Blog Archives
Rising Up
Today’s Scripture:
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. – Isaiah 40:31, KJV.
Today’s Word:
We serve a God of increase. He wants you to continually rise up higher in Him. He wants you to know Him more so He can reveal His glory through you. He wants you to be blessed so that you can be a blessing to others. He wants to take you to the next level in every area of your life!
The “next level” looks different for each of us. For you, it may be seeing your family restored. It may be healing in your body. It may be a promotion at work or new friendships that you’ve desired. No matter what it is, know that God has your best in His heart. He desires to do exceedingly, abundantly above and beyond what you could ask, think or imagine. He loves to do above and beyond and show Himself strong on your behalf.
Today, meditate on the fact that God loves you so much. As you submit every area of your life to Him, He will cause you to rise up higher. He will give you strength and take you to the next level in every area of your life.
Prayer for Today:
Father, I humbly come to You giving You every area of my mind, will and emotions. I submit my desires to You knowing that Your ways are higher. Thank You for leading me and causing me to rise up to the next level in every area of life in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Copyright © 2012 Joel Osteen Ministries
It’s Time for Some “First Times”
Posted by Joel Osteen on 8/10/2012
One time at church, I was talking to a college student. She was about to take a very important final exam. She asked, “Joel, would you pray that God will help me make a C on this test?” I kind of laughed and said, “Why wouldn’t we want to pray that God would help you make an A?” She said, “Oh, all I ever make in this subject are C’s.” She had conditioned her mind to strive for a certain level.
Well, I encouraged her to dream a little bit bigger, and we prayed that she would break through and make an A. So, she went home and studied. She prepared. She did her part. A few weeks later, she came back beaming with joy, holding her test results. For the first time ever, she made an A in that subject.
Now, this is just a simple example, but how often do we get conditioned in our minds to live at a certain level? You may think, “This is the way it’s always going to be. This is what I make. This is where I live. This is my level of talent.” But don’t just look at things in the natural. We have to remember that we serve a supernatural God!
Today, I encourage you to break out of the rut and start praying bolder prayers. It’s time for you to have some “first times” in your life. For the first time, you have an abundance; you’re not struggling. For the first time, your child is making good decisions. For the first time, there is somebody in your life to love. You’re not just talking about the dream. You’re living the dream. Take the limits off of God. Stop asking for a C and start asking for an A. Stretch your faith. God wants to do something new in your life. He wants to give you the secret petitions of your heart, the things that you dream about but never told anyone. You would love to start a business, love to take a mission’s trip, love to get married, love to own your own home, but it seems so unlikely, so far out of reach. If you told your friends, they would probably laugh. They wouldn’t understand it. That’s okay. You don’t need their approval. This is between you and Almighty God. In your quiet time when nobody else is around, you need to be bold and start asking for those hidden dreams, for the promises God has placed on the inside. As you pray those bold prayers according to His will, it won’t be long until you see every dream and every desire come to pass!
“…It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32, NKJV).
Copyright © 2012 Joel Osteen Ministries
Our Daily Bread – They Are Watching
Read: Matthew 5:13-16
A professional football player’s team was having a terrible season, losing week after week. A reporter asked him how he stayed motivated to play hard and give his best even though his team lost almost every game. He responded, “My dad is watching that game. My mom is watching that game. You better believe I’m going to do my best!” He recognized that there was more at stake than just winning or losing. People were watching, and that reality always drove him to do his best.
Jesus reminded us of this reality in the early portions of His Sermon on the Mount. We should live our lives with a recognition that what we do is observed by those around us—and this visible life makes a statement about our God. He said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). How does the light of our lives shine? By bringing the heart and character of Christ into the situations that engage us every day. By showing compassion as He did for the marginalized or forgotten. By displaying concern for the Father’s name and reputation.
People are watching us. The question is, What do they see?
As an example of good to mankind.
Help them to see the patterns of Thee,
Shining in beauty, lived out in me. —Neuer
On Your Side!
Today’s Scripture:
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? – Romans 8:31, NIV.
Today’s Word:
Joshua chapter six tells the story about how the odds were stacked against Joshua and the people of Israel. They were standing at the massive walls of Jericho that many thought were impenetrable.
I’m sure as he was standing before the well-fortified walls and gates of the city, many around him didn’t think his future was too bright. But you see Joshua had something others overlooked; he had the promise of Almighty God. Joshua had faith because He knew God was on His side, and God had already determined the victory. Sure enough, just as God promised, the people marched around the city for six days, and on the seventh day, they shouted the victory and the walls came tumbling down!
