THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD WANTS TO BLESS YOU, AND GIVE YOU IN ABUNDANCE WHAT YOU NEED

Nothing moves the heart of God quite like taking the time and EFFORT to meet the needs of hurting and desperate people. When you focus on meeting the needs of OTHERS, you won’t have time to worry about your OWN needs – which is actually fine since GOD has promised to take care of YOUR own needs when you SPEND yourself on behalf of others. The Bible says that God wants to BLESS you and give you in ABUNDANCE what you need, so why WOULDN’T you give? Give anything and everything you can, whether it’s TIME, MONEY, PRAYER, or just a kind WORD. So if you want God to satisfy you with every good thing, go out and help somebody in NEED. GIVE YOUR LIFE AWAY!

Today’s Scripture:

“God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done.”
(2 Corinthians 9:8, MSG)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

THE MORE YOU KNOW HIS WORD, THE MORE YOU KNOW THAT GOD IS GOOD

Do you know what PLEASES God? He’s not impressed by how much knowledge we have. He isn’t influenced by how many possessions we own. He’s not moved by our accomplishments; He is moved simply by our FAITH in Him.

Faith is a GIFT. It’s not something that has to be contrived or worked up. The scripture tells us that everyone has been given a MEASURE of faith. It also says that faith GROWS as we hear the Word of God. That’s why it’s so important to stay connected to a Bible-based church where the Word of God is being taught. It’s why we need to make time every day to read and STUDY His Word because that’s how you FEED your faith. The more you KNOW His Word, the more you understand that God is GOOD, and He rewards the people who SEEK after Him.

Today, take time to FEED your faith. MEDITATE on His Word and ask Him to ILLUMINATE your heart with His TRUTH. Trust that He is GOOD and has good things in store for your future because faith is what PLEASES God!

Today’s Scripture:

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
(Hebrews 11:6, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

AS A BELIEVER, YOU CAN CHOOSE TO BE JOYFUL AND POSITIVE NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS

It’s easy to be POSITIVE and ENCOURAGING when everything is going your way, isn’t it? But everyone is going to have obstacles to overcome in life. Problems have a PURPOSE, and part of God’s purpose for allowing you to face obstacles is to test your ATTITUDE. That’s why you need to be POSITIVE even in negative situations. Remember, God wants you to live life to the FULLEST. And He has provided a way for you to ENJOY your life, even when you’re going through hard times.

Look closely again at John 16:33. Jesus has just told you that you will face TRIBULATION. But then He says, “TAKE HEART!” That’s the secret. One translation puts it this way: “When you have trouble, CHEER UP.” What God is saying is that you can choose to be JOYFUL and POSITIVE no matter WHAT happens. The reason you can do that is because Jesus has already WON your battle, WHATEVER it may be!

Today’s Scripture:

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
(John 16:33, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

USE YOUR FAITH BY DECLARING THE WORD OF GOD

As a child of God, you have the power of FAITH within you to overcome the world. That includes everything in the WORLD, and EVERYTHING the world brings your way! The Bible says that faith comes by hearing the WORD of God (Romans 10:17). As you hear the Word of God and store it in your HEART, your FAITH in God grows stronger.

When the enemy tries to attack you through sickness, fear, worry, or financial mishaps, just use your faith by DECLARING the Word of God. Find SCRIPTURES to speak over your problem or WHATEVER you are facing. Declare that perfect LOVE casts out all fear! Declare that God shall supply ALL your needs! Declare that because you are born of God, you have FAITH to overcome the WORLD!

Today’s Scripture:

“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”
(1 John 5:4, ESV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

HAVE THE COURAGE TO DO WHAT GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO DO

The key to living a HAPPY, FULFILLING, SATISFIED life, is really very SIMPLE. Just be the person God MADE you to be, and have the COURAGE to do what God CALLED you to do. He has a unique and individual PLAN for your life, and the way to becoming a CHAMPION for God is to discover that plan and follow it WHEREVER it may lead. But because you are human, it’s easy for you to get distracted – many times, because you’re trying too hard to please OTHER people. Of course, there ARE legitimate demands on your time that must be met. The good news is that these things don’t have to thwart GOD’S plans for you. Just make it your desire to follow and please HIM, and you won’t be thrown off the path by life’s demands and distractions.

