THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

LET THE WORD STRENGTHEN YOU AS YOU GIVE GLORY TO GOD

Abraham is known as our father in the faith, but he had many obstacles coming against the PROMISE of God in his life. God told him that he would be “the father of many nations,” but Abraham was over 90 years old before he ever saw that promise BEGIN to come to pass. How many people today would look in the mirror and say, “No way; it’s just not happening.” But today’s scripture tells us that he didn’t consider his body. He didn’t meditate on all the reasons he couldn’t be the father of many nations. Instead, he considered the STRENGTH and ABILITY of his God!

Abraham knew God COULD make a way even when there seemed to be NO way. He knew he served a FAITHFUL God, and so he gave all of the PRAISE and GLORY to HIM! Scripture says his faith STRENGTHENED him and opened the door for God to move MIGHTILY on his behalf.

Today, what are YOU believing God for? Does it seem impossible? Has it taken a long time? Consider your GOD. Consider His WORD. Consider His FAITHFULNESS. Just like Abraham, let His Word STRENGTHEN you as you give GLORY to God. Keep BELIEVING, keep HOPING and let your FAITH open the way for VICTORY in every area of your life!

Today’s Scripture:

“And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body…he did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.”

Romans 4:19-21, NKJV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

DON’T ALLOW YOUR ATTITUDE TO KEEP YOU FROM PROGRESSING

God has ordained SEASONS and CYCLES in our lives. Sometimes when our DREAMS aren’t coming to pass on OUR timetable, we can be tempted to get frustrated. But we have to be careful not to allow our ATTITUDE to keep us from moving FORWARD.

Understand that in God’s kingdom, every season is NOT harvest. There are PLOWING seasons, PLANTING seasons and WATERING seasons. Sure, we would love for EVERY season to be a time of INCREASE; but without the OTHER seasons, we wouldn’t be PREPARED. It’s during the plowing seasons that God brings issues to light that we need to deal with. He’s getting us prepared for PROMOTION. If you’re not making as much progress as you would like, the key is to not LOSE any ground. Don’t go backwards. HOLD your position by keeping an attitude of FAITH and EXPECTANCY, even when it’s HARD. Keep PLOWING by speaking the WORD daily. As you do, you’ll pass the test, and God PROMISES your due season IS coming!

Today’s Scripture:

“The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.”

Proverbs 4:18, NLT

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

NO MATTER WHAT THE DIFFICULTY, WITH GOD, YOU ALWAYS HAVE THE HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE

In High School, I was in the Marching Band, and I’ve experienced the difference it makes to play in front of a live audience, at “home”. When you know the home crowd is watching you, you hear the applause, you see their hands up in the air; it does something on the inside. It causes you to perform better, it starts a fire on the inside. You’ve got a greater determination because you know the home crowd is there for you.

Today, you have a great multitude in heaven cheering YOU on! The “Home Crowd”. They’re saying, “You CAN do it! You’re a WINNER! You are well ABLE, STRONG and EQUIPPED. NO weapon formed against you shall prosper!”

No matter what difficulty you may be facing, you always have the home field ADVANTAGE. You are always surrounded by the voice of VICTORY. Let that sink down deep into your heart today. Let it build CONFIDENCE in you and give you the STRENGTH you need to keep moving FORWARD into the abundant, VICTORIOUS life He has prepared for you!

Today’s Scripture:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us

(Hebrews 12:1, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

TAKE HOLD OF GOD’S PROMISES AND DECLARE THAT YOU ARE RISING HIGHER

God doesn’t want you to live stressed and with a “barely-get-by” attitude. He has new seasons of INCREASE in front of you. He wants you to THRIVE, to live an ABUNDANT, OVERFLOWING life!

Sometimes when things seem difficult, it’s easy to slip into “survival mode.” When times get tough, it’s tempting to just “hunker down” and settle. If you’re not careful, you’ll develop a survival MENTALITY that will keep you from GROWING and embracing what God has for your FUTURE. You’ll be happy to just “break even.” But as God’s children, we’re not supposed to just break even; we’re supposed to break THROUGH to a new LEVEL! We’re supposed to BELIEVE for more of God’s FAVOR, INCREASE and PROMOTION no matter what is happening in the world AROUND us.

Make up your mind TODAY that no matter how difficult things seem, you are going to thrive EVERY day! Take hold of God’s promises and DECLARE that you are rising HIGHER. EXPECT His favor and increase and see His hand of blessing in EVERY area of your life!

Today’s Scripture:

“…I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].”

John 10:10, AMP

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

YOU ARE HANDPICKED BY GOD AND NOTHING CAN CHANGE HIS LOVE FOR YOU

BEFORE you were ever born, before the very foundation of the earth, God KNEW you, PLANNED for you and CHOSE you! He APPROVED you and called you His own. You may have been overlooked by PEOPLE in your life; maybe you were passed up for a job or overlooked by someone whose opinion you valued. But remember, God won’t EVER overlook you! In fact, He HANDPICKED you. He chose you to be HOLY, or set apart, for Himself.

Meditate on THIS truth today: You are God’s most VALUED possession. You are SPECIAL. YOU are the apple of His eye. He knows everything ABOUT you; He even knows the number of hairs you have on your head. He has given you the GIFTS and ABILITIES that you have for a PURPOSE. You carry great VALUE and SIGNIFICANCE. Don’t ever lose sight of the TREASURE He’s placed within you.

