THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD ALWAYS REWARDS THE DILIGENT…..

God longs to pour out His FAVOR and BLESSING on you. He longs to show you His GOODNESS and PROVISION. He PROMISES to do His part, but you have to do YOUR part, too. You have to be DILIGENT. First of all, be DILIGENT in seeking HIS ways and following HIS commands. Then, be DILIGENT with what you have in your hand, with your TIME and RESOURCES.

In Matthew, Jesus tells a parable about three men whose employer entrusted them with some money called talents. Two of the men were DILIGENT and INVESTED the talents and received a great return. The third man was afraid and buried what he was given. The first two men were REWARDED and PRAISES for their DILIGENCE while the third man was rebuked.

Follow the example of the first two men and look for ways to be DILIGENT with what you have in your hand. Whatever you do, do it with EXCELLENCE. Be the BEST you can be and go the extra mile even when you THINK it goes unnoticed. Understand that when people do NOT notice, God DOES notice, and promises to REWARD the appetite of the DILIGENT.

Today’s Scripture:

“…the appetite of the diligent is abundantly supplied.”

(Proverbs 13:4, AMPC)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

THREE THINGS TO DO EVERY DAY THAT WILL CHANGE THE COURSE OF YOUR LIFE

Most times, it’s not the big events in life or the big breaks that get us where we need to be, it’s the LITTLE things, the daily DISCIPLINES that move us forward in the GOOD things God has for us. I believe there are THREE THINGS you can do every day that can change the course of your life. Number one, EXPECT God’s GOODNESS. Get up every day LOOKING for God’s FAVOR. Number two, RECOGNIZE God’s goodness. There are no coincidences, no lucky breaks. It’s all the goodness of GOD. And number three, always THANK God for His goodness. Anytime something good happens, big or little, give God the GLORY. “Lord, THANK YOU for that parking spot. Lord, THANK YOU for that idea. Lord, THANK YOU for sending me DEW in my desert.”

If you DO this, I BELIEVE and DECLARE that YOU are going to come into MORE of God’s goodness; that His blessings are going to come AFTER you. God is going to open up SUPERNATURAL doors. He’s going to turn negative situations AROUND. Get ready because something GOOD is coming YOUR way! You’re going to FULFILL your God-given DESTINY because He NEVER forsakes those who SEEK after Him!

Today’s Scripture:

“Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.”

(Psalm 9:10, NIV)

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:

WHEN YOU’RE GRATEFUL, YOU FOCUS ON WHAT’S RIGHT….

Many people today don’t realize that the reason they’re not happy, the reason they’re not enjoying life is simply because they’ve trained their minds in the wrong direction. They’ve trained their minds to worry. They’ve trained their minds to complain. They’ve trained their minds to see the NEGATIVE. But just as you can form these negative MINDSETS, you can RETRAIN your mind according to the Word of God and form GODLY mindsets.

I believe one of the main keys to RETRAINING your mind and developing a POSITIVE attitude is by learning to stay GRATEFUL. When you stay grateful, you are focusing on what’s RIGHT rather than what’s wrong. The seed of the Word takes root in the GOOD ground of your heart. This doesn’t happen automatically, you have to DISCIPLINE yourself. You have to make a conscious EFFORT every single day until a good HABIT is formed.

Remember, when you live with an attitude of PRAISE and THANKSGIVING, you are SHIELDING yourself from the attacks of the enemy. The seeds of discouragement cannot take root in a GRATEFUL heart. Neither can bitterness, envy or strife. So today, RETRAIN your mind and be EMPOWERED with His STRENGTH to overcome in EVERY area of your life!

Today’s Scripture:

“And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind…”

(Romans 12:2, AMP)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD WANTS YOU TO LAUGH, AND LIVE WELL

God has given you a great prescription for living a long, healthy and happy life: LAUGH, and laugh a LOT! The “medicine” of laughter is within everyone, but you may need to start taking it. Recent studies have shown that laughter boosts the body’s immune system, reduces stress, reduces the risk of heart attack, and even acts as a natural tranquilizer. Those are health benefits EVERYONE needs. That’s why it’s tragic to go through life with a STONE FACE. The enemy has convinced too many into thinking that they need to be somber and serious in order to be a Christian. But don’t FALL for that trick. God wants you to LAUGH and live WELL!

Today’s Scripture:

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.”

(Proverbs 17:22, NLT)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD WILL PROLONG, AND FILL YOUR DAYS WITH PEACE AND PROSPERITY

So many people today are looking for ways to PROLONG their lives and renew their YOUTH, but God ALREADY has a fail-proof system outlined in His WORD. It says in Isaiah that when you put your HOPE in HIM, He will RENEW your youth. Today’s verse tells us that when you keep His Word close to your heart, it will PROLONG your life.

