THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

NOTHING THAT’S HAPPENED TO YOU IS A SURPRISE TO GOD

In today’s Scripture, some people asked Jesus whose FAULT it was that this man was born blind. They were looking for somebody to BLAME. Some reason, some excuse. Jesus said, “It’s NOBODY’S fault. The reason he was born this way was so that the GOODNESS of God could be displayed.”

When something unfair happens, don’t get stuck looking for a REASON, trying to find someone or SOMETHING to blame. All that blaming is going to do is give you a reason to feel SORRY for yourself. You’re not going to UNDERSTAND why everything happens. Nothing that’s happened to you is a surprise to GOD. He sees EVERY wrong that’s been done to you and every DISADVANTAGE, and He is a God of JUSTICE. If you stay in FAITH, it won’t work against you, it will work FOR you. God will use it to show OUT in your life. He’ll take what was meant for your harm and use it to your ADVANTAGE.

Today’s Scripture

John 9:2, NLT

“Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?”

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

WHEN YOU’RE THE SMILE OF GOD, HE’LL MAKE SURE PEOPLE SMILE BACK ON YOU

Genesis 25 and 27 record two deceptions by Jacob that resulted in such great losses for his brother, Esau, that he vowed to KILL Jacob. For many years, the brothers lived estranged. Finally, the day came when Jacob returned to his home, only to hear that Esau was coming to meet him with FOUR HUNDRED men. Vengeance seemed certain. But when Esau saw Jacob, he RAN to him and HUGGED him, weeping and welcoming Jacob BACK. Jacob was so moved by Esau’s kindness that he said, “Seeing your face was as the face of God SMILING on me!”

Life is not about getting revenge and HURTING people who hurt you. It’s easy to try to pay someone back, ignore them, and make them suffer. All that’s doing is holding YOU down. Why don’t you be the smile of God and show them the KINDNESS they don’t deserve? When you’re the smile of God, He’ll make sure people smile BACK on you.

Today’s Scripture

Genesis 33:10, MSG

Jacob said, “Please. If you can find it in your heart to welcome me, accept these gifts. When I saw your face, it was as the face of God smiling on me.”

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO LET NEGATIVITY GO ALONG FOR THE RIDE

Scripture says to give no PLACE to the enemy. That’s not just talking about forces of darkness; that means to give a foothold to THINGS that weigh us down—GUILT, RESENTMENT, WORRY, DOUBT and BITTERNESS. These things come NATURALLY. The PROBLEM is that when we allow them IN, they take up space that SHOULD be reserved for the GOOD things God created us to be filled with—JOY, PEACE CONFIDENCE and CREATIVITY. But the negative can’t come in automatically and take over. YOU control what comes into your life. You have CONTROL over negative thoughts and emotions. You have to make the CHOICE and say, “I’m NOT going to give space to negativity and let it poison my LIFE. I WILL NOT let an offense make me sour and BITTER.” Take inventory of what you’re giving space to. LIFE IS TOO SHORT for you to go through it with negative things holding you BACK.

Today’s Scripture

Ephesians 4:27, NIV

Do not give the devil a foothold.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

YOUR MIND NEEDS A BREAK; YOUR BODY NEEDS TO RELAX

The Scripture says that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and we must take care of it. You can’t go against natural laws and expect God to BLESS you. Constant busyness and fatigue will make you feel flat. It’s easy to work all the time, to always be thinking about business, or some problem you must solve. That’s doing yourself and the people around you a DISSERVICE. Your mind needs a BREAK; your body needs to RELAX. That’s why God REQUIRED the people in the Old Testament to take a Sabbath. They had to REST.

If you live stressed out and overworked, don’t eat right or sleep enough, EVENTUALLY God will MAKE you lie down in green pastures. You’ll probably come to a point where you HAVE to rest. Don’t wear yourselves out to where God has to MAKE you slow down. You need RECREATION, EXERCISE, and LAUGHTER. The key is to live BALANCED—physically, spiritually, and emotionally.

Today’s Scripture

Psalm 23:2, NIV

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHAT GOD STARTED IN YOUR LIFE, HE’S GOING TO COMPLETE

In the Scripture, some people brought a blind man to Jesus. You can imagine how THRILLED he was when Jesus opened his eyes, but everything was out of focus. Having blurry sight was FAR better than NO sight, and that could have been the end of the story. But then Jesus touched his eyes a SECOND time, and his eyes were COMPLETELY healed.

Many of us have seen God’s goodness. We’re grateful that He’s made us a whole lot BETTER and gotten us to where we are, although we haven’t accomplished our DREAMS. But too often, we settle for less than God’s best. God is NOT satisfied with MEDIOCRATY. He has a second touch coming YOUR way where He AMAZES you with His GOODNESS. Don’t be satisfied with BETTER. Be GRATEFUL for what God has DONE, but keep your FAITH stirred up for the FULLNESS of what you’re BELIEVING for. What He started in your life, He IS going to COMPLETE.

