Today's Word : With All Your Might

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might…"
(Ecclesiastes 9:10, NIV).

Are you being fruitful and productive right where you are today? Are you doing everything to the best of your ability? A lot of times we think, "As soon as I get a better job, then I´ll start working hard." "As soon as I get over this sickness, then I´ll cheer up, then I´ll have a good attitude." Or "As soon as my spouse changes, I´ll start working harder at my relationship."

But really, God wants us to do everything with all of our might no matter what the circumstances are. He wants us to become fruitful and productive today! He wants us to have a good attitude and do the right thing even when the wrong thing is happening to us.

See, we have to be faithful in the wilderness if we´re ever going to make it into our Promised Land. Remember, God is keeping the records. If you´ll keep doing the right thing with all your might, in spite of the circumstances, then you are sowing a seed for God to bring you up higher. You are opening the way for Him to bless and multiply you in every area of your life!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, I humbly come to You. Show me any area of my life that I need to rise higher in. Give me the strength and courage to do everything with all my might so that I can honor You in all that I do. In Jesus´ Name. Amen.

Today's Word : A Heart Toward Him

"God is always on the alert, constantly on the lookout for people who are totally committed to Him"
(II Chronicles 16:9, The Message).

God is looking for people who have a heart toward Him! Notice this verse doesn´t say, "God is looking for people who have perfect performance records, who never make mistakes." No, God knows we are a work in progress. He is looking at our hearts. He knows we are going to make mistakes and fall down, but He also knows we are going to get back up and make the right choices. That´s having a heart toward Him—being committed that no matter how many times you fall, you are going to get back up and press forward toward the things of God. You´re not going to quit, you´re not going to give up, hold back, or lay down. You are going to rise up because you see His hand outstretched before you ready to help you move forward.

Remember, God is on the lookout for you today. He´s longing to be good to those who are seeking His goodness. Keep your heart turned toward Him and allow Him to strengthen and empower you to rise above every obstacle and live in victory in every area of your life!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your grace and mercy toward me today. Search my heart. I dedicate it to You. Help me to live a life that is pleasing to You always. In Jesus´ Name. Amen.

Today's Word : What God Forgets

"I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for My own sake, and remembers your sins no more"
(Isaiah 43:25, NIV).

Did you know that the very moment you repent of your sin, God does not remember it anymore? Why is it that so many people constantly focus on their past mistakes and wrongdoings? Let me challenge you today—stop remembering what God has already forgotten! Start receiving His mercy and let the past be the past.

In order to receive the new things God wants to do in your life, you have to let go of the old. Once you ask for God´s forgiveness, quit dwelling on your mistakes and failures. As long as you´re looking back, you will never be able to move forward. Maybe the past just keeps coming back to your mind, but do you know who keeps bringing it up? The enemy. He´s called the accuser of the brethren. His goal is to keep you focused on your past, feeling guilty and condemned. But Romans 8 tells us that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Don´t follow the enemy down the path of dwelling on your failures. Let the past be the past. Receive God´s mercy today so you can move forward in the life of blessing He has in store for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank You for cleansing me and making me new. I choose to turn away from my past and receive Your grace, mercy, and forgiveness today. Lead me and guide me forward in the good plan You have for me. In Jesus´ Name. Amen.

Today's Word : Child of the Most High God

"For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.´ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children"
(Romans 8:15-16, NIV).

Do you see yourself as a son or daughter of the Most High God? Do you see yourself as royalty, worthy of His blessing today? How can we expect His goodness if we go around feeling defeated, depressed, weak, and unworthy? We have to remember that God has given us a royal robe of righteousness through His Son, Jesus. We are already approved by God. We are already accepted by Him and adopted into His family. We are royalty!
"Well," you might say, "Joel, we are just all old sinners saved by grace." The truth is, we were old sinners, but when we came to Christ, we were made new. We´re not sinners anymore; we are sons and daughters of the Most High God. We have been changed. We have been born into a new family. We are new creatures.

The next time you start feeling defeated, rise up and say, "I am royalty! I am the head and not the tail, above only and not beneath!" Remember, you are a child of the Most High God, and He has victory and blessing in store for you today!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

"Father in heaven, thank You for choosing me. Thank You for making me an heir of Your promises. I choose to stand in Your righteousness and walk worthy of Your high calling today. In Jesus´ Name. Amen."

