THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

IN A SINGLE MOMENT, GOD CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE

One thing I’ve learned is that God doesn’t always work on OUR time table. In fact, He RARELY does. But, in a single MOMENT, God can change your life! All throughout scripture, we see examples of how God was working behind the scenes and INSTANTLY turned things around for His people. Scripture tells us He is the same yesterday, today and FOREVER which means if He did it for them, He can INSTANTLY turn things around for you, TOO!

You may be going through some difficulty today, but be ENCOURAGED because your times are in God’s hands. Trust that He has YOUR best interest at heart. He wants to pour out His FAVOR. He wants to take you FURTHER than you dreamed possible and work in your life in ways BEYOND what you have EVER imagined.

Let this TRUTH sink down into your heart today. Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep STANDING, keep HOPING and keep BELIEVING because He IS working behind the scenes. Have FAITH because your times ARE in His hands, and He WILL lead you in the life of VICTORY He has for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“My times are in Your hand…”
(Psalm 31:15, NASB)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

CHOOSE TO BE GRATEFUL AND GIVE THANKS IN EVERYTHING

Are you giving thanks in EVERY circumstance? This might seem like a stretch at first, especially when you are going through a season of difficulty. But notice today’s verse doesn’t say to give thanks “for” everything, it says give thanks “IN” everything. In other words, no matter what’s going on, find something to be THANKFUL for. Don’t just focus on what’s wrong in your life; focus on what God WILL do in your life.

When you are THANKFUL, it opens the door for God to move on your behalf. That’s why it says “this is God’s WILL for you.” He wants you to be CLOSE to Him to receive His STRENGTH and POWER by giving thanks. That’s why we should ALWAYS have the attitude that says, “God, in spite of what’s happened, I choose to be GRATEFUL. I may be sick, but Father, THANK YOU for being my healer. Thank you for giving me great FRIENDS and FAMILY.” Or, “I may be struggling in my marriage, but God, thank You for being my RESTORER. Thank You for giving me another SUNRISE.” As you give thanks in EVERYTHING, you will see God’s hand move MIGHTILY on your behalf, and you’ll come out of that difficulty BETTER, STRONGER and WISER than before.

Today’s Scripture:

“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:18, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD DESIGNED YOU THE WAY YOU ARE FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE

You are God’s own MASTERPIECE! That means you are not ordinary or average; you are a one-of-a-kind ORIGINAL. When God created you, He went to great lengths to make you exactly the way HE wanted you to be. He gave you the right PERSONALITY, the right GIFTS, the right TALENTS, and the right CONNECTIONS to do exactly what He’s called you to do. The question is: do YOU recognize the treasure you possess?

Today, don’t settle for living a mediocre existence. Unlock the hidden treasures inside of you. Every morning when you get out of bed, remind yourself, I am a MASTERPIECE. I am HANDPICKED by God, and I am a person of extreme VALUE and SIGNIFICANCE. Remember, you are an ORIGINAL—you’re not meant to be like everyone else; God DESIGNED you the way you are for a specific PURPOSE. Everything about you is UNIQUE, and every detail about you matters. Receive His LOVE today because you are His most prized TREASURE!

Today’s Scripture:

“We are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
(Ephesians 2:10, NLT)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

TODAY, START FOCUSING ON WHAT GOD ‘WILL DO’ AND GET READY FOR A SHIFT INTO FAVOR AND BLESSING

Did you know that ONE TOUCH of God’s FAVOR can put you 50 years down the road? You can be at a lower position at work, just going along being your best, HONORING God, and SUDDENLY, things can change. One good BREAK, one IDEA, one person who LIKES you, and SUDDENLY, you find yourself at the top. You didn’t see it coming. Things just FELL into place. That’s God SHIFTING things in your favor.

Friend, God can cause OPPORTUNITY to find YOU. He has unexpected BLESSINGS that will cause you to SUDDENLY meet the right PERSON, suddenly you’ll see your HEALTH improve, suddenly you’re able to PAY your house off. What happened? You came into a SHIFT. God breathed in your direction. What used to be a struggle is not a struggle anymore. What should have taken years, happened in a fraction of the time.

Today, get ready for a SHIFT! Start with a shift in your THINKING. Don’t dwell on HOW things are going to work out. Shift your focus to how things WILL work out. Shift your FOCUS to what God WILL do, and get ready to shift your life into the FAVOR and BLESSING God has in store for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“I have declared the former things from the beginning; they went forth from My mouth, and I caused them to hear it. Suddenly I did them, and they came to pass.”
(Isaiah 48:3, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD HAS AN APPOINTED TIME FOR EVERYTHING, AND IT’S THE BEST TIME

The scripture says, “The vision is for an APPOINTED time.” That means there is a specific time ALREADY determined for the fulfillment of the desires God has placed in your heart. The appointed time is the BEST time! We have to trust that God can see the BIG picture for our lives. He KNOWS what’s up ahead. He knows WHAT we’re going to need, WHO we’re going to need, and WHEN they need to show up. If God did everything we ask on OUR timetable, it would limit us because sometimes, what we’re asking for is TOO SMALL. Sometimes the person WE think we can’t live without, God knows in ten years they’re NOT going to be good for us. So He is closing the door right NOW. Sometimes the promotion WE want so badly, if God gave it to us right NOW, He knows it would keep us from a much BIGGER promotion that He has three years down the road.

Remember, God has the advantage of seeing it ALL. The longer I live, the more I TRUST Him. The more I see His hand of FAITHFULNESS, the more I know that HIS plan is better than MY plan. Today, trust that He knows what He’s doing. Trust that He has an APPOINTED time, and it is the BEST time to bring to pass His promises in your life!

