THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WITH FAITH THAT IS ALIVE, YOU’LL RISE UP HIGHER

Did you know that FAITH can be alive or dead? Dead faith doesn’t do anything. There are a lot of people who LOVE God, but they aren’t overcoming obstacles or accomplishing their God-given dreams simply because they are not putting any ACTION behind their faith. Their faith is simply DEAD.

What can you do today to keep YOUR faith alive? It doesn’t have to be something big. By simply obeying God’s Word and doing your BEST, you are keeping your faith ALIVE. When you go to work every day and give it 100%, you are DEMONSTRATING your faith. Sometimes just putting a SMILE on your face when you feel discouraged is putting ACTION behind your faith. Taking time to go to church—that’s faith that is alive. That’s faith that ACTIVATES God’s POWER. That’s faith that opens the door for God to MOVE on your behalf! With faith that is ALIVE, you’ll rise up HIGHER. You’ll OVERCOME obstacles, and you’ll move FORWARD into the BLESSING and VICTORY God has in STORE for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“…faith without works is dead.”

James 2:20, NKJV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

PRESENT-DAY CIRCUMSTANCES DON’T DEFINE YOUR FUTURE, GOD DOES…..

In the Old Testament, there was an Israelite woman who was about to give birth. She had just heard that the Ark of the Covenant which housed God’s presence had been stolen. She was so upset about it that she named her baby boy Ichabod, which means “the glory has departed.” Notice what she did; she named her FUTURE by what was happening in her PRESENT. She could have just as easily named him “the glory will RETURN,” but she was so FOCUSED ON THE NEGATIVE, so caught up in where she was at that MOMENT, that she defined her FUTURE by it.

Friend, don’t EVER name your FUTURE by your PRESENT-day CIRCUMSTANCES. You may have had some hard times in the PAST, but get that “Ichabod” spirit OFF of you. It may look like you’re stuck in a rut and you don’t really see how you could ever rise any HIGHER, but don’t speak defeat over your life. Instead, name your FUTURE: BLESSED, PROSPEROUS, SUCCESSFUL, VICTORIOUS, HEALTHY, WHOLE, STRONG, TALENTED, CREATIVE, WISE. Declare what God’s WORD says so that you can move FORWARD in the DESTINY He has prepared for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“You will also declare a thing, and it will be established…”

Job 22:28, NKJV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN YOU BELIEVE, YOU HAVE THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE FIGHTING YOUR BATTLES

Is there something you’ve been BELIEVING for, something you’ve been HOPING for that’s taking longer than you expected? You might be tempted to just accept things the way they are. You might be tempted to think it’s never going to happen. If that’s you today, be ENCOURAGED because God is a FINISHER! He WILL complete what He’s STARTED in you!

Your part is to BELIEVE. Your part is to keep your eyes on HIM. When you BELIEVE, you have the Creator of the universe FIGHTING your battles, ARRANGING things in your favor, going BEFORE you, moving the wrong people OUT of the way. Don’t be intimidated by the size of a problem or the size of your DREAM! Don’t let CIRCUMSTANCES convince you to stop believing. “Jehovah Jireh, the Lord our Provider, is still on the throne. One TOUCH of God’s FAVOR and you’ll go from barely getting by to having MORE than enough! Begin to thank Him and declare that God is at work. Declare that He is PERFECTING what concerns you. Declare that He WILL complete everything He’s started in YOUR life!

Today’s Scripture:

“And David said to his son Solomon, ‘Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God–my God–will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD’.”

(1 Chronicles 28:20, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

YOUR MISTAKE DID NOT CHANGE ‘WHO YOU ARE’ TO GOD

When we make mistakes in life, there are three main things that we need to do. Number one, ask for FORGIVENESS. Number two, RECEIVE God’s mercy. And number three, move FORWARD with your life. Let it go and press AHEAD. So many people today are still beating themselves down over something they did five years ago. They’ve asked God to forgive them a thousand times, but can’t let it go. They go around living depressed, defeated and feeling unworthy. If that’s you, realize today the price has ALREADY been paid. The first time you asked God to forgive you, He FORGAVE you. Now YOU’VE got to receive God’s MERCY and press AHEAD. That mistake did not change WHO you are to God. My daughter has never once gotten up in the morning as a Justice and then done something wrong and gone to bed that night with a different last NAME. No matter what she DID, she’s still my CHILD. You may have made mistakes today, but because of the blood of JESUS, you are still your Father’s CHILD. You are still the apple of God’s EYE. You are still His most PRIZED possession. God may not be pleased with EVERY action, but He IS pleased when you receive His FORGIVENESS by FAITH!

Today’s Scripture:

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”

(1 John 1:9, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN YOU BECOME A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST, YOUR LIFE BECOMES DIFFERENT

When you become a follower of Christ, your life becomes DIFFERENT. Everything ABOUT you becomes different. When we follow God’s commands, it means we do things DIFFERENTLY from others. It means, instead of being offended, we choose LOVE. Instead of insisting on our way, we SERVE others. It means, instead of trying to be right all the time, we build and lift others UP.

This isn’t the way MOST people in the world act but that’s OKAY. We are called to be DIFFERENT. We are called to rise HIGHER. We are called to be examples of God’s GRACE, MERCY and FORGIVENESS. It may not make sense to OTHERS but that’s okay. God will promote you to a NEW level of BLESSING and VICTORY when you commit yourself FULLY to Him. Don’t live a life of mediocrity, live a life of EXCELLENCE for God. Life a life PLEASING to Him and don’t be afraid to be DIFFERENT!

