THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD’S POWER IN YOU IS GREATER THAN ANY POWER THAT COMES AGAINST YOU

So many people today are living with less than God’s BEST because they’ve allowed fear to creep in and take root in their lives. Fear is the greatest weapon the enemy uses to try to hold us back. Fear is NOT from God. Scripture tells us that fear brings torment. It’s designed to paralyze us and keep us from God’s BLESSINGS.

The good news is that God is GREATER than fear. His POWER in YOU is greater than ANY power that comes against you. But in order to walk in His POWER, you have to close the door on the enemy. See, the enemy can’t have access to your life unless YOU open a door and give him access. That’s why we have to be careful about what we WATCH, what we LISTEN to, what we READ, and what we SAY. When we open ourselves to fear, we give the enemy OPPORTUNITY.

If you’ve allowed fear to steal from you in any area of life, today you can be FREE—you can be FINISHED with fear. CONQUERING the enemy starts by making the CHOICE to close the door on fear, and instead, meditate on God’s PROISES. We OVERCOME by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our TESTIMONY! Let His TRUTH sink down into your heart. DECLARE it out of your mouth. Let Him set you FREE and lead you into VICTORY as you close the door on fear!

Today’s Scripture:

“Do not give the Devil an opportunity to work.”
(Ephesians 4:27, ISV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

IF YOU WANT TO EXPERIENCE GOD’S BEST, PURSUE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND LOYALTY

Have you ever noticed that righteousness and LOYALTY go together? In other words, if we’re not being LOYAL—to our family, friends, country, job—then we aren’t going to experience God’s BEST. LOYAL people are HONORABLE people. When you’re LOYAL, you stick with someone through thick and thin. When you’re LOYAL, you keep your WORD to people—even if you get a “better” offer.

LOYAL people are RESPECTFUL of their country and LEADERS. LOYAL people HONOR their parents and DEFEND their family. When you’re LOYAL, you are a person of INTEGRITY. You build TRUST with others. Is this an area where you can rise higher? Are you FAITHFUL in the things you’re committed to? Can you be more LOYAL? Don’t let the distractions of everyday life keep you from being DEDICATED. Look for ways to show HONOR to those around you. Is there something you need to set aside for the sake of a loved one? Show LOVE by staying LOYAL. As scripture promises, when you pursue LOYALTY and RIGHTEOUSNESS, you will find the abundant life GOD has planned for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“He who pursues righteousness and loyalty finds life…”
(Proverbs 21:21, NASB)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

AS A BELIEVER, YOU ARE WELL ABLE TO DO WHAT GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO DO

God has EQUIPPED you with everything you need to fulfill your DESTINY through His Word! The scripture tells us that as believers in Jesus Christ, we are ANOINTED. The word “anointing” is the POWER of God which gives you COURAGE, STRENGTH and ABILITY. That means you are well ABLE to do what He has called you to do. You CAN accomplish your goals. You have the IDEAS, the CREATIVITY, and the TALENT to be SUCCESSFUL. You can overcome ANY obstacle! You’ve been ARMED with strength for EVERY battle! The forces that are WITH you are greater than the forces that are AGAINST you!

Not only has God EQUIPPED you, but He is also working on your behalf. He has already lined up the right PEOPLE to come across your path. He’s already lined up the right BREAKS. You have EVERYTHING you need to live a VICTORIOUS life. You were created to EXCEL! You have seeds of GREATNESS on the inside of you. Don’t settle where you are. Have the attitude, “I am ANOINTED. I CAN accomplish my dreams. I can OVERCOME any obstacle. I am EQUIPPED and EMPOWERED by my Father in heaven, and I AM able to live the ABUNDANT life He has for me!”

Today’s Scripture:

“Every Scripture is God-breathed…so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
(2 Timothy 3:16-17, AMPC)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WE CAN FOOL A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT WE CAN’T FOOL GOD

When the Lord looks at your heart, what does HE see?

Everyone has an outer life and an inner life. The outer life is our public life that people can see. The inner life is made up of your THOUGHTS, ATTITUDES and MOTIVES. Only you and God know what’s going on INSIDE. Too many people go around today PRETENDING—acting one way, yet on the inside, they’re thinking something TOTALLY different. Their heart and their ACTIONS don’t line up.

We have to understand that God looks at the inside. We can fool a lot of people, but we can’t fool God. God would rather us be OPEN and HONEST than for us to go through life PRETENDING or wearing masks. Today, take inventory of what’s going on inside of you. Are you at PEACE? Are you overlooking offenses? Do you believe the BEST in people? Are your heart and ACTIONS lining up? If not, submit your ways to the Lord today and ask Him to give you an undivided heart. Live a life pleasing to Him and walk in His BLESSING all the days of your life!

Today’s Scripture:

“Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.”
(Psalm 86:11, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

YOUR SPIRIT NEEDS THE WORD OF GOD DAILY

Do you desire to have more FAITH? Scripture tells us that faith can GROW and INCREASE. Notice that today’s scripture doesn’t say, “Faith comes by having heard the Word of God one time.” It says that FAITH comes by HEARING—in the present tense. We have to hear the Word of God over and over again in order for it to take root in our hearts and TRANSFORM our minds. Sure, God’s Word can transform us in an instant, but most of the time, our faith GROWS as we hear the Word of God again and AGAIN.