Today’s Scripture:

“The vision is yet for an appointed time…”
“Habakkuk 2:3, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD CREATED YOU ON PURPOSE, FOR A PURPOSE

Did you know that God was thinking about you before you were ever born? He knew everything about you before you were in your mother’s womb. He created you ON PURPOSE, FOR a purpose. He carefully PLANNED who you would be, the color of your hair, the color of your eyes and skin. He gave you GIFTS, TALENTS and ABILITIES to be used for HIS glory. He took one look at you and said, “APPROVED.”

No matter how you may be feeling right now, no matter whose approval you DIDN’T get on this earth, know that Almighty God loves you and APPROVES of you today. There’s nothing you can do now or EVER to change that. You may be thinking, “I’ve made so many mistakes, how can God approve of me?” Understand that when GOD sees you, He separates you from your BEHAVIOR. He may not approve of your ACTIONS all the time, but He desires to help you grow and make BETTER choices.

Today, receive His LOVE and ACCEPTANCE. Allow Him to WORK in your life. Allow His love to EMPOWER and STRENGTHEN you because you are APPROVED and EQUIPPED to live in victory ALL the days of your life!

Today’s Scripture:

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you…”
(Jeremiah 1:5, AMP)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD WANTS TO SURPRISE YOU AND OVERTAKE YOU WITH HIS GOODNESS

A SURPRISE is simply something good that you weren’t really expecting. It’s something that makes you feel SPECIAL and lets you know that someone is thinking about you. Surprises bring us JOY and lift our hearts. Your heavenly Father wants to surprise you and overtake you with His GOODNESS. He wants to do things that make your life EASIER and let you know how much He LOVES you.

The word “OVERTAKE” can also be translated “to catch by surprise.” Your heavenly Father longs to be GOOD to you—He wants to catch you by SURPRISE! He wants to help you accomplish your DREAMS and overcome your obstacles. He wants to AMAZE you with His goodness and mercy. We should wake up every morning with the attitude, “I can’t WAIT to see what God is going to do TODAY!”

Make room in your heart and mind for what God wants to do in your life today. Keep an attitude of FAITH and EXPECTANCY. As you do, you’ll see His SURPRISE. You’ll see His hand of blessing OVERTAKE you and bring you to new levels in EVERY area of your life!

Today’s Scripture:

“If you will listen diligently to the voice of the Lord your God, being watchful to do all His commandments which I command you…all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you…”
(Deuteronomy 28:1-2, AMPC)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WITH JESUS, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE…..

When was the last time you declared “I CAN” out loud? It’s not something people think to do every day. In fact, most people tend to magnify their limitations. They focus on their shortcomings. But Scripture makes it plain: ALL THINGS are possible to those who BELIEVE. That’s right! It is possible to see your DREAMS fulfilled. It is possible to OVERCOME that obstacle. It is possible to climb to new HEIGHTS. It is possible to embrace your DESTINY. You may not know HOW it will all take place. You may not have a plan, but all you have to know is that if God said you can…YOU CAN!

Today, why don’t you begin to open yourself up to POSSIBILITIES in your future by simply declaring this verse, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength?” At the stoplight, when you’re waiting in line, any time you have a second, just quote this verse to yourself again. Let it sink down deeply into your heart. As you do, His word will TRANSFORM you. FAITH will rise up in your heart and will boldly embrace the BLESSINGS that He has in store for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
(Philippians 4:13, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY, YOUR WORDS HAVE POWER

Choosing your WORDS is very important. The scripture tells us that LIFE AND DEATH are in the power of the tongue. God Himself spoke the WORLDS into existence by the creative power of WORDS. You can BLESS your future with your words, OR you can curse it.

There are many INFLUENCES over our words. In the heat of the moment, we can let our EMOTIONS tell us what to say. We can listen to what others say and allow THEM to influence our words. We can even be influenced by what we WATCH on TV, the internet or READ in the news. But notice what today’s verse tells us that a WISE person does—a wise person listens to their HEART and lets their heart teach them what to say. As a believer, when you LISTEN to your heart, you are tuning in to what the Spirit of GOD is saying to you. You are coming into agreement with HIM.

Today, listen to your HEART. Take time to be still and quiet before the Lord. Allow HIM to teach you what to say. As you submit your words and ways to Him, HE will direct your path.

Today’s Scripture:

“The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.”
(Proverbs 16:23, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN THINGS HAPPEN THAT YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND, FILE IT AWAY

When things happen in your life that you don’t plan, do you find yourself trying to reason it all out or look for a “file,” so to speak, in your mind to put it in? What happens when you can’t reason it out or make sense of it all?

Here’s the answer: Every one of us needs to create a file in our thinking called the “I Don’t Understand It” file. When things come up that don’t make sense, things that you can’t figure out, instead of getting frustrated or confused, put it in your “I Don’t Understand It” file and leave it alone. If you go through life trying to figure out why something bad happened or why things didn’t work out, it will cause you to become bitter and stuck in life. Part of trusting God means trusting Him when things don’t make sense because we know that His plan is always for good. We have to know that He will reveal all things in HIS time—even if that means in eternity.

Is there something that didn’t make sense in 2018 that you know you need to file away? Choose to TRUST God. Choose to keep moving FORWARD. Know that He LOVES you, He is FOR you, and He has a GREAT PLAN for your future!

Today’s Scripture:

“Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, nor with things too profound for me.”
(Psalm 131:1, NKJV)