THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

THE MORE YOU THANK GOD FOR HIS FAVOR, THE MORE FAVOR YOU’RE GOING TO SEE…..

In today’s Scripture, the word “GOODNESS” means God’s FAVOR. David was saying, “Surely FAVOR follows me ALL my life.” In effect, he was saying, “FAVOR is keeping enemies from defeating me. FAVOR is bringing PROMOTION and OPPORTUNITY.” He didn’t just THINK about it. He SPOKE favor over his life. He was releasing his FAITH for the FAVOR of God. No WONDER the prophet Samuel came to him and anointed him as the next KING. No wonder he defeated a GIANT twice his size. No wonder King Saul couldn’t KILL him.

YOU can increase in FAVOR. When you’re constantly TALKING about the FAVOR of God, bragging on His GOODNESS, you will go places you couldn’t GO on your own. You will overcome OBSTACLES that seem IMPOSSIBLE. If you’re struggling in your FINANCES, start declaring, “The favor of God is bringing INCREASE and PROMOTION. Favor is opening doors that I CAN’T open.” The more you THANK God for it, the more you DECLARE it, the more FAVOR you’re going to SEE.

Today’s Scripture:

Psalm 23:6, NKJV

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

TODAY, MAKE UP YOUR MIND TO STAY IN PEACE…..

If you’re only going to enjoy today if your PLANS work out and people treat you RIGHT, you’re setting yourself UP for disappointment. The unexpected HAPPENS, and offenses COME. There are no PERFECT people in your life–no perfect BOSS, no perfect FRIEND, no perfect NEIGHBOR, no perfect SPOUSE, no perfect CHILD. Give people room to be HUMAN. Quit expecting them to perform PERFECTLY all the time. “Well, they hurt my FEELINGS.” FEELINGS are for Dr. PHIL! Keep your PEACE, don’t be offended, FORGIVE them, and move ON. No matter HOW much someone LOVES you, no matter how GOOD they are at times, they WILL disappoint you. At TIMES they will let you DOWN and say things that hurt and OFFEND. They’re just HUMAN.

At the start of the day, you need to DECIDE that no matter what comes your way–delays, disappointments, bad breaks–you’re going to let the PEACE of Christ RULE in your HEART. No matter WHAT somebody says or DOES, you’re NOT going to be OFFENDED. You’ve ALREADY made up your MIND to stay in PEACE.

Today’s Scripture:

Colossians 3:15, NIV

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

UNDER THE ASHES OF DISAPPOINTMENT AN EMBER STILL BURNS, SO STIR IT UP!

It may seem as though some of the dreams you’ve had didn’t work OUT, some of the PROMISES you were believing for haven’t come to pass, and the FIRE has gone out in your life. Can I encourage you that underneath the ashes of disappointment, under the wrongs that people have done to you, and under the mistakes you’ve made, an EMBER is still ALIVE? You may not be able to SEE that it’s still burning, but all you have to do is stir it UP. Stir up your PASSION, your DREAMS, your CREATIVITY, and your GIFTS.

In today’s Scripture, the prophet Jeremiah was extremely discouraged, but deep down he REALIZED that God’s promise was still BURNING. YOU may have been through things that knocked you DOWN, but there are DREAMS shut up in you like EMBERS–all they NEED is to be stirred UP. Start DREAMING again, start looking for new OPPORTUNITIES, start declaring God’s FAVOR and start praying BOLD prayers. What God put in you didn’t go OUT.

Today’s Scripture:

Jeremiah 20:9, NIV

…his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR DISCORD….. STAY ON GOD’S SIDE

In Numbers 16, a man named Korah led a conspiracy to rebel against the leadership of Moses. Korah was JEALOUS of Moses and started sowing DISCORD. Eventually, this ONE disgruntled man turned the whole NATION against Moses and led to DISASTROUS consequences. There’s NOTHING that God dislikes MORE than people that bring division. If there’s something YOU don’t like about your workplace, your friend, or your church, go to the people in CHARGE and EXPRESS your concern. Don’t go behind their back and start sowing DISCORD, trying to get OTHERS on board.

Are you letting someone sow discord in YOUR life, causing YOU to be bitter, discontent, and jealous toward OTHERS? Don’t sit there INACTIVE while THEY try to convince YOU of everything that’s WRONG with your workplace, with your spouse, or with your LIFE. DISCONNECT from them, and don’t let their POISON into your SPIRIT. Youu have to be bold and say, “NO, that’s not for me.” Don’t get on KORAH’s side; stay on GOD’S side.

Today’s Scripture:

Numbers 16:19, TLB

Meanwhile, Korah had stirred up the entire nation against Moses and Aaron, and they all assembled to watch. Then the glory of Jehovah appeared to all the people…

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD’S GOING TO BRING YOU OUT WITH DOUBLE…..

You may be in a challenging TIME that has left you feeling beat UP, worn and TIRED. It feels as though something’s been taken OUT of you that can’t be REPLACED. You’ve lost the SPRING in your step. Get ready, for God is about to breathe NEW LIFE into your spirit. He’s going to RENEW your strength and RENEW your YOUTH like an EAGLE’S. What that challenge took OUT, God is about to put back IN–HEALTH, VITALITY, FRESHNESS, PASSION. He’s going to bring new OPPORTUNITIES, good BREAKS, the right PEOPLE, and favor that catapults you AHEAD.

He’s not going to just bring you OUT. He’s going to bring you out with DOUBLE. When you come into DOUBLE, nobody will KNOW that business partner CHEATED you, nobody will know you had an unfair CHILDHOOD, nobody will know you went through that ILLNESS. You’re going to be SO blessed, so HEALTHY, so STRONG, so FAVORED that nobody will know what you’ve BEEN through. That’s the way GOD restores. He’s going to bring you out BETTER.