Today’s Scripture

Mark 8:25, NLT

Then Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes again, and his eyes were opened. His sight was completely restored, and he could see everything clearly.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

YOU ARE SURROUNDED BY GOD’S FAVOR

When we receive a PROMOTION, or meet someone SPECIAL, or the medical report turns around, we know that’s the FAVOR of God. But when we face challenges and things are coming against us, it doesn’t seem like we HAVE favor. But having favor doesn’t mean you won’t have OBSTACLES; favor is what’s keeping those challenges from DEFEATING you. Today’s Scripture says that God’s favor is SURROUNDING you in the good times AND the tough times.

The psalmist says, “I have anointed him. I will steady him and make him strong. His enemies shall NOT overpower him.” In the middle of that challenge, you need to remind yourself that you are ANOINTED and crowned with FAVOR. Right NOW God is steadying you, making you STRONG, pushing BACK the forces of darkness, and taking you to VICTORY. You know a secret? You are SURROUNDED with His FAVOR in the storm, and God is turning the challenge to your ADVANTAGE.

Today’s Scripture

Psalm 5:12, NIV
Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

DARE TO BELIEVE WHAT GOD HAS ALREADY DECIDED

In today’s Scripture, it doesn’t say Jesus WOULDN’T do any miracles; it says He COULDN’T. God works where there’s an attitude of FAITH. How many times do we STOP God from abundantly blessing our lives because we don’t BELIEVE His promises are going to happen? We let our CIRCUMSTANCES and what’s happened in the PAST talk us out of it.

Here’s the key: GOD’S idea of blessing you is very DIFFERENT than what YOU think BEING blessed is. We think NATURAL; God thinks SUPERNATURAL. He’s the running-over, the exceed-your-EXPECTATIONS God. He’s already DECIDED to bless you. Now it’s up to YOU. What you DECIDE will determine whether or not it comes to pass. You may not see how it can happen, but take the LIMITS off of Him. Get RID of the excuses. Dare to BELIEVE what God has already DECIDED. If you DO this, God is going to EXCEED your expectations and take you to the FULLNESS of your destiny.

Today’s Scripture

Mark 6:5, NLT

And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

HE’S STILL WORKING ON YOU

Too many people are so focused on their flaws, weaknesses, and mistakes they’ve made in the PAST that they are unhappy with who they are NOW. If YOU feel guilty and condemned that you’re not further along, that’s going to hold you back from GROWING. Quit taking INVENTORY of all your faults. You may have a lot wrong with you, but you have a lot RIGHT with you.

The KEY is to learn to ACCEPT yourself while you’re in the process of “being transformed from glory to GLORY.” You may not realize it, but you’re in a phase of glory right NOW. Learn to ENJOY the glory that you’re in while God is CHANGING you and taking you to the next LEVEL of glory. You have to start accepting yourself right where you are, faults and ALL. You are NOT a finished product. God is the POTTER, and you are the CLAY. He is STILL working on you.

Today’s Scripture

2 Corinthians 3:18, NKJV
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory…

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

YOU ARE ROYALTY, NOT CROWNED BY MAN, BUT BY ALMIGHTY GOD

Today’s Scripture talks about how God has made us to be KINGS and PRIESTS to Him. You need to start seeing yourself as ROYALTY. Start CARRYING yourself as royalty. Not in arrogance, thinking that you’re BETTER than others, but in HUMILITY, be PROUD of who God made you to be. You are not better than anyone else, but you are not LESS than anyone else. Understand that when your heavenly Father breathed HIS life into you and sent you to earth, you didn’t come as ordinary. He put a crown of HONOR on your head. Now start THINKING as royalty, TALKING as royalty, DRESSING as royalty, WALKING as royalty, and ACTING as royalty.

When YOU start seeing yourself as royalty, you will NEVER be intimidated again. You don’t HAVE to be the most talented, the most educated, or the most successful to feel GOOD about yourself. You are crowned NOT by people but by Almighty GOD.

Today’s Scripture

Revelation 5:10, NKJV

“And have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.”

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN YOU SAY IT OUT LOUD, YOU GIVE LIFE TO IT

For instance, it’s IMPORTANT to believe that you’re blessed. But when you say, “I AM blessed,” that’s when blessings come looking for YOU. Today’s Scripture doesn’t say, “Let the redeemed THINK so, or BELIEVE so, or HOPE so.” That’s all good, but you have to take it one step further and SAY SO. If you’re going to go to the next level, overcome an obstacle, or break an addiction, you have to start DECLARING it.

Words have CREATIVE power. When you speak something out loud, you give LIFE to what you’re saying.

When God created the worlds, nothing happened until He SPOKE. He said, “Let there be light,” and light came. His thoughts didn’t set it into motion; His WORDS set it into motion. It’s the same principle today. You can have big dreams, stand on God’s promises, but not see anything change until you SPEAK. When you SPEAK, good breaks, promotion, and ideas will track YOU down.

Today’s Scripture

Psalm 107:2, NKJV

Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy.