THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

NO MATTER WHAT YOU’VE DONE, GOD NEVER WRITES YOU OFF…..

In Luke 19, out of a large crowd of people, Jesus called out Zacchaeus by NAME, a dishonest and despised TAX collector, stating that He wanted to meet with him at his HOUSE. It’s INTERESTING that Jesus passed by ALL the religious people and went right to the most notorious SINNER in the crowd. It shows you the HEART of God. He was saying, “I KNOW all your weaknesses, failures, and cheating ways, and I’ve come to SAVE you.”

YOU may think you’ve made so MANY mistakes and have so much negative BAGGAGE that God won’t have anything to DO with you. NO, God is calling your NAME. He will seek out the ONE person who most people have written OFF. He looks BEYOND the mistakes, beyond the FAILURES, beyond what we PRETEND to be. No matter what you’ve DONE, He NEVER writes you off. He’ll help you CHANGE where you couldn’t change BEFORE. Salvation is COMING, breakthroughs, deliverance, restoration, healing, favor, the FULLNESS of your DESTINY.

Today’s Scripture:

Luke 19:10, NIV

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

FAVOR IS GIVEN TO FULFILL YOUR PURPOSE AND TO ADVANCE GOD’S KINGDOM

Esther was a Jewish orphan girl who was living in exile in Persia. It didn’t LOOK as though she would ever do anything GREAT. But God raised her up to become the queen over many OTHER women who came from WEALTH, INFLUENCE, and BEAUTY. God’s FAVOR caused her to stand OUT, and it shows that FAVOR is MORE powerful than your RESUME. FAVOR took her from the back to the FRONT. Later, Esther used her position to SAVE the Jewish people from a plot to DESTROY them. I believe one REASON God gave her such PROMINENCE is that He KNEW she would use the influence to fulfill her PURPOSE.

FAVOR is not about having a bigger house, a better car, or more STUFF. That’s NOT why God is going to FAVOR you. FAVOR is given to fulfill your PURPOSE. It’s to advance His KINGDOM. When your dreams are tied to helping OTHERS, to making the world a better PLACE, to LIFTING the fallen, you will come into some of those “such a time as this” MOMENTS.

Today’s Scripture

Esther 4:14, NLT

Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

IF YOU STAY IN FAITH, AT THE RIGHT TIME YOU’LL SEE IT COME TOGETHER

In today’s Scripture, God put such an emphasis on His FAITHFULNESS because He KNEW how easy it is to give up on our DREAMS, to let our CIRCUMSTANCES and how LONG it’s been taking to talk us OUT of His best. YOU may be facing a situation that looks impossible today. The odds are AGAINST you, and you’ve had some SETBACKS. Let me ENCOURAGE you, it’s coming TOGETHER. God is NOT going to fail you. The breakthrough is ALREADY in your future. Maybe you THINK you can never get out of debt, never live in a NICE house, never be SUCCESSFUL in your career. You’ve gone as FAR as your education allows. NO, don’t talk yourself OUT of it. It’s coming together. PROMOTION, ABUNDANCE, and new LEVELS are headed your WAY.

When you go through the day with this EXPECTANCY, knowing that God IS working behind the scenes bringing it TOGETHER, that’s what allows God to do GREAT things. If you stay in FAITH, at the right TIME you WILL see it come TOGETHER.

Today’s Scripture:

Hebrews 13:5, TLB

For God has said, “I will never, never fail you nor forsake you.”

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

YOU’VE BEEN CHOSEN TO LIVE A DISTINCTIVELY FAVORED LIFE….

David says that even in a DOWN time, even in a time of FAMINE, the righteous will see INCREASE and FAVOR. Here’s the key: As long as you stay close to GOD, as long as you keep Him first PLACE, you are connected to a supply line that will NEVER run dry. Even in a SLOW economy, God will cause clients to find YOU. Even when the medical report says no WAY, you are connected to a supply line filled with HEALTH, WHOLENESS, and RESTORATION. When YOU don’t see how you can accomplish your DREAMS, don’t get discouraged. You have a supply line connected with good BREAKS, the right PEOPLE, IDEAS, and CREATIVITY.

God’s face is shining down on you right NOW. You’ve been called OUT, set APART, and CHOSEN to live a DISTINCTIVELY favored LIFE. Now do YOUR part. Pray BOLD prayers. Take the limits OFF of God. BELIEVE for your DREAMS. If you DO this, I BELIEVE and DECLARE that God is going to show OUT in your life in AMAZING ways.

Today’s Scripture:

Psalm 37:19, NLT

They will not be disgraced in hard times; even in famine they will have more than enough.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

DON’T LET WORRY ROB YOU…..

In the Scripture, when God told Ananias to go pray for SAUL, Ananias didn’t want to GO. Saul was the biggest persecutor of the CHURCH. But Ananias didn’t KNOW that Saul’s life had been CHANGED on the road to Damascus. He was WORRIED and started telling God all the reasons why he SHOULDN’T go. He didn’t REALIZE that God had already taken CARE of what WORRIED him. When he went and PRAYED for Saul, instead of finding an ENEMY, he found an ALLY.

Some of the things we WORRY about, God has already CHANGED. He’s already set the MIRACLE into MOTION. He’s already spoken to the right PEOPLE, lined up the HEALING or BREAKTHROUGH. It’s just a matter of TIME before you EXPERIENCE it. There’s no REASON to be WORRIED over that situation at WORKor that negative MEDICAL report. The THREAT has already been taken CARE of, and the SOLUTION is en ROUTE. Stay in PEACE, and as Ananias did, you’ll come into what God has already DONE. Don’t let WORRY rob you.

Today’s Scripture:

Acts 9:13, NLT

“But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem!”