Today’s Scripture:

Isaiah 61:7, MSG

Because you got a double dose of trouble and more than your share of contempt, your inheritance in the land will be doubled and your joy go on forever.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD SAYS, WE CAN ASK FOR THINGS THAT SEEM IMPOSSIBLE

I think most of us see many people in the Bible as SUPERHUMAN. When we read about someone like the prophet Elijah and the MIRACLES he did, we think he had so much more FAITH than us, and God favored HIM because he was so SPECIAL. Yet James says that “Elijah was as completely HUMAN as we are.” Of course, we KNOW he was human, not an alien. But God was REMINDING us that Elijah was just like you and ME–an ORDINARY person who was filled with the Spirit of the Most High GOD. He didn’t walk around with a supernatural GLOW. The reason you’re reading about Elijah TODAY is that he dared to pray BOLD prayers. He dared to ask for the IMPOSSIBLE. That’s what made him stand OUT, and we can do the SAME.

Quit DISCOUNTING yourself. Quit thinking you can’t PRAY for something BIG, that you don’t have the FAITH. The requirement is that you are a HUMAN. Since you ARE, God says you can ask for things that seem IMPOSSIBLE.

Today’s Scripture:

James 5:17, TLB

Elijah was as completely human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for the next three and a half years!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD HAS PROMISED TO BE GOOD TO YOU

In Genesis 32, when Jacob and his family were about to meet his brother, Esau, after many years of being estranged, Jacob believed that Esau might still seek revenge and KILL him. Jacob had cheated Esau out of his birthright and tricked their father into giving him the blessing that belonged to Esau before he fled for his life. Jacob prayed for God’s PROTECTION for him and his FAMILY, but he didn’t stop THERE. In today’s Scripture, he REMINDED God of the PROMISE He had made to him as a young man. Despite all the WRONGS done, despite his UNWORTHINESS, he had the BOLDNESS to REMIND God, “You PROMISED…” Esau not only FORGAVE him but welcomed him HOME.

God is not holding your mistakes AGAINST you, so don’t go through life holding them against YOURSELF. He has PROMISED to be GOOD to you, to RESTORE what the ENEMY has stolen, to FORGIVE and NOT remember your sins. Put God in REMEMBRANCE of what He PROMISED, not what you FEEL like or what you feel you DESERVE.

Today’s Scripture:

Genesis 32:12, NLT

“But you promised me, ‘I will surely treat you kindly, and I will multiply your descendants until they become as numerous as the sands along the seashore–too many to count.'”

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

THE LORD WILL WITHOLD NO GOOD THING FROM THOSE WHO DO WHAT IS RIGHT

God not only knows everything you NEED in the future, but He knows WHEN you’re going to NEED it. HE’S the SOURCE. He knows where all the good things ARE. He has already lined up EVERYTHING you’ll need. He’s not going to withhold the FINANCES, the HEALTH, the IDEAS, or the CONNECTIONSS. Quit WORRYING about HOW it’s going to work OUT. God is in CONTROL. He has UNLIMITED resources. He knows how to get you to the right PLACE at the right TIME. He can give you ONE IDEA that will CATAPULT you to a new LEVEL. He can cause one PERSON to come across your path who will help you accomplish a DREAM that seems IMPOSSIBLE.

Too often we’re striving to make things happen on our OWN, trying to beat DOORS down. God is saying, “Ask ME for help. Call on My NAME, and I WILL answer. Acknowledge ME every day as your SOURCE. What you’re BELIEVING for, I ALREADY have PREPARED.” Now it’s time to go to HIM.

Today’s Scripture:

Psalm 84:11, NLT

For the LORD God is our sun and shield. He gives us grace and glory. The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

YOU CAN’T HAVE A DEFEATED MENTALITY AND LIVE A VICTORIOUS LIFE

The Scripture says to put on a garment of PRAISE for a spirit of heaviness. A garment is like a coat. Before you can put on a coat of PRAISE, you have to take OFF a coat of heaviness. Sometimes we wonder why we don’t have any JOY, why we’re not PASSIONATE. We’re wearing the wrong COAT. “Nothing good is in my future. I never get any breaks.” That coat of discouragement doesn’t look GOOD on you, that coat of self-PITTY is out of STYLE, and that coat of bitterness over who left you or what you didn’t get doesn’t FIT you anymore. Now do YOUR part and take OFF that coat of offense and put on a coat of PRAISE. “Father, thank You that Your plans for me are for GOOD. Thank You that what You STARTED in my life You will FINISH.” If you’re going to rise to the next LEVEL, you have to adjust your ATTITUDE. You can’t have a defeated MENTALITY and live a victorious LIFE.

Today’s Scripture:

Isaiah 61:3, NKJV

…to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness…

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

GET YOUR PASSION BACK, GOD HAS THE FINAL SAY…

In John 11, Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus that their brother, Lazarus, was very sick. They thought He would come immediately and HEAL Lazarus. But DAYS passed, and Lazarus died. When Jesus showed UP, Martha was UPSET. She said, “Jesus, if You had been here sooner, my brother would not have died.” Martha COULD have walked away in anger and bitterness, which would be the end of the STORY. But she ADDED, “I know even NOW God will give You WHATEVER You ask.” She was saying, “It SEEMS impossible, but I know YOU have the FINAL say.” They went to the tomb, the place where Martha STOPPED believing, and rolled away the stone, and Jesus gave them a RESURRECTION.

Perhaps you’ve given up on a promise or a dream or a relationship and rolled a stone in front of it. Start believing again right where you gave up. Get your passion back. It may have been dead, but that wasn’t the final word. God has the final say–freedom, wholeness, abundance, victory.

Today’s Scripture:

John 11:22, NIV

But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.