THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

RAISE YOUR LEVEL OF EXPECTANCY AND GOD WILL POUR OUT BLESSINGS AND FAVOR ON YOU

What are you expecting today? Are you expecting to rise HIGHER in life? Are you expecting good BREAKS? Are you expecting GOODNESS to follow you everywhere you go? If you are EXPECTING to get the short end of the stick, your own wrong thinking will keep you in mediocrity. Remember, God will meet you at the level of YOUR expectations. Pay attention to what you are thinking about and make the choice to believe God for GOOD things. Every day, imagine there are BLESSINGS, FAVOR, INCREASE and PROMOTION in your path. They already have YOUR name on them! It’s just a matter of time before you come across them. Start CONFESSING every day, “Something GOOD is going to happen to me today.” Stand strong when trouble comes, knowing that your best days ARE ahead. Believe that God’s blessings WILL overtake you! Expect GOODNESS and MERCY to chase you down. If you’ll learn to RAISE your level of expectancy, God will pour out His BLESSINGS and FAVOR on you. You’ll rise to NEW levels, and you’ll live the life of VICTORY He has in store.

Today’s Scripture:

“Surely goodness and loving-kindness will follow me all the days of my life…”

(Psalm 23:6, NASB)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

AS A BELIEVER, GOD PROMISES THAT NO GOOD THING WILL HE WITHHOLD FROM YOU

What do you need from the Lord today? Do you need PEACE, PROVISION or GUIDANCE? The Word of God promises that no good thing will He withhold from those who walk blamelessly before Him. Now you may be thinking, “Mark, I’m not perfect. How can I have a blameless walk?” The Good News is that when you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you AUTOMATICALLY have a new, BLAMELESS walk. The past is erased in God’s eyes. And sure, you may make mistakes from time to time, but 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Understand today that God WANTS to pour His FAVOR and HONOR on you. If you feel like there is anything in your life that you need to be cleansed from, go to the Father today and CONFESS it to Him. Let Him make you NEW so that you can receive the good things He has in store for YOU!

Today’s Scripture:

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.

Psalm 84:11, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

RECOGNIZE AND THANK GOD FOR HIS ABUNDANT GOODNESS IN YOUR LIFE TODAY

Have you ever had an experience where you were just overwhelmed and amazed by God’s GRACE and BLESSING? It is our prayer that if you haven’t already, you SOON will have the remarkable blessing of seeing His transforming POWER in ACTION. Paul described in his letters just how ASTONISHED he was by God’s grace. If there is ever a time when something just doesn’t quite seem to make LOGICAL sense, it may very well be GOD’S work in your life. He is such a BIG God who is so full of GOODNESS, GRACE, BLESSING, FORGIVENESS and MERCY—we cannot even scratch the SURFACE of His greatness. All you can do sometimes is stand back and be OVERWHELMED by His deep, abiding LOVE. Begin to RECOGNIZE and THANK Him for His abundant GOODNESS in your life.

Today’s Scripture:

The grace of our Lord [His amazing, unmerited favor and blessing] flowed out in superabundance [for me, together] with the faith and love which are [realized] in Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 1:14, AMP

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

BE STILL, KNOWING THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL

We ALL have to make numerous decisions throughout the day. When you face a DIFFICULT decision, did you know you can ask GOD to lead you in the right direction? You’ll be AMAZED at the insight you get from relying on God instead of striving to find the answers on your OWN. If you’re constantly trying to figure things out and make things happen instead of waiting for GOD’S timing, you’ll wear yourself OUT. Instead, why don’t you come back to a place of REST, knowing God IS in control. His ways are HIGHER than ours. If you’ll TRUST Him to do things HIS way, you’ll see His BEST plan for your life unfold. When you feel worried or uptight, that’s the time to say, “God, give me Your WISDOM to make GOOD decisions. I REFUSE to worry. I’m staying in PEACE, knowing that YOU are in control.”

Today’s Scripture:

“Cease striving and know that I am God…”

Psalm 46:10, NASB

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

MAKE TIME TODAY AND EVERY DAY, TO SPEND WITH JUST YOU AND THE LORD….

If you’ve ever said to yourself, “I don’t even have time to think,” then you know how hard it is to CONCENTRATE when you’re being bombarded with noise from all sides. It can be even harder to hold on to PEACE when we don’t make time to read His Word. God doesn’t often shout to get our ATTENTION. Instead, the Bible says that He speaks in “a still, small voice” (1 Kings 19:12), which means we need to listen CLOSELY. What can you do to put yourself in a position to hear GOD’S voice? The key is to MAKE TIME every day away from the busyness and distractions. Find a room in your house, outside under the trees, or some other place where you can be STILL for a few minutes each day to spend time with HIM. As you spend TIME with Him, He will renew your SPIRIT and restore your PEACE.

Today’s Scripture:

…he leads me beside quiet waters.

