THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

STIR UP YOUR INNER STRENGTH AND ENCOURAGEMENT

It’s good to have friends and family around to cheer you up when you’re down, but in order to TRULY live in victory, that encouragement has to come from the INSIDE. When your mind is telling you it’s not worth it, when your circumstances seem difficult, deep down inside, your spirit has to have the resolve that says, “I REFUSE to settle where I am.” That’s what David had to do. He was facing a major setback. His family was killed, his city was destroyed, and his own people were now against him, but he still managed to encourage HIMSELF in the Lord. How did he do that? He replayed in his mind the VICTORIES from the past. He recounted God’s FAITHFULNESS. As he rehearsed over and over the GOODNESS of God, STRENGTH began to rise in his heart.

There are so many places you can see the hand of God at work. Thank Him for SAVING you today. Thank Him for the miracle of LIFE. Thank Him for His FAITHFULNESS. FOCUS on the fact that God did NOT bring you THIS far to leave you now. Stir up that inner STRENGTH and ENCOURAGEMENT. As you do, you’ll rise higher and higher and live the life of victory the Lord PREPARED for you.

Today’s Scripture:

“David was greatly distressed, for the men spoke of stoning him…But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”

1 Samuel 30:6, AMP

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

FORGIVENESS IS A CHOICE AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PERSON THAT HURT YOU

God never promised that life would always be fair. In fact, He warns us of just the opposite! People are NOT perfect; we all make mistakes and bad decisions. You may have been hurt by others in the past, but what’s most important is how you CHOOSE to deal with that hurt.

When you harbor hurts and offenses, it keeps you stuck in the past. It only causes harm in your life. If you want to move forward in JOY and PEACE, you have to choose FORGIVENESS.

Yes, forgiveness is a CHOICE, and it has nothing to do with the person who hurt you. FORGIVENESS is the choice to hand your hurts over to God and let HIM make up the difference. When we choose to extend forgiveness, that’s when we choose to receive HIS forgiveness! Today, choose God’s way, choose forgiveness, and choose to move forward in the BLESSING and VICTORY He has prepared for YOU!

Today’s Scripture:

“But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.”

Mark 11:26, NASB

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

TODAY IS THE DAY TO TAKE YOUR LIFE BACK

Do you ever feel like things in your life are out of control? Usually that happens when we allow our CIRCUMSTANCES to DICTATE our THOUGHTS and ATTITUDES. You might say, “Well, the economy is wreaking havoc on my business.” Or, “This relationship is just too far gone.” But today is the day to take your life BACK! We LIVE in this natural realm, but as BELIEVERS, we are not LIMITED by this natural realm. We can tap into God’s SUPERNATURAL power, but it starts by making every THOUGHT line up with the Word of GOD.

Take your life back by taking your THOUGHTS back. Don’t allow the enemy to have access ANY longer. Instead, meditate on the Word of God DAILY and allow His TRUTH to sink down DEEP into your spirit. Let His truth make you FREE.

Today, as you take captive every thought and boldly declare His PROMISES over your life, you are setting yourself up for VICTORY. You are POSITIONING yourself to receive EVERY spiritual blessing, and you are taking your life BACK!

Today’s Scripture:

“…take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

(2 Corinthians 10:5, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN YOU DRAW NEAR TO GOD, HE WILL DRAW NEAR TO YOU

In scripture, Jesus was called by many names according to His ATTRIBUTES. In today’s verse, He is called EMMANUEL, which means God with us. He’s not far away; He’s looking down on us; He is closer than the air we breathe. That means you never have to be alone or feel afraid. You never have to wonder where God is! But, we have to do OUR part. In the natural, you can have someone sitting right next to you and never really KNOW them. It’s the same way with God. We have to take time to ACKNOWLEDGE Him as Lord and talk to Him throughout the day. When you draw NEAR to God, HE will draw near to YOU!

Today, take some time to meditate on this verse. Be aware of His PRESENCE around you. PRAISE Him and THANK Him for being Emmanuel—God WITH us!

Today’s Scripture:

“Behold, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel—which, when translated, means, God with us.”

Matthew 1:23, AMP

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN A WISE PERSON SEEKS JESUS, THEY ARE FILLED WITH INDESCRIBABLE JOY

The wise men traveled a considerable distance to see the great King whose arrival the Bible foretold. They followed the bright star, and when they found Him, it says they REJOICED EXCEEDINGLY. Those men were SO happy that they COULDN’T hide it. Notice what they did next; they fell down and WORSHIPED Him.

When a WISE person seeks Jesus, they are filled with indescribable JOY. They are COMPELLED to worship Him! Let that be YOU and ME today. Let’s let the joy of the Lord fill our hearts and be reflected on our FACES during the holiday season and EVERY day of the year. Don’t allow the pressures and busyness of life STEAL your joy. Let those AROUND you see that you’ve been with JESUS. REJOICE in Him, WORSHIP Him, and WALK with Him in victory ALL the days of your life!

Today’s Scripture:

“…the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him…”

Matthew 2:9-11, NKJV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

I KNOW GOD IS MY PROVIDER, HE WILL FIGHT MY BATTLES

Let me ask you today, what are you letting ARISE in your life? In other words, what are you focusing your WORDS, ENERGY and THOUGHTS on? You might say, “Oh, Mark, it’s just so hard right now. I’ve lost some money.” “My health doesn’t look good.” “Somebody walked out on me.” No, you’re focusing on the wrong things. You’re letting defeat, discouragement and self-pity rise up. Why don’t you turn that around and say, “God is STILL in control.

