYED with the healing of a woman who had been sick for twelve YEARS. While I’m sure that Jairus was AMAZED by the healing and HAPPY for the woman, his daughter DIED in the meantime, dashing his HOPES. But Jesus REASSURED him that He would do what He had PROMISED. This man came to Jesus asking for HEALING, but because of the DDELAY, he received a GREATER miracle, a RESURRECTION that left EVERYONE “completely ASTONISHED.”

When YOU have to wait a long time, DON’T get discouraged. God hasn’t FORGOTTENT about you. The circumstances may tell you it’s NEVER going to happen, but GOD has something BIGGER, something BETTER, something you weren’t EXPECTING. Like for THIS man, He’s going to do something where not only YOU, but the people AROUND you are going to be ASTONISHED, AMAZED, and overwhelmed at the GOODNESS of God. DON’T be afraid. Only BELIEVE.

Today’s Scripture:

Mark 5:36, ESV

But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.”

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

GOD LOVES YOU TOO MUCH TO ANSWER A PRAYER THAT IS GOING TO KEEP YOU FROM YOUR PURPOSE

Did you ever wonder if at times you’re trying to pray away what God has ORDAINED for you? In the Scriptures, Joseph went through YEARS of injustice and unfairness. It would have made sense that when his brothers were about to sell him into slavery, HE would have prayed, “God, STOP them from BETRAYING me.” But his PRAYER, which seems like it would have been God’s will, wouldn’t have been ANSWERED. That’s not because God didn’t LOVE him, but because God could see the BIG picture. HE knew the betrayal was a STEP that was leading Joseph down a difficult path to something AMAZING–saving his family from FAMINE. Had God kept him from the BETRAYAL, it would have kept him from his DESTINY.

When WE pray and it’s not answered in OUR way, it’s tempting to ask, “God, WHY not?” YOUR way may be more COMFORTABLE, but might LIMIT how HIGH you can go. God LOVES you too MUCH to answer a prayer that is going to keep you from your PURPOSE.

 Today’s Scripture: 

1 John 5:14, NIV
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.