Today, don’t look at the walls in your life; look at the promise of God. He is for you, and if God is for you, nothing can stand against you. Get a vision of victory and don’t let it go. Keep moving forward in faith and obedience knowing that when you do, the Most High God is on your side!
Prayer for Today:
Father God, thank You for Your favor, grace and victory in my life. I choose to trust You. I choose to follow Your leading. I choose to be faithful to You because You are faithful to me. I love You and bless You in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Copyright © 2012 Joel Osteen Ministries
What To Wear Today
Posted by Victoria Osteen on 8/7/2012
If you’re like me, when you wake up in the morning, you start thinking about your day—where you’ll be going, who you’ll be seeing, and what the weather will be like. Then you go to your closet and choose something to wear that will work for all those different scenarios. But there’s one thing that the Bible tells us we need to “put on” if we are going to be fully equipped for everything we will face each day—and that is love.
Love is a one-size-fits-all solution to every situation you will ever encounter with your family, friends, coworkers, and even the grocery clerk. When you’re wearing love, you are setting yourself up for success because the Bible tells us that love never fails. And—love never goes out of style, either! It never gives up, wears out, or becomes old. It’s the perfect thing for every occasion.
So, how do you put on love? It’s interesting that with the principles of God, we always have to do something. Wouldn’t it be nice if God would just come and put love on us? You know, like when you’re in the middle of a heated discussion or someone cuts you off in traffic; it would be nice if He would just come and drop love right on us so that we would always do and say the right thing! But that’s not how it works. We have to choose love. We have to choose to be patient, kind, humble and giving. We have to choose His Word. In every circumstance, we have to decide between what our mind is screaming and what our heart is whispering.
I encourage you today, read what First Corinthians 13 says about love. When you choose to read and meditate on God’s Word, you are “putting on love” and empowering yourself to make the right choices. And, even if you’ve made some mistakes in the past, today is a new day. Receive God’s love and forgiveness. Put on His royal robe of righteousness so you can move forward. Put on love and be fully equipped for everything you will ever face!
“Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which ties everything together in unity.” (Colossians 3:14, ISV)
Copyright © 2012 Joel Osteen Ministries
Our Daily Bread – Plugged In
Read: Isaiah 40:27-31
My wife was working at home on her computer recently when she suddenly noticed her laptop battery power was low and the computer was about to shut down. The computer was plugged in, though, so it shouldn’t have been using the battery. Following the laptop cord to the extension cord, she finally noticed that the extension cord was actually plugged back into itself instead of the wall outlet! She looked at me, amused, and said, “There’s a devotional in there somewhere.”
As she said it, I was reminded of a passage of Scripture on the power of God: Isaiah 40:27-31. Isaiah identifies the true and unending Source of strength from which we must draw ours—“the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth” (v.28). Then he speaks to those whose strength is ebbing, encouraging them to wait on the Lord to find their strength renewed (vv.29-31).
Jesus spoke of us as branches abiding in Him as the Vine (John 15:4-5). It’s a parallel to Isaiah’s powerful closing, which promises that if we’re plugged into God we will “run and not be weary, . . . walk and not faint” (Isa. 40:31).
When we find ourselves weary and distressed, we need to plug into the true Source of strength and life.
Through Him who loved us so;
The Christ who dwells within us
Is the greatest power we know. —Carmichael
New Levels
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:
God’s desire is that we continually progress, that we reach higher heights and go to new levels. Oftentimes, as soon as we make the decision to step out in faith and obey God, the enemy brings in fear to try to stop us. He’ll bring thoughts like, “What if you fail? What are other people going to think? You don’t have what it takes.” He’ll do his best to use fear to try to convince us to shrink back and stay where we are.
The Bible says that fear is a spirit. It plays on our emotions and holds us back. But the good news is that we have power over fear! The Bible says that perfect love casts out all fear. When we receive God’s perfect love, we will have confidence about the future because we know His plans are for our good. I’ve heard it said that fear is an acronym for False Evidence Appearing Real. Understand that fear is a lie. Today, choose to believe God’s Word and receive His love so that you can overcome fear and move forward into the good life He has prepared for you!
Prayer for Today:
Father in heaven, thank You for taking me to new levels. I know You have equipped me with a spirit of power, love and a sound mind. Fill me with Your confidence and assurance to embrace everything You have for me in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Copyright © 2012 Joel Osteen Ministries
Thank God For Generational Blessings!
