THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

TAKE HOLD OF GOD’S PROMISES AND DECLARE THAT YOU ARE RISING HIGHER

God doesn’t want you to live stressed and with a “barely-get-by” attitude. He has new seasons of INCREASE in front of you. He wants you to THRIVE, to live an ABUNDANT, OVERFLOWING life!

Sometimes when things seem difficult, it’s easy to slip into “survival mode.” When times get tough, it’s tempting to just “hunker down” and settle. If you’re not careful, you’ll develop a survival MENTALITY that will keep you from GROWING and embracing what God has for your FUTURE. You’ll be happy to just “break even.” But as God’s children, we’re not supposed to just break even; we’re supposed to break THROUGH to a new LEVEL! We’re supposed to BELIEVE for more of God’s FAVOR, INCREASE and PROMOTION no matter what is happening in the world AROUND us.

Make up your mind TODAY that no matter how difficult things seem, you are going to thrive EVERY day! Take hold of God’s promises and DECLARE that you are rising HIGHER. EXPECT His favor and increase and see His hand of blessing in EVERY area of your life!

Today’s Scripture:

“…I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].”

John 10:10, AMP

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

YOU ARE HANDPICKED BY GOD AND NOTHING CAN CHANGE HIS LOVE FOR YOU

BEFORE you were ever born, before the very foundation of the earth, God KNEW you, PLANNED for you and CHOSE you! He APPROVED you and called you His own. You may have been overlooked by PEOPLE in your life; maybe you were passed up for a job or overlooked by someone whose opinion you valued. But remember, God won’t EVER overlook you! In fact, He HANDPICKED you. He chose you to be HOLY, or set apart, for Himself.

Meditate on THIS truth today: You are God’s most VALUED possession. You are SPECIAL. YOU are the apple of His eye. He knows everything ABOUT you; He even knows the number of hairs you have on your head. He has given you the GIFTS and ABILITIES that you have for a PURPOSE. You carry great VALUE and SIGNIFICANCE. Don’t ever lose sight of the TREASURE He’s placed within you.

Remember, you are handpicked by God and NOTHING can change His love for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“[In His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy…”

Ephesians 1:4, AMP

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

AS A BELIEVER IN JESUS, GOD HAS PROMISED NEVER TO LEAVE YOU…..

No matter what today has in store, as a believer in Jesus, you can approach the day with BOLDNESS and CONFIDENCE. Why? Because the LORD is with you, and in Him is everything you NEED in this life. That means if you need provision for something today, PROVISION is with you. If you need wisdom today, WISDOM is with you. If you need STRENGTH, JOY or PEACE today, they ARE with you. You can be CONFIDENT today knowing that all of your needs are supplied SPIRITUALLY, PHYSICALLY and EMOTIONALLY because the Lord is with you. And best of all, He’s PROMISED never to leave you! Isn’t it good to know that you will ALWAYS have whatever you NEED any time you need it!

Today, don’t let lies from the enemy or pressure from the world keep you from taking hold of everything the Lord has for you. Open your heart by FAITH and receive whatever it is that you need today. Just begin to THANK Him for His PROVISION in your life and move forward in CONFIDENCE and STRENGTH knowing that the Lord IS WITH you!

Today’s Scripture:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

(Joshua 1:9, ESV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

YOUR TIME IS HERE, JUST LIKE PETER IN THE BIBLE, NOW IS YOUR TIME TO ‘STEP OUT OF THE BOAT’

Have you ever thought about why Peter wanted to get out of the boat? Why did he all of the sudden think he could walk on water? Well, you might say, “It’s because he saw Jesus open the blind eyes and cleanse the lepers.” Yes, that’s true. But, the other disciples in the boat saw the same things. Why didn’t they want to get out?

Peter understood that it was his time. He stirred his FAITH up. He BELIEVED at that moment that he COULD do what God placed in his heart. Jesus said, “Peter, do you want to get out of that boat?” He said, “Yes, I do.” Jesus replied, “Well, come on out.” Notice that Jesus didn’t say, “Peter, stay in that boat. Don’t you know I’m the Son of God?” No, He said, “Peter, I like your attitude of FAITH. I like the fact that you believe you can do great things.”

Today, have that same kind of BOLDNESS! Start believing that YOUR time is here! All the dreams that you’ve buried, those desires that you thought would never work out, it’s time to start believing again. It’s YOUR time, and it’s time to step out of the boat!

Today’s Scripture:

“And Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.’ He said, ‘Come!’ So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water, and he came toward Jesus.”

Matthew 14:28-29, AMP

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

CHOOSE FREEDOM TODAY, BY CHOOSING FORGIVENESS

Is there someone in your life who has wronged or offended you? Maybe it was intentional, or maybe they don’t even know they’ve hurt you. No matter WHAT the circumstance, as believers, we are called to FORGIVE. When we forgive, we seek LOVE, and the Bible says that God IS love. If we don’t FORGIVE, we are turning in the OPPOSITE direction—AWAY from God.

