THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD’S LOVE ISN’T ABOUT FEELINGS, IT’S A CHOICE

We ALL have people in our lives who are difficult at times. Maybe it’s someone you work with, a family member, or even your spouse. The Word of God CLEARLY defines love in 1 Corinthians 13. It says that love is PATIENT and KIND. It doesn’t seek its OWN way. Love does NOT keep a record of wrongs. And most importantly, love NEVER fails. Notice that this chapter doesn’t talk at all about how you FEEL. God’s love isn’t ABOUT feelings. It’s a CHOICE. You can CHOOSE to be patient and kind even when you don’t FEEL like it. You can choose to be good to someone even when they don’t DESERVE it. You can choose to OVERLOOK an offense. Remember, the Holy Spirit is our HELPER. We weren’t meant to do it in our OWN strength. Ask God to show you how to LOVE OTHERS BETTER today.

Today’s Scripture:

“Love never fails…”

1 Corinthians 13:8, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

FORGET WHAT LIES BEHIND AND PRESS FORWARD TO THE ABUNDANT LIFE THE LORD HAS IN STORE FOR YOU

Many people don’t fully understand what it means to FORGET the past. One definition of the word “forget” is “to DISREGARD intentionally, or to OVERLOOK.” You have to intentionally disregard your past so that it doesn’t keep you from moving FORWARD. That means the good AND the bad. If we’re not careful, even our past VICTORIES can keep us from rising higher if we get too COMFORTABLE where we are. God wants to take us from glory to glory, but if we don’t let go of the old, we’ll NEVER be able to embrace the NEW. It’s time to FORGET what lies behind. Put it away once and for all. When you RELEASE it, it’s an act of your FAITH. Focus all your energy on moving FORWARD. Trust that God has new levels of VICTORY, PEACE and FAVOR. TRUST that He’s working behind the scenes on your behalf. As you forget what lies behind and press forward, you will see the abundant life the LORD has in store for you!

Today’s Scripture:

…But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.

Philippians 3:13, ESV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHAT AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE IT IS TO BE CALLED GOD’S FRIEND

The all-KNOWING, all-POWERFUL Creator of the universe wants to be your FRIEND today! He wants to walk with you, talk with you and simply share LIFE with you. That’s why He created you—first and foremost, for His FELLOWSHIP. It’s as simple as opening your heart of FAITH to Him just like Abraham did.

The Bible says that God is a friend who sticks CLOSER than a brother. That means He is always faithful and TRUE. People may let you down, but God will NEVER let you down. He will never LEAVE you. He will never FORSAKE you. He is with you ALWAYS. He is MINDFUL of you; He is always THINKING of you.

What an honor and privilege it is to be called GOD’S friend! Let that sink down into your heart today. The next time the enemy tries to tell you that you are alone in this world, or no one understands what you are going through, just say out loud, “I AM A FRIEND OF GOD!”

Today’s Scripture:

“And the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,’ and he was called God’s friend.”

James 2:23, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND THE LOVE OF GOD, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR

God wants to do GREAT things in your life! Notice this verse starts out by saying “fear NOT.” Fear is a barrier to the PROMISES of God. The Bible says that whatever does not come from FAITH is sin, or missing the mark. Don’t ever let fear be a factor in the CHOICES you make in life. If you make choices because you are AFRAID of something, that fear will block the BLESSING of the Lord in that area. OVERCOME fear by meditating on the promises of God’s LOVE and GOODNESS. Perfect LOVE casts out ALL fear. When you understand the love of God, you have NOTHING to fear. You know the Lord will do GREAT things! Let that sink down into your SPIRIT today. Meditate on this verse and declare it out loud EVERY day. As you study God’s Word, your faith will GROW and fear will be GONE from your life. You’ll know His LOVE, and you will experience His GOODNESS in EVERY area of your life!

Today’s Scripture:

“Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.”

(Joel 2:21, KJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

USE THIS “TIME-OUT” WISELY MY FRIENDS, MAKE TIME FOR JESUS, TODAY…..

WE can learn a lot from the story of Jesus’ visit to the home of Martha and Mary. While Martha busied herself preparing a meal, Mary sat at Jesus’ feet listening to what He was teaching. When Martha realized that Mary wasn’t helping her, she marched over, interrupted Jesus, and said, “Lord, this isn’t FAIR. I’m in here doing all the work and she just SITS here!” Jesus’ reply must have stunned her: “Martha, you’re STRESSED OUT about so many DIFFERENT things. Only one thing REALLY matters, and Mary has chosen what’s BEST.” In effect, Jesus was telling Martha to slow down and ENJOY the moment with HIM. He could easily be saying the same thing to ALL OF US today!

I believe that this pandemic has given the World, a MUCH needed “TIME-OUT” to assess what is REALLY important in our lives, and what is NOT so much important. Some of us are figuring out for the first time, that MONEY is only PAPER, AND here on earth the only “rights” you have, are the ones that someone else GIVES you, and when it’s all said and done, JESUS holds ALL the keys to LIFE, LIBERTY and HAPPINESS. But most importantly, He holds the key to ETERNAL life. Use this “TIME-OUT” wisely my friends, make time for Jesus TODAY.

