THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

TODAY AND EVERY DAY, MAKE TIME 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 IS PREPARING YOU FOR SOMETHING BETTER…..

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:

WORRY NOT, AND WORSHIP A LOT…..

You can’t worry and WORSHIP at the same time. When the devil brings you thoughts of worry, anxiety and fear, don’t believe them! Instead, let those thoughts be a REMINDER to you to THANK God that the answer IS on the way! That’s what King Jehoshaphat did. The people of Judah were surrounded by three major armies. It didn’t look as though they had a chance. This godly king was probably bombarded with thoughts of fear and anxiety. But he gathered the people together, lifted his eyes toward heaven, and prayed the simple prayer in today’s verse. Jehoshaphat’s prayer was ANSWERED. God told the people to march right into the enemy’s camp, SINGING and shouting PRAISES on their way. Notice, they WEREN’T worrying—they were WORSHIPING—and God DELIVERED them. Today, choose WORSHIP over worry and move forward into VICTORY!

Today’s Scripture:

“…For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

2 Chronicles 20:12, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

YOU MUST PLANT GOOD SEEDS IN YOUR THOUGHT LIFE IF YOU WANT TO GROW YOUR FAITH….

Have you ever looked at a large, old tree and wondered how long it has been there? The thing to remember when you see a tree like this is that at one time, it was merely a little SEED. Just like a mighty oak tree, if you want to grow tall and strong in your FAITH, you must plant the good seeds of FAITH in your THOUGHT life through your WORDS and water them by MEDITATING on them so that you may reap a great HARVEST! Farmers may get discouraged sometimes, but they know that if they want good results, they must keep planting and watering the good SEEDS. Day after day, even when nothing is happening at the SURFACE, the farmer keeps taking care of those seeds because he knows it’s only a matter of TIME until the harvest. This is true of you as WELL. Keep planting the seeds of FAITH and DECLARING what GOD says about you in His WORD, and you’ll see GROWTH and an ABUNDANT harvest.

Today’s Scripture:

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”

Galatians 6:7

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

BE BOLD ENOUGH TO FOLLOW YOUR GOD-GIVEN PURPOSE AND FULFILL THE DESTINY GOD HAS FOR YOU

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:

ASK GOD FOR THE WISDOM AND GUIDANCE TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS….

It’s easy for us to let our EMOTIONS control our decisions. Sometimes choosing the RIGHT thing doesn’t COME naturally. The GOOD news is, you don’t have to do it ALONE. The Bible says that the forces that are FOR you are greater than the forces that are AGAINST you. God can give us the COURAGE we need to do the RIGHT thing! Because we are new CREATIONS in Christ, the chains of defeated thinking and a negative mentality don’t have a hold on us ANYMORE. You can choose what you WATCH, the things you SAY, and even the PEOPLE you associate with. So often, we think God is too busy to help us with our day-to-day decisions. But you are the apple of God’s EYE. There’s NOTHING too big or too SMALL for our God to handle. Ask God today to give you the WISDOM and GUIDANCE to make the RIGHT decisions.

Today’s Scripture:

“To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.”

Proverbs 21:3, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

LOOK FOR GOD’S GOODNESS, AND YOU WILL DISCOVER IT…..

There are three simple things you can do EACH day that will breathe new life into EVERYTHING you do. First, speak words of FAITH and VICTORY out loud. As a child of the Most High God, you should have a BOLDNESS when you declare, “I CAN do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me! My path is getting brighter and BRIGHTER.”

Next, take time to write down the GOOD things that God does for you each day. When you begin to LOOK for His goodness, you will quickly DISCOVER that He IS working in your life. Finally, be THANKFUL. Take a moment every day to THANK the Lord for all He has done for you. When you develop a THANKFUL heart, you are changing your FOCUS from how big your problems are, to how big your GOD is!

Today’s Scripture:

All together now—applause for God! Sing songs to the tune of his glory…

Psalm 66:1, MSG

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

AS A BELIEVER, NOTHING CAN STOP YOU FROM FULFILLING YOUR GOD-GIVEN DESTINY

In life, we all have negative things HAPPEN to us. I know people who were raised in an ENVIRONMENT where people have addictions, low self-esteem, depression and poverty. Their PARENTS had issues, and now it’s making things much more difficult. But when you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, He gives you a new HEART. In other words, your blood line CHANGES. No longer are you subject to your NATURAL family line; you become subject to your GODLY heritage! His SPIRITUAL blessing OVERRIDES any curse in the NATURAL realm. When you understand WHO you are and WHOSE you are, then no matter WHAT someone ELSE did or DIDN’T do, no matter how you were RAISED, you won’t get bitter. You won’t live with a CHIP on your shoulder. You REALIZE that NOTHING can stop you from fulfilling your God-given DESTINY! Remember, Almighty GOD breathed life into you. When you choose HIM, you are choosing your GODLY heritage!

Today’s Scripture:

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”

(Ezekiel 36:26, NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

MAKE PEACE A PRIORITY IN YOUR LIFE….

Strife is a powerfully destructive force that the enemy uses to try to bring confusion and turmoil into our lives. It can tear apart marriages, destroy businesses, and divide lifelong friends. We all have things happen on a daily basis that can aggravate us, but the key is to NOT let those aggravations make us act rude or angry toward those around us. Instead, let me encourage you to make PEACE a priority in your life. Don’t give the enemy a FOOTHOLD. REFUSE to argue. Refuse to be sarcastic or disrespectful. DECIDE that you are going to keep PEACE in your home AND your LIFE even if it means you have to swallow your PRIDE. Make the CHOICE to AGGRESSIVELY PURSUE peace. Jesus said, “BLESSED are the peacemakers.” You can be THAT person. You can be the one to create an atmosphere of PEACE and HARMONY in your family.

Today’s Scripture:

Scripture and Reference: For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

James 3:16, NIV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

DISCOVERING YOUR GOD-GIVEN PURPOSE

One key to living an abundant life is spending time in worship. The Bible teaches us to worship the Lord throughout the day, every day. Whether you’re at home, work, the bus stop or the ball game, take time to worship God for who He is and thank Him for all the blessings He has given you. Another key is spending time each day in the Word. Your Bible is the best tool you have for discovering your God-given purpose! It will tell you who you are, what you have, and what you can do. Remember, God has plans to prosper you, and as you walk in His plan for your life, you will experience His explosive blessings on everything you set your hand to!

Today’s Scripture:

So come, let us worship: bow before him, on your knees before God, who made us! Oh yes, he’s our God, and we’re the people he pastures, the flock he feeds.

(Psalm 95:6, MSG)