Today's Word : Made Righteous

"For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous"
(Romans 5:19, NKJ)

Proverbs 28:1 tells us that “the righteous are as bold as a lion.” But the only way you’re going to have that kind of boldness is to know that you have been made righteous through Jesus. When you know who you are in Christ, when you know that God is smiling upon on you and that your sins are forgiven, then you’re going to hold your shoulders back and have the boldness and confidence that God really wants you to have.

Being righteous doesn’t mean that you’re perfect. It doesn’t mean that you don’t make mistakes. Righteousness is being in right standing with God. If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior and have a desire to please Him, then you have been made righteous. You have been born into God’s very own family. You did not do anything to earn this righteousness, it’s simply a gift. Because of Jesus’ obedience to pay the price for our sin, we are made righteous through Him! Receive His gift of righteousness today so you can move forward in the boldness and victory He has for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

"Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son to pay the penalty for my sin. As a believer in Jesus, I receive Your righteousness by faith today so that I can live in boldness and confidence all the days of my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen."

Today's Word : Come Boldly

"So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most"
(Hebrews 4:16, NLT)

Notice in today’s verse that God doesn’t say, “Come to Me with a weak, defeated, pitiful attitude.” He doesn’t say, “Come to Me thinking about all your failures and how unworthy you are.” No, God says, come to Me with boldness. Come to Me with your head held high, knowing that I’m a good God, and I want to help you! He says, “Come to Me knowing that you are the apple of My eye, and I want to be good to you.”

And really, the only way you’re going to approach God boldly is to know that you’re righteous—that you are in right standing with Him. You have to know in your heart that God is pleased with you. You have to know that your sins are forgiven.

Today, instead of dwelling on what you’ve done wrong, dwell on what you’ve done right! You may not be all that you’re supposed to be yet, but you can thank God that you’re not what you used to be! You are forgiven. You are chosen. You are accepted. Receive His forgiveness today so you can go boldly to His throne of grace.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

"Heavenly Father, thank You for Your mercy and grace. Thank You for inviting me into Your presence. I receive Your forgiveness today and come boldly before You. Teach me Your ways that I may walk in Your truth all the days of my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen."

Today's Word : Learning to Receive

"If you believe, you will receive…"
(Matthew 21:22, NIV)

All through the Bible, there are so many promises of what God has already done for us. It says in Ephesians that "God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing." It says in Colossians that "God has made us worthy." There is mercy for any mistake we will ever make. It’s already been taken care of. He paid the ultimate price through the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus. He’s done His part. Now it’s up to us to do our part. We have to start believing it so we can receive it.

In the natural, when someone gives you a gift, what’s the first thing you usually say? "Thank you." When you give thanks, it’s a sign that you are receiving the gift. Today, start receiving what God has given you by saying, “"Father, thank You for Your mercy. Thank You for supplying all my needs. Thank You for Your goodness in my life.”

As you learn to give Him thanks, you are learning to receive from Him. Open your heart by faith today and thank Him for all the blessings He has prepared for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

"Father God, I come to You today giving You thanks and praise for Your faithfulness in my life. I choose to receive Your Word which is life and strength to my soul. Help me to keep my heart focused on You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen."

Today's Word : Empowered to Overcome

"I have given you authority …to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you"
(Luke 10:19, NIV)

God has given you all power and authority to overcome every obstacle you may face in life! That means you are well able to do what God has called you to do. You can accomplish your goals. You have the ideas, the creativity, and the talent to be successful. You have been armed with strength for every battle!

God has already lined up the right people to come across your path. He’s already lined up the right opportunities. You have everything you need to live a victorious life. Not an average life, not a barely-get-by, mediocre life—you were created to excel. You have seeds of greatness on the inside.You may not have seen it in the past, but if you’ll stay in faith, it’s just a matter of time—victory is on the way. Don’t settle where you are.

Rise up in faith today and begin to declare, “I will accomplish my dreams. I can overcome any obstacle. I’ve been equipped and empowered to live in victory in every area of my life.”