Today’s Scripture:

“There is really only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it—and I won’t take it away from her!”

Luke 10:42, TLB

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

THINK OF ALL OF THE BLESSINGS THAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU AND THANK HIM FOR THEM TODAY

When you become a follower of Christ, not only do you receive eternal LIFE but you are blessed with SPIRITUAL blessings. Scripture tells us that we are BLESSED with every blessing in heaven. What are the spiritual blessings of HEAVEN? Peace, joy, favor, abundance, grace, and SO much more! You are blessed with EARTHLY talents, and you are blessed with spiritual BLESSINGS!

Today, let that sink down into your spirit. God has also given you TALENTS, FULFILLMENT, FAVOR and ABUNDANCE. You are blessed when you come IN and blessed when you go OUT. You are blessed with CONFIDENCE and ASSURANCE that your God is who He SAYS He is. You are kept SAFE and SECURE in the hand of Almighty God. Think about all of the blessings that God has given you and THANK Him for them TODAY!

Today’s Scripture:

“How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every blessing in heaven because we belong to Christ.”

Ephesians 1:3, TLB

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

JESUS GIVES PEACE THAT SURPASSES UNDERSTANDING

Jesus is our Prince of Peace. He gives us PEACE that passes understanding—which means we can have peace when it doesn’t make SENSE. We can have PEACE in the midst of the storm. We can have peace in the midnight hour. When we stay in a position of PEACE, that is a position of POWER. We aren’t moved by the changing wind and waves because the peace INSIDE of us does not rise and fall with our CIRCUMSTANCES. Call on the Prince of Peace. Give HIM your burdens and cares. The Bible says that His yoke is EASY, and His burden is LIGHT. When we are working and living the way God INTENDS—full of PEACE and JOY—we are carrying His “LIGHT” burden. Don’t carry the worries and stresses of this life! Call on the Prince of Peace, and He’ll be your REFUGE in troubled times.

Today’s Scripture:

…and his name shall be called…The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6, KJV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

NOT ONLY HAVE YOU BEEN CHOSEN, BUT YOU ARE APPROVED BY ALMIGHTY GOD

You are APPROVED by Almighty God! When He created you in His image, He stepped back and stamped His “Made by Almighty God” approval on you. You are the apple of His eye, and His favor SURROUNDS you like a shield. You did not choose God, but He chose YOU and He is PLEASED with you—His most PRECIOUS creation. Notice that verse doesn’t say that God approves you as long as you don’t have any faults or as long as you don’t make any mistakes. No, God approves you UNCONDITIONALLY. No matter how many weaknesses you may think you have today, no matter how many times you fall, you’ve got to get right back up again and hold your head HIGH. Don’t allow the enemy to bring strife into your life by DECEIVING you into thinking that you are NOT “good enough.” Stand STRONG in your thoughts about yourself, knowing that not only have you been CHOSEN, but you are APPROVED by Almighty God.

Today’s Scripture:

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you…”

Jeremiah 1:5, E

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GUARD YOUR HEART BY BEING EXTREMELY CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT YOU WATCH AND LISTEN TO

Your eyes, ears and mouth are all gateways to your HEART. What you watch and listen to goes into your heart whether you REALIZE it or not. Similar to a computer, what you allow into your heart programs your THINKING and WORDS, which ultimately determines the direction of your LIFE. Indeed, your thoughts determine ACTIONS, ATTITUDE and self-IMAGE. You can guard your heart by being extremely CAREFUL about what you watch and listen to. But beyond that, you have to guard your heart against BITTERNESS and bad ATTITUDES. The Bible says that out of the ABUNDANCE of the heart, the MOUTH speaks. That means your WORDS show where your HEART is. Take inventory today of what you are SAYING, WATCHING and LISTENING to. As you guard your heart and mind, the springs of life within in you will flow FREELY, and you will live in the abundance the LORD has in store for you.

Today’s Scripture:

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Proverbs 4:23, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

ENJOY YOUR LIFE TO THE FULLEST TODAY, DESPITE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES, GIVE PRAISE TO GOD

If the CIRCUMSTANCES of life have taken away your JOY, today is the day to get it BACK. You weren’t meant to live this life feeling drained, depressed and down. God wants you to be EXCITED about your future and learn to ENJOY each and EVERY day. Start each morning with a declaration of FAITH. Quote Psalm 118:24 aloud to yourself: “This is the day that the Lord has made, I will REJOICE and be GLAD in it.” The Lord GAVE you today for a specific REASON, so enjoy it and live it in His STRENGTH! You have to be DETERMINED to enjoy your life even in the DIFFICULT seasons. Every day you can CHOOSE to enjoy the things that God has GIVEN you. Keep giving God PRAISE despite your circumstances, and you will ENJOY your life to the FULLEST today.

Today’s Scripture:

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy

1 Peter 1:8, NIV