Remember, you are handpicked by God and NOTHING can change His love for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“[In His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy…”

Ephesians 1:4, AMP

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

AS A BELIEVER, GOD HAS PROMISED YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE WHATEVER YOU NEED, WHEN YOU NEED IT

No matter what today has in store, as a believer in JESUS, you can approach the day with BOLDNESS and CONFIDENCE. Why? Because the LORD is with you, and in HIM is EVERYTHING you NEED in this life. That means that if you need PROVISION for something today, provision is WITH you. If you need WISDOM today, wisdom is WITH you. If you need STRENGTH, JOY or PEACE today, they’re WITH you. You can be CONFIDENT today knowing that all of your needs are supplied SPIRITUALLY, PHYSICALLY and EMOTIONALLY because the LORD is with you. And best of all, He’s promised NEVER to leave you! Isn’t it good to know that you will ALWAYS have whatever you need any time you NEED it!

Today, don’t let lies from the enemy or pressure from the world keep you from taking hold of everything the Lord has for you. Open your heart by FAITH and receive WHATEVER it is that you need today. Just begin to thank Him for His PROVISION in your life and move forward in CONFIDENCE and STRENGTH knowing that the Lord IS with you!

Today’s Scripture:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

(Joshua 1:9, ESV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

IT’S YOUR TIME, AND IT’S TIME TO STEP OUT OF THE BOAT

Why do you think Peter wanted to get out of the boat? Why did he all of a sudden think he could walk on water when Jesus called him? Well, you might say, “Mark, it’s because he saw Jesus open the blind eyes and cleanse the lepers.” Yes, that’s true. But the other disciples in the boat saw the same things. Why didn’t THEY want to get out? I believe it was because Peter understood that it was HIS time. He stirred up his FAITH. He BELIEVED at that moment that he could DO what God placed in his HEART. Jesus said, “Peter, do you want to get out of that boat?” He said, “Yes, I do.” Jesus replied, “Well, COME ON OUT.” Notice that Jesus didn’t say, “Peter, stay in that boat. Don’t you know I’m the Son of God?” No. He said, “Peter, I like your ATTITUDE of FAITH. I like the fact that you BELIEVE you can do great things.”

I encourage YOU today to have that same kind of BOLDNESS. Start believing that YOUR time is here! All the DREAMS that you’ve buried, those DESIRES that you thought would never work out, it’s time to start believing AGAIN. It’s YOUR time, and it’s time to STEP OUT OF THE BOAT!

Today’s Scripture:

“Peter replied to Him, ‘Lord, if it is [really] You, command me to come to You on the water.’ He said, ‘Come!’ So Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.”

Matthew 14:28-29, AMP

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

BE A PEOPLE BUILDER, HELP OTHERS FULFILL THEIR DREAMS

God designed us to live in relationship with OTHERS. He wants us to help each other GROW. None of us will reach our highest POTENTIAL by ourselves. We need people in our lives to ENCOURAGE us, and WE need to encourage the people in OUR lives and help THEM reach THEIR potential. The word “encourage” means to “urge forward.” Many times, you can see things in other people that they don’t see themselves. You can see their STRENGTHS and TALENTS. YOU can see that God has a special PLAN for them even though they may be going through a difficult time. Don’t assume that people SEE what YOU see in them.

Take a moment and ENCOURAGE them either with a kind word or a simple note. There might be a special GIFT you can give that will remind them of their GOAL or DREAM. In whatever way you can, urge the people in your life to keep moving FORWARD. If you’ll be a PEOPLE builder and help others fulfill THEIR dreams, God will help YOU fulfill YOUR dreams ALSO, and you’ll live in BLESSING all the days of your life.

Today’s Scripture:

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up…”

1 Thessalonians 5:11, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

AS BELIEVERS, NO MATTER WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCE, WE ARE CALLED TO FORGIVE

Is there someone in your life who has wronged or offended you? Maybe it was intentional, or maybe they don’t even know they’ve hurt you. No matter WHAT the circumstance, as believers, we are called to FORGIVE. When we forgive, we seek LOVE, and the Bible says that God IS love. If we don’t FORGIVE, we are turning in the OPPOSITE direction—AWAY from God.

Choosing forgiveness doesn’t EXCUSE the other person’s behavior. It simply releases the DEBT they owe you so that God can release the debt you owe Him. Forgiveness opens the door so that you can be FREE. Choose FREEDOM today by choosing FORGEIVNESS. Seek LOVE and know that GOD is looking at your heart!

Today’s Scripture:

“…The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN JESUS CAME, HE WAS THE FINAL SACRIFICE

When God sent His Son to earth, He opened the door of salvation to WHOEVER would BELIEVE. That means ANYONE can become a child of His and have EVERLASTING life!

Before Jesus came, people had to observe MANY laws in order to be considered holy enough to go into God’s temple. They were constantly performing sacrifices to pay for their sins just so they could be around the PRESENCE of God. Even then, their sins were only COVERED up. They were still THERE. But when JESUS came, He was the FINAL sacrifice. His blood doesn’t just COVER our sins; it washes them AWAY! Now, instead of going to the temple to be NEAR God, the Bible says we ARE the temple, and He chooses to live INSIDE of us. Today, THANK God for the FREE gift of SALVATION.

Today’s Scripture:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

John 3:16, NKJV