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

"Heavenly Father, thank You for the power to overcome every obstacle I may face. Help me to see myself the way You see me. Help me to embrace the victory You have in store for me today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen."

Today's Word : Take a Step of Faith

"…And as they went, they were cured and made clean"
(Luke 17:14, AMP)

One time in the Scripture, there were ten lepers who saw Jesus coming through the city. They hollered out, “Jesus! Have mercy on us and make us whole!” Jesus could have healed them right then, but instead, He asked them to do something to express their faith. He said, “Go show yourself to the Priest, and you will be made whole.”

It’s interesting that those lepers were not supposed to be around other people. They had to live in colonies by themselves because they were very contagious and considered unclean. I’m sure they debated among themselves, “Do you really think we should go? I don’t look any better. My skin is not clear. It’s just going to be a waste of my time.” But they dared to put action behind their faith. They decided, “Jesus said if we go, we will be well. Let’s go. Let’s take a step of faith.” The Scripture says, “As they went, they were made whole.”

Friend, what is God telling you to do in your heart today? Take a step of faith. Put action behind what you are believing for. God is faithful. As you step out and show that your faith is in Him, it will open the door for His miracle-working power to flow in every area of your life!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

"Heavenly Father, I choose to trust in You. I choose to be obedient to You. Even when it doesn’t make sense to my natural mind, I am going to continue to walk by faith. I love You and bless You today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen."

Forum : Building Shared Vision - Philippines

Forum : Building Shared Vision - Philippines

Today's Word : You Are Closer Than You Think

";…He said to the paralytic, ‘I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.’ Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, ‘We never saw anything like this!’"
(Mark 2:10b-12, NKJ)

In Mark chapter two, the Bible talks about a man who was paralyzed. He heard that Jesus was in town teaching at another house and knew that He could heal him. The paralyzed man convinced four of his friends to carry him on his bed over to where Jesus was. When they arrived, the house was so packed that they couldn’t get in. Do you know what happened next? Instead of just giving up and going home, the man was so determined to get his miracle that he convinced his friends to climb up on the roof, cut a hole in it, and lower him down to where Jesus was!

Now this man understood that you are closest to your victory when you face the greatest opposition. A lot of people would have just given up. They would have seen the crowd and gone home—even though they were just a few feet away from their miracle. Don’t let that be you! What are you believing for? Don’t give up just because there is opposition. Don’t let others discourage you from seeing your miracle. Keep pressing through today because you are closer than you think to the victory God has in store for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

"Heavenly Father, today I release all of my cares and anxieties on You. I trust that my breakthrough is coming. I choose to press in and stand strong. I believe Your Word, and I believe that You will reward me as I diligently seek after You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen."

Today's Word : What Moves God

"And when He saw their faith… "
(Luke 5:20, KJV )

Do you know what moves the hand of God? This may surprise you, but God is not moved by complaining and self-pity. He’s not even moved by our needs. Yes, He is concerned about our needs, and yes, He wants to meet our needs, but we have to do our part and invite Him to work in our lives by exercising our faith.

When Jesus walked the earth, oftentimes right before He healed someone, the Bible says something like this, "When He saw their faith…" And so I ask you today, can God see your faith?

When God sees you doing everything you can to get well; when He sees you getting to work a little earlier because you really want that promotion; when He sees you bypass the cookie jar because you’ve been believing to lose weight; when He sees you bite your tongue to keep the peace in your house; when He sees you help others when you really need more help than they do; when God sees your faith, that’s when extraordinary things will begin to happen. Faith opens the door for God to move, so demonstrate your faith today and watch the hand of God move in every area of your life!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, thank You for the gift of faith. I choose today to exercise my faith and invite You to move on my behalf. Keep me close to You, search my heart and remove anything that is displeasing to You. I bless You today and always. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Today's Word : Give Life to Your Faith

"…faith without works is dead"
(James 2:20, NKJ)

Are you putting action behind your faith today? If we aren’t doing something that shows that we believe God, the Bible says that our faith is dead. Dead faith won’t accomplish anything. We have to give life to our faith by putting actions behind it. And, it doesn’t have to be anything big, just something that shows your faith in God. For example, I know people who are down and discouraged. They pray, “God, please. Get me out of this discouragement. God, give me my joy back. God, give me a new beginning.” And yes, prayer is important, but it’s only part of the process. What really causes God to act is when you do something about it—you get back up, dust yourself off, and say, “You know what? I’m not going to stay down. This is the day the Lord has made! I am going to be happy and have a great day.” That’s putting action behind your faith.

