Change Your Life

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...”
(Romans 12:2, NIV)

If you watch television for any length of time, it won’t be long before you see products and pills advertised to make you thinner, smarter, younger looking, more successful and ultimately claim to change your life. But the truth is all you need in order to change your life is already in your hand. God has given you the ability and the power to be transformed into the person He created you to be.

I heard somebody said, “Sight has to do with what we can see, but vision has to do with what we can be.” The reason some people are stuck at the same level is because their vision is limited. They don’t see themselves growing, increasing, being promoted or getting healthier. All they see is more of the same. More lack. More struggle. More defeat. They’re producing what they’re seeing.

Friend, don’t let that be you! Instead, let the Word of God wash over you and renew your thinking. See yourself the way God sees you. See yourself rising higher. See yourself becoming stronger, healthier and wiser. Change the picture you have of your life, and you will change your life. See yourself the way God sees you and receive the wonderful blessings He has in store for your future!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father God, thank You for the seed of the Word which will not return void in my life. I receive Your truth which sets me free. Help me to see my life the way You see it so I can boldly embrace the blessings You have in store for me in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Be All that You Can See

“Then he touched their eyes and said, ‘According to your faith will it be done to you’ ”
(Matthew 9:29, NIV)

God created us as visual beings. He is a creative God, and He’s given us the ability to create as well. It all starts with what you see in your mind’s eye. Everyone has their own mental picture of the way they see themselves, their family and their future. This picture determines what kind of life you live. If you have an image of success, victory, health, happiness and abundance, you will naturally gravitate toward that. But if you have an image of lack, defeat and mediocrity, that negative mental picture will keep you from God’s best.

Remember, if you’re going to be successful, you have to first see yourself as successful — the way God sees you. According to your faith, it will be done to you.

Faith comes by hearing the Word. That’s why it’s so important to take time every day to study and meditate on God’s promises. Let His truth sink down deeply into your heart. Open your eyes of faith so you can see yourself rising higher. Choose to have a vision of victory and be all that you can see!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father God, I pray today that You would open the eyes of my heart and reveal Yourself to me. Show me Your ways. Show me Your love. Help me to see myself the way You see me so that I can be all that You have created me to be in Jesus’ name. Amen

Dreams in the Making

“ ‘Here comes that dreamer!’ they said to each other”
(Genesis, 37:19, NIV)

In scripture, Joseph was a dreamer. His dreams were so real that he just had to tell others about them. Not everyone was as excited about Joseph’s dreams as he was, but that didn’t keep him from dreaming. It didn’t keep him from believing what was in his heart. When opposition came, when his family turned their back on him, when he was falsely accused and thrown into prison, he kept on dreaming. His life didn’t take the route he had expected, but God was working behind the scenes realigning his steps until those dreams in his heart became reality.

Today, I want to encourage you, no matter what route your life has taken, no matter who has turned their back on you, no matter what anyone else has said about you, those God-given dreams in your heart are still in the making. Your part is to keep believing, keep forgiving, keep following your heart, and stay obedient to His Word. As you stay in faith, just like Joseph, God will take you from the pit to the palace. He’ll order your steps and fulfill those dreams and desires He has placed within you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, thank You for the dreams and desires You’ve placed within me. Even when I can’t see it, I trust that You are working behind the scenes. I choose to tune out the negative voices and press into You. Keep me close and guide my every step in Jesus’ name. Amen.

It’s Never too Late

“...Imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised”
(Hebrews 6:12, NIV)

Sometimes, it’s easy to look at your circumstances in the natural and think, “I’ve missed my opportunity. I’m too old. It’s too late. I’ve messed up too much.” But with God, there’s always another opportunity. He created you on purpose and for a purpose. He’s the one who placed those dreams and desires on the inside of you. He hasn’t given up on those dreams, and you shouldn’t either! It’s never too late for God, which means it’s never too late for you!

I don’t know about you, but I have never heard of a single story, not in the Bible nor in our time, where God gave someone a dream and fulfilled it on the same day. No, our lives are designed with seasons and processes to build our faith and prepare us for the next step. It takes faith, it takes obedience, and it takes patience to see God’s promises come to pass.

Today, no matter where you are in your journey of faith, just focus on moving forward. God hasn’t given up on you! Trust that He has you in the right place at the right time. Trust that He is working all things together for your good. Trust that new doors are opening. Choose faith and patience, and you will inherit His promises because it’s never too late for you to embrace the good things God has in store for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father God, thank You for loving me. Thank You for renewing the fire in me. I trust that You are ordering my steps and making a way where there seems to be no way. Keep me close to You always and reveal the good plan You have for me in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Getting Past the Past

“...One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead”
(Philippians 3:13, NIV)

In order to move forward in life, we have to “let go of the past.” But have you ever wondered exactly how to do that? First, understand that we take hold of things in our minds with our thoughts. Our thoughts become words and actions that determine the direction of our lives. It’s that simple. If you want to choose a new direction for your life, you have to choose new thoughts. If you want to let go of the past, you have to quit thinking about it, quit talking about it, and quit reliving every negative experience.

Oftentimes, when we see someone who has hurt us, that pain and offense is stirred up, and we start thinking about what happened again. But in that moment, you have a choice to make. One of the best things you can do, instead of rehearsing the hurt, is to pray for that person and speak blessing over them.

Remember, forgiveness is for you. Letting go of bitterness is for you. Don’t let the past hold you back from what God has in store for your future any longer. Get past the past by choosing right thoughts because God has victory and blessing in store for your future!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father God, I humbly come to You today. I choose to let go of the past. I choose to release those who have hurt me so I can embrace the best that you have for me. Help me to forgive, help me to love, and help me to stay on the good path You have for me in Jesus’ name. Amen.