THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

PEOPLE WILL KNOW WE’RE HIS DISCIPLES BY THE LOVE WE SHOW

People aren’t going to know we’re His disciples by how many times we go to church or how many scriptures we can quote. People will know we’re His disciples by the LOVE we show one another.

The enemy tries to bring division throughout the Body of Christ by keeping us focused on our DIFFERENCES. When we’re critical and judgmental, we build walls that separate us. The Bible says in Ephesians 4:13, “We need to COME TOGETHER in the unity of faith.” There’s great power in UNITY! We can do a whole lot more together, as born-again believers, than we can do apart. Let’s decide to lay down our differences and come together in the unity of our FAITH in Jesus Christ.

Today’s Scripture:

“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
(John 13:35, NASB)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WITH GOD, YOU DON’T HAVE TO FIGURE EVERYTHING OUT

A lot of times, we have our own ideas about how things should work out in life. But God’s ways are not our ways. In scripture, God brought water out of a rock. Jesus told Peter to go catch a fish, open its mouth, and there was the money he needed for taxes. Another time, God caused a young lady named Mary to have a baby without knowing a man. He is God. He can use things we WOULD expect, or He can make things happen ANOTHER way.

With God, you don’t have to figure everything out. All you have to do is BELIEVE. In fact, it says in Proverbs, “Lean not to your own understanding.” Sometimes there IS no logical solution. You’ve got to turn your mind OFF. If you’re constantly trying to figure it out, that’s just going to make you discouraged, depressed and frustrated. Just because you don’t SEE a way doesn’t mean that God doesn’t HAVE a way. Remember, His ways are HIGHER, and He is working behind the scenes for your GOOD!

Today’s Scripture:

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
(Isaiah 55:9, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

IF YOU ARE TRYING TO PLEASE MAN, THEN YOU’RE NOT A SERVANT OF CHRIST

Paul was OBVIOUSLY not worried about trying to please the people around him. It’s not that he didn’t CARE about others. It’s just that he was focused on serving the LORD. Many times you may be too worried about what people think of YOU, which inhibits you from following God with your whole HEART. Instead, follow those God-given desires with RECKLESS ABANDON, because all that will matter in the END is fulfilling God’s PLAN for your life. You are called to serve God WITHOUT reserve, so fulfill His plan without letting others SIDETRACK you.

Today’s Scripture:

“Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
(Galatians 1:10, NIV)

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)