DEAR GOD: (A prayer)

Dear God:
I want to thank You for what you have already done. I am not going to
wait until I see results or receive rewards; I am thanking you right
now. I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better; I
am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until people say they
are sorry or until they stop talking about me; I am thanking you right
now. I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears ; I am
thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until my financial
situation improves; I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to
wait until the children are asleep and the house is quiet; I am going to
thank you right now. I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work
or until I get the job; I am going to thank you right now. I am not
going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has
caused me pain or grief; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to
wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed; I am
thanking you right now. I am thanking you because I am alive. I am
thanking you because I made it through the day's difficulties. I am
thanking you because I have walked around the obstacles.
I am thanking you because I have the ability and the opportunity to do
more and do better.

I'm thanking you because FATHER, YOU haven't given up on me.

God is just so good, and he's good all the time. Share this message with
friends and continue to THANK HIM.

Savor the Moment

Take the time to notice beauty and pleasures in your daily life. Savoring positive experiences can heighten your positive responses to them. A key to savoring is "thanksgiving," or expressing gratitude for the blessings that come your way, large and small.


Think outside the box.
It's fairly obvious why we might feel grateful for grandmothers, lovely sunsets, and anything else that has provided comfort or beauty in our lives. But what about thanking the homeless people who come to the shelter where you volunteer? Individuals who do volunteer work sometimes speak of the benefits they receive from service. Since service to others helped them to find their own inner spirituality, they were grateful for the opportunity to serve. If we look hard enough we can find a reason to feel grateful for any relationship—even when someone does us harm, as that person helps us appreciate our own vulnerability. Highly advanced forms of gratitude may actually increase the level of goodness in the world by inspiring positive acts in ourselves and others.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, see you next week!

Outer life and an Inner life

Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in.
—1 Peter 3:4 Message


We have an outer life and an inner life. The outer life is our reputation with people. The inner life is our reputation with God.

We need to pay attention to what is going on inside us. Thoughts and inner attitudes, motives, and desires—all of these things are important to the Lord.

As far as God is concerned, the inner person is the real person. A truly powerful Christian is one with a pure heart, one who wholeheartedly serves God.
Our inner life is comprised of our soul and our spirit.

Our human spirit is indwelt by the Holy Spirit at the time of the New Birth. God's will and desire for us, then, is that we desire and allow the Holy Spirit to dwell in our soul also.

Our soul is our mind, our will, and our emotions. Our spirit mingled with the Holy Spirit performs the functions of conscience, intuition, and communion with God.

We must cooperate with God to allow the divine life force that came into our spirit when we were saved to dwell in and be at home in our entire inner being.

May you be challenged to be accountable for your inner life.

Pray This:

"Lord, I allow You to make Your home in my entire inner being—my soul, as well as my spirit. In Jesus' name, amen."




Have a Mindful Monday

God is on Your Side

Today's Scripture
“If God is for us, who can be against us” (Romans 8:31)?

Today's Word
As a believer in Jesus and a child of His, God is on your side today! If you haven’t thought about it yet today, remember, you are created for greatness. You have the seed of Almighty God inside of you. There is no obstacle that can stop you. There is no disadvantage that can hold you back. You’re in the palm of God’s hand, and He has equipped and empowered you for everything. When God is on your side, He sets the right people in your path. In fact, He’s already released favor into your future. He’s planning for you to come in to new seasons of increase. Have you given up on a dream? God is on your side, and He wants to resurrect it. Have you given up on a family member? God is on your side, and He wants to restore that relationship. God is on your side, and He has a plan for victory in every area of your life. Let that sink down into your heart today. Begin to expect His favor. Expect Him to work in your life. Focus on the fact that God has equipped you. He has anointed you. Your best days are still out in front of you! If God is for you, no one can rise against you! As you meditate on this promise, it will become real to you. You will walk in the favor and victory God has in store for you!
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, thank You for being on my side today. Thank You for equipping and empowering me to accomplish everything You’ve called me to. Give me a deeper revelation of Your love for me today so that I can live the abundant life You have prepared for me. In Jesus’ Name.

Amen.

What is confidence

Not that we are fit (qualified and sufficient in ability) of ourselves..., but our power and ability and sufficiency are from God.
—2 Corinthians 3:5


No matter how qualified and able we may be, without confidence we won't accomplish much.

What is confidence? Webster says it is "trust or faith." Confidence also means "a feeling of assurance, especially of self-assurance," "security," "self-confidence." Self-confidence is the belief, "I'm acceptable and able."

Jesus said, ...apart from Me...you can do nothing (John 15:5). That does not mean we are able to do nothing at all; it means we are not able to do anything worthwhile.

We need to come to a state of utter bankruptcy in our own ability apart from Christ. It does not matter what we can or cannot do. Without God, we are helpless; with Him nothing is impossible to us. (Matthew 19:26.)

There are two main reasons that we are not used by God for greater things: (1) we think we are something in ourselves, or (2) we don't know who we are in Christ.

We try to accomplish things in the flesh, not realizing that without God we are powerless. But if God is with us, our natural deficiencies don't matter. We are ...self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency (Philippians 4:13).

Whatever you need to do, you can do it because of Christ in you.

