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

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

SOMETIMES THE BEST THING THAT CAN HAPPEN, IS THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF WHAT YOU WANT

Many people pray very BOLDLY for things that never come to pass; it’s only later that they realize what a BLESSING it was that God did NOT answer their prayer! It’s easy to look at our CURRENT situation and wonder why that relationship didn’t work out, why the promotion went to someone else, or why the business deal fell through. We can only see ONE moment at a time, but God knows how TODAY’S situations will impact us TOMORROW, next week, or even ten YEARS from now! Sometimes the best thing that can happen to you is the exact OPPOSITE of what you WANT to happen at the TIME. God knows the end from the BEGINNING, and He always has the sequence of events in your life in perfect order. Stay in faith and trust that just as God OPENS doors, He also CLOSES doors because He has something BETTER in store for you. You’re about to see new GROWTH, new TALENTS, and new OPPORTUNITIES.

Today’s Scripture:

“…For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.”

Isaiah 46:9–10, NLT

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

SPEND YOUR TIME AND ENERGY ON THINGS THAT BRING YOU CLOSER TO YOUR GOD-GIVEN DESTINY

In order to fulfill your DESTINY, you have to know your PURPOSE. You need a PLAN, and then you must WORK that plan. You should wake up each day knowing where you’re headed, which direction you’re taking, and what you are going to ACCOMPLISH—and then stick WITH it! Don’t allow the distractions and busyness of life get you off course. Ask yourself, “Is what I’m doing moving me toward my God-given DESTINY? Am I staying FOCUSED? Is this my PURPOSE in life, or am I just wasting my time being busy?” Proverbs 4:25 says to keep your eyes fixed straight ahead. Don’t look to the left or to the right. Don’t be distracted and spend your time and energy on things that are NOT helping you fulfill your DESTINY. If you need direction for your life today, ask the Holy Spirit to show you how to order your TIME and arrange your schedule to accomplish the Lord’s WILL. Remember, God’s plans are BLESSED, and as you walk in HIS plan for your life, you will experience His abundant BLESSING on EVERYTHING you set your hand to!

Today’s Scripture:

Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.

Proverbs 4:25, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

MAKE ROOM, SO GOD CAN REVEAL HIMSELF TO YOU AND WORK IN DIFFERENT WAYS IN YOUR LIFE

God wants you to live an ABUNDANT and SATISFIED life! He wants you to enjoy the FULLNESS of the earth and experience His GOODNESS everywhere you go.

It’s easy for people to get stuck in a rut, doing the same thing the same way all the time. But when you open yourself to new PEOPLE, new EXPERIENCES and new IDEAS, you are making room for GOD to reveal Himself to you and work in DIFFERENT ways in your life. When you STRETCH yourself, you increase your ABILITIES, and you increase your INFLUENCE in the world AROUND you.

This week, make the DECISION to explore something new. Take a different route home from work. Try something new on the menu at lunch. Be open to new people who may not necessarily look like you or act like you. Let God direct and BROADEN your horizons. Look for new OPPORTUNITITS to GROW and STRETCH so you can live the full, satisfied life the Lord has in store for you!

Today’s Scripture:

The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness of it…

Psalm 24:1

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

IN ORDER TO REACH YOUR BEST LIFE, YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE REMEMBER GOD’S GOODNESS

Isn’t it great to look back and remember the VICTORIES that Christ has given you? When you face tough times and your dream looks impossible, just go back and REPLAY your victories. RELIVE the times when you THOUGHT you were stuck, but God opened a door. REMEMBER how He put you at the right PLACE at the right TIME. Remember how He spared your life from that accident. If you’re going to OVERCOME obstacles, if you’re going to reach your BEST life, you have to learn to REMEMBER. When you’re constantly thinking about God’s GOODNESS, how He’s PROTECTED, VINDICATED and PROMOTED you, not only will FAITH rise in your heart, but it’s that attitude of EXPECTANCY that allows God to do GREATER victories.

Today’s Scripture:

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph through Christ…

2 Corinthians 2:14, NASB

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN YOU FORGIVE YOU WILL FIND NEW STRENGTH

No one promised that life would always be FAIR. People are imperfect; we make mistakes and bad DECISIONS. You may have been hurt by others in the past, but the IMPORTANT part is how you choose to DEAL with that hurt. Failing to let go of the past and holding on to grudges and anger can only cause HARM in your life. If you want to keep your JOY and remove what could become some huge obstacles in your path, DECIDE to FORGIVE others, whether or NOT they ask for forgiveness. God says His daily FORGIVENESS, in the sense of His daily FAVOR and BLESSINGS, is based on your willingness to forgive OTHERS. When you FORGIVE, you will find new STRENGTH and begin to experience God’s EXPLOSIVE BLESSINGS!

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:

MAKE TODAY A DAY OF NEW BEGINNINGS

When you gave your heart to Christ, you were changed on the INSIDE. That’s what it MEANS to be “born again.” The Holy Spirit now lives inside YOU. You didn’t change on the outside; the change is in your SPIRIT. You may not FEEL any differently, but Christians know that they can’t base their lives on what they FEEL, but on what God SAYS. And HE says in His Word that ANYONE who trusts in Christ is a brand-NEW person. You may have been a Christian for a few months or a few years. But no matter how long you have KNOWN Christ, being a Christian NEVER grows old. Does your life still reflect the changes that happened to you when YOU became a believer? Make today a day of NEW BEGINNINGS!

Today’s Scripture:

…Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

2 Corinthians 5:17, NLT

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

BEING YOUR BEST IN THE ROUTINE, IS ANOTHER STEP TOWARD THE EXTRAORDINARY

Great biblical characters didn’t live lives of heroic deeds every day. They lived MOST of their lives the same way you do, taking care of the day-to-day things. Take the life of Noah, for instance. It must have been a GREAT day for Noah when the rain finally started falling and his family raced into the ark. And it was probably the HIGH point of Noah’s life when God brought him and his family safely to dry ground after months on the ark. But compared to the 120 long years it took Noah to BUILD the ark, these EXTRAORDINARY chapters in his life were almost nothing. Noah had to keep his faith STRONG through all those ORDINARY days while BUILDING the ark so that when God was ready to do something GREAT through him, Noah was ready, TOO. What does God want to do through YOU? Being your best through the ROUTINE of TODAY is another step toward discovering God’s EXTRAORDINARY.

Today’s Scripture:

“I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

(Matthew 17:20, NIV)