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

IT’S NOT TOO LATE FOR WHATEVER STINKS IN YOUR LIFE…..

In John 11, when Jesus showed up at Lazarus’ house four days after he had DIED, Lazarus had been in the tomb SO long that his body STUNK. At times, we all have THINGS in life that stink. Maybe a RELATIONSHIP feels so dead that it stinks. Your FINANCES stink. The LAYOFF stinks. That MISTAKE you made that set you BACK stinks.

Jesus went to the tomb, where the STINK was, and told them to ROLL away the stone. Sometimes we think that God will help us only if we’re GOOD enough, but God goes TO the stinky places in our lives. That PERSON who hurt you–it STINKS. God is saying, “Let Me IN. I’m going to wake up the HEALING, wake up the RESTORATION, wake up the new BEGINNING.” That past MISTAKE you made and feel CONDEMNED about–IT stinks. God is saying, “Roll that stone AWAY. I’m waking up FORGIVENESS, CLEANSING, and REDEMPTION.” It’s NOT too late for whatever STINKS in your life. GOD is saying, “LET ME IN.”

Today’s Scripture:

John 11:39, NLT

“Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.”

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

YOU ARE EN ROUTE TO YOUR DESTINATION…..

God will DELIVER us from trouble, but consider it in a NEW light. The post office picks up a package in New York, and drivers DELIVER it to California. “DELIVER” means they TRANSPORT it from one location to ANOTHER. It may go through five STOPS along the way before it is DELIVERED. In the same WAY, right NOW God is DELIVERING you from TROUBLE. You’re en route, and there may be some STOPS along the way. But don’t worry, you’re not delivered YET. You’re in DEBT, but God is DELIVERING you into ABUNDANCE. You’re dealing with DEPRESSION, but God is DELIVERING you into JOY. When those THOUGHTS tell you, “This trouble is PERMANENT. It’s NEVER going to change,” just shake OFF the discouragement and answer back, “NO, I’m being DELIVERED. This trouble is NOT going to stop ME; it’s going to TRANSPORT me.” God is going to open NEW doors, turn impossible situations AROUND and push you into a level of your DESTINY that you would NEVER have experienced WITHOUT it.

Today’s Scripture:

Psalm 34:17, NIV

The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD IS FULL OF MERCY, HE WON’T TURN HIS BACK ON YOU….

When the Israelites were in the desert on the way to the Promised Land, they got TIRED, started COMPLAINING, and wouldn’t obey God’s COMMANDS. But God DIDN’T say, “You’re DONE.” He kept providing them water and food and helping them defeat their ENEMIES. At one point they made an IDOL and said, “THIS is the god that brought us out of slavery.” After ALL God had done for them, you would think GOD would say, “All right, YOU’RE on your OWN,” but God would NOT abandon them.

When WE make mistakes, God doesn’t abandon US. When we don’t follow His commands, we get off course, God doesn’t give UP on us. Even when we ignore Him or give somebody else the credit that HE deserves, He DOESN’T say, “I’ll show YOU who’s in charge.” HE’S full of MERCY. He WON’T turn His BACK on you. You may have made some poor DECISIONS, but through His GRACE and unfailing LOVE, He ALREADY has a NEW way to get you to your DESTINATION.

Today’s Scripture:

Nehemiah 9:17, NLT

They refused to obey and…became stubborn and appointed a leader to take them back to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God of forgiveness, gracious and merciful, slow to become angry, and rich in unfailing love. You did not abandon them…

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GOD WILL TAKE YOU FROM VICTORY TO VICTORY, BUT HE MAY NOT DO IT THE SAME WAY EACH TIME

When the Israelites were desperate for WATER in the wilderness, God told Moses to “STRIKE” the rock at Horeb and water flowed out freely. It was a great MIRACLE. At a later time of need, God told Moses to “SPEAK TO” the rock at Kadesh. The problem was, Moses was on autopilot and didn’t do it GOD’S way. He STRUCK the rock TWICE, and though water FLOWED, his actions kept him from going into the Promised Land.

The principle is that YESTERDAY’S instructions may not WORK today. God wants us to rely on HIM, not some PAST formula. He changes the method so we have to come to Him for daily INSTRUCTIONS. He’ll take you from VICTORY to VICTORY, but He may NOT do it the same WAY. Don’t get stuck in HOW it happened in the PAST. God is wanting to do a NEW thing, in a new WAY, with new IDEAS and new PEOPLE. Listen to what God is saying NOW, and you’ll see water begin to flow in GREATER ways.

Today’s Scripture:

Exodus 17:6, NIV

I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

THIS IS A NEW DAY, TAKE YOUR STAND…..

After Moses received the Ten Commandments on the mountain, he discovered the Israelites worshiping a calf made out of gold. He was FURIOUS, knowing that God was about to bring JUDGMENT upon them. When Moses called to the people, “Who is on the LORD’S side?” the sons of LEVI took a STAND and did the right THING. Because of that DECISION, God declared that all the PRIESTS would come through the tribe of LEVI.

What’s INTERESTING is that they were DESENDENTS of Levi, whose father was JACOB and whose grandmother was Rebekah–ALL who had been DECEIVERS. These men were saying in effect, “This is a NEW day. We’re NOT going to be DEFINED by our PAST. We’re going to BREAK this dysfunction, this GENERATIONAL curse, and start a generational BLESSING.” That’s what happens when you decide to get RID of NEGATIVE things that have been passed DOWN. That DYSFUNCTION may not have STARTED with you, but it can STOP with you. Rise UP and say, “Today it ENDS. I am on the LORD’S side.”

Today’s Scripture:

Exodus 32:26, NKJV

…then Moses stood in the entrance of the camp, and said, “Whoever is on the LORD’s side–come to me!” And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him.