Many people carry anxiety and worry about life—their jobs, money, homes, and relationships. They allow these cares and concerns to overwhelm their thoughts and affect every area of their lives. They don’t sleep well and become touchy and edgy with people throughout the day. If that’s you, recognize that God has a plan for you to live in peace—peace that passes understanding. What does that mean?
It means that you can have peace in your heart when it doesn’t make sense to have peace—when the world around you is anxious and upset; when circumstances are beyond your control; when things aren’t going the way you thought they would. You serve a good God, and no matter what things look like today, He is working behind the scenes on your behalf.
Sometimes, its easy to get wrapped up in taking care of the people around us. You may find that you’re always giving, taking care of the children, working overtime at the office, or helping that friend who is struggling. And thats all good. But if youre not careful, you can end up feeling rundown. Thats why you have to take time every day to get filled back up. Your first priority should be taking care of yourself and making time to get into the presence of Jesus.
Throughout scripture, we see that in Gods presence there is fullness of joy, fullness of peace, and fullness of victory. In His presence, youre refreshed and restored. Thats why its so important to take time every day to read your Bible and meditate on His promises. We have to be diligent to have that quiet time with Him.
Today, take time to get alone with God and just say, God, I love You today. Thank You for my life, for my family, for the opportunities Youve given me. Lord, I know every good thing comes from You. When you live like that, with your heart connected to His, youll be refreshed, restored, reenergized and filled up for the journey of life!
What are you focusing on today? Are you focusing on your difficult situation, or on God’s promises? You may have all kinds of problems coming at you. Maybe you’re feeling discouraged as new problems and challenges have popped up in your life. Don’t let it get you down. Don’t let it take your focus off of God. He is working on your behalf in the supernatural, even when you can’t see it. Keep your trust and your focus on His promises, not on your problems.
It’s important that you keep your heart in an attitude of faith. Believe that God is for you. Believe His plans for you have not changed despite new problems or troubling circumstances. The more you focus on what God’s doing, the more your faith will grow.
If it feels like you’re facing impossible challenges, don’t be afraid. God is on your side–nothing is impossible for Him. Stay focused on what God can do in your life. Remember, He’s always in control. God knows the end from the beginning and He allows challenges in your life to cause you to trust Him more. As you put your faith in Him, you’ll grow closer to God and you’ll see your dreams come true!
Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’ 1 Corinthians 15:33, NIV.
Do you ever get around a certain person and feel an uneasiness or an unrest? Something inside says, “Stay away. That’s trouble.” Those are not just bad vibes. That’s the Holy Spirit warning you. It may be small, but it can keep you from a big heartache. You might say, “if I don’t hang out with them, I may not have any friends.” No, God will give you new friends. He will give you better friends. The key is: if you don’t let go of the wrong people, the right people won’t show up. This is not talking about a relationship already committed in marriage, but relationships outside of marriage. God doesn’t force us to let go of wrong relationships. He has given us our own free will. But when God asks you to give something up, He is never trying to take something away. He is trying to get something better to you. As we obey Him, we grow and mature which opens the door for more of His blessings and favor.
Remember, bad company corrupts good character. Let go of friends or influences that you know are dragging you down. Trust God to bring the right people and connections across your path. Let go of wrong relationships and move forward in the blessing He has prepared for you!
A Prayer for Today
Father, thank You for directing my steps. I ask that You help me choose right relationships. Give me courage to let go of the wrong relationships so I can make room for the right people You have ordained for my life in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Know your Value!
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24, NIV)
Many people are waiting for their circumstances to change in order to be happy and enjoy their lives. All the time I hear things like, “As soon as I get out of this problem, I’ll be happy.” “As soon as I lose ten pounds…as soon as my business grows…as soon as my child straightens up…” No, if you don’t put your foot down and decide to be happy right now, there will always be something to keep you from being happy.
God never intended for us to put off our happiness. We have a choice to make each and every day. We have to set our minds in the right direction. That’s why David said, “This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.” He was saying, “This is the day to be happy; not tomorrow, not when the weather clears up. Not next week, when I don’t have to work so hard. Not next month, when I make it through this difficult time.” No, choose to honor the Lord right now by choosing to enjoy your life. Get rid of the excuses and rejoice because this is the day that the Lord has made!
“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17, NIV)
So many people in this day and age never received the blessing from their mother or father. They never felt like they received the approval and encouragement they so deeply desired. If that’s you today, the good news is that when you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you become His child. Your earthly father may not have given you his blessing, but your heavenly Father is rejoicing over you! He’s saying, “I’m proud of you. I love you. You are amazing. You are talented. You are beautiful. You’re going to do great things in life!” He’s releasing favor and hope into your future.
Today, no matter what’s happened in your past, no matter what anybody else has said to you or about you, know that your Father God loves you with an everlasting love. He’s proud of you, and He is singing over you. Receive His love today. Receive His approval today. Receive hope today. Have confidence and strength to move forward because you have the blessing of your heavenly Father!
