THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

DON’T FALL INTO THE TRAP OF TRYING TO BE LIKE SOMEONE ELSE

Did you know that when you compare yourself to others or wish you were like someone else, it’s like saying HE just didn’t do a good job? It’s actually like saying, “God, why did You make me subpar? Why did You make me LESS than?” REALIZE today, God didn’t make ANYONE inferior. He didn’t make any person second class. No, you are a MASTERPIECE! You are fully LOADED and totally EQUIPPED for the race that’s been designed for YOU!

Today, let your attitude be, “I may not LOOK like someone else or have the JOB that someone else has. That’s OKAY. Nobody will EVER be a better ME. I’m ANOINTED to be me. I’m EQUIPPED to be me!” Remember, it’s EASY to do what you are EQUIPPED to do. Don’t fall into the trap of trying to be like someone else. ACCEPT who God made you to be and embrace the GOOD things He has prepared for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
(Psalm 139:14, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

IGNORE THE CRITICS, FOCUS ON GOD’S LEADING AND KEEP MOVING FORWARD IN YOUR DESTINY

In scripture, many times people would come against Jesus and criticize Him. Many times it says, “Jesus answered them not a word.” He simply didn’t respond to His critics. He didn’t try to convince them to change their minds. He didn’t get upset because somebody was talking about Him. No, He just IGNORED it.

When people come against YOU, and they’re jealous, trying to make you look bad, trying to discourage you, REMEMBER, you’re in good company! Jesus was probably criticized MORE than anyone else. I love the fact that He didn’t try to explain Himself. He didn’t try to make everyone understand Him. He just stayed FOCUSED on what He was CALLED to do. He simply ran HIS race.

Friend, Jesus set the example for you and me. We don’t have to try to win the APPROVAL of OTHERS. We have to understand that not everyone is going to UNDERSTAND us. Our focus should be on following GOD’S leading and let HIM order our steps. The next time someone CRITICIZES you, remember the example of Jesus. OVERLOOK it, don’t get offended, and keep moving forward in the DESTINY God has for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“…but Jesus refused to answer.”
(Luke 23:9, NLT)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD IS ALWAYS LEADING US ON A JOURNEY OF PREPARATION

Oftentimes, God will use our experiences in life as stepping stones to prepare us for what He has in store NEXT. Scripture tells us that He’ll even take the things the enemy tries to bring AGAINST us and turn them around and use them for our GOOD. He is ALWAYS leading us on a journey of PREPARATION.

That’s why it’s so important to keep our eyes FOCUSED on Him. We have to trust that when we are SUBMITTED to Him—even if WE don’t understand—He IS ordering our steps. If something is not happening on YOUR timetable, remind yourself, “GOD knows what He is doing. He has MY best interest at heart. God is PREPARING me.” While you’re waiting, don’t make the mistake of trying to figure everything out. If you’re constantly trying to figure things out, that will only frustrate you. Turn it over to GOD. Declare, “God, my times are in YOUR hands. I’m not going to worry because I TRUST that You are leading me on a journey of PREPARATION for all the wonderful BLESSINGS You have in store for me.”

Today’s Scripture:

“A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”
(Proverbs 16:9, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

FORGET THE PAST, GOD HAS A NEW BEGINNING IN STORE FOR YOU

Too often, people spend so much time and energy dwelling on the PAST, dwelling on mistakes, or dwelling on disappointments. They don’t even realize that their focus is keeping them from moving FORWARD in life. But in order to FULLY experience God’s blessings, you have to LET GO of those past hurts; you have to FORGET the former things to make room for the NEW.

God has a NEW BEGINNING in store for you, and the way you PREPARE for it is by getting rid of the old. Don’t spend time focusing on where you’ve BEEN; spend time focusing on where you’re GOING. When you “forget the FORMER things,” it means you’re not WORRIED about the past anymore. You don’t ALLOW it to dictate your FUTURE. You may remember past events, but you don’t FEEL the pain like you used to. You’ve opened your heart to receive God’s HEALING. Begin today by declaring that your past is OVER! FORGET the former things and receive the RESTORATION and VICTORY God has in store for you!

Today’s Scripture:

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
(Isaiah 43:18, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GIVE GOD THE GLORY AND LET HIM ARISE IN YOUR LIFE

Let me ask you today, what are you letting ARISE in YOUR life? In other words, what are you focusing your WORDS, ENERGY and THOUGHTS on? You might say, “Oh, Mark, it’s just so hard right now. I’ve lost some money.” “My health doesn’t look good.” “Somebody walked out on me.” No, you’re focusing on the wrong THINGS. You’re letting defeat, discouragement and self- PITY rise up. Why don’t you turn that around and say, “God is STILL IN control. Somebody may have walked out on me, but I know God is going to bring me somebody BETTER.” “I may be hurting right NOW, but ‘I’ know GOD is the restorer of my SOUL.” “I may have lost money in the stock market, but I’m NOT worried. I know GOD is my provider. HE is supplying all of my needs. HE is fighting my battles.”

When you start giving GOD glory and letting HIM arise in your life, you CAN’T stay defeated. Your enemies will be SCATTERED! They’ll TREMBLE at your words of faith. Begin RIGHT NOW by declaring God’s GOODNESS in your life and let HIM arise so that you can move forward in the VICTORY HE has for you.

Today’s Scripture:

“Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered…”
(Psalm 68:1, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

DECIDE TODAY, TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD

Did you know that God has ALREADY recorded every part of your life from the beginning to the end? He knows every disappointment, every loss, every challenge; and the good news is that with Christ, your story ends in VICTORY! God has written out a plan to BLESS and PROSPER you. When you choose HIS plan, your final chapter concludes with you fulfilling your God-given DESTINY. Here’s the key: when you go through a disappointment, when you go through a loss, don’t stop on THAT page in your life. You’ve got to DECIDE to keep moving FORWARD. There’s another chapter in front of you, but you’ve got to be willing to take the next step.

Sometimes, we get so focused on what DIDN’T work out that we stay stuck, RELIVING the disappointment. If that’s you, recognize that you’ve been on that page LONG enough. It’s time to LET IT GO and turn the page to the NEW chapter God has in store. You may not UNDERSTAND, it may not have been FAIR, but REMEMBER, the NEXT chapter is full of BLESSING, full of FAVOR, and full of VICTORY! Make the decision to LET GO of the old so you can move forward into the ABUNDANT life God has in store for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.”
(Psalm 139:16, NLT)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

YOU NEVER KNOW WHO GOD IS GOING TO USE IN YOUR LIFE

There are some people that God has PLACED in your life to help you reach your DESTINY. They may not know you very well, but they may INTRODUCE you to someone or put in a good word for you WITH someone you need to be connected with. They may have WISDOM or ADVICE that will thrust you forward in life. We have to remember that these divine APPOINTMENTS have been orchestrated by God Almighty. Divine appointments aren’t always the people you would expect. In fact, oftentimes they are the people you DON’T expect—a woman at the grocery store, an intern at the office, someone who may seem to be LESS influential. But, God can give ANYONE an idea. God can use anyone to make a CONNECTION. We should always be open to receive from others. We should always treat EVERYONE we encounter with DIGNITY, HONOR and RESPECT. You never know WHO God is going to use in your life. So be OPEN, be LOVING, be KIND and sow GOOD seeds that will open the doors to His divine appointments!

Today’s Scripture:

“We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.”
(Proverbs 16:9, NLT)

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