I encourage you today to let your actions give life to your faith. Show the world that you are trusting God’s Word. As you do, you’ll give life to your faith, and you’ll step into new levels of His victory and blessing in every area of your life!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father God, thank You for Your Word that builds faith in my heart and refreshes my soul. I choose to put action behind my faith today. I choose to give life to my faith so that You can accomplish Your will in me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Today's Word : Faith That God Can See

"…You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove"
(James 2:18, Message)

We all have dreams that we’re hoping will come to pass and promises that we’re standing on. And we should always be praying, believing, and hoping. That’s all part of faith. But there’s another step that oftentimes, people leave out—you have to put action behind your faith.

Are you doing anything to show God that you’re serious about what you’re believing for? You can pray all day long, “God, get me out of this problem.” Or, “God, give me that promotion.” But if you really want to get God’s attention and see God move in amazing ways in your life, take it one step further and do something to demonstrate your faith. You may have an addiction, but are you going to a recovery program? Maybe you lost your job. Are you putting your resume out and knocking on new doors? That’s faith that God can see. And when He can see your faith, you’ll see His hand of blessing, provision, and victory in every area of your life!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, I come to You today releasing every part of my mind, will, and emotions to You. Show me ways that I can demonstrate my faith in You. Help me to make wise decisions so I can walk in higher places with You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen

Today's Word : What’s Following You?

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever" (Psalm 23:6, NKJ)

As a believer in Jesus, did you know that goodness and mercy are following you? God´s grace and favor are chasing you down! But if you live with a cloud of condemnation over you, if you surround yourself with negativity, then you are putting a barrier between yourself and the blessings of God.

So many believers today miss out on what God has in store for them because they live like they´ve got a dark cloud over their heads. They´re always talking doom and gloom, living in condemnation. But when you open your heart to receive what God has for you, that cloud is lifted and all that´s left is His goodness and mercy!

Instead of living in guilt and shame, God desires that you walk in His love and forgiveness. Make the decision today to let go of condemnation, let go of the past through forgiveness, let go of self–defeating behaviors, and embrace His goodness and mercy! Let His favor surround you like a shield so you can live the life of victory He has in store for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, I humbly come to You today asking that You remove anything in my heart that would keep me from You. Give me a heart of forgiveness so that I can move forward into all You have for me. In Jesus´ Name. Amen.

Today's Word : Say Continually

"Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; and let them say continually, ´Let the LORD be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant´"
(Psalm 35:27, NKJ).

What are you saying continually? Do you go around talking about how bad things are in the economy and how tough your job is, or do you declare, "Let the Lord be magnified Who takes pleasure in my prosperity?"

I believe one reason that we are supposed to say this "continually" is so that we can get it deep down on the inside of us. God knows that when we hear something long enough, eventually, we’ll believe it. When I think about it, I can just hear the people in the Old Testament saying all day long, "God is prospering me. God is taking me to new levels. God has great things in store." They were saying in effect, "New doors are opening. My health is getting better. My marriage is being restored. My children are going to do great things."

Friend, God takes great joy in prospering you. Get that down on the inside of you. This is a new day and you’re entering new levels. Start continually declaring God’s goodness and faithfulness in your life and watch those supernatural doors of opportunity open before you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father God, today I choose to declare Your goodness. I choose to acknowledge Your favor and kindness. Thank You for taking pleasure in prospering me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Today's Word : Crowned With Goodness

"You crown the year with Your bounty and goodness…" (Psalm 65:11, AMP)

Are you seeing the goodness of God overflowing in your life today? If you´ll look with your eyes of faith, you´ll see that He´s already crowned your year with His goodness. In other words, you have been especially chosen; you are marked to receive His goodness. And when God crowns you with His goodness, it doesn´t matter what´s going on around you. It doesn´t matter what´s happening in the economy, in the job market, or the housing market. God´s crown of favor and blessing cannot be moved. You are the head and not the tail; above only and not beneath.

