Today’s Scripture:

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. – Romans 10:17, NKJV.

Today’s Word:

Do you desire to have more faith? Scripture tells us that faith can grow and increase. Notice that today’s scripture doesn’t say, “Faith comes by having heard the Word of God one time.” It says that faith comes by hearing—in the present tense. We have to hear the Word of God over and over again in order for it to take root in our hearts and transform our minds. Sure, God’s Word can transform us in an instant, but most of the time, our faith grows as we hear the Word of God again and again.

Just as a seed needs water daily to grow, your spirit needs the Word of God daily. The more you hear God’s Word, the more you know Him. The more you know Him, the more you will be able to believe Him—and that’s what faith is!

Today, why don’t you choose a few scriptures to meditate on? Write them down and carry them in your purse or wallet. Let that truth sink down into your soul. Let the truth of the Word transform you and move you forward into the abundant life God has prepared for you!

Prayer for Today:

Father in heaven, thank You for Your Word that is living and active and growing in my life. I submit myself to You today and ask You to teach me Your ways. Give me insight into Your Word so that I may know You more in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Copyright © 2012 Joel Osteen Ministries

Today’s Scripture:

Rejoice with those who rejoice… – Romans 12:15, NKJV.

Today’s Word:

When a friend or family member succeeds, gets promoted, or experiences an unexpected break in life, how do you respond?

Some people wonder, “What about me?” Others criticize or say, “It won’t last long.” But really, the way you respond to other’s success will determine the level of your own success. Whether you respond in a negative or positive way, you are sowing seeds for your future. That’s why scripture tells us simply to “rejoice with those who rejoice.” God wants you to be successful. His commands are for your good. He doesn’t want jealousy or strife to enter your life or rob you of His blessing.

Today, make it a point to find someone who is celebrating and celebrate with them. Congratulate them on their success no matter how small it seems in the natural. Rejoice with those who rejoice, sow seeds of blessing, and open the door for victory in your own life in return!

Prayer for Today:

Father, thank You for Your hand of blessing not only on my life but on the lives of the people around me. I choose to rejoice in You, and I choose to rejoice over Your victory everywhere I go in Jesus’ name! Amen!

Copyright © 2012 Joel Osteen Ministries

Posted by Victoria Osteen on 9/4/2012

You know how some people just always look like they have it all together in life? One thing I’ve learned is that trials and difficulties affect all people. No one gets a free ride or a “hall pass” from challenges in this life. If someone is making it, if they are on top of the mountain, it’s because they are pressing.

In Philippians 3:13, Paul said it like this, “There is one thing that I do, forgetting the past, I press forward to what lies ahead.” He was saying, “I don’t care what’s happened, I’m pressing forward. I don’t want to become complacent. I don’t want to get stuck; I’m moving forward.”

This isn’t always easy. In fact, it’s a fight. There is effort involved in pressing on, but with effort comes success. Resistance will come against us all, but we have the choice to either stand still or fight life through!

Scripture calls this the fight of faith—and it’s a good fight. Do you know what makes a good fight? When you’re on the winning side! You know that you’re winning as long as you keep on going—keep pressing, keep praying, keep declaring, keep forgiving, keep obeying His Word. You have to stay in the game if you are going to win!

The enemy will try all day long to take you out by reminding you of what happened in your past. He’ll remind you of every time you made a mistake or said something wrong. He’ll attack hard on the battlefield of your mind. But do you know how to stand against those negative thoughts when they come? By simply speaking the truth of God’s Word. See, you can’t speak one thing and think about something else. Your thoughts have to follow your words. That’s why Matthew 6:31 says, “Take no thought saying (what shall we eat or what shall we wear)” because when you say something, you are taking hold of it in your heart. If you speak words of worry, you will take hold of worry. If you speak God’s promises, you take hold of God’s promises.

Today, I encourage you to take hold of the good things God has in store for your future. Keep your eye on the prize. Focus on speaking the Word of God over yourself and your family every single day. Take hold of the truth. Bind it to your heart. Let it nourish and refresh your soul. As you press forward, you’ll receive the victory and blessing God has in store for you!

“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14, NKJV)

Copyright © 2012 Joel Osteen Ministries

Today’s Scripture:

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. – 1 Corinthians 9:24, NKJV.

Today’s Word:

So many people today spend valuable time and energy trying to make everyone around them happy. They want to be approved, accepted and affirmed. There’s nothing wrong with that, but you can’t let the opinions of others become your focus or distract you from what God has called you to.

In the natural, when a professional runner races, you don’t see them looking around at the other runners, wondering how they are doing. No, they have their mind focused on one thing: the finish line. They don’t waste valuable energy comparing themselves or wondering what’s going on around them. Instead, they focus on winning the prize. This is how we should be in life—focused on winning the prize of the victor’s crown in life.

