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February 27, 2023 04:57 AM
Sooner Than Expected
Today's Scripture
The LORD said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.” (Jeremiah 1:12, NIV)
Every circumstance in your life may say it’s going to take years to get out of debt, years to qualify for a house, or years to accomplish a goal. But get ready. God has favor, good breaks, healing, and divine connections that are going to show up sooner than expected. Yes, there are times when God does things over a period of years. But there are also times when God will do things suddenly, unexpectedly, quicker than you thought.
You may face obstacles and problems that look insurmountable—sickness, family difficulties, depression. You may have been told and accepted the fact that it’s going to be a long, drawn-out process to see change. No, get ready for a knock on the door. God has your answer already en route. It’s going to be there sooner than expected. A breakthrough is on the way. It should take years, but God is speeding things up. He is watching to see that His word and purpose for your life is fulfilled.
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that You are watching to see that Your word and purpose for my life is fulfilled. Thank You that You still have an answer for whatever obstacle I am facing that seems insurmountable. I believe that the answer is on the way and will arrive sooner than expected. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
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February 28, 2023 01:58 AM
It's About the Way You Finish
Today’s Scripture
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7, NIV)
So often, when people make mistakes, they get down on themselves and think, “If only...” “I should have...” “What if...?” It’s easy to feel like you’ve missed the best plan for your life. That’s when people get discouraged and stop pursuing their God-given dreams. But understand today, just because you’ve made a mistake or failed in some way doesn’t cancel God’s plan. God never disqualifies you. He never says, “Go sit on the sidelines. You’ve blown it too many times. You’ve got too many weaknesses.” No, God always gives you another chance!
Some of the great people in the Bible made very poor choices. The apostle Paul started off as a murderer, yet his destiny was bigger than his mistakes. He ended up becoming a great leader and writing over half of the New Testament.
What am I saying? Our mistakes, our failures, our poor choices don’t have to keep us from our God-given destiny. With God, it’s not about the way you start in life, it’s about the way you finish. Receive His grace today and embrace the bright future He has in store for you!
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You for Your grace and mercy to me. I trust that my days are ordered of You. I ask that You strengthen and empower me to fulfill Your call on my life. I love You and bless You today in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
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March 01, 2023 05:16 AM
First Have Hope
Today's Scripture
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1, NKJV)
In tough times, when life doesn’t make sense, when your prayers aren’t answered, when it’s taking longer than you thought it would, my question is, do you have your anchor of hope down?
When you’re anchored to hope, it’s as though you’re tied to it. Do you have that hope, that expectancy that your dreams are coming to pass, that you’re going to break that addiction, that your family is going to be restored? Or have you pulled up your anchor, and now you’ve drifted into doubt, mediocrity, and not expecting anything good? Are you saying, “This problem is never going to work out” rather than “I know the answer is already on the way”?
Put your anchor back down. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for.” You can’t have faith if you don’t first have hope. You have to believe that what God put in your heart will come to pass, that you will accomplish your dreams, that you’ll meet the right people, and that you’ll live healthy and whole.
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that my faith can be firmly and securely anchored to my hope in You. Thank You that my hope and expectancy in You will never be disappointed, and it keeps me from drifting into doubt and mediocrity. Help me to keep my anchor down. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
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March 02, 2023 10:52 AM
Keep Doing the Right Thing
Today's Scripture
"Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised." (Hebrews 10:36, NLT)
In the book of Genesis, Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused of a crime, and put in prison. It was thirteen years of injustice and disappointments. But he kept doing the right thing until one day he was suddenly called out of the prison to interpret Pharaoh’s dream and subsequently made the prime minister of Egypt.
God wasn’t asking Joseph to defeat his brothers, to escape his captors, to prove his innocence, or to break out of prison. God was simply asking him to outlast the opposition. All this had to happen for him to reach his destiny. God is not asking you to overcome some of the challenges you face that are unfair and seem to not be changing. He’s just asking you to outlast them. When you’ve passed the test, the promotion will come looking for you, the healing will come, the right person will find you. It’s all a part of His plan. It’s necessary to get you to your destiny.