Are you ready to receive His crown today? Are you ready to walk in the authority you´ve already been given? When you choose to receive and acknowledge His blessings by faith, you open the door for His bounty, His supernatural blessing to overwhelm you in every area of your life!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank You for choosing me and crowning me with Your favor and blessing. I open my heart in faith to You to receive every spiritual blessing You have for me. In Jesus´ Name. Amen.

Today's Word : Go the Extra Mile

"And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two" (Matthew 5:41, NKJ)

Are you a person of excellence? Do you do more than what´s expected, or do you look for the easy way out? Do you just do the minimum requirement, or do you go the extra mile?

Back in Bible days, by law, Roman soldiers could require a person to carry their armor for one mile. After that mile, they would have to get somebody else to do it. But in this verse, Jesus is saying to go above and beyond the call of duty. Do more than expected. Carry the armor two miles. And that´s the attitude we should have today.

We are called to be people of excellence. We are called to go above and beyond. That´s the attitude God expects, and that´s the attitude God rewards. The world should look at the people of God and think, "Wow. They are people of integrity. People who outshine the rest. I want what they have." I encourage you today to look for ways to go the extra mile. Let your actions bring glory to God and open the door for His blessing in every area of your life.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, today I choose an attitude of excellence. I want my life to bring You all the glory. Help me find creative ways to be a blessing to those around me. In Jesus´ Name. Amen.

Today's Word : Celebrate Your Freedom‏

"You have been set free from sin…"
(Romans 6:18, NIV)

We have to declare our freedom and determine to stand against the opposing forces in our lives. We have to declare our freedom from addiction, poverty, sickness, and lack. We have to stand and fight until we fully experience that freedom and peace that God has promised.

Whatever battle you may be facing today, declare that you are free. Declare that you are an overcomer. Celebrate the victory that is on its way! As you stand strong and celebrate your freedom, you will experience His victory and true freedom all the days of your life!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank You for setting me free in every area of my life. I declare today that nothing can hold me back. I declare that I am free from sickness, poverty, lack, and addiction. I declare that You have set me free and thank You for freedom in every area of my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Today's Word : Live Excellently

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might" (Ecclesiastes 9:10a, NAS)

David was a man of excellence. The Bible tells us that David played his harp “skillfully.” He didn’t just play it, he played it with excellence. When he slung the stone that defeated Goliath, it wasn’t an accident. It wasn’t just a lucky break. David had practiced the slingshot year after year out in the shepherd’s fields. He was extremely talented with that slingshot. Some experts say he could hit a small bull’s eye more than 100 feet away!

In the same way, if we want to see God’s hand of promotion, we need to live excellently. In this day and age, if you’re not growing, then you’re at a disadvantage. If you’re at the same skill level this year as you were five years ago, then you are falling behind. It’s time to step it up a notch. Whatever you are doing, do it with all your might! Don’t get complacent. Keep growing; keep learning; keep improving. As you do your best to live excellently, God will bless the fruit of your labor. He’ll pour out His “super” on your natural and cause you to rise up higher into the life of victory He has in store for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, I choose to live in excellence. I want to bring You glory in all that I do. Thank You for promoting me as I dedicate every area of my life to You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Today's Word : Let Your Light Shine

"Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16, AMP)

Do the people around you see your light shining? Do they know you are a believer by your actions? Are you setting the bar in your office? Can people see your good works?

I know people who can quote half the Bible and pray two hours a day, but they have no influence or credibility because they’re sloppy in the workplace. They’re always late or wasting time. They’re not productive. They’re not efficient. No one will even listen to them.

I heard somebody say, “Your performance gives you a platform.” When you excel in what you do, that gets people’s attention. The way to gain respect, the way to gain influence is to develop your character and skills in such a way that people want what you have. They may not agree with what you believe, but when you are the best in your company, they can’t argue with that. You’ve earned their respect, not by your words, but by your spirit of excellence.

I encourage you today, don’t settle for mediocrity. You are a child of the Most High God. Make the decision today to let your light shine and bring Him glory in everything you do!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, I choose to let my light shine so that I can bring glory to You. Help me to rise up higher; show me ways to set the standard. Let my life be a testimony of You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.