Today’s Scripture:

“Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.”

1 Peter 2:11, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN YOU DO THINGS GOD’S WAY, YOU WILL GET GOD’S RESULTS

Have you ever spent time with a small child or baby and had them mimic your every sound or action? To them it’s a fun game, but internally, they are learning by watching and copying everything you do. They just OBSERVE and do the same thing. That’s because we are all wired to be IMITATORS.

Even as adults, just like little children, we are all STILL imitators. So many people today end up imitating what they see in the world, on TV, in the news and magazines. But scripture tells us that we are to be imitators of GOD and follow HIS example of LOVE.

If you need to make a CHANGE in your life today, change what you are IMITATING. Change your FOCUS. The more you focus on the WORD, the more you will imitate GOD. When you do things GOD’S way, you will get God’s RESULTS—PEACE, JOY and BLESSING all the days of your life!

Today’s Scripture:

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

Ephesians 5:1-2, ESV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

ENJOY THE JOURNEY OF LIFE. TAKE TIME TO STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES

Oftentimes, people tend to get wrapped up and busy with things that don’t really MATTER in ETERNITY. It’s easy to get consumed by your career and stay focused on your goals. It’s GOOD to work hard, but you’ve got to learn how to PLAY hard, TOO, so that you can stay in BALANCE. I heard somebody say, “It’s not that life is so SHORT, it’s that we WAIT so long to begin LIVING.” If we want to TRULY enjoy the JOURNEY of life, we have to TAKE TIME to stop and smell the roses. Do you appreciate the PEOPLE you love? Do you hug your CHILDREN before you leave each day and give your spouse a KISS? When was the last time you called your PARENTS to tell them how much you LOVE them? That’s how we can ENJOY the journey.

If you’ll stay determined to enjoy the JOURNEY of life, you’ll live with NO regrets. You’ll see your path shine BRIGHTER and BRIGHTER, and at the end, you’ll be able to say, “I made the MOST of my life. I enjoyed my FAMILY. I enjoyed my FRIENDS. I finished my course with JOY.”

Today’s Scripture:

“But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.”

Proverbs 4:18, ESV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

KEEP YOUR EYES FOCUSED ON WHAT GOD HAS FOR YOU

In scripture, King Saul had some people come against him. They were making fun of him. He could have easily become DISTRACTED and lost his FOCUS. He could have defended himself saying, “I’m a good leader. I have what it takes.” But what did he do? He kept SILENT. One translation says, “He paid them NO mind.”

Friend, sometimes that’s what YOU have to do when people are coming against YOU. You have to realize that some people are just jealous. Not everyone is going to have your best interest at heart. But don’t let THEM control YOUR DESTINY. Don’t let them distract you from God’s BEST. Instead of playing up to people or trying to win over ALL your critics, keep your eyes FOCUSED on what GOD has for you. Spend time with people who see what God is DOING in you. FOCUS on those who will CELEBRATE you. IGNORE the critics so you can be ALL that God has CALLED you to be.

Today’s Scripture:

“But some scoundrels said, ‘How can this fellow save us?’ They despised him and brought him no gifts. But Saul kept silent.”

(1 Samuel 10:27, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

YOU HAVE TREASURE ON THE INSIDE, DON’T GIVE IT TO SWINE

Do you realize you have TREASURE on the inside of you? You COULD say that your PEARLS are what God has given you to be a BLESSING to the world AROUND you—your GIFTS, TALENTS and ABILITIES. When you get around TRUE friends, people who really BELIEVE in you, they won’t be jealous of your gifts. They won’t constantly question who you are. They won’t try to talk you out of your dreams. It will be just the opposite. They’ll help you POLISH your pearls, so to speak. They’ll help you DEVELOP and GROW your pearls. In other words, they’ll give you IDEAS. They’ll connect you with PEOPLE they know. They’ll help push you further along. If you stay around people who DON’T value your gifts nor appreciate what you have to offer, that’s casting your pearls among SWINE. Swine don’t value pearls; they TRAMPLE on them.

Your inner circle, those who are CLOSEST to you, should be people who CELEBRATE who you are; people who are happy when you SUCCEED. They should be people who believe the very BEST in you. Remember, it’s not the QUANTITY of friends that’s important, it’s the QUALITY of friends. Choose your friends WISELY so you can be all that God has CALLED you to be.

Today’s Scripture:

“…do not throw your pearls before swine…”

Matthew 7:6, NASB

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD’S PROMISES ARE WRITTEN ON YOUR HEART

In the Old Testament, God’s commands were written on stone tablets and kept in the tabernacle. Today, when we accept Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, WE become His temple. He lives in US and engraves His promises and commands on our HEARTS.

How do we know? This verse goes on to say that it’s because your CONSCIENCE, or INNER man, has a more POWERFUL knowing of what is right and what is wrong. It becomes more CLEAR what you should and shouldn’t do. Because you are drawn to follow the Word of God, you know that the Spirit of God is on the INSIDE of you GUIDING and DIRECTING you. Every time you follow His leading, your ability to hear and know Him is STRENGTHENED. However, if you choose to BYPASS that prompting on the inside, your heart can become HARDENED which will affect your ability to hear Him in the FUTURE.

Make the decision today to FOLLOW that inner leading of the Spirit. He ALWAYS has your best interest at heart. He wants you to stay CLOSE to Him. He wants you to follow HIM which is why His promises are written on your HEART!

Today’s Scripture:

“They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts…”

Romans 2:15, NLT