THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

THERE IS NO REASON TO BE AFRAID

In Mark 4, Jesus and His disciples were sailing across a lake when they were caught in a FURIOUS night windstorm. The disciples PANICKED, thinking the boat was going to CAPSIZE, so they woke JESUS up. He REBUKED the storm and everything calmed down, then He asked them, “Why are you AFRAID? Do you still have no FAITH?” They had seen Jesus perform miracle after miracle, and they had the Son of God in their BOAT. They didn’t realize the wind and waves couldn’t STO[ the God who CREATED the winds and waves.

Are YOU worried about something even though God is in YOUR boat? He has already PROMISED that those winds of opposition can’t STOP you–the sickness, the injustice, the people trying to DISCREDIT you. Can I encourage you that the God who controls the universe is right there WITH you? Start THANKING Him that HE’S fighting your battles, start SHINING where you ARE, being your BEST in SPITE of the difficulties. There is NO reason to be AFRAID.

Today’s Scripture:

Mark 4:36, AMP

So leaving the crowd, they took Him with them, just as He was, in the boat.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHEN YOU CHOOSE TO LIVE UNCOMMON, GOD WILL SHINE HIS FAVOR ON YOU

Daniel was a Hebrew teenager who had been taken into Babylon to be trained to serve the KING. But the Babylonians worshipped IDOLS and wanted Daniel to COMPROMISE his faith by doing THEIR rituals and customs. They TRIED to get him to eat the king’s food and drink their wine, but Daniel had promised God he wouldn’t DO that. Daniel didn’t let them squeeze him into their mold. He RECOGNIZED that he had been set APART, and he purposed in his heart to NOT be common. If you read the REST of Daniel’s story, you’ll discover that Daniel was given great WISDOM and was made the RULER of the province of BABYLON.

When YOU choose to live UNCOMMON–you’re willing to make sacrifices that others won’t MAKE, to resist the TEMPTATION when others are giving IN, to FORGIVE when it’s not FAIR–God will shine His FAVOR on you. You’ll have wisdom BEYOND your years, creativity, ideas, and ABILITY. As He did for DANIEL, God will open doors you never DREAMED would open.

Today’s Scripture:

Daniel 1:8, NKJV

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank…

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

REST ASSURED THAT THROUGH IT ALL, THE PLAN GOD LAID OUT FOR YOUR LIFE IS STILL ON TRACK

In John 11, after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, some of His critics rushed back to Jerusalem to tell the religious leaders. Lazarus’ RESURRECTION was a strategic part of the plan of GOD that set in motion all the OTHER events that led Jesus to be crucified. That’s why Jesus waited on PURPOSE for Lazarus to die. He could have gone there sooner and HEALED Lazarus while he was ALIVE. But HE knew the RESURRECTION would create such a COMMOTION that His haters would feel FORCED to take action. Jesus’ TIME had come.

Sometimes what seems like a crisis to US is actually the plan of GOD. Mary and Martha were upset that Jesus came too LATE. They had no idea that their CRISIS was in God’s perfect PLAN. They thought things were OUT of control, but God was in COMPLETE CONTROL. Even in our CRISIS, God is STILL on the throne. Nothing happens randomly. Rest assured that through it ALL, the plan He laid out for YOUR life is STILL on track.

Today’s Scripture:

John 11:53, NLT

So from that time on, the Jewish leaders began to plot Jesus’ death.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD HAS SOME THINGS IN YOUR FUTURE THAT ARE GOING TO LEAVE YOU AMAZED…..

In Acts 3, Peter spoke a WORD of faith to a crippled beggar, and he was instantly HEALED. When that man woke up that morning, his EXPECTANCY was to receive a few coins for his SURVIVAL. He didn’t realize he was just one TOUCH of God’s favor away from having his whole LIFE changed. When people realized what had HAPPENED, they were absolutely ASTONISHED, and many of them came to faith in Christ as a RESULT.

God has some things in YOUR future that are going to leave YOU amazed and the people around you ASTOUNDED. You weren’t created to live in dysfunction, with addictions, and to be constantly struggling. That may be how it’s been in the PAST, but that’s NOT in your FUTURE. God is about to do a NEW thing. He’s going to break bondages that have held you BACK. He’s going to increase you to where you have MORE than enough. That sickness is NOT permanent. Healing IS coming. WHOLENESS is on the way. VICTORY is in your future.

