THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD KNOWS EXACTLY WHERE YOU ARE, AND EXACTLY HOW TO GET YOU TO WHERE YOU NEED TO BE

Have you ever felt overwhelmed or even afraid of what God has called you to do? Maybe you were pursuing a DREAM or GOAL and things didn’t turn out the way YOU planned. Joseph had planned to take Mary as his wife, but when he found out she was pregnant, he didn’t know what to think. He was afraid that he might be making a mistake because things didn’t turn out the way HE planned. But, God sent a messenger in a dream to REASSURE Joseph that he was on THE RIGHT PATH.

Today, let me reassure YOU that God knows RIGHT where you are, and He knows how to get you to where you NEED to be. Even when things don’t go the way YOU planned, His hand is on you. Do NOT be afraid, trust that God is working behind the scenes on your behalf and that He WILL lead you into the life of blessing that HE has prepared for you.

Today’s Scripture:

“…an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. ‘Joseph, son of David,’ the angel said, ‘do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.’”
(Matthew 1:20, NLT)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD CREATED YOU WITH A PURPOSE, AND FOR A PURPOSE

Are you COMFORTABLE in your own skin? In other words, do you recognize yourself as the TREASURE God made you, or are you constantly looking for approval and comparing yourself to a neighbor, co-worker or friend? Do you try to out-dress them or out-perform them? Are you always looking for ways to ONE-UP others?

Friend, it’s time to let ALL of that go. Comparison is a DISTRACTION. Comparison is a THIEF. It steals your TIME, ENERGY, FOCUS and JOY. You aren’t here to impress anybody; you don’t have to prove ANYTHING because you are God’s SPECIAL workmanship. He created you WITH a purpose FOR a purpose. You are EMPOWERED and EQUIPPED to do everything He’s CALLED you to do.

If you will choose to STAY FREE from a spirit of competition and just run your OWN race in life, not only will you enjoy your life MORE, but you’ll see your GIFTS and TALENTS come out to the full. You’ll see His BLESSING and FAVOR in a greater way, and you’ll move forward into the life of VICTORY He has in store!

Today’s Scripture:

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
(Ephesians 2:10, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

DON’T WASTE ANOTHER DAY SITTING IN THE ASHES.
THE PAST IS OVER…..

Everyone has experienced hurt and disappointment. We’ve all been burnt by life. But God doesn’t want us to sit in the ashes of the PAST; He wants to trade our brokenness for HEALING. He wants to give us BEAUTY for our ashes. The key is that we have to be willing to give UP the ashes in order to receive the BEAUTY. You can’t have both because the old HAS to go before the NEW can come.

Today, are you willing to TRUST Him with your past hurts? Are you willing to let go of the PAIN, to FORGIVE others AND yourself so you can move forward in FREEDOM? Don’t waste another DAY sitting in the ashes. The past is OVER, but your future REMAINS. Let God give you joy INSTEAD of mourning, and let Him make something BEAUTIFUL out of the ashes of your life today!

Today’s Scripture:

“He will give: beauty for ashes; joy instead of mourning; praise instead of heaviness.”
(Isaiah 61:3, TLB)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN ONE DREAM DIES, DREAM ANOTHER DREAM

The scripture tells us that without VISION, people perish. If you don’t have a dream or vision for your life, then you’re not really going to reach your fullest POTENTIAL. Maybe at one time you HAD a dream, but you went through some disappointments or setbacks. Things didn’t turn out the way YOU planned. But here’s a key: when one dream dies, dream ANOTHER dream. Just because it didn’t work out the way YOU had it planned doesn’t mean that God doesn’t have ANOTHER plan. You cannot allow one disappointment or even a SERIES of disappointments to convince you that your dream is OVER. It’s time to dig your heals in and hold on to the PROMISES in your heart. Stir UP those God-given dreams TODAY and watch Him pour out His FAVOR and BLESSING upon you and fulfill EVERY desire in your heart!

Today’s Scripture:

‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’
(Jeremiah 29:11, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

IN HIM, IS EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO HAVE VICTORY

The very MOMENT we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we INSTANTLY become a new creation. Our spirits are made ALIVE in Him, the old passes away, and His PEACE fills our hearts. Of course, everything in your life doesn’t change instantly. Some things do, but SOME things God will do in your life over time as you grow in your relationship with Him. The key is to keep moving FORWARD in your spiritual journey one step at a time. Keep your eyes forward and don’t get stuck in the PAST.

Today, remember, GOD is at work in your life. You may not be where you WANT to be. You may have made some mistakes or had some setbacks. But REMEMBER, in HIM, you are the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God. In Him, you are NEW. In Him is everything you NEED to have victory in EVERY area of your life!

Today’s Scripture:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
(2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

TODAY IS THE DAY THAT YOU’VE BEEN WAITING FOR

Have you ever found yourself WAITING for something? Waiting for that PROMOTION? Waiting for that RELATIONSHIP? Waiting for a BREAKTHROUGH? Waiting for something NEW? Well, I’ve got good NEWS for you: I believe TODAY is the day you’ve been waiting for! I believe God is doing a new thing for YOU today.

Notice in today’s verse, the question is: Do you not PERCEIVE it? This tells me that God can be doing something in our lives, but if we are so focused on our circumstances, we can MISS what God is doing. That’s why it’s so important to lift your eyes toward HIM and declare His PROMISES over your life. No matter what your circumstances LOOK like, declare that God IS at work. Declare VICTORY, declare BLESSING, declare HOPE, and declare that TODAY is the day that you’ve been waiting for!

Today’s Scripture:

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”
(Isaiah 43:19, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

REACH OUT AND HELP OTHERS AND THAT HELP WILL COME BACK TO YOU

The way to tell how mature you are is by the way you treat people who can’t do anything FOR you. We can all be kind to the boss. He may give us a promotion. We can all be friendly to the popular person at school. If they like us, EVERYBODY will be our friend. That’s easy. But if we’re going to live the way GOD intends, we’ve got to learn to be good to EVERYONE. Jesus said, “When you do good to the LEAST of these, you’re doing it unto Me.” When you go out of your way to befriend the person that everyone shuns, Jesus said, “It’s like you’re doing it unto Me.”

Instead of rushing by the parking lot attendant you see at work each day, why don’t you take time to see how they’re DOING? That person at the office that others ignore, why don’t you reach out to THEM and share the love of Jesus? We build the kingdom of God one life at a time. Show LOVE, show His GOODNESS, tell people about salvation through Christ. As you reach out and help others, just like a boomerang, that help will come right back to YOU, and you’ll move forward into the BLESSING and DESTINY He has prepared for YOU.

Today’s Scripture:

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
(Matthew 25:40, NIV)

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)