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:

THE MOMENT YOU PRAYED, GOD ESTABLISHED A SET TIME TO BRING THE PROMISE TO PASS

In life, oftentimes we are WAITING for something; waiting for a DREAM to come to pass, waiting to meet the right PERSON, waiting for a problem to TURN AROUND. When things aren’t happening as fast as WE would like, it’s easy to get frustrated. But you have to realize that the moment you prayed, God established a SET TIME to bring the promise to pass.

God has a set time for your OPPORTUNITY. There is a set time for that problem to turn around, a set time for your HEALING, your PROMOTION, your BREAKTHROUGH. It may be tomorrow, or next week, or FIVE YEARS from now. But when you understand the time has ALREADY been set, it takes ALL the pressure off. You won’t live worried, wondering when this is ever going to happen. You’ll RELAX and ENJOY your life knowing that the promise has already been SCHEDULED and your answer IS on the way!

Today’s Scripture:

“My times are in your hands…”
(Psalm 31:15, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

REMEMBER, YOUR PRAISE OPENS THE DOOR THAT LEADS TO ABUNDANCE

Everyone has times in life when they feel like they are going through the fire, or perhaps, feel overwhelmed with everyday life. If that’s you today, understand that God is going to bring you through those challenges; He’s going to bring you through the fire and the flood into a place of ABUNDANCE. We serve a God of MORE than ENOUGH, and His heart is to always make sure you have whatever you need to be SUCCESSFUL in EVERY area of your life. The Bible says that Jesus came so that we can have life—ABUNDANT life! He wants you to have an abundance of RESOURCES, an abundance of WISDOM, an abundance of PEACE—EVERYTHING you need. Open your heart and thank Him for His GOODNESS. Begin to receive His promises by FAITH. Remember, your PRAISE opens the door for Him to move on your behalf, and He wants to take you to a place of ABUNDANCE in EVERY area of your life!

Today’s Scripture:

“…we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.”
Psalm 66:12, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

YOUR DESTINY IS TOO GREAT TO LET YOURSELF GET DISTRACTED

If you’re going to pursue GREATNESS, if you’re going to be a great BUSINESSPERSON, a great TEACHER, a great PARENT, a great LEADER, you have to understand that not EVERYONE is going to cheer you on. I’d love to tell you that your family, friends and co-workers will CELEBRATE you, but that’s not necessarily the CASE. Some people simply can’t HANDLE your success. As you GROW and INCREASE, as God pours out His FAVOR on you, someone will get jealous. Someone will start finding fault. Don’t be surprised if a relative tries to belittle or discredit you. You can’t focus on making everyone AROUND you happy or you’ll start changing and lose sight of what GOD has placed in your heart.

Remember, your destiny is too GREAT to be distracted by people who are NEVER going to affirm you. Don’t take it personally. It’s not ABOUT you. It’s THEIR problem. Shake it off, run YOUR race, and be great ANYWAY.

Having greatness in the midst of criticism begins with FORGIVENESS. Don’t hold a grudge. BLESS those who curse you; PRAY for those who spitefully USE you. As you keep doing what is RIGHT, God will HONOR you. He’ll PROMOTE you, and you’ll be GREAT in the midst of criticism!

Today’s Scripture:

“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”
(Matthew 5:44, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

CELEBRATE WHAT GOD IS ‘GOING’ TO DO IN YOUR LIFE

Isn’t it wonderful to know that God promises to ALWAYS lead us into victory? That means no matter what is going on in your life TODAY, no matter what’s happening in the world AROUND you, no matter what ANYBODY says, you should always be thanking God because victory is ALWAYS on the way!

You don’t have to wait for everything to be perfect before you decide to CELEBRATE what God is GOING to do in your life. Praise is putting action behind your FAITH. In the middle of adversity or a tough time, start making a list of who you’re going to invite to your VICTORY celebration. That means if you’re in the hospital, start planning what you’re GOING to do when you get OUT. If you lost some money when the stock market went down, start planning your coming-out-of-debt party. When things don’t look good in the natural, remember, we serve a SUPERNATURAL God. With God leading you into VICTORY, you can ALWAYS plan for increase. You can plan for RESTORATION. You can plan for a COMEBACK, and you can plan for VICTORY because He is LEADING and GUIDING you in Jesus’ name!

Today’s Scripture:

“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ…”
(2 Corinthians 2:14, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

BE WHO GOD CREATED YOU TO BE, AND YOU’LL TRULY, FULFILL YOUR DESTINY

It’s easy to be tempted to go through life COMPETING with everyone around us. When we see someone who’s more talented, better looking or has more gifts, instead of running OUR race and being comfortable with who WE are, oftentimes we feel inferior and think, “I’ve got to catch up to them.” The problem with this unhealthy competition is that it’s a NEVER-ENDING cycle.

