THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT OTHERS THINK, IT MATTERS WHAT GOD THINKS

Anytime you set out to do something GREAT in life, there will be critics. If you’re going to be a great BUSINESSPERSON, COACH, STUDENT, LEADER or EMPLOYEE, there will be opposition. The more SUCCESS you have, the more opportunities there will be for distractions. The HIGHER you go, the more haters will come out. When you start stretching to a new level and pursuing what God has placed in your heart, the jealous people, the critical people, and the small-minded people come out of the woodwork and start making negative comments, but you don’t have to let that distract you.

If you are under pressure today, if the critical voices are coming against you, know that it’s because YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE. Don’t let them throw you off course. Instead, DIG YOUR HEELS IN, set your face like a flint, and say, “I will NOT get distracted. I will NOT get drawn into battles that don’t matter. It doesn’t matter what OTHERS think; it matters what GOD thinks!”

Today, look beyond the critics. Stand strong in adversity. Press forward to what lies ahead and win the prize of life that He has prepared for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise…”

(Micah 7:8, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN YOUR THOUGHTS ARE BETTER, YOUR LIFE WILL BE BETTER

In the original Bible language, the word “transform” is “metamorpho.” It’s where we get our word “metamorphose.” When a caterpillar changes from a little worm-like larva into a beautiful butterfly, it is called metamorphosis. The caterpillar starts out as possibly one of the most unattractive insects. It’s very plain, nothing special about it. But God DESTINED the caterpillar to go through a TRANSFORMATION. It goes from being one of the most ORDINARY creatures to one of the most beautiful, colorful and graceful. Instead of having to crawl on the ground, it can now FLY to wherever it wants to go.

Paul is saying that if you’ll get your THOUGHTS going in the right direction and not dwell on negative, condemning, “not able to” thoughts, and PROGRAM your mind with what GOD says about you, then a TRANSFORMATION will take place. The only way to release YOUR butterfly is to get your THINKING in line with God’s WORD. If you will keep renewing your mind and agreeing with what GOD says about you, it’s just a matter of time before that transformed PERSON comes OUT. When your THOUGHTS are better, your LIFE will be better.

Today’s Scripture

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is; his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GET ON GOD’S PAYROLL AND HE’LL NEVER MISS A PAYMENT

Are you dealing with an “unsolved case” from your past that needs RESOLUTION? You might have been through some bad breaks. People may have said things about you and done things to you that hurt and offended. Are you waiting for your day of justice or repayment? God promises in His Word that HE is our VINDICATOR. He is our DEFENDER. He will settle your case and repay EVERYTHING the enemy has stolen.

But in order to allow Christ to settle your debts, you have to release your concerns to HIM and FORGIVE those who have wronged you. It’s very freeing to say, “They can’t pay me back. I’m on GOD’S payroll, and He NEVER misses a payment.” God WILL settle your cases. You have to ALLOW Jesus to take on the debt they owe you in the same way that He took on YOUR debt for sin. That’s TRUE forgiveness—freeing others so that YOU can be free. As you walk and live in FORGIVENESS, you show that you trust in GOD to repay you, and He WILL HONOR your faith in Him!

Today’s Scripture

…The Lord will judge and determine and solve and settle the cause and the cases of His people.

Hebrews 10:30, AMPC

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

THE ENEMY CAN NOT KEEP YOU DOWN, CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY

Did you make up your mind to be happy this morning? It’s important to be on the offensive when it comes to your HAPPINESS. If you don’t set the tone EARLY in the day, the enemy will start reminding you of all your problems and everything that’s wrong in your life. Before long, you’ll be negative and discouraged. Notice that the Scripture doesn’t say, “I might be glad today if everything goes well, if I don’t get stuck in traffic, if my boss doesn’t yell at me, or if it doesn’t rain on my new hairdo.” No, the psalmist says, “I WILL rejoice and be glad.” No matter what kind of difficulties I face today—no matter who tries to make me upset—I CHOOSE to be happy.

Happiness is a DECISION you make, not an emotion you feel. Never forget that although you might not be able to choose your CIRCUMSTANCES, you can ALWAYS choose how you RESPOND to them. If you’ll make the decision to stay full of JOY, if you’ll choose to be happy in SPITE of your circumstances, the enemy can NOT keep you down and defeated. God will give you supernatural strength to overcome EVERY obstacle you face, and you’ll live that life of overcoming VICTORY He has in store for you.