Do This:

Remember the Lord sees your heart. Be confident in His love for you. Know that you are accepted and you are able through Christ,


Have a Thankful Thursday

GOD"S WILL

The will of God will never take you,

where the grace of God cannot keep you,

where the arms of God cannot support you,

where the riches of God cannot supply your needs,

where the power of God cannot endow you.

The will of God will never take you,

where the spirit of God cannot work through you,

where the wisdom of God cannot teach you,

where the army of God cannot protect you,

where the hands of God cannot mold you

The will of God will never take you,

where the love of God cannot enfold you,

where the mercies of God cannot sustain you,

where the peace of God cannot calm your fears,

where the authority of God cannot overrule for you

The will of God will never take you,

where the comfort of God cannot dry your tears,

where the Word of God cannot feed you,

where the miracles of God cannot be done for you,

where the omnipresence of God cannot find you.

"Everything happens for a purpose. We may not see

the wisdom of it all now but trust and believe in the Lord

that everything is for the best"

New Garments

Today's Scripture
“Provide for those who grieve…a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor” (Isaiah 61:3 NIV).

Today's Word
Do you need a new garment today? I’m not talking about a physical garment. I’m talking about what’s covering your mind and emotions. Are you clothed with despair and disappointment? Are you wearing “heaviness”? If you’ve gone through a hurtful situation, the Bible says there is a time to grieve, and it’s important to release that hurt to the Lord. But the Bible also tells us that God wants to give you a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. You can put on a garment of praise instead of a heavy, burdened spirit. What’s holding you back today? Are the garments of yesterday weighing you down and holding you back? The garment of praise is light and filled with peace and joy. Don’t carry those heavy burdens around anymore! Today is the day for new garments! Forgive those who have hurt you and begin to praise Him! Thank God for life today. Thank Him for the beautiful sunrise. Thank him for restoring you, even if you don’t see it yet. And this verse says, you will be called an oak of righteousness, strong and secure, and you will display the splendor of the Lord all the days of your life!
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, I come to You today and ask that You take off my old, heavy garments of despair and heaviness. Make me new today. Give me a garment of praise so that I can be a display of Your glory and splendor. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

What does it mean to be seated in heavenly places

And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
—Ephesians 2:6 KJV


What does it mean to be seated in heavenly places? It means that we are now able to enter into God's rest.

To be seated means to rest. When we sit in a chair, we rest our physical body. To be seated in heavenly places with Christ is to enter an "inner rest." Our spirit and soul can be at rest because of what Christ has done for us, and because of the good plan God has for us.

One definition of rest is "to be at peace or ease"; "free from anxiety or distress." Rest is freedom from worry and frustration which develop because of our works in trying to do what only God can do. It is freedom from excessive reasoning, struggle, fear, and inner turmoil.

We are to abide in the Lord. The word abide means to "dwell," "to remain in a place." When we abide in Him, we can rest, trust, lean, and rely on Him in this place of protection. The promise of God's peace is not made to those who work and struggle in their own strength but to those who sit, rest, and abide in Christ.

There are those who have learned the blessing of entering God's rest. They are seated with Him, and they have learned to abide in their place.

If you are struggling, take a seat and rest. Your place has been there waiting for you to occupy it all along.

Do This:

You are seated in heavenly places in Christ. Stay in your seat. Stop jumping up every few minutes and getting out of rest!



Have a Wonderful Wednesday
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Bitterness is an extremely destructive force

Today's Scripture
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice” (Ephesians 4:31 NIV).

Today's Word Bitterness is an extremely destructive force. It seeps into the depths of your heart when you choose not to forgive someone. When you harbor unforgiveness, it closes the door to God’s working in your life. The Bible even tells us that if we choose not to forgive others, God cannot even hear our prayers. Thank God that He has empowered us to forgive and release bitterness! You have the choice to get rid of bitterness so you can live in freedom! You may have been through unfair situations, but it’s not over until God says it’s over. God always has the final say, and He is a God of justice. God sees every wrong that’s ever been done to you. He sees every unfair situation. If you will stay in faith and keep your hopes up, He will make your wrongs right. He’ll bring justice into your life. Your attitude should be, “It may have been unfair. They may have done me wrong. But I refuse to get bitter. I know my time is coming.” As you choose forgiveness and keep your thoughts focused on the Word of God, you will walk in complete freedom in every area of your life!

A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, today I refuse bitterness. I refuse to allow the past to keep me stuck. Right now I forgive those who have hurt me. I pray blessing on them, that they would come to know Your Truth. Father, thank You for setting my heart free today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

God has a plan and a purpose

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.
—Jeremiah 29:11


God has a plan and a purpose for each of us and a specific way and perfect time to bring it to pass.

Much of our frustration and misery comes from either not believing that fact, or believing it but being determined to do things our own way and in our own time, determined to exalt our own will and timing above God's.

According to Isaiah 55:8, God's thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are not our ways. We want what feels good right now, but God has something far greater in mind.

We are constantly trying to figure out something we do not understand or trying to make something happen now that is not happening yet. It seems as if we are always trying, but believers are supposed to believe!

"Why, God, why?" and "When, God, when?" can be two statements that keep us frustrated and prevent us from enjoying peace. Many times we do not understand what God is doing. But that is what trust is all about. Let God be God in your life. Give Him the reins. He knows what He is doing.

Do This:

Trust yourself and everything to God Who judges fairly and deals righteously. Deposit yourself in His hands and watch what He can do!



Have a Faithful Friday