THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD HAS BLESSINGS FOR YOU THAT HE WANTS YOU TO BE PATIENT AND WAIT ON

This world is a fast, go-go place where people want things “MY way, in my TIME and for my LIFE.” Many people think that the WORLD will give them what they are trying to get, and it’s up to THEM to TAKE what they want. But that’s simply not true. Yes, you are called to ACTION, and you must go out there and live LIFE, but God has BLESSINGS for you that He wants you to be patient and WAIT on. You can PLAN your whole life, all the way to the END, but the Bible says that the LORD determines your steps, NOT you. Give yourself over to HIM and be PATIENT and WAIT upon the Lord and His blessings!

Today’s Scripture:

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.

Proverbs 16:9, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

MAKE ROOM IN YOUR LIFE FOR GOD’S BEST

God wants you to spend time doing MEANINGFUL things. But how can you tell if what you’re doing is really the BEST way to spend your time? One way to find out is to take an INVENTORY of your life to see where your time is GOING. It’s not only important HOW you spend your time, but with WHOM you spend it. The next step is called PRUNING, and it may cause discomfort. Pruning is NECESSARY to not only keep healthy growth, but to also make sure that the growth is in the right areas and DIRECTION. It may mean you have to prune off some RELATIONSHIPS that are not adding VALUE to your life. Your thought process should start with, “How can I make more room in my life for God’s BEST?” God’s best is so much GREATER than anything else that you could ever put your time into. Go through the pruning process to produce ALL that God has for you; the very BEST!

Today’s Scripture:

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit.”

Matthew 12:33, NASB

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

YOU CAN 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, how much you KNOW, or how often you go to CHURCH. Spiritual maturity is measured by the way you TREAT other PEOPLE. Are you KIND to the person working the checkout counter when the line is moving too slowly for you? Are you COURTEOUS when someone cuts you off in traffic? Are you PATIENT with your family and coworkers? The Bible 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 wrong. Love NEVER fails. Notice that these characteristics don’t have ANYTHING to do with feelings. You can CHOOSE to walk in LOVE even when you don’t FEEL like it! Show KINDNESS and COURTESY to others. LOOK for ways to develop the GREATEST thing in your life—LOVE!

Today’s Scripture:

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

AS A BELIEVER, YOU’VE BEEN ARMED WITH STRENGTH FOR EVERY BATTLE

God has EQUIPPED you with everything you NEED to fulfill your destiny through His Word! The Scripture tells us that as BELIEVERS in Jesus Christ, God has placed His ANOINTING on us. The anointing is a divine EMPOWERMENT that ENABLES you to do what God has CALLED you to do. You are well able to accomplish your GOALS. You have the IDEAS, the CREATIVITY and TALENT to be SUCCESSFUL. The ANOINTING enables you to do what you could NOT do on your own, to accomplish DREAMS even though you don’t have the talent, and to OVERCOME obstacles that look insurmountable. You’ve been armed with STRENGTH for EVERY battle! The forces that are WITH you are greater than the forces that are against you! Not only has God EQUIPPED you, but He is also WORKING on your behalf. He has already lined up the right PEOPLE to come across your path. He’s already lined up the right BREAKS. You have EVERYTHING you need to live a VICTORIOUS life.

Today’s Scripture:

All Scripture is God-breathed…so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

(2 Timothy 3:16-17, AMP)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN YOU PUT ON THE GARMENT OF PRAISE, THAT SPIRIT OF HEAVINESS HAVE TO GO

Do you need a new garment today? I’m not talking about a physical garment. I’m talking about what’s covering your MIND and EMOTIONS. When you feel that heaviness and discouragement are trying to overtake you, the first thing to do is take off the old coat of heaviness and put on a NEW coat of PRAISE. When you put on the garment of praise, that spirit of heaviness HAS to go. Sometimes you won’t FEEL like being grateful. That’s why God says to offer up the SACRIFICE of PRAISE. God knew it would not always be EASY. You will have to dig your heels in and say, “God, I’m tired and discouraged, but I know YOU are good. You are good ALL the time, so I choose to give You PRAISE.” Today is the day for new GARMENTS! Thank Him for RESTORING you, even if you don’t SEE it yet. As this verse says, you will be called an oak of RIGHTEOUSNESS, STRONG and SECURE, and you will display the SPLENDOR of the Lord!