Today’s Scripture

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24, ESV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

ENLARGE YOUR VISION AND BREAK FREE OF LIMITED MINDSETS

Can you imagine what it must have been like to be sailing on the Mayflower into an unknown and uncharted world? How did Neil Armstrong feel as he became the first person to ever step onto the surface of the moon? Those were risky and certainly life-changing times in history, but life-changing doesn’t just belong in the past. God STILL wants you to step out and do something great for HIS glory and for your BLESSING and FULFILLMENT.

It all begins in your THINKING. Don’t be contained in your mind. Let me tell you what I know about YOU. Some of you will write BOOKS that will touch millions of people. Some of you will develop MEDICINES that will impact our world. Some of you will have a MINISTRY that will shake NATIONS. Some of you will develop SOFTWARE that will revolutionize businesses. If YOU will break free from your limited MINDSET and enlarge your VISION, you will see God take you places that you’ve never even DREAMED of.

Today’s Scripture

So that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!

Philippians 3:11, NLT

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

CHOOSE TO BE STABLE-MINDED BY FOCUSING YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE WORD……

One thing that can lead you away from your POTENTIAL and seeing the AWESOME PLAN God has for your life is your emotions. Emotions are God-given, but too often, people allow their circumstances to dictate their emotions and thoughts instead of the Word of God. When we allow our circumstances to dictate our emotions, when we are moved by what we see and experience, it opens the door for doubt and fear to come in. When we allow doubt and fear in, we become unstable. Understand this key: the way you FEEL today has little to do with what God is actually DOING in your life. He’s working behind the scenes whether you realize it or not! Don’t allow yourself to be tossed around by your emotions any longer. Instead, CHOOSE to be STABLE-MINDED by FOCUSING your THOUGHTS on the Word of God. Stand STRONG in Him so you can CONFIDENTLY EMBRACE the good plan He has for you!

Today’s Scripture:

“But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”

James 1:6, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

BE GENEROUS AND REFRESH OTHERS

Do you need refreshing today? So many people go around overwhelmed, tired, worn down, barely getting by. But that’s not God’s best. He wants us to prosper. He wants us to be refreshed. Here’s the key: be generous and refresh others. Is there someone at the office you can be a blessing to? Can you lighten someone’s load? Maybe a family member is going through a hard time. Can you help them out? Can you cook them a meal? Refreshing someone can be as simple as a smile or an encouraging word. Don’t wait until you feel like doing it, that day may never come! Do it because the Scripture tells us to. Do it because it blesses the Lord.

Today, look for someone to be a blessing to. Step out and refresh others; live a life of generosity. As you do, you will be refreshed in return and experience His blessing in every area of your life!

Today’s Scripture:

“A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”

Proverbs 11:25, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

CHOOSE TO PUT YOUR TRUST IN THE LORD, NO MATER HOW YOU ARE FEELING

FEAR is one of the enemy’s favorite tools to keep us from going forward. As soon as we make a DECISION to step out in FAITH, immediately, the enemy will bring fear to stop us. He’ll put thoughts in your mind like, “What if I fail? What will others think? Maybe I don’t have what it takes.” He’ll do his best to use fear to try to convince you to shrink back and just stay right where you are.

The BIBLE tells us that fear is a SPIRIT. It affects your emotions. But when you choose to put your TRUST in the Lord, no matter HOW you are feeling, you are COMBATING fear.

Today, don’t allow fear to trap you and hold you back. Instead, take a step of FAITH knowing that God IS on your side. He is FOR you and WITH you, LEADING and GUIDING you in the path of VICTORY all the days of your life.

Today’s Scripture:

“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.”

Proverbs 29:25, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

DON’T BE DEFEATED BY FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN, THAT IS NOT THE NATURE GOD GAVE YOU

God says NOT to tremble or be dismayed by ANYTHING because He is with you WHEREVER you may go. That is such an ENCOURAGEMENT, and it’s absolutely TRUE! You should be walking around in life without even the slightest amount of fear because that is not the NATURE God gave you. You should REFUSE to be defeated by the things around you, even if they SEEM insurmountable. Perhaps one definition of courage might be staying STRONG and moving FORWARD even when most would give up and even surrender their ground to fear. Be STRONG and COURAGEOUS for God today, and do NOT allow yourself to be defeated by fear of the unknown!

Today’s Scripture

“…Be strong and courageous; Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9, NIV