Daily word and prayer

  Today's Scripture: I recall the many miracles he did for me so long ago. Those wonderful deeds are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about them. (Psalm 77:11–12, TLB) Today's Word: Notice that the psalmist said thoughts of God’s goodness were constantly in his mind. That’s a great way to live. When we learn to recall the good things God has done for us, it helps build our faith and keeps us encouraged. It’s hard to be negative when you are constantly thinking about God’s blessings and favor in your life. Too often, though, we remember what we should forget, and we forget what we should remember. In the Scripture, after God miraculously stopped the Jordan River so the Israelites could cross over into the Promised Land, He told them to gather stones as a memorial of the event. He didn’t want them or their children to ever forget His faithfulness. Earlier this month, our church experienced the goodness of God in a remarkable way. When God protects you, when He in...

  Today's Scripture:  “Dear friends, now we are the children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2, NIV) Today's Word:  It’s easy to have the wrong image of ourselves. The Scripture says, “Now we are the children of God,” but too many times, we live as though we don’t deserve to be blessed because we’ve made too many mistakes and had too many negative things come against us. We live with a slave mentality to mediocrity, to guilt, to lack, to addictions. Stop thinking as a slave and start thinking as a son. Stop thinking about what you’ve been through and the mistakes you’ve made, and start thinking about who you are. A son of the Most High God doesn’t live feeling guilty and condemned about past mistakes; he receives mercy and moves forward. A son or daughter has a boldness, a confidence. You’ll expect God’s favor. You’ll believe for doors to open for...

  Today’s Scripture:  Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.( 1 Peter 5:6, NIV) Today’s Word:  In the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15, this young man had taken his father's inheritance and wasted it all on wild living and partying. Pride rose up and tried to keep him from going home, but when he hit bottom working in a hog field, it says "he came to himself"--he got honest with himself, humbled himself, and was willing to admit his mistake--and returned home to a loving father who celebrated his return. Are you letting pride keep you out of the Father's house? Are you worried about what people will think if you humble yourself and admit your mistakes? We've all made mistakes and done things we're not proud of. Don';t let pride hold you back. Pride keeps us from rising higher. The new beginning is in your humility. Healing, restored relationships, open doors, and second chances are in your humili...

  Today's Scripture: “Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14, NLT) Today's Word: Esther was a Jewish orphan girl who was raised in poverty while living in exile in a foreign country. She had so many bad breaks and disadvantages. It didn’t look like she would ever do anything great. But bad circumstances cannot stop your destiny. God gave Esther favor and raised her out of obscurity to become the queen of Persia. Esther was able to use her position to save the people of Israel from a plot to destroy all of them. Her time to shine had come, and she became a national hero. You don’t know the amazing things God has in store for you. Why don’t you start seeing yourself the right way? Instead of focusing on what you don’t have, how big the obstacles are, or the mistakes you’ve made, start focusing on the fact that you’re a person of destiny. The greatness the Creator of the universe put in you is about to come out. He handpicked you for t...

  Today's Scripture: The LORD brought his people safely out from Egypt, loaded with silver and gold. (Psalm 105:37, NLT) Today's Word:  After the Israelites had been in slavery for hundreds of years in Egypt, God supernaturally brought them out and defeated Pharaoh and their oppressors. It was a day they never dreamed would happen. But God didn’t just bring them out, He paid them back for the years of mistreatment. On their way out, Exodus 12 says, “God caused the Israelites to have favor with their oppressors, who gave them articles of gold, silver, and clothing.” They left loaded down with blessings.  God is keeping the records of what you are owed—for those times when you’ve done the right thing but been treated unfairly when you gave your best in a relationship but the other person walked away when you were repeatedly overlooked for a promotion. Your time is coming. What God has for you is still on the way. The joy that should have been yours, the resources, the heali...

  Today's Scripture: They brought the jars to the widow and she kept pouring. When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.” But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing. (2 Kings 4:5–6, NIV) Today's Word: In 2 Kings 4, things were so bad for this poor widow that creditors were coming to take her two sons as payment for her bills. When the prophet Elisha told her to get as many jars as possible and pour her little remaining oil in them, it didn’t make sense. But when she obeyed, the miracle happened and the oil kept flowing till every jar was full. She sold the oil, paid the creditors, and had plenty left over to live on. Has God put a promise in your heart, but it hasn’t made sense? Perhaps the medical report hasn’t changed or your business hasn’t improved, and you can’t see how it can happen. Don’t talk yourself out of what you know God is telling you to do. If you obey, the miracle will follow. Don’t miss your miracle try...