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that You don’t ask me to overcome every challenge I face, but rather to simply outlast them. Help me to have patient endurance, to accept Your timing, and to rest in the fact that it’s all part of Your process. I declare that You will work Your good plan for my future. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
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March 03, 2023 01:18 PM
He Is Your Source
Today's Scripture
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." (James 1:17, ESV)
It’s easy to look to people or to our job as our source. Yes, God uses people, jobs, and contracts, but they are not the Source. They are simply resources that the Source uses. If you’re seeing anything or anyone other than God as your source, when something happens to that something or someone, you’ll think, “What am I going to do? My source has been cut off.”
No, the Source is just fine. God is still on the throne. That good gift may come through people, but it came from your heavenly Father. Your salary or contract may come through a connection, but it came from God.
That’s why you don’t have to play up to people at work or compromise to get a good break. You’re not at the mercy of the economy, or who likes you, or what your boss does. People are not your provider; God is your provider. God has all kinds of resources He can use.
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that You are my Source. You are constantly working, constantly showing me Your goodness with every good gift that comes into my life. I want to live today with an attitude of thankfulness and gratefulness. I will not take Your goodness for granted. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
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March 04, 2023 07:14 AM
When You Don’t Know
Today's Scripture
"Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for GOD’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track." (Proverbs 3:5–6, MSG)
We all have situations that we don’t see how they’re going to work out. We do our best to find a solution, but there are some things God doesn’t want us to know. He has the solution, but if He showed you right now, it wouldn’t take any faith.
If you could see the provision, the healing, or the favor that He is going to bring, it would be easy to believe. The test comes when we don’t have the answers. Thoughts tell us, “How are you going to make it after you retire? What if your health doesn’t improve?”
Sometimes there is no logical solution. The more we try to reason it out, the more discouraged we get. This is what faith is all about. You don’t have to come up with a plan. You have to be comfortable not knowing.
Sometimes we think it’s a lack of faith to say “I don’t know.” Take the pressure off. God knows. He has you in the palms of His hands. He will direct your steps.
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that You are my God, and that You will keep my life on track. Thank You that I can be free from trying to figure everything out on my own. I declare that I am in the palms of Your hands, and I am going to trust You from the bottom of my heart. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
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March 05, 2023 10:29 AM
Don’t Discount Your Gift
Today's Scripture
“The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’” (Matthew 25:23, NLT)
In the parable of the talents that Jesus told in Matthew 25, the owner gave one man one talent, another man two talents, and another man five talents. It seems like if God was fair, He would’ve given them all the same number, but God is sovereign. He might give you five talents and give me two talents. He’s God. I can complain about the two, try to compete with you and outperform you, but you still have five and I have two. A better approach is to say, “God, I’m not going to try to be someone who I’m not. I’m going to take these two talents and be the best I can be.”
Don’t discount the gift God has put in you. Compared to others, it may feel insignificant to you, but there is nothing ordinary about you. You may not have what someone else has, but God has put greatness in you. If you faithfully develop the gift you have, that gift will open doors to places you’ve never dreamed.
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that You are sovereign in the gift and the calling You have given me. Thank You that the gift and creativity and dreams You have given me are all I need to make my mark on this generation. I will celebrate and develop all that You have given me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
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March 06, 2023 08:26 AM
Staying Rock Solid
Today’s Scripture
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." (Matthew 7:24, NIV)
When we have rock-solid faith, we won’t be moved by what’s happening around us. We have peace in our hearts and minds because our hope is in God. We have an attitude that says, “I’m not moved by this medical report. I respect and honor people who are trying to help me, but I know God can do what medical science cannot do. God made my body.” “I’m not moved by the economy, the stock market or my job situation. I know God supplies all my needs. He promised He would prosper me even in a recession.” “I’m not moved by how my children are acting. I’m not stressed out because they’re off course, making poor choices. I know it’s only a matter of time. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Friend, that’s unshakable faith. That’s building your house on a rock-solid foundation. When the storms of life come, you won’t be moved. How do you stay rock solid? By meditating on the Word of God and following His commands. It’s that simple. Instead of making your circumstances the focus, you make God the focus and stand strong and secure in Him! Today, make spending time with God your number one priority and learn to stay rock solid in Him!