Posted by Joel Osteen on 8/3/2012
We can all look back through our family lines and see how our parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and others in our family history have affected our lives. Sometimes people see negative things that have been passed down, but the blessing of God is passed down as well. In fact, Exodus 20:6 says that He shows love and mercy to a thousand generations of those who obey Him. Maybe you don’t know anyone in your recent family history who was dedicated to the Lord, but do you think someone in your history a thousand generations back may have been?
When we walk into divine blessing and God gives us something we don’t deserve, we have to realize that sometimes it’s because somebody in our family line sowed those seeds. Every act of kindness, every time one of your relatives sacrificed and honored God, they set you up for success. They may not have reaped a reward in their lifetime, but God is faithful. He doesn’t forget about it.
In my own life, I realize that the reason I am doing what I am doing today is because my parents sowed seeds for 40 years before I ever got here. I’m reaping the rewards of a generational blessing. My father went to school with holes in his pants. He would put cardboard in the bottom of his shoes because they were so torn up. They made great sacrifices so that we could be where we are today. One way I can honor them is by wearing my blessings well—by thanking God for His faithfulness and fulfilling what has been handed down to me.
In the same way, you have the opportunity to honor the generations that came before you by walking in the blessing that has been passed down. So many people only focus on the negative things that have been passed down, but that doesn’t glorify God. That doesn’t set your future generations up for success. Let today be the day that you decide to receive those generational blessings and thank God for them. Don’t let others talk you out of living the abundant life. Some people come in at the end of the movie and see you blessed, prosperous, healthy, sober, free and happy and want to judge and criticize you, but the problem is that they missed the first part. They didn’t see the sacrifices that your relatives made. They didn’t see the struggles that you endured. They didn’t see the battles that you fought, the times you felt like giving up, but you kept pressing forward. They didn’t see the price that was paid to get you to where you are. That blessing may look free, but the truth is, it cost something.
Friend, don’t ever let anyone make you feel guilty for the favor, the honor, the joy, the peace, the victory that God has given you. Somebody paid the price. Seeds were sown. Receive the blessing by faith and thank God for His faithfulness throughout your generations!
Copyright © 2012 Joel Osteen Ministries
Our Daily Bread – Hopes And Dreams
Read: Acts 20:16-24
In 1960, everyone in the high school I attended participated in Project TALENT. For several days, we took tests that surveyed our aptitudes in academic subjects. In addition, we were asked to express our plans, hopes, and dreams for the future. What we didn’t know was that we were among 400,000 participants from 1,300 schools in the largest study of high school students ever conducted in the US. None of us involved in the study could have imagined how our lives would turn out.
The same was true for Saul of Tarsus. As a young man, his goal was to destroy the followers of Jesus (Acts 7:58–8:3; Gal. 1:13). But after his conversion, he became the apostle Paul, whose mission was to multiply them. As he journeyed to Jerusalem, facing prison and hardship, Paul said, “I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24niv).
When our goal is to honor the Lord, He guides and guards us each step of the way. Whatever our hopes and dreams may be, when we place them in God’s hands we know that everything, including setback or success, is under His control.
And then leave them in His hand,
We can trust His love and care for us
To fulfill what He has planned. —Sper
Even Brighter
Today’s Scripture:
The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day. – Proverbs 4:18, NLT.
Today’s Word:
Are you facing a situation that seems dark today? As a believer, God promises that your path will shine brighter and brighter as you seek His truth and righteousness in every situation. What is righteousness? Righteousness is simply being in right standing with God. Being in right standing with God is about submitting your life to Him. It’s about obeying His commands and seeking His plan for your life on a daily basis. As you seek Him, the light of God’s Word will guide you in every decision you face.
No matter what’s happening in your life today, take time to ask the Lord to shine His light on you. Ask Him to confirm His plan for you. As you continue pursuing His truth and righteousness, as you continue to make His Word a priority in your life, you will experience more of His blessings. You’ll see those brighter days as you move forward in the good plan He has in store for you!
Prayer for Today:
Father God, I know that You have a wonderful plan and purpose for me. I desire to be in right standing with You. Show me Your ways and teach me to walk righteously before You. Shine Your light in my heart and give me strength to pursue the path You have in store for me in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Copyright © 2012 Joel Osteen Ministries
I Am Lady Fab 