Blog Archives
Lean Into Him
Posted by Victoria Osteen on 7/31/2012
Have you ever been in a crowded, noisy room trying to have a conversation with someone? If you can’t hear what they are saying, what do you do? Most likely, you lean in just a little bit closer so you can hear them better. You probably focus more intently on their facial expressions so you can understand what they are communicating. In the same way, when the noise of life seems overwhelming, that’s when we need to lean into God just a little bit closer. That’s when we need to make the extra effort to focus more intently on Him.
There’s a passage in First Kings where Elijah goes up on the mountain to meet with the Lord. Scripture says a great, powerful wind blew and broke the rocks, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake, there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire, a still, small voice. This tells me that when life rages all around, when circumstances seem powerful and overwhelming, that’s when we need to wait for His still, small voice.
If you’re in a situation today where you feel like you can’t quite hear God, maybe it’s time to lean into Him a little bit more. Maybe it’s time to tune out the voices of the world so you can set your focus on Him. Maybe it’s time to turn off technology, turn off the phone, and clear your schedule for Him. Know that He loves you with an everlasting love, and He has good things in store for your future.
Today and every day, we need to make sure to set aside time for Him. Let’s be diligent to study His Word and spend time in prayer and worship. When you meditate on Him, when you keep yourself in an atmosphere of faith and surround yourself with other believers, you’ll hear His voice more clearly. He’ll speak to you; He’ll guide your steps and lead you into victory all the days of your life.
Develop Self-Control
by Joyce Meyer – posted August 14, 2012
He who has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down and without walls. —Proverbs 25:28
Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22–23). It develops as we spend time fellowshipping with God and practicing obedience to Him. Sometimes we would rather that God control us and make us do the right thing. But He wants us to rule over our spirit.
Proverbs 16:32 says, “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, he who rules his [own] spirit than he who takes a city.” It takes self-control not to get offended, not to become angry every time somebody doesn’t do something the way we want it done.
Self-control is needed over our thoughts, our words, and our appetites. But once we master our own spirit, we are considered to be powerful in the eyes of God—stronger than one who takes a city.
From the book Starting Your Day Right by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2003 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.
Moving Up Higher
Today’s Scripture:
You will arise and have mercy on Zion; for the time to favor her, yes, the set time, has come. – Psalm 102:13, NKJV.
Today’s Word:
One thing I’ve learned in my life is that God likes to outdo Himself. His dream for your life is so much bigger than your own. His ways are higher, and He has an appointed time of favor for your life. He is going to take you places that you never thought possible. He is going to open up doors that you never have imagined. He’s going to bring talent out of you that you didn’t even know you had. This is the time to get excited about your future! It’s time to get your hopes up because you have been chosen by the Creator of the universe. Your destiny is not determined by the economy, how you were raised, or your education. Your destiny is determined by Almighty God.
Today, I want to encourage you to set your thoughts on things above. It’s time for you to move up higher to a new level. The good news is that God has already laid out victory before you. I declare that in the days ahead you’re going to stumble into it. Get ready because God is going to raise you up into the life of blessing He has prepared for you!
Prayer for Today:
Father God, thank You for this day. Thank You for the good plan You have for me. I believe it is my time of set favor; it’s my time to rise higher; it’s my time to experience every breakthrough and every blessing You have in store for me in Jesus’ name! Amen.
Copyright © 2012 Joel Osteen Ministries
Our Daily Bread – It Will Be Worth It All
Read: Hebrews 11:8-16
We wondered why a friend of ours kept traveling to Hobart, Tasmania. Recently she invited us to join her there. From the airport we drove over a bridge and through the city and suburbs. Nothing outstanding—but we kept on traveling. After a few difficult hairpin turns that took us slowly and sharply uphill, we saw the outline of the coast below. Still quite ordinary looking.
But as we drove up the steep driveway and arrived at our destination, the spectacular panorama of the city became clear. Even the bridge we had driven over that seemed so drab looked beautiful! Now we knew why she so often traveled there.
The lives of the pioneers of faith in Hebrews 11 had their share of “hairpin turns” and “humdrum” situations. But they pressed on and did not turn back. Their destination? Heaven, “the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (v.10).
Esther Kerr Rusthoi wrote about our journey to heaven in her hymn “When We See Christ”:
It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus;
Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face, all sorrow will erase;
So bravely run the race, till we see Christ!
Today, whether life is ordinary or difficult, keep pressing on. At the end of the journey, you will see the amazing place God has prepared for us. And it will be well worth it!
Another Chance
Posted by Joel Osteen on 7/27/2012
I’ve talked to a lot of people over the years that really get down on themselves because of the mistakes they have made in the past. They don’t think they deserve God’s goodness. They think they’ve gone too far. But the amazing part about the mercy of God is that even when we bring trouble on ourselves, even when it’s our own fault, God will still receive us when we come to Him. He still extends forgiveness; and when we repent and receive that forgiveness, we don’t have to live in condemnation. God says, “I will still bring you to a flourishing finish.”
