Blog Archives
Possessing Your Promised Land
Today’s Scripture:
The Lord your God will thrust them out from before you and drive them out of your sight, and you shall possess their land, as the Lord your God promised you. – Joshua 23:5, AMP.
Today’s Word:
We all have giants or obstacles that try to keep us from possessing what God has promised, especially in our dreams. We have two choices: we can quit and live in mediocrity, or we can fight and take hold of the victory.
In the Bible, the children of Israel were camped right next door to their Promised Land. God had already told them He would give them the victory; all they had to do was go in and fight for the land. But, when they heard how big their opponents were, they had such a weak, defeated mentality that they just gave up. Their attitude was, “What’s the use of even trying? We’ll never defeat those people. We might as well just stay out here in the wilderness.” They settled for mediocrity because they weren’t willing to fight.
Friend, don’t let that be you! The battle you have to fight today is in your mind. You have to change your thinking in order to possess God’s promises. Start choosing thoughts of faith and victory. Declare that you are an overcomer. As you stand and fight and win the battle in your mind, you’ll move forward and embrace the promises and dreams that God has for you!
Prayer for Today:
Father, today I come to You believing that You have given me the victory. I will not focus on the obstacles before me; instead, I will focus on You. Help me to stand strong and keep my heart and mind focused on the victory You have in store for me in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Copyright © 2012 Joel Osteen Ministries
Our Daily Bread – Be Content
Read: Philippians 4:10-20
Contentment is hard to attain. Even the apostle Paul, a hero of the faith, had to learn to be content (Phil. 4:11). It was not a natural character trait for him.
For Paul to write that he was content in every situation is truly amazing. At the time of this writing, he was in jail in Rome. Charged with sedition, treason, and other serious crimes, he had appealed to the highest court: Caesar himself. Without other legal recourse and friends in high places, he had to wait for his case to be heard. It seems as if Paul had the right to be an impatient and unhappy person. Instead, he wrote to the Philippians to say that he had learned to be content.
How did he learn this? One step at a time until he could be satisfied even in uncomfortable environments. He learned to accept whatever came his way (v.12) and to receive with thanks whatever help fellow Christians could give (vv.14-18). And most important, he recognized that God was supplying all he needed (v.19).
Contentment is not natural for any of us. The competitive spirit in us drives us to compare, to complain, and to covet. Few of us are in a predicament such as Paul’s, but we all face difficulties in which we can learn to trust God and be content.
Content with what You give to me.
No, more than that, let me rejoice
In all You send, for it’s Your choice! —Anon.
Obedience Brings Success
by Joyce Meyer – posted October 02, 2012
The Bible says that we will reap what we sow. The dividing line between success and failure is doing what God tells us to do. We pray for fruit in our lives, but we don’t always want to pray for roots.
If we want our days to go right, we need to do whatever God tells us to do. If we don’t walk in obedience, then we can’t complain if we wind up in a mess. If we are lonely and God tells us to invite somebody over, but we decide it is too much trouble, then we will stay lonely.
Obedience brings the fruit of the Spirit in your life. Dig deep into God’s Word before you walk away from blessings today.
From the book Starting Your Day Right by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2003 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.
Fire Up Your Dreams
Today’s Scripture:
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you… – 2 Timothy 1:6, NIV.
Today’s Word:
I believe that God has planted seeds of greatness on the inside of every one of us. We all have dreams and desires, things we want to accomplish; things we want to see changed. But so many times, life has a way of stealing our dreams. We go through disappointments, face adversity, things don’t turn out as we would like. Too often, people just end up settling for second best. But God doesn’t want us to settle for second best. He wants us to be determined, press on, and pursue the greatness that’s on the inside. We should never let “good enough” be good enough!
I want to encourage you today to stir yourself up and get your fire back. Start speaking victory over your future. If one dream has died, dream another dream. Put yourself in a positive, faith-filled environment. Get around people of excellence who live passionately. Fan the flame that is in you so you can move forward into all God has in store for you!
Prayer for Today:
Father, I come to You today giving You my disappointments, setbacks, hurts and broken dreams. I ask that You restore my passion and vision for the future. Let Your flame burn brightly in me now and forevermore in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Copyright © 2012 Joel Osteen Ministries
Defining Moments
Posted by Victoria Osteen on 10/2/2012
Everyone has defining moments in their lives; experiences that shape who we are and our perspective on the world. We can have defining moments in our relationships, in our careers, and with God.