My challenge to you today is: run your race. Don’t let people squeeze you into their mold. Remember, you don’t have to try to play up to people. You don’t have to worry about what everyone else thinks. As long as you’re being true to what God has put in your heart, don’t look to the left or to the right. Stay focused on your goals. Run your race to win and honor God in everything that you do!

Prayer for Today:

Father, today and every day I set my focus on you. I declare that I will not look to the left or to the right, but I will fix my eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith. Give me wisdom and grace as I dedicate every area of my life to You in Jesus’ name! Amen.

Copyright © 2012 Joel Osteen Ministries

Today’s Scripture:

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. – Matthew 5:44, NKJV.

Today’s Word:

If you’re going to do anything great in life, if you’re going to be a great businessperson, a great teacher, a great parent or a great leader, not everyone is going to cheer you on. I’d love to tell you that your family, friends and co-workers will celebrate you, but that’s not the case. Some people simply can’t handle your success. As you grow and increase, as God pours out His favor, somebody will get jealous. Somebody will start finding fault. Don’t be surprised if a relative tries to belittle or discredit you. If you focus on making everyone around you happy, you’ll start changing and lose sight of what God has placed in your heart.

Friend, your destiny is too great to be distracted by people who are never going to affirm you. Don’t take it personally. It’s not about you. It’s their problem. Shake it off, run your race, be great anyway.

Greatness in the midst of criticism begins with forgiveness. Don’t hold a grudge. Bless those who curse you; pray for those who spitefully use you. As you keep doing what is right, God will honor you. He’ll promote you, and you’ll see the dreams and desires that He placed in your heart come to pass!

Prayer for Today:

Father, I come to You today with an open and humble heart. I choose to forgive those who have criticized me. I choose to bless those who have hurt me. I choose to be great because You have equipped and empowered me to rise higher in this life in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Copyright © 2012 Joel Osteen Ministries

Posted by Joel Osteen on 8/31/2012

I read a story about this young man who was training for the 1924 Olympics in Paris, France. He was an American who was extremely skilled in canoeing. He could ride the rapids like no one else. He had won many competitions before and was the heavy favorite for the Gold Medal. That was his dream – to win an Olympic Gold.

It just so happened that his wife became pregnant and her due date was during the Olympics. In those days, of course, they didn’t have travel like we do today. To go back and forth across the ocean would take several months time. So, he made the decision that he was not going to miss the birth of his first son. Much to the surprise of his coaches and trainers, he informed them that he would not be competing in the Olympic Games.

The news sent shockwaves throughout the sports world. Here he had trained tirelessly for many years. He was the best in his field. As far as his career was concerned, this was the most important thing to him. But he was willing to surrender that dream. Even though it seemed like a great disappointment, he said, “God, I don’t have to have that medal in order to be happy.”

The day came when his beautiful son was born. Through the years, he poured into that young man. The son was extremely gifted in whitewater rafting just like his father. They spent year after year practicing together, training, getting better and better. In 1948, the son qualified for the Olympic Games in Helsinki, Finland. He went over and competed, and a few days later, here in America, the dad received a telegram. It said, “Dear, Dad. Thanks for waiting around for me to be born. I’m coming home 24 years later with your Gold Medal.”

The son came home and gave the medal to his father. Now the father had the Gold Medal he had always dreamed about. But it meant even more to him because it came from his son whom he loved so much.

Friend, God always has unexpected ways of working things out. When you let something go, when you put it in the hands of Almighty God, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s not going to happen. You’re simply saying, “God, I’m going to let You do it Your way. I know You know what’s best for me if I put my trust in You.”

Remember, you don’t have to figure everything out on your own. Just trust God. Turn things over to Him. Release the struggle. Release the frustration. Release the questions. Know that He is faithful, and He promises to fulfill every dream and desire that He has placed in your heart!

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9, NIV)

Copyright © 2012 Joel Osteen Ministries

Today’s Scripture:

And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment. – Hebrews 9:27, NKJV.

Today’s Word:

So many people live life worried about what everyone else thinks and wondering how they can impress other people. But we have to realize that when we come to the end of life, we’re not going to stand before people to give an account of our lives, we are going to stand before Almighty God. He is not going to say, “Why didn’t you do what so-and-so said to do? Why didn’t you fit into their mold? Why didn’t you take their opinion?” No, He is going to ask, “Did you become who I created you to be? Did you stay true to what I put in your heart?”

