THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

IT’S JUST A MATTER OF TIME….GET READY!

When God began to create everything, it says, “The evening and the morning were the first day.” You would THINK it would say “the morning and the EVENING were the first day,” but God starts the new day at the stroke of MIDNIGHT, when it’s DARK and there’s no sign that something has CHANGED. On PURPOSE, God does not start the day at SUNRISE when there’s an abundance of EVIDENCE that it’s a new day, but He starts the day in the DARK.

It’s SYMBOLIC of how He does things in our LIVES. He gives us a PROMISE of a new day, that He’s restoring HEALTH to us, or promotion is COMING, or our CHILD is going to get back on course, but nothing is CHANGING. It’s still DARK. This is what FAITH is all about. You can’t SEE it, but you’ve passed midnight and SUNRISE is on the horizon–HEALING, PROMOTION, FREEDOM, and the right PEOPLE. It’s just a matter of TIME before you see the LIGHT come breaking forth. Get READY.

Today’s Scripture:

Genesis 1:5, NKJV

God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN IT ALL COMES TOGETHER, YOU’LL UNDERSTAND HOW IT WORKS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE

On the night before Jesus was crucified, He told His disciples that His hour had come, and He was going to be betrayed and CRUCIFIED. In today’s SCRIPTURE, He told them, in effect, “You’re going to walk through some difficult THINGS in the days to come that you don’t UNDERSTAND. You will feel LONELY, CONFUSED, and AFRAID. You won’t UNDERSTAND it, but you will LATER.” The RESURRECTION would connect ALL the dots.

As with these disciples, there will be difficulties YOU don’t understand. A FRIEND walks out of your RELATIONSHIP, the company DOWNSIZES and lets you GO, or the SICKNESS hits. But Jesus NEVER said, “You’re going to understand EVERYTHING. Let Me show you My exact PLAN for you. It all makes SENSE.” He DOES say He’s ordering all your STEPS. He PROMISES that all things work together for your GOOD. Stay in FAITH when it doesn’t make sense. You’re on the verge of seeing Him connect some DOTS. When it all comes TOGETHER, you’re going to see how it works to your ADVANTAGE.

Today’s Scripture:

John 13:7, NIV

Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

CHRIST WILL GIVE YOU STRENGTH THAT’S NOT NATURAL, BUT SUPERNATURAL

We ALL have TIMES in life when we get weary and don’t feel like we can go ON. We’ve prayed, and we’ve believed, but nothing has CHANGED. Now the weight of what we’re facing has left us EXHAUSTED. The GOOD news is that God doesn’t EXPECT you to be strong all the time. He doesn’t FAULT you for feeling weak and say, “What’s WRONG with you? Where’s your FAITH?”

Today’s Scripture makes it clear that when you feel overwhelmed and WEAK, Christ comes in with power and gives you SPECIAL strength. Strength that you didn’t GET on your own. Strength to move FORWARD when you should be STUCK, strength to OVERCOME the addiction, strength to OUTLAST the opposition. It’s the hand of God LIFTING you, EMPOWERING you, REENERGIZING you, causing you to run and NOT be weary, to walk and not FAINT. There’s going to be a strength that’s not NATURAL, but SUPERNATURAL. You’re going to have a NEW passion to stand STRONG, to TRY again, to step up to a new LEVEL.

Today’s Scripture:

2 Corinthians 12:10, NLT

That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

THE ENEMY DOESN’T HAVE THE FINAL SAY, FIND REST IN THE PALMS OF GOD’S HANDS

When we look at all the natural disasters, sicknesses, and accidents going on around us, it’s easy to live WORRIED and AFRAID. We think, “What if we face ANOTHER pandemic? What if my BUSINESS doesn’t make it? What if my child has an ACCIDENT?” If you were on your OWN, you would have valid REASONS to be afraid. But you’re NOT in this by yourself.

The Most High GOD is the Guardian of your soul. When He breathed LIFE into you, He didn’t just put you on the earth and say, “Good LUCK.” HE says, “I will GUARD you from forces of darkness. I will shield you from TROUBLE.” Psalm 91 says, “God RESCUES you from every TRAP and PROTECTS you from the fatal PLAGUE.” YOU don’t HAVE to be afraid. God knows how to keep harm AWAY. And if it DOES come, He knows how to HEAL you. HE knows how to RESTORE what was taken. The enemy doesn’t HAVE the final say. Find REST in the palms of GOD’S hands.

Today’s Scripture:

1 Peter 2:25, NLT

Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN YOU BELIEVE, YOU’LL ACCOMPLISH DREAMS MUCH BIGGER THAN YOU THOUGHT

In the Scripture, God has given us HUNDREDS of powerful promises that say we’ll live an ABUNDANT life, we’ll be HEALTHY and WHOLE, we’ll experience FAVOR, INCREASE, RESTORATION, and on and ON. But as encouraging and inspiring as the promises ARE, on their OWN they won’t do you any good. They’re just nice, encouraging WORDS. You have to add IN the ONE ingredient that activates the POWER, that makes the promises come ALIVE and become what God SAYS, and that’s FAITH.

God’s promises can bring HEALING, can RESTORE relationships, can catapult you to a new LEVEL, but you won’t see ANY change until you IGNITE them. You’re on the verge of God doing something you’ve never SEEN. Why don’t YOU start mixing in faith with His promises TODAY? Faith IGNITES the promises, and powerful THINGS happen. When you BELIEVE, ANGELS go to work. When you believe, supernatural DOORS will open. When you believe, you’ll defeat GIANTS. When you believe, you’ll accomplish DREAMS much BIGGER than you thought.

