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."