Today’s Scripture:

“Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly.”
(Romans 12:6, NASB)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

ONCE YOU FIND YOUR PURPOSE, STICK WITH IT

In order to fulfill your divine DESTINY, you have to know your PURPOSE. You need a PLAN and then you must work WITHIN that plan. You SHOULD wake up each day knowing WHERE you’re going, which DIRECTION you will take to get there and what you want to ACCOMPLISH. Once you find your purpose, stick WITH it! Don’t allow the distractions of life to 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 or am I just wasting my time being busy?” Don’t be distracted and spend your time and energy on things that may be INTERESTING, but are NOT helping you fulfill your DESTINY. 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:

THERE IS NOTHING MORE EXCITING THAN TO DISCOVER YOUR PURPOSE

Understanding why God put you here is one of the most important PRINCIPLES when it comes to discovering your unique PURPOSE and CALLING in life. The reason is that knowing why you are here on earth helps you answer the question of why God has uniquely GIFTED you the way He has, and what He has called you to ACCOMPLISH individually. There’s nothing more exciting than to discover your PURPOSE, your area of CALLNG and really FOCUS on it! Don’t let the enemy tell you you’ve been forgotten or left out. God has not left ANYBODY out. You have TALENTS, you have ABILITIES, you have natural STRENGTHS and you need to be aware of what they are and make sure that you’re taking ADVANTAGE of them and using them for HIS glory. There is something IMPOTRANT that only YOU can accomplish for God!

Today’s Scripture:

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.”
(Romans 12:6, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD’S GOALS FOR YOUR LIFE ARE IN WRITING AND YOURS SHOULD BE TOO

The reason it is so important for you to set and achieve GOALS is that you have a UNIQUE purpose that only you can fulfill. It’s kind of like building your own house – something you had better not attempt without a clear vision of your goals and a good set of blueprints, or you may wind up with some extra doors or windows and no place to put them!

God is the architect of your LIFE. His Word is a blueprint of His hopes and PLANS for your life. Trust Him to help you set your goals. If you have a problem being focused and setting goals for your life, one of the best things you can do is to start writing them down, both short-term and long-term ones. It’s amazing how your life can begin to take shape when you can see on paper where you want to go.

Today’s Scripture:

“I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward-to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.”
(Philippians 3:13-14, MSG)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

IT’S A NEW YEAR, AND IT’S TIME FOR YOU TO BE THE NEW YOU

As a believer in Jesus, you are a NEW creation. You have a new SPIRIT and a new LIFE! There may be “old” THINGS in your life that you are trying to get rid of. Maybe you have old habits or addictions that you want to change. Remember today that the NEW has come. It’s a new YEAR with new OPPORTUNITIES, and it’s time for you to be the new YOU. Let this be the year that you BREAK old habits and addictions. Let this be the year that you move FORWARD into a new life of VICTORY. Let this be the year that you take hold of all the spiritual BLESSINGS the Lord has promised—PEACE, HEALTH, PROTECTION and VICTORY.

Be ENCOURAGED today because no matter what is happening in your life right NOW, you have a chance for a new BEGINNING. CHOOSE to leave the old behind—leave behind old behaviors, old thinking, old words, and old mindsets and embrace the new by FAITH. TRUST that He is leading you, and THIS year, declare His WORD and embrace the BLESSINGS that He has prepared for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
(2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

MAN LOOKS AT THE OUTSIDE, BUT GOD LOOKS AT THE HEART

This time of year, people often take time to reflect and set goals for the New Year. But have you ever set “PERFECTION” as a goal on your list?

Now, that may seem a little strange or unobtainable to many, but really, in God’s eyes PERFECTION isn’t about performance. In fact, it isn’t about behavior at all. What God is looking for is a heart that is perfect toward HIM. Scripture says that man looks on the outside, but God looks at the heart. That means that He is more pleased with someone who has a heart toward HIM who may mess up than He is with someone doing all the right THINGS for all the wrong REASONS.

The condition of your heart is EXTREMELY important to God. When you have a RIGHT heart, you are HUMBLE before Him. You seek HIS ways. You get up each day with a DESIRE to please Him. You submit EVERY area of your life to Him, and you are willing to make adjustments and receive CORRECTION so you can GROW and come up higher.

As you prepare for the coming year, make knowing Him your number one PRIORITY. YIELD yourself to Him and let HIM shape your character. SERVE Him with all your might and let your heart be PERFECT toward Him!

Today’s Scripture:

“…I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.”
(Psalm 101:2, NKJV)