  Today's Scripture: For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7, NLT) Today's Word: What do you find often holds you back from being courageous enough to take the risk and step into God’s calling and purpose for your life? This takes a made-up mind that says, “I am not going to let fear, insecurity, what I don’t have, or what I don’t think I can do keep me in my limited environment. I’m going to stretch and make changes to follow the call. I’m not going to stay in my dysfunction, surrounded by dysfunctional friends.” Your destiny is too great to let fear of what people will think stop you. Now don’t let comfort hold you back. The fear may still be there, but you have to act on your purpose, not on your fear. Fear will keep you from your destiny. Fear will keep you stuck. You may feel fear, but you have to do it afraid. As you step out, courage will come. Confidence will show up. The favor, the blessing, the he...

Today's Scripture:  "So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife…and she gave birth to a son…Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David." (Ruth 4:13, 17, NIV) Today's Word:  A young widow named Ruth left her home country and moved to her elderly mother-in-law’s home to take care of her. They barely had enough food to survive. Ruth went into the fields to pick up the leftover wheat that the workers missed. One day Boaz, the wealthy man who owned the field, noticed Ruth and told his workers to leave handfuls of wheat on purpose for Ruth. Now she didn’t have to work nearly as hard. God was meeting their needs, and she was so grateful. But God is full of surprises. Just when you’re satisfied and think you’ve reached your limits, God has something bigger in mind. Boaz fell in love with Ruth, and they got married. Now instead of working in the field, Ruth owned the field! And on top of that, their great-grandson was named David. Ruth went from barely surviving to...

Today's Scripture:  “While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” (Luke 15:20, NIV) Today's Word:  Most of the time, we believe that God loves us as long as we’re making good decisions, resisting temptation, and treating people right. But there will be times when you compromise, times when you have doubts, times when you fail. When we don’t perform perfectly, it’s easy to think that God is far from us. I say this respectfully, but sometimes religion pushes people down. It says, “If you make poor choices, you’re on your own.” But the truth is that when you fall, God doesn’t turn away from you. He comes running toward you. When you blow it, God doesn’t say, “Too bad. You had your chance.” Rather, He comes after you with a greater passion. When you make a mistake, God loves you so much that He pursues you. He won’t leave you alone until He sees you restored and back on...

  Today's Scripture: Show me the path where I should go, O Lord; point out the right road for me to walk. (Psalm 25:4, TLB) Today's Word: Friend, God doesn’t always take us down a straight path. There will be detours, delays, and curves. There will be times when you feel like you’re going the wrong way. “God, I’m believing for promotion, healing, or freedom, but I’m seeing just the opposite.” Don’t get set on the method. The way you think it’s going to happen may not be the way God is going to do it. What you can’t see is that on the path that seems to be going the wrong way, there’s a turn that leads to a shortcut that will catapult you ahead. That’s the way our God is. Where He’s leading you is going to be better than you’ve imagined. The reason it’s taking longer is because it’s going to be bigger than you thought, more rewarding, more fulfilling.  Doors aren’t opening yet? People are against you? You don’t know what God is up to. You can’t see what He’s doing behind the sc...

  Today's Scripture: Yet I am confident I will see the LORD’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. (Psalm 27:13, NLT) Today's Word: In Psalm 27, David had all kinds of things coming against him. He had every opportunity to live defeated and discouraged. He said enemies were waiting to attack him, accusing him of things he’d never done. People were lying about him, being mean and violent. It seemed as though he was overwhelmed with trouble and adversity. But just when you thought he was defeated, he says, “Yet I am confident I will see the goodness of God.” He was saying, “All these negative things have come against me, but the one thing I am confident of is that God will deliver and vindicate me. I am confident I will see His favor.” He didn’t deny negative things were happening; he just didn’t let it get inside. He could have overflowed with self-pity and discouragement, but instead he turned it around and overflowed with hope. He said, “I am confident. I am abs...

  Today's Scripture: So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.” (Luke 11:2, NKJV) Today's Word:  When Jesus’ disciples asked Him how to pray, He taught them what we know now as the Lord’s Prayer. He started off saying, “Our Father in heaven.” The prayer goes on to talk about our daily bread, protection from evil, and forgiving others. But it’s significant that before we ask for our needs, before we ask for protection and guidance, God says, “I want you to acknowledge who you are. I want you to see yourself as My child.” We’re saying, “God, I know who I am. I belong to you. You’re my Father. You created me. You love me. You care for me. You protect me. You favor me.” If you don’t know who you are, the rest of this prayer is not going to be effective. You can’t ask in faith for your daily bread, your protection, and your guidance if you don’t know you’re His child. Because of who you are, you can stay in peace, knowing that your Father...