Today’s Scripture:

Acts 3:9–10, NLT

All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

WHAT GOD HAS STARTED IN YOUR LIFE, HE WILL BRING TO COMPLETION

You may THINK you’re finished, you missed your destiny, you made too big of a MISTAKE, but today’s Scripture makes it clear that God’s plan for you does NOT end in defeat, in mediocrity, in addictions, or in INJSTICE. Your story ends in TRIUMPH. You’re not going to understand EVERYTHING that happens, but you CAN be confident that God sees the end from the BEGINNING. Sometimes He has to lead you BACKWARD in order to take you FORWARD. He has to dig down DEEP, so He can get you PREPARED for how HIGH He’s taking you. He has to PRUNE you, so you can BLOOM. If you stay in FAITH, you’re going to see how it all works out for your GOOD. If there are things that are holding you back, things that are out of place, things that are messy, don’t get DISCOURAGED. GOD is saying, “You’re right on schedule to TRIUMPH. Your story is NOT finished. I’m still WORKING on you. What I STARTED, I’m going to bring to COMPLETION.”

Today’s Scripture:

2 Corinthians 2:14, NKJV

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THE NEW PROVISION GOD HAS IN STORE FOR YOU

When the people of Israel were in the desert on the way to the Promised Land, God gave them manna to eat. That was good. It sustained them for a while, but it wasn’t permanent PROVISION. Eventually, the manna stopped coming. The people had to move forward, and then God gave them quail. They were so excited. That fed them for a while, but it was also temporary.

See, God gave the Israelites TEMPORARY provision on the way to the Promised Land where they would have PERMANENT provision. The fact that God had something much greater in store for their future is what kept them moving forward. God could have sustained them with manna or quail, but God is a god of INCREASE. He works in seasons, and He always has something BETTER in store.

Don’t get stuck in a rut and think that one way is going to last forever. Instead, stay open and be willing to CHANGE, make ADJUSTMENTS, make CORRECTIONS or try something NEW. If the “manna” stops coming, don’t get upset. Just keep moving forward and be on the lookout for the NEW provision God has in store for you!

Today’s Scripture:

God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus

Philippians 4:19, NKJV

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

TRUST HIM, KNOWING THAT HE’S ORDERING YOUR STEPS

In the Scripture, God brought Joseph through many YEARS of difficult circumstances into a strategic position of INFLUENCE in Egypt, so the Israelites would be able to survive a severe FAMINE. Some of the HARD things we go through and don’t understand are the result of God POSITIONING us to carry out HIS purpose. In the difficult times, you have to TRUST Him, knowing that HE’S ordering your steps.

Like Joseph, God is going to send YOU into strategic positions of service, influence, and leadership. We’re not called to run AWAY from the world system; we’re called to INFILTRATE the system. God is raising up MORE Josephs to run MEDIA networks, to serve in the GOVERNMENT, to find cures for DISEASES, and to LEAD in universities, business, real estate, and TECHNOLOGY. Your Father’s world is a BIG world. He’s going to position you HIGHER than you dreamed. It’s because He can TRUST you. He knows you’ll HONOR Him. You’ll handle the success with HUMILITY, live with INTEGRITY, and be a person of EXCELLENCE.

Today’s Scripture:

John 20:21, NIV

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

YOUR DUE SEASON IS ON THE WAY

The psalmist says that God reigns over the WORLD. That means He also reigns over your HEALTH, your FINANCES, your FAMILY, and your ENEMIES. It may LOOK as though the opposition is bigger and more powerful, and they have more influence and resources, but when you have GOD on the throne, He’s more powerful than ANYTHING that’s trying to stop you. He REIGNS over those enemies. One angel in the Old Testament defeated an enemy army of 185,000 soldiers in one NIGHT. What’s trying to STOP you doesn’t have a CHANCE. The forces FOR you are GREATER than the forces AGAINST you. Now don’t get tired of standing in FAITH. The battle may be taking LONGER than you thought. Keep doing the right thing. God sees where you are and what’s happening. He’s collected EVERY tear you’ve shed. Your time IS coming. Your due season IS on the way. You’re NOT going to just come out; you’re going to come out VINDICATED and PROMOTED to a new LEVEL of your destiny.

Today’s Scripture:

Psalm 47:8, NIV

God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.