A Prayer for Today
"Father, thank You for Your Word which is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I choose to hide Your Word in my heart. I choose to meditate on Your promises. I know that You are faithful to Your Word and thank You for rock-solid faith as I keep my heart and mind focused on You in Jesus’ name. Amen."
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March 07, 2023 12:06 PM
The Great I AM
Today's Scripture
And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” (Exodus 3:14, NKJV)
When Moses was sent to Pharaoh to free the people from slavery, God told Moses to tell them that “I AM” had sent him. Later, when the people of Israel were trapped in a dead end at the Red Sea with Pharaoh’s army in pursuit, it’s easy to imagine Moses saying, “God, we have no options. There’s no door.” God said, “Moses, I am the door,” and as Moses held up his rod, the water suddenly parted.
God is the way. He can create what you need. That’s why He’s called the “I AM.” He was saying, “I am whatever you need. I am a door. I am a key. I am a way out, a way in, and a way through.” You may be in a situation where you don’t see a way out. You may feel that you’ve been at a dead end in your health, your finances, or your career for a long time. Get ready. God is going to make ways where you don’t see a way.
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that You are my great I AM. When I face problems that seem overwhelming, help me learn to hold my peace and remain at rest in who You are. I believe that You will create whatever I need and get me to where I’m supposed to be. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
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March 08, 2023 09:08 AM
Nothing Missing
Today's Scripture
“When you survey your possessions, nothing will be missing. You will have many children; your descendants will be as plentiful as grass!” (Job 5:24–25, NLT)
In the Scripture, Job experienced great losses—his children, his business, and his health. Just when he was about to give up, a friend said, “If you look to God, He will rescue and heal you. This loss is temporary. When God brings restoration, nothing will be missing.”
Later, when Job stated, “I know that my Redeemer lives,” he was declaring that God would finish what He started. Job’s thinking shifted from “this loss is permanent” to “restoration is coming, health is coming, family is coming, victory is coming,” which is what God did for Job. He not only restored what Job had lost, but God gave him twice what he had before. Just as God promised, nothing was missing.
That’s the way our God is. Don’t judge the rest of your life by what’s missing now. When God gets finished, nothing is going to be missing, large or small. Nobody will be able to tell what you went through. You’re going to come out stronger, healthier, more fulfilled, blessed, and prosperous. Your time is coming.
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that You are on the throne, and You are with me through every time of loss. Thank You that You can bring me out of difficulties better off than I was before they showed up. I believe that Your favor is on me and that nothing will be missing. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
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March 09, 2023 10:49 AM
What’s in Your Plan?
Today's Scripture
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)
God has a plan for your life, but He doesn’t show you all the details. If He showed you what He has in store, where He’s taking you, it would excite and amaze you. But if you saw what it’s going to take to get you there—the giants and Pharaohs you’ll face, the lonely nights, the betrayals, the closed doors—you would think, “I’ll just stay where I am.”
God doesn’t show us the details because He knows we would talk ourselves out of it. If you can’t figure out how something is ever going to work out, and you start getting worried, that’s a sign God doesn’t want you to know. You have to be comfortable not knowing.
When you say, “God, I don’t see a way or have the answer for how this situation can work out, but I trust You,” that attitude of faith is what allows God to do great things. He had the solution before you had the problem. Pass the test and simply trust Him.
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You for Your plan for my life, a plan that is full of hope and an abundant future. Thank You that You are calling me to trust You and to be comfortable not knowing how everything will work out. I believe that You are for me, and that is all I need to know. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
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March 10, 2023 10:47 AM
Get Plugged In
Today's Scripture
"When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny." (Psalm 73:16–17)
The writer of Psalm 73 was struggling to understand why God was allowing the people who were coming against him to prosper. He was discouraged. Yet he tells how in the sanctuary, he got a new perspective. He heard people thanking God and telling of His goodness. When he got around people of faith, people who knew that God was in control, that spirit of defeat and depression couldn’t stay. A few verses later, he was making bold declarations of faith.