Notice it doesn’t say that you will just have a long, drawn out, ordinary life. No, God promises that He will PROLONG your life and fill your days with PEACE and PROSPERITY. He wants you to live FULFILLED and HAPPY all the days of your life. That’s why it’s so important to keep His Word FIRST PLACE in your life. We can’t allow distractions to steal our focus or get us off course. Today, choose to keep His commands in your HEART and enjoy His PEACE and PROSPERITY all the days of your life.

Today’s Scripture:

“My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.”

(Proverbs 3:1-2, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

THERE IS ONLY ONE TRUE PLACE OF SAFETY AND REST FOR YOUR SOUL

Have you ever watched children play hide and seek? They look for the best place to hide in the house or yard and wait quietly for their friend to try to find them. It’s a fun game for kids, but even as adults, we need a good place to hide from time to time. Sometimes we need a place of REFUGE, we need a place of SAFETY, and we need a place to REST when we feel overwhelmed by the circumstances of life—a place where the enemy of our soul can never find us.

The good news is that God has the perfect hiding place for you! You don’t have to hide in your job. You don’t have to hide in relationships. You don’t have to hide in food or addictions because God Himself promises to hide you! He freely offers you SHELTER from the storms of life any time you call upon His name.

Remember, there’s only one place the enemy cannot find you. There’s only one place where opposition cannot steal from you. There’s only one true place of SAFETY and REST for your soul, and that is in the arms of Jesus. Know that He LOVES you, and He is ready to RECEIVE you when you call upon His name!

Today’s Scripture:

“In the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.”

(Psalm 27:5, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

FAITH OPENS THE DOOR FOR GOD AND FEAR OPENS THE DOOR FOR THE ENEMY

In the same way that faith opens the door for GOD to work in our lives, FEAR opens the door for the enemy to work in our lives.

The Bible says that fear brings torment. Fear has no mercy. If you act on fear instead of acting on FAITH, it will keep you depressed, miserable and lonely. So many people today are missing out on God’s JOY, PEACE and VICTORY because they keep giving IN to fear. They feed fear by what they watch on TV or read in the news or on the internet. Do NOT let that be you! Romans tells us that faith comes by hearing the WORD of God. The more you fill your heart and mind with God’s Word, the stronger your FAITH will be so you can stand AGAINST the powers of darkness. Choose FAITH instead of fear by choosing God’s WORD.

Remember, the power that is IN you is GREATER than the power of fear. When thoughts come that say, “You’re not able,” choose FAITH by saying, “I CAN do all things through Christ!” Choose faith, OVERCOME fear and live in the FREEDOM GOD has in store for YOU!

Today’s Scripture:

“This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

(Joshua 1:9, NLT)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

STAND STRONG AND FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH

So many people today run from anything that’s hard. They run from their problems. They run from responsibility. They run from people they don’t like. They run from the past. They run from anything that makes them uncomfortable. Instead of facing the issues and dealing with them, they just take the easy way out and go down the path of least resistance. But if you’re going to live in victory the way God intends, you have to learn how to face your challenges HEAD ON.

Notice today’s verse doesn’t say, “Keep running until you see the salvation of the Lord.” It doesn’t say, “Bury your head in the sand until God delivers you.” No, God wants us to STAND STRONG, set our faces like a flint, and fight the good fight of FAITH. And the good news is that you don’t have to do it in your OWN strength! He’s EQUIPPED you with HIS supernatural POWER to overcome every obstacle.

Make the DECISION today to stand strong and face the challenges in your life. Be BOLD and dare to CONQUER! As you stand in FAITH, you will see the SALVATION, the DELIVERANCE of Almighty God in EVERY area of your life!

Today’s Scripture:

“…stand and see the salvation of the Lord…”

(2 Chronicles 20:17, NASB)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN GOD HOLDS YOU IN HIS HAND, YOU ARE SAFE….

We all face situations in life that feel out of control. During times like these, it’s easy to get discouraged and allow fear to creep in; but instead, why don’t you FOCUS on the fact that GOD is holding you in the palm of His hand! There is nothing too difficult for Him; nothing’s impossible; nothing is beyond His ability. When God holds you in His hand, you are SAFE; you are CARED FOR; In His hand, there is VICTORY. In His hand, there is STRENGTH. In His hand, there is PROVISION. In His hand is EVERYTHING you need.

No matter what you may be going through today, you can trust that God is FOR you. Instead of getting down and depressed over your circumstances, LOOK UP and get a VISION of God turning that situation around. Let FAITH rise in your heart and focus on His FAVOR, PROMOTION and BLESSING. As you keep your heart and mind FOCUSED on Him and choose to obey His Word, you’ll see those supernatural BREAKS that will LAUNCH you further ahead than you ever thought possible because He holds you with HIS VICTORIOUS RIGHT HAND!

Today’s Scripture:

“Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you…I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand…”

Isaiah 41:10, AMPC