  Today's Scripture: He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. (Psalm 91:4, NIV) Today's Word:  The enemy has schemes and strategies to try to keep you from your destiny. People, an illness, or bad breaks may be set in motion – headed to your address with your name on it to cause you trouble – but when you make the Lord your God, when you stay under the shelter of the Most High, the Scripture says He covers you with His wings. He’ll hide you from things that could have brought you down and you didn’t even know it. You’re not at risk. You’re not open game for whatever the enemy wants to do. You don’t have to worry that at any moment something bad can happen. God has you covered.  Even if trouble does come, you’re still covered. That sickness can’t finish you off, that accident can’t take you out, that layoff can’t stop your purpose, that difficulty is not how your story ends. God has t...

  Today's Scripture: Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the LORD tested Joseph’s character. (Psalm 105:19, NLT) Today's Word: Before your dream comes to pass, God will test your character. You have to prove that you can handle what He’s entrusted you with. God gave Joseph a dream that he would be in leadership, but his brothers took away his coat of many colors that represented his father’s favor and sold him into slavery in Egypt, where he was falsely accused and put in prison. These weren’t just random bad breaks; God was testing his character. It wasn’t fair, but Joseph didn’t get bitter. He kept passing the test. His brothers took his robe, but they couldn’t take his favor. They took his freedom, but they couldn’t take his anointing. They took him from his home, but they couldn’t take his dream. All these steps prepared him to become the prime minister of Egypt.  Be a Joseph. Do the right thing when it’s hard. That difficulty is not there to stop you, it’s there to...

  Today's Scripture:  “For I have seen how Laban has treated you.” (Genesis 31:12, NLT ) Today's Word:  For twenty years Jacob did the right thing and worked faithfully for his father-in-law, Laban. But Laban was continually deceitful, dishonest, manipulative, and conniving in his agreements with Jacob. Because of God’s favor on Jacob, Laban became rich. Nevertheless, Laban tried to hold Jacob back and decreased his wages ten times. But God saw the injustice. Because Jacob kept passing the test, taking the high road, God blessed Jacob with a sudden increase in his flocks to amazing abundance. What was that?  Payback time.  People may think they’re getting the best of you, but God sees what’s happening. He knows how to pay you back for what should have been yours. Deceptive people and manipulators are not going to get the best of you. Don’t get upset if people leave you out, push you down, or don’t keep their word. You’re not on their payroll; you’re on...

Today's Scripture:  Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.  (1 Corinthians 15:58, NKJV) Today's Word:  To “be steadfast and immovable” is a powerful choice we need to make. “I am not going to be moved by my circumstances. I’m not going to let what others say about me steal my joy. I’m not going to live worried about my finances. I’m going to do my best and trust God to do what I can’t do. I have the grace from God to handle anything that comes my way.” As long as you’re allowing circumstances to determine your peace and joy, your life is going to be like a rollercoaster ride that’s based on what goes your way. That’s surface living. God is saying, “You have to go down deeper in your faith.” Rather than try to use your faith to control your circumstances, use your faith to control yourself in the midst of those circumstances. When you stay in peace, that’s a place of power. You know that no wea...

  Today's Scripture: Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept. (Genesis 33:4, NIV) Today's Word: As a boy, Joseph saw his uncle, Esau, forgive his father, Jacob, for stealing his birthright. After years of being estranged and angry, Esau’s very public forgiveness was an incredible act of kindness, an incredible show of mercy. Fast forward many years to the scene in Genesis 45 where Joseph, now the prime minister of Egypt, forgives his brothers for selling him into slavery and years in prison. He could have gotten revenge, but noticed what got passed down to him from Esau—mercy, forgiveness, and kindness. What made the difference was that Esau started a blessing and modeled love and forgiveness for his family, children, and his nephews. You may have a good reason to live offended, angry, and dysfunctional. It’s what you’ve seen modeled, or somebody did you wrong. You can be an Esau. You can set your family on a new ...

  Today's Scripture: His companion answered, “Your dream can mean only one thing—God has given Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite, victory over Midian and all its allies!” (Judges 7:14, NLT) Today's Word:  It’s significant that Gideon overheard what one of the enemy soldiers was saying about him in today’s Scripture. Gideon only had three hundred men in his army to fight several armies that had united against the Israelites. It seemed impossible, but when Gideon heard that, something came alive inside. That’s what convinced him to see himself as the valiant warrior that the angel had called him. He returned to camp and shouted to his men, “The Lord has given us the victory!” He knew he was well able. Even though they were greatly outnumbered, Gideon and the Israelites won the victory. Are you seeing yourself the right way? Sometimes the enemy knows who we are more than we know who we are. If you could hear the enemy talking about you, he’d be saying, “He or she serves the Most...