There are some breakthroughs that are only going to happen when you are in the house of the Lord. Your faith alone may not be enough. That’s why God has ordained you to be in a community of faith, and why you need to get plugged into a good Bible-based church.
Together, we’re better. Together, we’re stronger. There’s power when your faith is connected to other believers’ faith. Before long, instead of a small faith, you have mountain-moving faith. You’re going to bloom, blossom, and flourish in the house of the Lord.
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You for the power and breakthroughs in understanding that are released when I’m connected to others. Thank You that You ordained me to be in a community of faith so that my faith can be joined to others’ faith. Help me to get plugged in and see faith grow to the moving of mountains. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
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March 11, 2023 07:30 AM
The Greatness of His Goodness
Today's Scripture
"Oh, how great is your goodness to those who publicly declare that you will rescue them. For you have stored up great blessings for those who trust and reverence you." (Psalm 31:19, TLB)
When you look back over your life, you can see the goodness of God. There were the times when He made a way when you didn’t see a way. You were at the right place at the right time. Your health didn’t look good, but somehow it turned around. You made mistakes that should have held you back, but God in His mercy covered you. He brought you out, and now you’re blessed and fulfilling your purpose. You didn’t get to where you are by yourself. It was the hand of God. He’s been working behind the scenes in your life, pushing back forces of darkness.
What has God done in your life? Are you recognizing it, are you living amazed, filled with gratitude? Take time every day to acknowledge how great His goodness has been in your life. If you’re going to continue to go further, you need to remember that the Lord your God has brought you this far, and the Lord your God is going to keep you going.
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that Your hand has been upon my life in so many ways. Thank You for the countless blessings You have brought me and for all You are going to do as You take me forward. I stand in awe of Your goodness to me, and I will not forget it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
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March 12, 2023 10:48 AM
You Have the Cure
Today's Scripture
"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5, NIV)
One of the challenges we faced with the coronavirus was that our bodies had no antibodies to fight it. Without a cure, without a vaccine, we were at its mercy. Once you have the cure, the vaccine, you don’t have to fear the disease. But what about virus-like poisons you can’t treat with a vaccine—guilt, fear, depression, addictions. These can infect our thinking, poison our self-esteem, and make us sick with regrets, hurts, and disappointments.
The good news is that the Scripture says by the stripes Jesus received before He went to the cross, He took our guilt, our shame, and our failures upon Himself, and “we are healed.” We are not at the mercy of fear, depression, or addictions. We have the cure. The Most High God’s being for you is more than the world being against you. Don’t let the fear, the guilt, or the depression hold you down. Take the antidote. “Father, thank You that I am forgiven, I am redeemed, I am free, and I am healthy and whole.”
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that I am fearfully and wonderfully made, and I can wear the crown of Your favor. Thank You that by Jesus’ stripes I am healed from all guilt and condemnation. I believe that You have provided me the cure for all that sickens me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
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March 13, 2023 10:39 AM
This Can Be Your Legacy
Today's Scripture
“For my own honor and for the sake of my servant David, I will defend this city and protect it.” (2 Kings 19:34, NLT)
In 2 Kings 19, King Hezekiah, one of David’s descendants, was on the throne in Judah. The powerful Assyrian army was about to attack Jerusalem, and Hezekiah didn’t stand a chance. But when he prayed and asked God to help them, that very night an angel destroyed 185,000 in the Assyrian camp, and the Assyrian king went home.
Hezekiah was so thrilled, and I can imagine he wondered why God had given him such favor. Today’s Scripture answers that: “for the sake of my servant David.” This took place nearly three hundred years after David died, yet David’s legacy of seeds of obedience, seeds of helping others, and seeds of honoring God were still producing fruit in his family line.
Every time you help someone in need and make sacrifices for them to go further, you’re sowing a seed not only for you to go further, but for those who come after you in your family line to go further. They will see favor and protection because you made decisions that honor God.