All throughout our lives, God draws us to Himself in various ways. He chose us long before we ever chose Him, and He is constantly calling us to His heart. In defining moments with God, He reveals Himself to us and empowers us to live the life of victory He has planned.
I’ve had many defining moments in my life when I knew God was speaking directly to my heart. I remember one evening back when I was in college. I was studying with a friend at her kitchen table when I overheard a conversation between her mother and her aunt on the other side of the room. They were discussing the Bible, and as they talked about a particular passage of scripture, it stood out so strongly to me that it was like they were shouting across the room, even though they weren’t.
“Did you hear that?” I enthusiastically asked my friend.
“Hear what?” she said, looking up from her notes. “What are you talking about, Victoria? I didn’t hear a thing.”
“You didn’t hear that scripture about how God wants us to really understand His love and be passionate about it?” I was amazed that she hadn’t noticed the conversation across the room.
She shook her head and looked back to her notes. Meanwhile, I sat there in awe. Those words were so clear; I felt that God was speaking directly to me in a very special way. Those words came alive in my heart in a way I hadn’t experienced before. It was a defining moment in my life when I knew God was drawing me to Himself.
Right now, I believe God is drawing you to Himself in a special way, too. You can probably look back over your life and see His defining moments speaking to your heart. Meditate on those times. Ask the Lord to reveal Himself in a fresh, new way. Look for His hand guiding and directing you and allow Him to reveal His love and goodness to you!
“He reveals deep and secret things…” (Daniel 2:22, NKJV)
Copyright © 2012 Joel Osteen Ministries
Our Daily Bread – Quaking Aspens
Read: Philippians 4:6-9
While I was visiting Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, two trees caught my attention. Though the leaves on the surrounding trees were not moving, the leaves of these trees were fluttering with just the slightest hint of a breeze. I pointed them out to my wife, and she told me they were called quaking aspens. I was struck by the visual effect of those shaking leaves. While all the other trees appeared calm and steady, the quaking aspen leaves shook, even with only the faintest breeze.
Sometimes I feel like a quaking aspen. People around me seem to be moving through life without issues or concerns, apparently steady and secure, while even the slightest issue can unsettle my heart. I see others and marvel at their calm and wonder why my own life can so easily be filled with turbulence. Thankfully, the Scriptures remind me that genuine, steadying calm can be found in the presence of God. Paul wrote, “Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all” (2 Thess. 3:16). Not only does God offer peace, He Himself is the Lord of peace.
When we enter the disturbing, unsettling seasons of life, it is good to know that real peace is available in the God of all peace.
calming power of Your presence. Strengthen
me today with Your peace, and grant me the
stability I need in this turmoil-filled world. Amen.
Don’t Let Others Limit Your Dreams
Today’s Scripture:
What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? – Romans 3:3, NIV.
Today’s Word:
Have the opinions of other people caused you to water down your dreams? There will always be critics and naysayers in life. It’s not what’s said about you that affects your life, but what you say and believe about yourself.
One of the most important things you can learn is that other people don’t have to believe in you in order for your dreams to come to pass. Other people don’t set the limits for your life—you do. In Romans 3:3, the Apostle Paul is saying, “It doesn’t matter if other people don’t believe. Their unbelief is not going to keep me from believing in my dreams.” When God puts a promise in your heart, it’s not up to other people to bring it to pass, it’s up to you! You don’t need everyone to validate you. You have to follow the voice of God for yourself and allow Him to order your steps.
Remember, God sees the hidden treasures that you’ve had buried on the inside of you. He wants to bring those treasures out and make your dreams reality! As you get rid of old, defeated thoughts and replace them with what God says about you, you will remove the limits and live the abundant life God has in store for you!
Prayer for Today:
Heavenly Father, thank You for another day to see Your goodness in my life. Today, I take off the limits and embrace the dreams You’ve placed in my heart. Empower me by Your Spirit to fulfill Your plan for me in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Copyright © 2012 Joel Osteen Ministries
Promises To God
Posted by Joel Osteen on 9/28/2012
My grandfather on my dad’s side was a very good, hard-working man. But, Granddaddy didn’t have any kind of spiritual upbringing. None of his relatives knew anything about God. My father was the first one in the family to come to know the Lord when he was just seventeen years old. Granddaddy Osteen was a very quiet, reserved man. My father shared his faith with Granddaddy many times, but he just wouldn’t hear it. He said, “John, when I’m dead, I’m dead like a dog. Just roll me over in the ditch.”
