THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

DON’T WATER-DOWN GOD’S PROMISE

In Genesis 15, God told Abraham that He was going to give him and Sarah a son. The problem was that they were already too OLD to have children in the NATURAL. YEARS went by, and finally Sarah told Abraham to sleep with her maid. She WATERED-DOWN the promise and brought it down to the level SHE thought was possible, and Abraham went ALONG with it. Instead of releasing their FAITH, believing for the EXTRAORDINARY, they settled for what they thought was GOOD enough. But the baby Ishmael was NOT the promised child, and trying to help God OUT caused many PROBLEMS.

Too many times we take what GOD put in our heart, and instead of coming up to His level and BELIEVING for the IMPOSSIBLE, we bring it down to what makes sense to US. Why don’t you take the LIMITS off God? What He promises WILL come to pass–not a WATERED-DOWN version, not a get-BY version, not a good-ENOUGH version. Get ready for the FULLNESS of what GOD said.

Today’s Scripture:

Genesis 16:2, NLT

So Sarai said to Abram, “The LORD has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.” And Abram agreed with Sarai’s proposal.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD WANTS YOU TO HAVE ABUNDANE SO YOU CAN BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS

Sometimes people will try to convince you that you’re not supposed to be BLESSED. Back when I was growing up, it was taught that you were supposed to be POOR to show that you were HUMBLE. Yet one of the NAMES of God is “El Shaddai,” which is usually translated “God Almighty” and means “more than ENOUGH.” If God just wanted you to get BY in life, why would His name be “More Than Enough”? Don’t let people talk you out of the OVERFLOW that God has for YOU.

God wants you to have an ABUNDANCE so you can be a blessing to OTHERS. You have SO MUCH joy that you bring JOY WHEREVER you go. You have so many RESOURCES that you can help those AROUND you. You’re going to OVERFLOW with CREATIVITY, with TALENT, with IDEAS. Overflow with great PEOPLE in your life. Overflow with INFLUENCE, with RESPECT, with PROMOTION. You may not have seen this YET, but God is about to do a NEW thing. Overflow is COMING.

Today’s Scripture:

Genesis 28:3, NIV

May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and increase your numbers until you become a community of peoples.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHAT GOD HAS FOR YOU IS TOO IMPORTANT TO SETTLE FOR LESS-THAN

When Moses first gave the people of Israel the promise that God would deliver them from slavery in Egypt and give them the Promised LAND as their POSSESSION, they were too beaten down and discouraged to BELIEVE. Instead of rising up in FAITH, they wanted to remain settled in their SLAVERY, to remain VICTIMS rather than become VICTORS.

What God has for you is way too important to settle for LESS-than. Not SETTLING may mean going back to SCHOOL and getting the TRAINING to bring out your TALENTS. It may mean developing a BUSINESS plan, meeting with MENTORS, and researching what you NEED to bring about that GOAL. It may mean joining a SUPPORT group to help BREAK the addiction. It may mean putting more EFFORT into your marriage, taking more TIME for the person God gave you to LOVE. It may mean joining a GYM, taking WALKS at night, being PROACTIVE to get in shape. You’ll be AMAZED where you will be in ten YEARS if you don’t SETTLE.

Today’s Scripture:

Exodus 6:9, NLT

So Moses told the people of Israel what the LORD had said, but they refused to listen anymore. They had become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

DON’T LET THE PAST KEEP YOU FROM THE GREAT THINGS GOD HAS IN YOUR FUTURE

After Jesus rose from the dead, Thomas initially DOUBTED that it was TRUE, but soon believed through Jesus MEETING with him. What’s INTERESTING is that Thomas doubted that ONE time, but he’s been LABELED “Doubting Thomas.” You would think he had doubted and questioned his faith for his whole LIFE, but this had been just a few DAYS of his life. It’s easy to let one failure define who you ARE. If Thomas would have WORN that label, he would never have fulfilled his DESTINY. Yet the apostle Thomas took the gospel to India and made an INCREDIBLE impact with his life.

Are YOU wearing negative labels from the past? God’s MERCIES are new EVERY morning. RECEIVE that MERCY and move ON. “What about that failure?” It’s in the PAST. “What about that mistake?” It’s covered by MERCY. “What about the divorce, the compromise, the time I blew it?” That’s over and DONE. Life is TOO short for you to let what happened in the PAST keep you from the GREAT things God has in your FUTURE.

Today’s Scripture:

John 20:27, NIV

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

THE ENEMY MAY TRY TO CLOSE THE DOOR, BUT GOD OPENS THE DOOR

In Acts 12, King Herod had the apostle James KILLED and then put Peter in PRISON. Chained between two guards in the deepest part of the prison, Peter was to be brought to trial the following day. Meanwhile the church was PRAYING for him through the night. Herod did everything he could to keep Peter IN, but he didn’t realize that he couldn’t keep God OUT. In the middle of the night, an angel came and led Peter past guard after guard and through the final iron gate to FREEDOM from what WOULD have been the END of Peter.

You’re going to see some of the closed doors that should STOP you–the sickness, the addiction, the lack of job experience–open of their own ACCORD. It’s not going to be anything YOU do. You’re going to be promoted DESPITE who’s trying to hold you back. They may TRY to close the door to you getting the contract, the scholarship, or the loan, but God OPENS the door. Stay in PEACE. You and God are a MAJORITY.