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You for the remarkable possibility that the seeds of obedience and of helping others I am sowing today can continue to bless my descendants for many generations. Help me to leave a legacy that honors You and produces good fruit long after I am gone. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
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March 14, 2023 09:37 AM
Take the Pressure Off
Today's Scripture
“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” (Matthew 6:34, NLT)
When we face challenges to which we don’t see an answer, many times there’s a voice constantly whispering, “What are you going to do?” With it comes the pressure to solve it, but when you’re comfortable not knowing the answer, it takes the pressure off. Somebody says, “I heard about your problem. What are you going to do?” Your answer should be, “I don’t know, but I am at peace knowing the One who does, and He says to not worry about it.”
If there’s something about your health, your marriage, or your finances that you don’t have an answer to, quit trying to figure it out. Take the same time that you would normally spend worrying and wondering about it, and use it to thank God that He’s working. Thank Him that He’s making crooked places straight. Thank Him that all things are working for your good. God is going to not just bring promises to pass, not just turn problems around, but it’s going to turn out better than you imagined.
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that I do not have to keep being trapped in worry about things over which I have no control. Thank You that just as You clothe the lilies of the fields, You will provide me with exactly what I need when I need it. I choose to rest, knowing that You will work it for my good. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
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March 15, 2023 10:36 AM
Turn On the Power
Today's Scripture
"The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." (James 5:16, NKJV)
The word “fervent” in the original language is where we get our word for “energy.” It suggests the idea of it being energizing, like how electricity energizes a circuit. You can plug a light into the outlet, but if the power is not on, it’s not going to do any good.
Today’s Scripture says the effective, fervent prayer—not a weak prayer, not a lethargic prayer, not the same prayer repeated daily with no passion. But when you pray a passionate prayer, a stirred-up prayer, a bold prayer, that makes tremendous power available.
“God, I know I don’t deserve it, but if You want to, You can help me.” You’re not energizing the circuit with that prayer. Depressed prayers don’t bring any power.
Turn it around. “Father, thank You that You’re opening doors no man can shut. Thank You that You’re bringing me into overflow and taking me where I can’t go on my own.” That prayer is an effective, fervent, passionate, courage-filled prayer. Turn on the power.
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You for the power that comes when I pray to You with fervency and passion. Teach me to be effective in prayer that brings wonderful results. I believe that my prayers come before Your throne, that You’re listening, and that You’re acting on them. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
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March 16, 2023 01:13 PM
Be the Bigger Person
Today's Scripture
“Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 9:17)
Saul was the biggest enemy of the early church. He went around having believers arrested and put in jail. Yet when Saul was at the point of his deepest need, God sent a Christian named Ananias to pray for Saul and speak to his need. In praying for Saul, Ananias did good to someone who had done great harm to his fellow believers. Saul went on to become the apostle Paul, who wrote nearly half the books of the New Testament.
You may have people like Saul in your life who have been against you for years. They may not be that menacing or vocal, but they’re condescending toward you and treat you as though you’re less-than. Will you be good to that Saul in your life even though he hasn’t treated you right? Will you show her favor when she needs what you have? Be the bigger person and bless those who have cursed you. In their time of need, don’t withhold your help. Don’t worry. God is your vindicator.
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that no matter how badly I am treated at times, You are always my vindicator. Thank You that You love the Sauls who are in my life, and You are working in their lives as well as mine. I will be the bigger person and show them favor and bless them. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
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March 17, 2023 04:36 AM
Pause and Remember
Today's Scripture
"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name." (Psalm 100:4, NIV)
In the Old Testament, God commanded His people to take time out from their busy schedules to celebrate a variety of national festivals, which were times of remembrance. He wanted His people to pause and remember the marvelous deeds that He had performed for them—how He parted the Red Sea, how He brought water out of the rock, how manna came down from heaven in the wilderness. These festivals were marked by thanksgiving and joyous feasting.
Today is a special day for us to do the same—to enter His gates with an offering of thanksgiving and praise from our hearts for the good things He has done in our land, in our lives, and in the lives of our family members. Pause and remember those places and spaces in your life when God brought you victory, brought you success. When you remember that He is providing for all your needs and give thanks to God for who He is and the miracles He has done in your life, you will be transformed.
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that I can enter into Your presence with a heart full of thanksgiving. Thank You for providing for all my needs and doing exceedingly abundantly above all I could ever ask or imagine. I give You a sacrifice of praise for You are good, and Your mercy endures forever! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
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March 18, 2023 07:34 AM
Ripping-Off-the-Roof Faith
Today's Scripture
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” (Mark 2:5, NIV)
In Mark 2, four friends put a paralyzed man on a stretcher and carried him to a house where Jesus was teaching. In effect, they were saying, “We’re taking you to Jesus. You may not think you can ever walk again, but we are believing for you. You can borrow our faith.”
When they got there, the house was so packed they couldn’t get in. Rather than give up, they carried the man to the roof, took off the covering, and lowered him to Jesus. It says that “when Jesus saw their faith,” He healed the man. It wasn’t the faith of the paralyzed man but his friends. They lifted him, carried him, believed for him, and refused to give up. They had ripping-off-the-roof faith.
God has put people in your life strategically so you can be a friend with faith. Don’t miss the opportunity, don’t be so busy with your needs and goals that you miss carrying someone to their healing, praying for the friend who’s hurting, lifting a coworker who’s discouraged. Let them borrow your faith.
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that You see my faith and that You honor my faith in You. Thank You for the power of faith to carry others to their healing, to their comforting, to their encouragement. Help me to have a ripping-off-the-roof faith to share with others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
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March 19, 2023 10:40 AM
No Compromise
Today's Scripture
Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I violated the LORD’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them.” (1 Samuel 15:24, NIV)
King Saul lost his throne, and today’s Scripture provides the reason. God had told him to do certain things, but he disobeyed because he was afraid of the people. God was going to take him to amazing places, but Saul didn’t want to disappoint the people. He knew the right thing to do, but he didn’t want to rock the boat. People pressured him and squeezed him into their mold. As a people pleaser, he did not reach his potential.
Don’t let somebody squeeze you into their mold. Listen to other people’s advice, but be strong and follow that still, small voice inside. Nobody can hear God’s direction for your life like you. God doesn’t give someone else more insight about your destiny than He does you. Others may have insights, but God speaks to your spirit. You don’t need their approval; the Most High God has approved you. The One who breathed life into you has accepted you. Don’t let the fear of other people keep you from doing what’s right.
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that I don’t have to let other people squeeze me into their mold. Thank You that You speak to me with directions for my life, and Your approval is all that I need. I’m not going to be pressured into compromising what I know is right to do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
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March 20, 2023 08:43 AM
When You Don’t Understand
Today's Scripture
"It is God’s privilege to conceal things…" (Proverbs 25:2, NLT)
One night the teenage son of a couple we know was killed in a car accident. You can imagine how devastated and heartbroken they were. Many couples would get angry and let the tragedy sour the rest of their lives. They went through a dark time, but they came through it and explained how: “We made the decision that we weren’t going to exchange what we do know for what we don’t know. We know that God is good, that He’s loving, that He’s for us. We would not let one situation that we don’t understand cancel all that out.”
If you’re always trying to figure out why something happened, you’re going to get frustrated and bitter. If God wants you to know why, He’ll tell you why. But there are some things God doesn’t want us to know yet. If you’re going to trust God, you have to be mature enough to drop it and say, “God, I don’t have to have all the answers. You’re God. Your ways are better than mine.”
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that no matter what I go through, You are good and You love me. I leave the things I don’t understand in Your hands and know that You will reveal or conceal things according to what’s best for me. I trust that Your ways are better than mine. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
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March 21, 2023 12:04 PM
Thrown Mercy
Today's Scripture
“Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” (John 8:10–11, NLT)
Jesus was teaching in the temple when the religious leaders dragged a woman caught in adultery in front of the crowd and said, “The law of Moses says to stone her. What do You say?” She was guilty, deeply shamed, without a defense. Rather than answer, “Jesus stooped to the ground and wrote in the dust with his finger.”
They may have thought He was stooping down to pick up a rock to throw, but He stooped down to throw mercy. He said, “You who are without sin, go ahead and throw the first stone.” It was dead silence until one man walked out, then another and another. It wasn’t until all the men left that Jesus stood up and spoke the words of forgiveness in today’s Scripture.
This story signifies how God will get dirty to rescue you. He’s not a God who just stays in the heavens. He’s a God who stoops in the dirt to restore someone caught in sin, shame, and disgrace. His way is to free you from guilt and release you from condemnation.
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that Your love is the real love that I need to change my life. Thank You that You sent Jesus to stoop into my dirt and free me from all condemnation for my sins. I receive Your mercy now, and I believe I am free from all guilt. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
-- edited by XslashX on Mar 20 2023, 09:07 PM
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March 22, 2023 02:07 PM
No Excuses
Today's Scripture
"Listen! The LORD’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call." (Isaiah 59:1, NLT)
We all go through things that are unfair—people do us wrong, the company let us go, we came down with an illness. It’s easy to live with a victim mentality, thinking we’re at a disadvantage, we were shortchanged, we can’t do anything great.
We can’t love again because the last person hurt us. We can’t be happy because we’ve lost too much. As long as you accept that you’re a victim, you’re going to get stuck. Don’t use what you’ve been through as an excuse to feel sorry for yourself, to limit you, to not pursue your dreams.
You have to take the hand you’ve been dealt and make the most of it. Nothing that’s happened to you has stopped your destiny. When someone did you wrong and walked away, it may have been painful, but they didn’t ruin your life. They don’t have that much power.
With His strong right arm, God will work out His plan for you. Now do your part and be the victor.
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that this is a new day and that by Your strong right arm You are about to do a new thing in my life. Thank You that You have a way to break through the negative things that keep me stuck. I’m dropping the excuses and looking for new beginnings today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
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March 23, 2023 11:11 AM
It’s Not Too Late
Today's Scripture
“So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten.” (Joel 2:25, NKJV)
In today’s Scripture, the Israelites had planted and labored over their crops, but for years at harvest time swarms of locusts came in, like a mighty army, and ate up all the crops.
We’ve all been through seasons in life where it feels like we’ve lost time. Perhaps it’s the years lost in a relationship that didn’t work out, or the years of struggle with an illness or an addiction. Or it’s the years we let fear and opposition hold us back from pursuing our dreams. Maybe we weren’t raised in a healthy environment, and it feels like we lost our childhood and can never get it back.
But God says He will restore those years to you.
While it’s true in the natural that we can’t get time back, we serve a supernatural God who knows how to make up for lost time. He’s not going to just restore the years you lost. He promises you abundance of joy, an overflow of peace, and more than enough resources for what should have been yours.
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that nothing is too hard for You to work out in my life, not even the time I’ve lost in the past for many different reasons. Thank You that You work in ways so far beyond anything I can think or imagine. Help me believe that You will restore what I’ve lost. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
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March 24, 2023 12:40 AM
Grace Abounds
Today's Scripture
"But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more…" (Romans 5:20, NKJV)
God has made us a new creation in Christ, but He doesn’t take away every negative desire where you’re never tempted to be impatient, critical, rude, angry, jealous, or to compromise again. Some people let the same personal enemies—the sour attitude, the addiction, the unforgiveness—hold them back for years. Everybody struggles with some wrong desires, but don’t excuse them and allow them to stay. That’s why the apostle Paul says, “I die daily.” He was saying, “When that temptation rises up inside again, I put it straight back in the grave.”
This is where the abounding grace of God shows up. You have the grace to overcome. The temptation may not ever totally go away, the desire may be there, but God’s grace, His enabling power, will always be greater than what’s trying to stop you. His grace is greater than a critical attitude or an addiction. If you deal with the things that are holding you back, God will release the big things that belong to you.
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that You are working in me and Your grace is abounding in me. Thank You that I have the power to overcome and be disciplined to do the right thing. I believe that Your enabling power in me is greater than the forces against me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
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March 25, 2023 07:25 AM
Prosper Where You’re Planted
Today's Scripture
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV)
Today’s Scripture was spoken right after the Israelites had been taken from Jerusalem as captives and settled in Babylon as exiles, unable to go home. Their whole world was turned upside down in disappointment. I’m sure they were praying for a deliverance, but God said they were going to be there for seventy years.