My father would say, “No, Daddy. You’ve got to live on somewhere after the stars fall like autumn leaves.”
But it just went in one ear and out the other. It didn’t have any effect on Granddaddy. Year after year went by. One Sunday, my father was up in the pulpit at the church he pastored at that time. Granddaddy walked in that church for the first time ever and sat down on the back row. My father was so thrilled! It was a dream come true. Then, right in the middle of his message, Granddaddy got up, walked down the aisle and stood at the altar, interrupting the whole service. He said, “John, I’m finishing today what I started over 40 years ago.”
Daddy said, “What do you mean?”
Granddaddy told how when he was in his early 20’s, he was out in the woods and a huge blizzard unexpectedly blew in. He got lost. He walked for hours and hours in temperatures below zero. He couldn’t see anything. Night fell and he was lost in the dark and cold, all alone. He was sure that he was going to freeze to death. His body was starting to shut down and he got very sleepy. He was about to lie down in the snow, but before he did, under his breath he said, “God, if You will spare my life and help me make it through this storm, then I’ll serve You.” Granddaddy lay down in the snow expecting it to be the end. The next morning, he woke up just as warm as toast. Somehow God had kept him alive. He said, “John, I’ve put this off for 40 years, but today I’m going to make good on the promise that I made to God.”
My grandfather never missed another Sunday at that church. One day they asked him to become an usher. You would have thought they had asked him to become the President of the United States! He was so proud, so excited. Granddaddy only owned one suit. When he died, that was the suit he was buried in. In the pockets, there were church bulletins and church offering envelopes and tracts from the church where he had served.
How many people, like my grandfather, have made a promise to God? “God, if You will help me through this tough time, then I’ll serve You…God, if You will give me this job, then I’ll get back in church…God, if You will help me pass this college course…God, if You will show me mercy.” God did His part. My question is, “Have you done yours?” Have you made good on the promise that you made to God? If not, don’t put it off any longer. It’s not too late to forgive. It’s not too late to get back in church. It’s not too late to pursue a dream. It’s your time to fulfill your promise to God because He is faithful, and He will fulfill every promise He’s made to you!
“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.”(Proverbs 3:3, NIV)
Copyright © 2012 Joel Osteen Ministries
Right Thinking Brings Blessing
by Joyce Meyer – posted October 01, 2012
I have discovered that when I am unhappy or feel I have lost my joy, I am tempted to blame those negative feelings on something that is happening around me. I think many people are the same way.
Looking outward at circumstances or people, instead of inward at our own attitudes can cause us to go around the same mountain again and again, caught in a repetitive cycle.
I now know that when I am unhappy, it is because of some wrong thinking on my part. Even if I am in the midst of negative circumstances, I can stay happy by having right thoughts toward them. If I know the Word of God and have it in my heart and mind, I know what kind of right thoughts I should be thinking.
God has satisfaction, fullness, completeness and joy in mind for us. He wants us to experience abundant life. Fullness comes from being in the center of His will and agreeing with Him through thinking in accordance with His Word.
Love God Today: Next time you’re tempted to blame something or someone for your unhappiness, take time to examine your thoughts. How could you think differently? Give it a try, and watch your mood improve!
From the book Love Out Loud by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2011 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.
Our Daily Bread – Day Unknown
Read: Matthew 24:1-8
To many Londoners, 1666 looked like the year when Jesus would return. Prophecy enthusiasts had added 1,000 years since Christ’s birth to 666, the number of Antichrist, to arrive at the date 1666.
The world did seem to be on the verge of destruction when in 1665 a plague claimed the lives of 100,000 people in London. Then in September 1666, a London fire destroyed tens of thousands of buildings. Some wondered, Didn’t the Bible predict catastrophes at the end of the world? (see Matt. 24:1-8). Yet the year 1666 passed, and life went on seemingly as it had before.
Even in our own day, there are those who have predicted the end of the world. A date is predicted, the media covers the frenzy, and then that day passes uneventfully.
In God’s wisdom, the actual time of Christ’s return has been kept from us. Jesus said, “Of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only” (Matt. 24:36). This any-moment aspect of Jesus’ return helps keep believers motivated in Christian service and spiritual growth all the time—not just near a certain date (25:1-13; 1 John 3:2-3). Be assured, Christ’s personal return will take place. And as we await that day, our lives should be marked by “holy conduct and godliness” (2 Peter 3:11).
At noon or at twilight dim,
I only pray that every day
I’ll be waiting and watching for Him. —Bearden
I Am Lady Fab 