Just as a seed needs water daily to GROW, your spirit needs the Word of God DAILY. The more you hear God’s Word, the more you KNOW Him. The more you know Him, the more you will be able to BELIEVE Him—and that’s what faith IS!

Today, why don’t you choose a few scriptures to MEDITATE on? Write them down and carry them in your purse or wallet. Let that TRUTH sink down into your soul. Let the truth of the Word TRANSFORM you and MOVE you forward into the abundant life God has prepared for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
(Romans 10:17, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

SOW SEEDS OF BLESSING AND OPEN THE DOOR FOR VICTORY

When a friend or family member SUCCEEDS, gets PROMOTED, or experiences an unexpected BREAK in life, how do you RESPOND?

Some people wonder, “What about ME?” Others criticize or say, “It won’t last long.” But really, the way you RESPOND to other’s SUCCESS will determine the level of your OWN success. Whether you respond in a negative or positive way, you are sowing seeds for YOUR future. That’s why scripture tells us simply to “REJOICE with those who REJOICE.” God wants YOU to be successful. His commands are for your GOOD. He doesn’t want jealousy or strife to enter your life or rob you of His BLESSING.

Today, make it a point to find someone who is celebrating and celebrate WITH them. CONGRATULATE them on their SUCCESS no matter how small it seems in the natural. REJOICE with those who rejoice, sow seeds of BLESSING, and open the door for victory in your OWN life in RETURN!

Today’s Scripture:

“Rejoice with those who rejoice…”
(Romans 12:15, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

STAY TRUE TO WHAT GOD HAS PUT IN YOUR HEART

So many people today spend valuable TIME and ENERGY trying to make everyone around them happy. They want to be APPROVED, ACCEPTED and AFFIRMED. There’s nothing wrong with that, but you can’t let the opinions of OTHERS become your FOCUS or DISTRACT you from what God has called you to.

In the natural, when a professional runner races, you don’t see them looking around at the other runners, wondering how they are doing. No, they have their mind FOCUSED on one thing: the FINISH LINE. They don’t waste valuable ENERGY comparing themselves or wondering what’s going on around them. Instead, they focus on WINNING the prize. This is how WE should be in life—FOCUSED on winning the prize of the victor’s crown in life.

My challenge to you today is: run YOUR race. Don’t let people squeeze you into THEIR mold. Remember, you don’t have to try to PLAY UP to people. You don’t have to worry about what everyone ELSE thinks. As long as you’re being true to what God has put in YOUR heart, don’t look to the left or to the right. Stay FOCUSED on your GOALS. Run YOUR race to WIN and honor GOD in everything that you do!

Today’s Scripture:

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.”
(1 Corinthians 9:24, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

SHAKE IT OFF, RUN YOUR RACE, AND BE GREAT ANYWAY

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:

PLEASING GOD IS ALL THAT MATTERS WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE

So many people live life worried about what everyone else thinks and wondering how they can impress other people. But we have to realize that when we come to the end of life, we’re not going to stand before people to give an account of our lives, we are going to stand before Almighty God. He is not going to say, “Why didn’t you do what so-and-so said to do? Why didn’t you fit into their mold? Why didn’t you take their opinion?” No, He is going to ask, “Did you become who I CREATED you to be? Did you stay TRUE to what I put in your HEART?”

This is where Saul missed it. Saul had a big DESTINY. God had great things in his future, but Saul was so insecure that he let people squeeze him into THEIR mold. He was afraid he was going to disappoint somebody. He said in First Samuel 15:24, “I disobeyed the Lord’s instructions because I was afraid of the people, so I did what they asked.” Notice Saul knew what to do. He even admitted it, “I disobeyed God’s instructions.” Why? He was a PEOPLE pleaser. He forfeited his DESTINY in order to please people. Friend, don’t let that be you! Don’t be a people pleaser, be a GOD pleaser because pleasing God is ALL that matters when all is said and done!

Today’s Scripture:

“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.”
(Hebrews 9:27, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD’S PLAN IS TO DO A NEW THING IN YOUR LIFE

Can you see the “brand new thing” God is doing in your life? Sometimes it’s easy to see the hand of God moving, and sometimes the storms of life can cloud our vision. But no matter where you are in life today, meditate on this TRUTH that God is working even when you can’t see Him. Like a seed buried deep in the ground, it may seem dark and lonely and there may be dirt all around, but that’s the place where LIFE springs forth. Trust that God is doing a NEW thing! You can TRUST Him because He is FAITHFUL!

His plan for you today is BLESSING. His plan is to give you a FUTURE and a HOPE. His plan is to do a NEW THING in your life. Let go of the thoughts of the past and open your heart to what God is doing TODAY. Ask Him to show you what He’s doing. Ask Him to REVEAL it to your heart. SEEK Him and you will FIND Him and see the brand new thing He’s doing in YOU!

Today’s Scripture:

“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun!”
(Isaiah 43:19, NLT)