Psalm 23:2, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD LOVES YOU TOO MUCH TO LEAVE YOU WHERE YOU ARE

Does there seem to be a problem waiting for you no matter where you turn? Do you sometimes wonder if your dreams are EVER going to come to pass? Maybe you’ve asked why God would allow you to struggle in your JOB, your RELATIONSHIPS, your HEALTH or some OTHER area of life. Sometimes God allows us to go through CHALLENGES because He knows it’s the STRUGGLE of life that builds STRENGTH in us. If God simply delivered us from EVERY struggle, then we might not continue to grow and learn to TRUST Him. When you stretch your FAITH, ENDURE, OVERCOME and PERSEVERE through the DIFFICULT times, you’ll begin to realize a greater level of JOY, PEACE, VICTORY and ABUNDANCE than you ever dreamed possible. Remember, God loves you TOO MUCH to leave you where you are. He’s PREPARING you for something BETTER!

Today’s Scripture:

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

2 Corinthians 4:17, NKJV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GIVE GOD AN OFFERING OF THANKSGIVING EVERY DAY

Did you know that having a life full of joy and fulfillment is a matter of CHOICE? Many people are not living in victory today because they have walked around with a CHIP on their shoulder. They are constantly complaining, always dwelling on what they DON’T have, or focusing on their PROBLEMS.

Let me encourage you to stay OUT of that trap. Wake up every morning and begin each new day by counting your BLESSINGS. Take time to make a LIST. Write down at least ten things that you are THANKFUL for. WHATEVER your situation in life, find things to add to the list.

Keep your list in a place where you can SEE it every day. When you feel yourself getting negative, when you’re beginning to get discouraged, check your LIST; read it out loud. Focus on all of the BLESSINGS that God has given you. Begin to thank Him for what He has ALREADY done for you and for all that He has in store for your FUTURE.

Give God an offering of thanksgiving EVERY day. As you begin to express your APPRECIATION and PRAISE to the Lord, you will begin to see Him pour out His BLESSINGS and FAVOR in greater portions, and you’ll experience the overcoming life of VICTORY He has in store for you.

Today’s Scripture:

“You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.”

(Psalms 128:2, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

THERE IS SOMETHING IMPORTANT THAT ONLY YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH FOR GOD

There’s nothing more ENCOURAGING than to discover your PURPOSE and to walk in it! Don’t let the enemy convince you that you’ve been forgotten or left out. You were NOT made to sit on the sidelines. You have a DESTINY to fulfill!

God has entrusted everyone with different GIFTS and TALENTS. That means you ALREADY have the ABILITY, the CREATIVITY, the IDEAS you need to FLOURISH in what He has called you to do. There is something important that only YOU can accomplish for God.

Many heroes of the Bible had humble beginnings and were overlooked. David was the youngest of many sons, yet he was destined to become KING. Moses had a SPEECH impediment, but God chose him to deliver a NATION. It’s not about where you start, it’s about how you FINISH. Be bold enough to FOLLOW your God-given purpose and fulfill the DESTINY He has for YOU!

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:

YOU MAY BE STRUGGLING NOW, BUT SOON YOU’LL COME INTO GOD’S ANNOINTING OF EASE

We all go through seasons of struggle with our FINANCES, our HEALTH, or our RELATIONSHIPS. Too often we lose our ENTHUSIASM and think it’s never going to change. In Matthew 11, Jesus was saying that there will be SEASONS where you have to stand strong and fight the good fight of FAITH. But a few verses later He said, “My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” He was saying that you’re going to go through times of difficulty, but that’s not permanent.

You may be struggling now, but you’re about to come into an anointing of EASE. Where there’s friction, oil makes things flow. God is going to anoint your life with a supernatural GRACE, a FAVOR that lightens the load and takes the PRESSURE off. You’re going to ACCOMPLISH more with less work. You’re going to flow right past what may have stopped you in the past and think, I never DREAMED it would happen that easily.

Today’s Scripture

…You have anointed and refreshed my head with oil.

Psalm 23:5, AMP

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

YOUR PROMOTION IS IN YOUR HUMILITY

We all have times when we know we’re SUPPOSED to do something, but it doesn’t seem fair. It might be to forgive someone who did you wrong, help someone who never says thank you, or honor your spouse’s repeated request to do something their way rather than your way. Everything on the INSIDE will say, “No way! They don’t deserve it.”

After Peter had fished all night and caught nothing, Jesus said to him, “Launch your boat into the deep and let down your nets.” Peter could have said, “Jesus, I’m an expert fisherman, and the fish are not there now.” Instead he HUMBLED himself and said, “It doesn’t make sense, but at Your word I’m taking this step of FAITH.” When he did, he caught so many fish that his nets began to break. If you’re going to reach your highest POTENTIAL, you have to humble yourself and do things you don’t UNDERSTAND. Your PROMITION is in your HUMILITY.

Today’s Scripture

And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear!

Luke 5:6, NLT