There will ALWAYS be someone ahead of us. But, it’s a very freeing thing when you realize, “I’m not COMPETING with you. I do NOT have to have as big a house as my neighbor to feel GOOD about myself. I don’t HAVE to keep up with my co-worker. I don’t have to be a certain SIZE. No, I understand that I’m NOT in competition with my friend, my neighbor or my co-worker. Instead, I’m going to be the best ME that I can possibly be.” Friend, that’s an attitude God can WORK with. When you focus on being who GOD made you to be, that’s when you’ll rise up HIGHER and position yourself for every spiritual BLESSING He has in store for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…”
(Hebrews 12:1-2, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN GOD BREATHES IN YOUR DIRECTION, THINGS BEGIN TO CHANGE…..

In the original Hebrew, the word “SPIRIT” in today’s verse literally means “BREATH.” This scripture is saying that the BREAKTHROUGHS that are coming in our lives are not going to happen just by our TALENT, our CONNECTIONS or WHO we know. It’s going to happen because God BREATHES in our direction. God will shift the winds that blow HEALING, PROMOTION and RESTORATION our way.

How are you going to get WELL? The medical report may SAY it’s impossible. But when GOD breathes on you, HEALTH, WHOLENESS and RESTORATION are headed toward you. How are you going to accomplish your DREAMS? You may not know the right PEOPLE or have enough MONEY or feel like you have the TALENT. No, GOD is BREATHING and sending IDEAS, RESOURCES and the right CONNECTIONS your direction. If you will stay FAITHFUL and keep HONORING and OBEYING God, then SUDDENLY things WILL change. SUDDENLY, you WILL come into abundance. SUDDENLY, your child WILL turn around. SUDDENLY, you WILL get well. SUDDENLY, the breath of GOD will shift things in EVERY area of your life!

Today’s Scripture:

“…Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty.”
(Zechariah 4:6, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

PUT YOUR FAITH AND TRUST IN GOD, AND REST

God PROMISES that there are SET TIMES in our future, but He doesn’t tell us when they will be. Your set time may be tomorrow morning at 9:47. You’ll get the phone call you’ve been waiting for. Your set time may be TWO YEARS from now. You’ll get a good break and that will THRUST you to a NEW LEVEL. My question is, “Do you TRUST God enough to believe that your set times ARE coming?” Are you willing to wait with a good ATTITUDE? Are you willing to get a new PERSPECTIVE?

Remember, that set time is ALREADY in your future. Don’t let the negative thoughts talk you out of it. The way you know that you’re really BELIEVING is that you have REST on the inside. You’re at PEACE. You know the answer IS on the way. You trust that God IS working things out.

Today put your faith and trust in HIM and enter into rest. Know that He IS good and He IS for you! YOUR set time of FAVOR IS on the way!

Today’s Scripture:

“For we who have believed do enter that rest…”
(Hebrews 4:3, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

IF YOU’RE READING THIS, IT’S NO ACCIDENT. THERE’S AN UNEXPECTED SHIFT, IN YOUR FUTURE

I know a man who had been out of work for over three years. He’s in construction management. For 25 years, he had a very good position at a successful company. But a few years ago when the economy went down, they had to let him go. He ended up taking a much lower level position in a small city and had to travel a couple of hours every day to work. It was taking a toll on his health, his marriage and his savings.

It looked like things would never change. But about six months ago, his former boss called and said, “Hey, are you ready to go back to work?” That company landed the largest contract in their history. He not only got his job back, but all of his benefits were restored. Plus, they increased his salary significantly. What happened? He came into a SHIFT. Suddenly, things changed in his FAVOR. One phone CALL. One CONTRACT. One good BREAK. He went from barely getting by to having MORE than enough. Now, GET READY because these SHIFTS are in YOUR future!

Today’s Scripture:

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
(Ephesians 3:20-21, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD IS ALWAYS FAITHFUL TO HIS WORD

Sometimes, people get discouraged in life because things didn’t turn out the way they hoped on the first try. Maybe they put energy into a RELATIONSHIP but it didn’t work out. They tried that new BUSINESS venture, but they are still struggling with their FINANCES. Now they think it’s never going to happen. But, one thing we have to learn is that God honors PERSEVERANCE. On the way to your “yes” you may encounter some “no’s.” You may encounter some closed doors, but that doesn’t mean it’s the final answer. It just means “keep going.”

Remember, if God PROMISES it, He IS going to bring it to pass. Scripture tells us that through FAITH and PATIENCE we inherit God’s PROMISES. This is where PATIENCE comes in; this is where PERSEVERANCE comes in. This is where TRUST comes in. Just because you don’t see things happen right away doesn’t mean you should quit. No, instead, RISE UP and PRESS FORWARD. Keep BELIEVING, keep HOPING, keep ENDURING and keep ASKING because our God is ALWAYS faithful to His word!

Today’s Scripture:

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”
(Matthew 7:7, NLT)