Today’s Scripture:

“Provide for those who grieve…a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”

Isaiah 61:3, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

LOVE IS ABOUT REACHING OUT AND MEETING THE NEEDS OF OTHERS

You are the hands and feet of Jesus in the earth. The Lord wants to BLESS you today so that you can be a blessing to OTHERS. He wants to work THROUGH you to show His LOVE and COMPASSION. Notice this verse tells us that LOVE isn’t just about our words or thoughts, it’s about our ACTIONS. Love is about REACHING OUT and meeting the needs of OTHERS. Sometimes meeting someone’s needs is as simple as a SMILE or sharing a word of ENCOURAGEMENT. There are many ways to show the love of God. Can you pay for someone’s gas or groceries? Do you see a need in someone’s life that YOU can meet? Look for ways to put your love into ACTION. The Bible says that it’s His KINDNESS that leads people to repentance, and the Lord wants to show His KINDNESS in the earth through YOU.

Today’s Scripture:

But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

1 John 3:17–18, ESV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD HAS HIS HAND ON YOUR LIFE, EVEN IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR….

The Lord LONGS to pour out blessings on you CONSTANTLY—even when you SLEEP! Understand that God has His hand on your life even in the midnight hour. He wants to speak to your heart and restore your DREAMS. He is taking care of those things that CONCERN you. When you cast your cares on Him and trust Him to work out every detail of your life, you’ll be able to enjoy that sweet SLEEP that He has promised. Make the decision today to enjoy the BLESSING of the Lord as you sleep tonight. Say a prayer before you go to bed and cast your cares on HIM. As you allow the Lord to BLESS and REFRESH you in SLEEP, you’ll see a tremendous CHANGE in your waking hours. You’ll be more INVIGORATED, more ALERT, and full of the BLESSING of the Lord in EVERY area of your life!

Today’s Scripture:

…for he grants sleep to those he loves.

Psalm 127:2, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

THE MORE YOU FILL YOUR HEART AND MIND WITH GOD’S WORD, THE STRONGER YOU’LL BE

Do you want more FAITH? Well, the GOOD news is that your faith in GOD can grow and INCREASE. Notice the Scripture doesn’t say, “Faith comes by having heard the Word of God one time.” It’s hearing—in the PRESENT tense. Sure, God’s Word can transform us in an instant, but MOST of the time, we need to hear God’s principles over and OVER again before they become ACTIVE in our lives. The TRUTH of God’s Word chisels away at the doubt and unbelief that’s been built up over the years. Just as a seed needs water daily to GROW, your spirit needs the Word of God DAILY. Get in the habit of meditating on God’s Word and DWELLING on thoughts of FAITH, VICTORY and HOPE. The more you fill your heart and mind with God’s WORD, the stronger you will be so you can stand AGAINST the powers of darkness.

Today’s Scripture:

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 10:17, NKJV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD WANTS TO REFRESH YOU AND GIVE YOU REST TODAY AND EVERY DAY

Does your soul need REFRESHING today? God is constantly inviting us to step away from the hectic pace of life and come to Him to find REST for our souls. Are you facing challenges in your RELATIONSHIPS? FINANCES? CAREER? God wants to REFRESH you. He wants to give you REST. Think about that for a moment. What would CAUSE you to rest? If you knew everything was going to work out for your GOOD, you would stop WORRYING. You would REST! Even if things don’t work out the way you PLANNED or on YOUR timetable, you can TRUST that God will turn things around in your FAVOR. Today, make it a point to be STILL before God. Quiet your mind of all the things on your agenda and just focus on HIM. Let Him LOVE you, let Him speak to your HEART, and let Him fill you with PEACE and STRENGTH each and EVERY day!!

Today’s Scripture:

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]”

Matthew 11:28 AMP

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

REFUSE TO GET BITTER. FORGIVE–DROP IT, LEAVE IT AND LET IT GO….KISS IT GOODBYE

Bitterness is an extremely destructive force that can poison your whole life. It seeps into the depths of your heart when you choose not to forgive someone. When you harbor unforgiveness, it closes the door to God’s working in your life. The Bible even tells us that if we choose NOT to forgive others, God cannot even hear our prayers. Thank God that He has EMPOWERED us to FORGIVE and RELEASE bitterness! You have the choice to GET RID of bitterness so you can live in FREEDOM! God sees every wrong that’s ever been DONE to you. He sees every unfair SITUATION. He’ll bring JUSTICE into your life. YOUR attitude should be, “It may have been unfair. They may have done me wrong, but I REFUSE to get bitter.” FORGIVE—DROP it, leave it and let it GO. When you do, God will heal your hurts and RESTORE your broken pieces. HE’LL pay you back for the injustice.

Today’s Scripture:

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.”

Ephesians 4:31, NIV