Today’s Scripture:

Acts 12:10, MSG

Past the first guard and then the second, they came to the iron gate that led into the city. It swung open before them on its own, and they were out on the street, free as the breeze.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

KEEP THANKING GOD EVEN THOUGH NOTHING IS IMPROVING…

The city of Jericho, which was surrounded by a HUGE stone wall SO thick that chariots could ride on top, was the last city that stood between the people of Israel and the Promised Land. God told Joshua to have the people march around the walls once a day for six days and SEVEN times on the SEVENTH day. It wouldn’t have been so difficult IF, while they were WALKING, they saw a little CRACK in the wall or a shift in the FOUNDATION, but NOTHING day after day. They didn’t understand it but just kept doing the right thing, and the FINAL time around, the walls came tumbling DOWN.

Too often we’ll stay in faith if we SEE the wall cracking. We’ll keep believing if our boss STARTS treating us better, if the promotion goes THROUGH, if things START to improve. You may not GET a sign. You have to keep THANKING God even though nothing is IMPROVING, keep walking by FAITH and NOT sight, and suddenly the walls WILL come DOWN.

Today’s Scripture:

Joshua 6:4, NLT

Seven priests will walk ahead of the Ark, each carrying a ram’s horn. On the seventh day you are to march around the town seven times, with the priests blowing the horns.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

NO THING AND NO ONE, EXCEPT YOU, CAN CANCEL GOD’S PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE…..

In the Scripture, it wasn’t FAIR for David to be put down by his family, but that didn’t STOP him from taking the throne. It wasn’t fair for Joseph to be BETRAYED, sold into SLAVERY, LIED about, and put in PRISON. That didn’t STOP him from becoming the prime minister of EGYPT. It wasn’t fair for Moses to be born under a DEATH threat and taken away from his FAMILY at an early age, but that didn’t stop HIM from delivering the ISRAELITES.

Who SAYS life has to be fair for us to fulfill our DESTINY? Too often we BELIEVE the lies that we’ve had too many bad BREAKS and too much UNFAIRNESS to EVER do anything GREAT. It doesn’t have to be FAIR for God to do something AWESOME. In FACT, when it’s NOT fair and life has tried to STOP you, you need to give THANKS, because God is about show out the MOST. NO bad break, no INJUSTICE, no disappointment, and no PERSON can cancel God’s PLAN for YOUR life except for you.

Today’s Scripture:

1 Thessalonians 5:18, NLT

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

THE THINGS YOU DON’T LIKE ARE SERVING GOD’S PLAN…

Joseph went through thirteen YEARS of betrayal, slavery, false accusations, and imprisonment. He had MANY reasons to become bitter, but you NEVER read that Joseph had a BAD attitude. He understood the PRINCIPLE that everything he was experiencing was SERVING God’s PLAN, INCLUDING the bad breaks and unfair things. After Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream and was made prime minister of Egypt, he even declared that the very harm his brothers MEANT for him was INSTRUMENTAL and NECESSARY to getting him to the throne and his DESTINY of saving their LIVES.

Are you upset about something that’s actually serving His PLAN? God will use people who are AGAINST you to move you into your PURPOSE. God uses the bad breaks, the delays, the setbacks, and the injustices to move you into your DESTINY. The things you don’t LIKE, and the things that are taking longer than you THOUGHT, are serving His PLAN. Keep reminding yourself that it’s not working AGAINST you, it’s working FOR you. It will lead you to new LEVELS.

Today’s Scripture:

Genesis 50:20, NLT

You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD HAS NEW PROVISION COMING, DON’T HANG ON TO THE OLD

When the Israelites were in the desert headed toward the Promised Land, God gave them a fresh supply of MANNA every morning. It only LASTED for one day, but some didn’t LISTEN and tried to hold ON to the OLD manna, and it SPOILED.

When YOU hold on to old manna–what God USED to do, FRIENDS who were right for a SEASON, a JOB that you’re AFRAID to step AWAY from–it SPOILS. It won’t FEED you. You won’t GROW. Maybe you’ve enjoyed a friendship for a TIME, but at SOME point, you REALIZE you’ve OUTGROWN the RELATIONSHIP. Or what USED to challenge you about your CAREER doesn’t challenge you ANYMORE. You feel God telling you to STRETCH, to get out of your COMFORT zone, but you’re AFRAID. You wonder why you’re not PASSIONATE, why you’re not GROWING. It’s because that MANNA is OLD; it’s not FEEDING you. God has NEW beginnings. He’s a God of FRESHNESS. The manna was TEMPORARY provision. God has NEW provision coming. Don’t hang on to the OLD.

Today’s Scripture:

Exodus 16:19–20, NIV

Then Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of [the manna] until morning.” However, some of them…kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

KEEP LETTING YOUR LIGHT SHINE…..

In John 4, Jesus surprised a SAMARITAN woman at a well when He offered to give her “LIVING water,” meaning eternal LIFE. Not only did Jewish men refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans, let alone a Samaritan WOMAN, but THIS woman had a very bad REPUTATION. Jesus had chosen to wait at the well for a woman who had been written off for her MORAL failures. He didn’t JUDGE her or find FAULT. He spoke LIFE into her. He LIFTED her. He VALUED her. She was the FIRST person whom Jesus ever told He was the Messiah, and THROUGH HER many Samaritans believed in HIM.

God has waited on ALL of us. Now He’s asking, “Will YOU wait on someone for ME? Will you wait on that FRIEND who’s making bad CHOICES? Will you CALL them, ENCOURAGE them, let them know that you CARE? Will you wait on that NEIGHBOR who makes fun of your FAITH? Keep PRAYING, keep ENCOOURAGING, keep LOVING, and keep letting your light SHINE.”

Today’s Scripture:

John 4:9, NLT

The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”