Today’s Scripture:

Hebrews 4:2, NKJV

But the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN YOU REMEMBER WHAT GOD SAYS, FAITH WILL RISE UP IN YOUR HEART

Even after Lazarus had DIED and been in the tomb for FOUR days, Jesus said to his grieving sisters, “Did I not TELL you that if you BELIEVE, you WILL see the glory of GOD?” They soon saw a RESURRECTION. YOU may be facing a sickness, and you’re worried. GOD is saying, “Did I not TELL you that I will restore HEALTH to you, that by My stripes you are HEALED?” You have to start THANKING God for what He TOLD you instead of focusing on what you SEE.

When you’re under PRESSURE, it’s SO important to dwell on God’s PROMISES. Maybe you’re discouraged over how long your DREAM is taking. GOD is saying, “Did I not TELL you that what I started I will FINISH?” When people with more INFLUENCE at the office are trying to push you DOWN, GOD is saying, “Did I not TELL you I will fight your battles FOR you?” When you remember what GOD says, fear, doubt, and worry cannot STAY, and FAITH will rise in your heart.

Today’s Scripture:

John 11:40, NIV

Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

KEEP PEOPLE WHO ARE JOINED IN SPIRIT WITH YOU

In Mark 5, Jesus went to pray for a little girl who had DIED. When He arrived at the home, He didn’t allow anyone to go in with him except for His inner CIRCLE. Why? Jesus KNEW when He got in that room where the little girl was dead, He needed people who wouldn’t question who He WAS. He needed people who BELIEVED.

If YOU have people close to YOU who are constantly pulling you DOWN, telling you how you’ll never accomplish your DREAMS, understand that it is SCRIPTURAL to keep them at a DISTANCE. It may be DIFFICULT, but when you’re in the heat of the BATTLE, when you need a BREAKTHROUGH, you need people who are joined in spirit WITH you. You need people who will say, “If YOU’RE bold enough to believe it, count on ME. I’m bold enough to AGREE with you.” “If YOU believe you can get your DEGREE, or you can see your marriage RESTORED, then count on ME. I’m on BOARD. I’m ALL FOR you.”

Today’s Scripture:

Mark 5:37, TLB

Then Jesus halted the crowd and wouldn’t let anyone go on with him to Jairus’s home except Peter and James and John.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

THERE’S NO LIMIT TO WHAT GOD WILL DO IN YOUR LIFE WHEN HE KNOWS HE CAN TRUST YOU

God wants us to be people of INTEGRITY. A person of HONOR is open and honest and true to her WORD. He says what he MEANS and means what he SAYS. She doesn’t have any hidden agendas or ulterior motives. He doesn’t need a legal CONTRACT to force him to fulfill his WORD. People of INTEGRITY are the same in PRIVATE as they are in PUBLIC. They do what’s right whether anybody is WATCHING or not.

If you don’t have INTEGRITY, you will NEVER reach your best. INTEGRITY is the foundation on which truly SUCCESSFUL relationships are built. Every time you COMPROMISE, every time you are LESS than honest, you are causing a slight crack in the FOUNDATION. If you CONTINUE compromising, that foundation will never be able to hold what God wants to BUILD. On the OTHER hand, God’s BLESSINGS will OVERTAKE you if you settle for nothing LESS than living with integrity. There’s NO limit to what God will DO in your life when He knows He can TRUST you.

Today’s Scripture:

Song of Solomon 2:15, NLT

Catch all the foxes, those little foxes, before they ruin the vineyard…

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

IF WE ARE TO FULFILL OUR DESTINY, WE MUST STAY TRUE TO WHAT GOD HAS PUT IN OUR HEART

Jesus talks about those who love the praise of PEOPLE more than the praise of GOD. One of the tests we ALL have to pass is when someone whom we respect or LIKE wants us to go ONE direction, yet we know in our HEARTS we should take ANOTHER path. We want their APPROVAL, but if we are to fulfill our DESTINY, we have to stay true to what HE’S put in our heart. If you please GOD, His favor, His anointing, and His BLESSING will cause you to EXCEL. If you quit worrying about what OTHERS think, you’ll see new opportunities and RELATIONSHIPS. God’s favor will INCREASE you.

PEOPLE will tell you how to RUN your life. If you try to please EVERYONE, you’ll be confused, frustrated, and MISERABLE. Don’t let PEOPLE control you and go around feeling GUILTY because you don’t fit into their BOXES. They may not understand why you don’t take their ADVICE, but look straight AHEAD, and as the apostle PAUL says, “Run with PURPOSE in EVERY step.”

Today’s Scripture:

John 12:43, NIV

…for they loved human praise more than praise from God.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

START AIMING FOR EXCELLENCE IN EVERYTHING YOU DO

For MANY people, mediocrity is the NORM; they do as LITTLE as they possibly can to just get by. But God has called us to be His REPRESENTATIVES, to be people of EXCELLENCE and INTEGRITY. How you LIVE, how you conduct your BUSINESS and do your WORK, is all a reflection on our GOD. Any hint of compromise or MEDIOCRITY will taint our greatest victories or our grandest ACHIEVEMENTS as well as keep us from God’s BEST.

When you have an excellent SPIRIT, it shows up in the quality of everything you DO and the ATTITUDE with which you DO it. The SCRIPTURE says that whatever you DO, you should give your best EFFORT and do it as if you are doing it for GOD. You go the extra mile to do what’s RIGHT, and anything LESS will cause you to be UNHAPPY. You keep your WORD even when it’s DIFFICULT. You give your employer a full day’s WORK and don’t call in sick when you’re NOT. Start aiming for EXCELLENCE in EVERYTHING you do.

Today’s Scripture:

Philippians 1:9–10, ESV

…that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ…