Grateful.

John 6:43 "Stop grumbling among yourselves," Jesus answered." Grumbling and complaining is a sin. We have way too much to be thankful for to complain!! If you are alive today, you have the ability to read this, AND an electronic device to read it on, you have no reason to complain. :) Let Jesus shine though you through the way you talk and your gratefulness!!! You have nothing to complain about!!!

Throw it off!!

Hebrews 12:1 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us," Lets throw off all sin, shame, guilt, hurt, hate, and anything else that hinders or holds you down, and let's run the race for Christ!! You can't run when you're holding suitcases!! Get rid of all the baggage you have - give it all to Jesus, so you can run free!!!

Dont worry!!

Psalm 37:8 "Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil." Don't fret!! It only leads to evil... There are so many little things that we worry about, but we shouldn't!! When little things happen that change your plans or mess something up, just say "Oh well." and move on!! If there's nothing you can do about it, then there's no need to worry about it!! Focus on things you can change, instead of worrying about little problems that you can't!

Dont bring it up again.

Mark 11:25 (AMP) "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop." Has anyone ever sinned against you? If you're a human being, then the answer is yes.... It happens all the time. Instead of bringing up people's mistakes over and over again after it happens, let it go!! Just drop it, the same way God does to our sins! He forgives and forgets! Bringing up people's past sins does not make anything better, but instead makes it worse! When you sin against someone, you should ask for forgiveness and move on. If someone sins against you, whether they ask for forgiveness of not, forgive them and move on!

7 Times a Day..

Psalm 119:164 "Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws." How often do you praise God? Sometimes, he wants us to stop what were doing and praise him for what were doing! We should praise him through the good and through the bad. It's always a good time for praise. When are you going to praise Him today? 7 times? Or are you gonna start with 2 or 3? Make praising God a priority!!!

Its not the end!

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." There's always room for reappointment. Even though you may be disappointed or discouraged, it's not the end! These verses tell us that even though we think we have it bad, it could be worse!! Let God turn your disappointment into reappointment and your discouragement into encouragement!! Ask him to do that today!!!

"But God..."

Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." "But God..." Everything's a wreck until God steps in. So many times in the bible we see terrible things that happen, and all of a sudden, we see "But God..." and then it ends in victory!! Is there something in your life right now that you feel could never be fixed? Maybe your whole life is broken? Get ready for him to step in and change everything. Then you will have your own "But God.." story!! Ask God today to change that situation or problem in your life, and then get ready for change to happen!!! He turns losses into wins and defeats into victories!!!

Choose Joy.

Deuteronomy 30:19 "This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live." Everyday we have a choice... Life or death? Blessings or curses? Joy or sorrow? The enemy will try continually to steal your joy and blessings and cause you to hate life. Don't let him!!! Choose to live in the joy of the Lord all the time so you can live life to the fullest!!

Love: The Greatest

1 Corinthians 12:31 "Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way." The greatest gift is LOVE. God wants us to eagerly desire this gift of love and he will show us the best way!! Do you have love? God says that you can have any other quality, but if you don't love, you have nothing!! Show people Jesus through your love!! Make it your top priority!

Chill out and laugh!!

Psalm 32:11 "Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!" There is so much in this world for us to worry and stress about. God doesn't want you stress out! He wants you to be able to laugh! Obviously when it's time to be serious, we need to be serious, but we need to make time to laugh!! Laughing makes your load feel so much lighter! This week, practice rejoicing and being glad! And don't let stress take you over - chill out a little bit!!

Bright and Beautiful

2 Corinthians 3:18 "All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him." Our faces shine with the brightness of God's face and as God enters our lives and we become more like him, our lives become beautiful and more brighter!!! How much of God's light reflects off your face? Are you ready to become more like him so your life can be more beautiful? Throw the flashlight out and get ready to be a lighthouse for God!!! Let YOUR face show HIS glory!!!

Not as unwise, but wise.

Ephesians 5:15-16 "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." We need to live using wisdom. God said in this verse, "Be VERY CAREFUL, then, how you live..." We need wisdom for EVERY decision or choice we make. Ask God today to give you the wisdom to make godly choices in your everyday life!!! And today, make the most of EVERY OPPORTUNITY, because the days are evil!!