Choosing forgiveness doesn’t EXCUSE the other person’s behavior. It simply releases the DEBT they owe you so that God can release the debt you owe Him. Forgiveness opens the door so that you can be FREE. Choose FREEDOM today by choosing FORGIVENESS. Seek LOVE and know that GOD is looking at your heart!

Today’s Scripture:

“…The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

THE FREE GIFT OF SALVATION

When God sent His Son to earth, He opened the door of salvation to WHOEVER would BELIEVE. That means ANYONE can become a child of His and have EVERLASTING life!

Before Jesus came, people had to observe MANY laws in order to be considered holy enough to go into God’s temple. They were constantly performing sacrifices to pay for their sins just so they could be around the PRESENCE of God. Even then, their sins were only COVERED up. They were still THERE. But when JESUS came, He was the FINAL sacrifice. His blood doesn’t just COVER our sins; it washes them AWAY! Now, instead of going to the TEMPLE to be near God, the Bible says WE are the temple, and He chooses to live inside of US. Today, THANK God for the FREE gift of SALVATION.

Today’s Scripture:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

John 3:16, NKJV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

LOOK FOR WAYS TO WALK IN UNITY WITH THE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE

Strife is a very destructive force. It can creep into relationships by starting small, maybe through a comment or a wrong look from someone, and it can then escalate into something much bigger. But when you choose to CEASE from strife and OVERLOOK an offense, you are acting HONORABLY, and you are honoring GOD.

How do you AVOID strife? Scripture tells us that LOVE covers over many offenses. Love gives people the benefit of the doubt. Maybe someone was short with you at the office, but they may also have a loved one in the hospital. Instead of getting upset, walk in love—be PATIENT, be KIND to them. Extend GRACE.

Today, look for ways to walk in UNITY with the people in your life. When we walk in unity, there is a commanded BLESSING. Always AVOID strife and choose PEACE and watch the hand of God move MIGHTILY in your life!

Today’s Scripture:

“It is an honor for a man to cease from strife…”

Proverbs 20:3, KJV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

FEAR, WORRY AND ANXIETY ARE NOT FROM GOD.

No matter what may be going on all around you today, you can still live in peace. The Scripture encourages us to not let our hearts be troubled. In other words, don’t meditate on all the negative things in this world to the point that it steals your peace. If you have fear, worry or anxiety about ANYTHING, recognize that those feelings are NOT from God because He has promised to give you a spirit of POWER, LOVE and a SOUND mind. There is tremendous POWER in peace. When you are at peace INSIDE, you can THINK more clearly. You can hear the voice of God more EASILY. You’ll make better DECISIONS. Even your physical BODY responds to peace.

The enemy knows this, and his goal is to STEAL your peace.

He tries to set you up to get upset. But when you choose to receive GOD’S peace, NO weapon formed against you will prosper. You can LIVE in peace, you can live in JOY, and you can live the abundant life GOD has for you.

Today’s Scripture:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 14:27, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

TODAY IS THE DAY FOR NEW GARMENTS!

Do you need a new GARMENT today? I’m not talking about a PHYSICAL garment. I’m talking about what’s covering your MIND and EMOTIONS. When you feel that heaviness and discouragement are trying to overtake you, the first thing to do is take OFF the old coat of heaviness and put on a NEW coat of PRAISE. When you put on the garment of praise, that spirit of heaviness HAS to go.

Sometimes you won’t FEEL like being grateful. That’s why God says to offer up the SACRAFICE of praise. God knew it would not always be easy. You will have to dig your heels in and say, “God, I’m tired and discouraged, but I know YOU are GOOD. You are good ALL the time, so I choose to give You PRAISE.”

Today is the day for NEW garments! Thank Him for RESTORING you, even if you don’t see it yet. As this verse says, you will be called an oak of RIGHTEOUSNESS, STRONG and SECURE, and you will display the SPLENDOR of the Lord!

Today’s Scripture:

“Provide for those who grieve…a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”

Isaiah 61:3, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD WANTS TO GIVE YOU A LIFE, EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL YOU COULD ASK OR THINK

God wants to do EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY above all you can ever ask, think or IMAGINE. In another place in scripture, it says that no person has ever seen, heard or even IMAGNINED the wonderful things that God has in store for those who love the Lord. But notice that it’s “according to the power working IN us.” God’s power works in us by our FAITH, how we BELIEVE. Do you BELIEVE that God wants to work in your life EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY above all YOU could ask or think? Do you believe He wants to OVERWHELM you with His GOODNESS and BLESSING?

The Bible says that if we have faith the size of a tiny mustard seed, we can move MOUNTAINS. And no matter how much faith we have, faith can GROW in us as we hear, study and receive the Word of God.

Today, make God’s Word a PRIORITY. Believe that He will do exceedingly abundantly above ALL you can ask or think. He is FAITHFUL to His Word, and He will be FAITHFUL to fulfill every promise He’s made to YOU!

Today’s Scripture:

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Ephesians 3:20-21, NKJV