Somebody may have walked out on me, but I know God is going to bring me somebody better.” “I may be hurting right now, but I know God is the restorer of my soul.” “I may have lost money in the stock market, but I’m not worried. I know God is my PROVIDER. He is supplying ALL of my needs. HE is fighting my battles.”

When you start giving God GLORY and letting HIM arise in your life, you CAN’T stay defeated. Your enemies WILL be scattered! They’ll tremble at your words of FAITH. Begin right NOW by declaring God’s GOODNESS in your life and let Him ARISE so that you can move forward in the VICTORY He has for you.

Today’s Scripture:

“Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered…”

(Psalm 68:1, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WE SHOULD ALWAYS CONTROL OUR REACTIONS

Every day, we have opportunities to get upset, be frustrated, or get offended. Maybe you had plans that didn’t work out, or someone was rude to you at the office. Maybe you were doing something that should have taken one hour and it ended up taking three. Life is full of inconveniences, but even though we can’t always control our circumstances, we can control our REACTION. I heard somebody say, “Life is 10% what happens TO you, and 90% how you RESPOND.”

We should always go out each day with a POSITIVE ATTITUDE, full of HOPE and expecting God’s FAVOR. But at the same time, we should RECOGNIZE that most days are not going to go exactly as we plan. Remember, we were created to live in PEACE. Peace is our position of POWER. If you get stressed because you got off schedule or upset because your child wouldn’t eat his breakfast, or frustrated because somebody offended you, what you’re doing is giving away your POWER. Instead, make the DECISION to release those offenses and disappointments so you can live in PEACE and enjoy the day as the BLESSING God prepared for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“Good sense makes a man restrain his anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression or an offense.”

(Proverbs 19:11, AMPC)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

CONTENTMENT IS AN ATTITUDE GOD CAN WORK WITH

It’s easy to be tempted to go through life COMPETING with everyone around us when we see someone who’s more TALENTED, BETTER LOOKING or has more GIFTS. Instead of running OUR race and being comfortable with who WE are, oftentimes, we feel inferior and think, “I’ve got to catch up to THEM.” The problem with this unhealthy COMPETITION is that it’s a NEVER-ENDING CYCLE.

There will ALWAYS be someone ahead of us. But, it’s a very freeing thing when you realize, “I’m not competing with YOU. I don’t have to have as big a HOUSE as my neighbor to feel good about MYSELF. I don’t have to keep up with my CO-WORKER. I don’t have to be a certain SIZE. I don’t have to have as many CHRISTMAS LIGHTS outside. No, I understand that I’m NOT in competition with my FRIEND, my NEIGHBOR or my CO-WORKER. Instead, I’m going to be the best ME that I can possibly BE.”

CONTENTMENT is an attitude God can WORK with. When you focus on being who God made YOU to be and focus on running YOUR OWN race, that’s when you’ll see things HAPPEN. That’s when you’ll rise up HIGHER and position yourself for every spiritual BLESSING He has in store for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…”

Hebrews 12:1-2, NKJV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

YOUR DESTINY IS TOO GREAT TO LET YOURSELF GET DISTRACTED

If you’re going to pursue GREATNESS, if you’re going to be a great BUSINESSPERSON, a great TEACHER, a great PARENT, a great LEADER, you have to understand that not EVERYONE is going to cheer you on. I’d love to tell you that your family, friends and co-workers will CELEBRATE you, but that’s not necessarily the CASE. Some people simply can’t HANDLE your success. As you GROW and INCREASE, as God pours out His FAVOR on you, someone will get jealous. Someone will start finding fault. Don’t be surprised if a relative tries to belittle or discredit you. You can’t focus on making everyone AROUND you happy or you’ll start changing and lose sight of what GOD has placed in your heart.

Remember, your destiny is too GREAT to be distracted by people who are NEVER going to affirm you. Don’t take it personally. It’s not ABOUT you. It’s THEIR problem. Shake it off, run YOUR race, and be great ANYWAY.

Having greatness in the midst of criticism begins with FORGIVENESS. Don’t hold a grudge. BLESS those who curse you; PRAY for those who spitefully USE you. As you keep doing what is RIGHT, God will HONOR you. He’ll PROMOTE you, and you’ll be GREAT in the midst of criticism!

Today’s Scripture:

“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”

(Matthew 5:44, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

CHOOSE TO WALK IN LOVE, EVEN WHEN YOU DON’T FEEL LIKE IT

Spiritual MATURITY isn’t measured by how long you’ve been a Christian, or how much you know, or how often you go to church. Spiritual maturity is measured by the way you TREAT OTHER PEOPLE. It’s measured by the LOVE you allow to operate THROUGH you.

First Corinthians 13 tells us about the characteristics of love. When we are walking in love, we treat other people with COURTESY and RESPECT. Are you KIND to the person at the checkout counter that may be moving too slowly? Are you GENTLE when you are driving down the highway and someone cuts you off? Are you PATIENT with your family and coworkers? These are all ways we show LOVE.

Scripture also tells us that love is PATIENT. It is KIND. It does not ENVY; it is not proud. It is not rude. Love is not easily angered, and it keeps NO RECORD OF WRONGS. Love NEVER fails. Notice that these characteristics don’t have anything to do with feelings. That’s because love is a CHOICE. You can choose to walk in love toward people even when you don’t feel like it–and THAT’S what being spiritually mature is all about!

Today’s Scripture:

“Now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

1 Corinthians 13:13, NIV