Love demonstration = obedience

John 14:15 "If you love me, keep my commands." If you love, you will want to obey. The biggest and best way to demonstrate your love for God, is to do what he says!!! Sometimes it's hard for us to do this because we're afraid, or because we don't trust him fully. The same way when you are younger and your parents tell you to do something, they are trying to protect you!!! That's what God does too. He wants to do whatever he can to protect us!!!! Obey God today, and show him love!!!

Moral Integrity

Proverbs 10:9 "Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out." Do you walk in integrity? Do you stay "put together" morally? God calls us to be men and women of integrity!! When you are, you can walk securely!! Don't take the crooked path and be found out - have moral integrity!!!

Worthy of Imitation

1 Corinthians 11:1 "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." Could you say this? Could someone follow your example because you follow the example of Christ? We are to live lives worthy of imitation. We might be the only Jesus some people see in their lives, and if we are treating people bad, using bad language, or just not showing love, then what does that say to them about Jesus? Jesus Christ needs to be totally evident in our lives!! People need to be able to look at us and say "I want what they have!" Lead people to Jesus just by the way you live!!

"...Helper Suitable for Him.."

Numbers 11:17 "I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone." It is not good for man to be alone!! In this situation, Moses was feeling totally discouraged from carrying everyone else's burden. So God told him he would equip some of the people with the same anointing as him so they could share this big burden. If you look at the people in the bible, you always see that they have a best friend, partner, right-hand man, or spouse!!! We are not made to be alone!! Do you have someone that can
carry the burden of life with you? If not, pray to God today to ask him for someone!! And then keep your eyes open!

Older and Wiser

Exodus 18:24 "Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said." Just like Moses had his father-in-law, God puts people in our lives to give us godly wisdom. Whether its your mom or dad, someone from church, an older friend, or whoever else, they are there for a purpose - to be mentors. We should go to them for advice. They have lived longer, so maybe they can help you refrain from making the same mistakes they did!!! Mentors are not just for kids and teenagers - they are for EVERYONE. Whether you are 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, or 90, there is always someone who is older and wiser than you!! (well maybe not if you're 90, but you never know.) Get wisdom from your mentors!!!

From Vision to Victory

Joshua 8:1 "Then the Lord said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land." After the Israelites left in defeat the first time, God told them to go back and attack again. God did not want them to end in defeat, but to have victory!! He wants the same thing for us today - every mission were on for him, he wants us to succeed! The same God that gives you the vision, will give you the victory!! If you have failed or felt defeated in something you have done, God wants you to try again. And this time, he says "Don't be afraid, and don't be discouraged!" He wants you to have the victory today!!!

Facing Barriers.

Mark 2:4 "Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on." In my devotional plan, it says "When you face barriers that threaten to hinder you from achieving your dreams, or you encounter obstacles that want to discourage you, follow in the footsteps of these men and change levels. Go higher." If you always stay on the ground with all the people, it will take so much longer to achieve your dream. People will push you and tell you that you can't get there. But be smart and get on the roof!! Keep yourself away from negativity and discouragement!!

Talent Show

Matthew 25:21 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" Have you used the talents God has given you? Or did you dig a hole and throw them in there so nobody can see them? God has given us all talents that he wants us to use for his glory. Sometimes we try to hide them because we don't know what others might think...but we don't need to worry about that!! If you are the person God made you to be, you will have the friends you are supposed to have! God has entrusted you with amazing talents - have you been faithful with them? As soon as you have been faithful using your talents for God, he can entrust you with more responsibility!! Use. Your. Talents!!

"If your gift is _____, then do it."

Romans 12:6-8 "We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully." What is your gift? If you really don't know, ask God to reveal it to you! It is so cool how when God made each of us, he knew exactly what was needed in this world. We are all like a puzzle - if we all used the gift we are given, the pieces would fit together perfectly and the body of Christ would be extremely effective! Use your gift for God!! And if you don't know what is is, ask him to show you!!

Stepping out of the Boat

Matthew 14:29 "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus." The boat is our comfort zone. There will be many times in our lives that we will have to step out of the boat, completely in faith. The moment you doubt is the moment you begin to sink. When you find that you are in one of these situations, be so careful that you don't let fear in... You have to trust God completely!! And when you step out, keep your eyes totally on Jesus, because the distractions of the world will bring you down! Are you ready to step out of the boat in faith, and believe God for something only he can do? I am!!!