This is where Saul missed it. Saul had a big destiny. God had great things in his future, but Saul was so insecure that he let people squeeze him into their mold. He was afraid he was going to disappoint somebody. He said in First Samuel 15:24, “I disobeyed the Lord’s instructions because I was afraid of the people, so I did what they asked.” Notice Saul knew what to do. He even admitted it, “I disobeyed God’s instructions.” Why? He was a people pleaser. He forfeited his destiny in order to please people. Friend, don’t let that be you! Don’t be a people pleaser, be a God pleaser because pleasing God is all that matters when all is said and done!

Prayer for Today:

Father God, today I set my heart and mind on pleasing You. Help me to break away from the snare of people pleasing. Help me to stand strong against criticism and learn to walk in love always. Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to You always in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Copyright © 2012 Joel Osteen Ministries

Today’s Scripture:

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. – Galatians 1:10, NIV.

Today’s Word:

I read a report from a nurse who takes care of people who are close to death. She asked hundreds of patients in the last twelve weeks of their life what their biggest regret was. The number one regret reported was, “I wish I had been true to who I was and not just lived to meet the expectations of others.”

How many people today are not being true to who God created them to be simply because they are afraid they’re going to disappoint somebody? They’re afraid they may fall out of someone else’s good grace. They worry about not being accepted into a certain group. I say this respectfully, but you cannot live trying to be who your parents want you to be, or who your boss wants you to be, or who your friends want you to be. You’ve got to stay true to who God has called you to be.

Today, make the decision to live life with no regrets. Surrender yourself wholeheartedly to who God created you to be. Let Him mold and shape your character. Let Him order your steps. As you submit your ways to Him, He will shine down on you, and you will live the fulfilled, abundant life He has prepared for you!

Prayer for Today:

Father God, thank You for loving me and accepting me just the way I am. It is my heart’s desire to know You and to be known by You. Help me to live the life You’ve called me to and be faithful to You always in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Copyright © 2012 Joel Osteen Ministries

Today’s Scripture:

Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the LORD means safety. – Proverbs 29:25, NLT.

Today’s Word:

In life, there will always be people who try to squeeze you into their mold; people who try to pressure you into being who they want you to be. They may be good people. They may mean well. But the problem is that they aren’t your creator. They didn’t breathe life into you. They didn’t equip you, empower you or anoint you; Almighty God did! If you’re going to be all that God created you to be, you can’t focus on what everybody else thinks. If you change with every criticism, trying to win the favor of others, then you’ll go through life being manipulated and letting people squeeze you into their box. You have to realize that you can’t keep every person happy. You can’t make everyone like you. You’ll never win over all of your critics.

Instead of trying to please people, when you get up in the morning, ask the Lord to search your heart. Ask Him if your ways are pleasing to Him. Stay focused on your goals. If people don’t understand you, that’s okay. If you lose some friends because you wouldn’t let them control you, they weren’t true friends anyway. You don’t need other’s approval; you only need Almighty God’s approval. Keep your heart and mind submitted to Him and be free from people pleasing!

Prayer for Today:

Father God, I come humbly to You today. I invite You to search my heart and mind. Let my ways be pleasing to You. Let my thoughts be Your thoughts. Thank You for setting me free from people pleasing in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Copyright © 2012 Joel Osteen Ministries

Posted by Victoria Osteen on 8/28/2012

Relationships are all about learning. In marriage, we are learning to become one; in families, we are learning to get along; in business, we are learning to work together; in friendships, we are learning to make allowances for one another. Life is a learning process, and the quicker you embrace that fact, the more you’ll enjoy the people around you.

Over the years, I’ve learned that Joel doesn’t like hearing every single detail of a story, even though I do. I want to know exactly what was said, who said it, and how they said it. That’s why, when I tell a story, it takes me fifteen minutes, and Joel can tell that same story in about two minutes flat! Knowing this, I try not to tell him every single detail—although it’s not always that easy.

One time, I was enthusiastically telling Joel something that I thought was important, and just as I was getting to the good part, I noticed his eyes were beginning to glaze over. I began talking faster and faster, but it didn’t do any good. Finally, I said, “You don’t want to hear this, do you? I can tell because you are not even paying attention to me.”

It wasn’t anything he said; it was the way he looked. I could tell by his body language that I had lost him after the first three minutes. In that moment, I could have either allowed myself to get upset and frustrated, or I could make a few adjustments in the way I communicate with him.

I chose what was best for our relationship which was to adapt my communication style. Now I try to tell him only the most important details of the story. When I see his eyes glazing over, I don’t get upset. It’s just my cue that he is going into “detail overload,” so I adjust to make it easier for him to receive.

As you think about the people in your life, remember to respect and appreciate your differences. Don’t hold offense just because someone has a different approach than you do. Be willing to make adjustments and focus on the common ground of peace. As you work toward unity, you are positioning yourself to receive the wonderful blessings God has in store for you.

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity… for there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore. (Psalm 133:1-3, NIV)

Copyright © 2012 Joel Osteen Ministries