Think about Sampson in the Bible. His birth was predicted in scripture. An angel appeared to his mother and said, “You’re going to have a son. He will be a deliverer.” As long as his hair wasn’t cut, Sampson would have supernatural strength. He had a supernatural beginning. He grew up to do great things. He had uncommon strength and could not be conquered by his enemies. But over time, he let his guard down. He became undisciplined and revealed the secret of his strength when he wasn’t supposed to. They ended up cutting his hair, and he became weak and was captured by his enemies. They were still so afraid of him that they gouged out both of his eyes. This once powerful man who carried God’s anointing and favor ended up chained, working as a slave, grinding at the mill. You would think after all that, “God wouldn’t have anything to do with him. He had his chance. He had a supernatural birth, supernatural strength and favor. He made wrong choices and gave it all away. Too bad for him.” However, that’s not the way our God thinks. God will always give you another chance.
One day Sampson was in a large hall. They were having a reception with thousands of people. The enemy had him chained to the walls. It was like he was on display. They were walking by making fun and mocking him. Sampson asked one of the small children to place his hands on the pillars of that hall so he could rest. The scripture says, “The Spirit of the Lord came on Sampson one more time.” His hair began to grow once again. God gave him his strength back. He pushed down those walls and defeated more of his enemies in his death than he did his whole lifetime! That’s a flourishing finish. That’s what God wants to do for you—He wants to make you more successful in your later days than ever before!
Don’t ever think that you’ve made too many mistakes for God. Don’t ever think you have to just sit on the sidelines of life. No, just like with Sampson, the Spirit of the Lord will renew your strength. He can make you greater than ever before. Quit beating yourself up. You can’t do anything about the past, but you can do something about your future. Receive His love; receive His forgiveness. Shake off condemnation and open your heart to Him because He will always give you another chance!
“For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again…” (Proverbs 24:16, NIV).
Our Daily Bread – Tear Down That Wall!
Read: Ephesians 2:14-18
The Wall. For people living in East Germany over 50 years ago, those two words were the only ones necessary to describe the barrier erected on August 13, 1961. That date marked the beginning of the construction of a concrete barrier that separated East and West Germany. Eventually, the wall became nearly impenetrable—secured with barbed wire and armed men. But in 1989 the wall was torn down, removing the barrier between the countries.
Another wall needs to be removed as well—the wall between humanity and God. That barrier was built in the Garden of Eden when a man and a woman committed the first act of rebellion against God (Gen. 3). And we all have continued that rebellion ever since! Can you visualize that impenetrable wall? Isaiah 59:2 says: “Your sins . . . have cut you off from God” (nlt).
Jesus’ death and resurrection, however, has made reconciliation with God possible (2 Cor. 5:17-21). All those who accept Christ’s sacrifice for sin will have the barrier of sin torn down and be reconciled to God. Christ’s death has also demolished other restrictive walls—between the Jews and Gentiles, slave and free, male and female (Gal. 3:28).
Don’t let your own “wall” of indecision prevent you from accepting God’s gift of salvation.
The living way to heaven is seen;
The middle wall is broken down
And all mankind may enter in. —Wesley
Our Daily Bread – Doubts And Faith
Read: John 20:24-31
Can a believer in Jesus who has occasional doubts about matters of faith ever be effective in serving the Lord? Some people think that mature and growing Christians never question their beliefs. But just as we have experiences that can build our faith, we can also have experiences that cause us to temporarily doubt.
The disciple Thomas had initial doubts about reports of Jesus’ resurrection. He said, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, . . . I will not believe” (John 20:25). Christ did not rebuke Thomas but showed him the evidence he asked for. Amazed at seeing the risen Savior, Thomas exclaimed: “My Lord and my God!” (20:28). After this incident, the New Testament is silent about what happened to Thomas.
A number of early church traditions, however, claim that Thomas went to India as a missionary. It is said that while there he preached the gospel, worked miracles, and planted churches. Some of these churches in India still have active congregations that trace their founding back to Thomas.
A time of doubt doesn’t have to become a life pattern. Allow God to lead you into a deeper understanding of His reality. Renew your faith. You can still accomplish great things for Him.
Recall God’s love and tender care;
Remind yourself of all He’s done
And of those times He answered prayer. —D. De Haan
Our Daily Bread – Eyes To See
Read: Joshua 3:1-11
My first glimpse of the Promised Land from the hills of Moab was disappointing. “Did this look a lot different when the Israelites got here?” I asked our guide as we looked toward Jericho. I was expecting a dramatic contrast from the east side of the Jordan. “No,” she answered. “It has looked the same for thousands of years.”
I rephrased the question. “What did the Israelites see when they got here?” “The biggest oasis on the face of the whole earth,” she replied.
Then I understood. I had ridden across the barren desert in the luxury of an air-conditioned bus stocked with cold bottled water. To me, an oasis was nothing spectacular. The Israelites had spent years wandering in a hot, dry desert. To them, the sprawling patch of pale green in the hazy distance meant refreshing, life-sustaining water. They were parched; I was refreshed. They were exhausted; I was rested. They had spent 40 years getting there; I had spent 4 hours.
Like an oasis, God’s goodness is found in dry and difficult places. How often, I wonder, do we fail to see His goodness because our spiritual senses have been dulled by comfort. Sometimes God’s gifts are seen more clearly when we are tired and thirsty. May we always thirst for Him (Ps. 143:6).
a deer panting for cold, refreshing water. Please
don’t allow comfort or worldly success to keep us
from seeing You in every detail of our lives.
I Am Lady Fab 