What is already in your hand?

Mark 6:37 "But he answered, "You give them something to eat." They said to him, "That would take more than half a year's wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?" Sometimes the vision God gives you will seem much too big for your circumstances. Just like in this situation, when Jesus told them to feed all those people...There seemed to be no way possible to feed those people on nothing.... But wait. Their wasn't nothing. There were 5 loaves and 2 fish they could feed them. Later in the story we find out that Jesus took all they had and multiplied it to feed all the people and still had extras!! When God gives us a vision, we have to use what we have to go after it. If God has given you a vision to start a ministry, but you say you are waiting to have more money, don't wait!! Use the money you have now even if it is just a little!! God wants us to take the first step... Taking what we already have and running after the God-sized vision he has given us!! You move, God moves!!! What is your vision? What do you already have in your hand that you can use??

I CAN do it.

Genesis 2:6 "but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground." The same way God strategically placed the streams to water the ground, he has placed things in and around our lives to help us fulfill our dreams and purpose! Sometimes we think we aren't capable of doing these things, but open your eyes and look around - the resources are all around you!! When God gives you a dream, instead of thinking automatically that you can't do it, look inside and around yourself to see that everything you need to fulfill your dream has been strategically placed in your reach!!! Have an I CAN attitude - God makes your dreams possible!!!

Provider of Everything You Need.

Nehemiah 9:21 (MSG) "You supported them forty years in that desert; they had everything they needed; Their clothes didn't wear out and their feet never blistered." God took care of the Israelites for FORTY YEARS IN THE DESERT!! He provided enough food and made sure their clothes and shoes didn't wear out!! Why don't we trust God to provide like that? Instead of tithing and giving, knowing God is going to provide, we hoard the money because we just can't see how we could live on any less. If you give like you are supposed to, God will provide EVERYTHING YOU NEED!!! Give, and trust him today to be your Provider!!!

Divine Ability

Luke 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free," We fulfill our purpose through the Spirit's anointing. We have to learn to operate through "divine ability" - doing everything through HIM who gives us strength!! Motivation, strength, and inspiration need to come from the Anointed One... Jesus Christ!!!

Are you a problem solver?

Genesis 41:33 "And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt." After Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dream and told him his problem, instead of just leaving him with this dilemma, he was a problem solver!! He told Pharaoh what would need to be done!! Are you a problem solver? Or do you create problems? Joseph could have easily left Pharaoh with the bad news about the famine, thinking that it wasn't his responsibility... But he didn't! And because of his problem solving, he was the wise man who was put in charge of the land!! Everyone loves someone who can solve problems.... Anyone can create them or find them, but it takes someone better to solve them. Be a problem solver today!!

Healed and praising God.

Acts 3:8 "He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God." When this man was healed, and he could walk and run, he praised God!! Now do you think if he could walk like that when he was born, he would be praising God like that on this day? Probably not!! Sometimes there are things about ourselves that make us think like, "I just wish I wasn't always so frustrated with everyone." or "I wish I didn't always worry so much." You are that way for a reason. Not so you can worry or be frustrated, but so you can give that up to God and you have something to praise him about!!! What is something that God can "heal" you from that will make you give the glory to him?!

Visualization before Realization

Genesis 13:14 "The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, "Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west." God wants us to see his promises coming true before they actually do... In the devotional plan I'm reading on YouVersion, it says. "There must be a visualization before the realization; it is the vision you perceive that gives rise to the reality you achieve." He will give you a vision or a picture in your mind about how something will look, so you can see how his promise will come true!! Whenever God gives you a dream in your mind and you watch it unfold into reality, all the glory goes to Him!!! Do you have a picture in your head of a dream He has given you? Are you ready to watch it become reality?

Prayer Works!!!

Daniel 6:23 "The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God." When Daniel was put in the lions den for praying, he didn't stop praying... He prayed and prayed and put his trust in God completely!! When the king came back the next day, Daniel was alive with no wounds whatsoever!! Prayer works!! Make prayer a lifestyle!! And trust in Him always!! He DOES hear you and he DOES care!!!