God didn’t say, “I’m going to get you out of Babylon and back to Jerusalem so I can prosper you.” He said, “I’m going to prosper you in captivity, in disappointment, while you’re dealing with loss. But you have to take steps of faith—build houses, plant crops, marry, pursue new goals, look for opportunities. I have plans to prosper you in your difficulty.”
Perhaps you’re facing a disappointment, a breakup, a big setback. You feel like you’re in exile and want to give up. No, get your passion back. God has plans to prosper you despite what’s going on around you. Keep believing, keep being your best, and God will take you to new levels in the midst of that challenge.
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that Your plans for my life, plans that are full of hope and an abundant future, are not dependent upon the situations around me. Thank You that You can prosper me through every difficulty. I believe that You are the one who is taking me to my destiny. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
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March 26, 2023 09:23 AM
What Do You Have?
Today's Scripture
Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” “We have here only five loaves and two fish,” they answered. (Matthew 14:16–17, NIV)
Late in the day, after Jesus had been teaching thousands of people, He told His disciples to feed the multitude. They said, “That’s impossible. We have no food except five loaves of bread and two fish.”
What followed the “except” was all they needed. Jesus took that tiny provision in His hands, prayed over it, and it multiplied to be more than enough.
Your dream may be much bigger than what you have. When you look at your resources, your training, your experience, it’s not enough. It’s just five loaves. What good can that do?
No, get ready. God is going to multiply what comes after your “except.” There are gifts you haven’t tapped into and new levels inside you. He’s about to make happen what you can’t make happen. Doors will open that you can’t open. Opportunities that you aren’t qualified for will present themselves.
Put what you have in God’s hands, and He’s going to take what looks insignificant and turn it into something extraordinary.
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that I can give You my dreams and goals, and You will do something great with them. Thank You that You take the loaves and the fish in my life and multiply them into something extraordinary. I gladly put my gifts and resources in Your hands today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
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March 27, 2023 11:26 AM
Royalty
Today's Scripture
So they answered, “As you are, so were they; each one resembled the son of a king.” (Judges 8:18, NKJV)
In Judges 6, an angel told Gideon that he was to go out and save the Israelites from an invading army. Gideon responded, “I can’t do that. I come from the poorest family, and I’m the least one in my father’s house. I’m not good enough.”
He didn’t realize he was royalty. A few chapters later, when Gideon was talking with his defeated enemies about some fellow soldiers he was trying to find, he asked them what the men looked like. They said, “They looked like you, like a king’s son.” Gideon had felt inadequate, but even his enemies could see he was royalty.
You may feel as though you don’t measure up. It’s causing you to shrink back, to not pursue your dreams. You may not be able to see it, but even the enemy knows you’re royalty. Why don’t you step up to who you were created to be? You’re the King’s child. You’ve been born into His family and a new life. Now, do your part and start having a son mentality.
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that the new life I’ve received from You is a life of royalty. Thank You that even the enemy must recognize that I am Your child. I believe that You have put a robe of righteousness on me, and that I can step up and become everything You want me to be. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
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March 28, 2023 04:01 AM
The Greatness Will Come Out
Today's Scripture
I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” (Nehemiah 4:14, NIV)
Nehemiah was the cupbearer to the king of Persia before he took up the cause of rebuilding the broken down walls of Jerusalem. He didn’t have wealth, experience, or resources, and when he got to Jerusalem, he faced all kinds of opposition. It was one thing after another.
But when you’re cause-driven, when you have a mission, and you stay focused on it, the greatness God put on you is going to come out as it did in Nehemiah. Rather than take years to finish rebuilding the walls, he inspired the people to do it in just fifty-two days.
You can’t make sacrifices to help those around you without God helping you. You’re going to see favor that you’ve never seen. You’re going to come out of ordinary into the uncommon, into resources, influence, and opportunity like you’ve never imagined.
You have to find your cause. Live for something bigger than yourself. The greatness in you will come out when you help others, when you build their dreams, when you support advancing the kingdom.
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You for the plans and purposes that You have for me. Thank You that I can be a part of great causes, both small and big, and see Your favor beyond what I’ve imagined. I believe that the greatness You’ve put in me is going to come out. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”