“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9, NIV)
When you look out into your future, what do you see? What are the dreams and desires that you hold close to your heart?
So many people start with bold dreams, but then opposition comes. Life doesn’t turn out the way they planned. They lose a loved one or encounter difficulty they didn’t anticipate. Today, if that’s you, I want to remind you that the Creator of the universe designed you with specific gifts and talents that no one else has. He has you on this planet for a specific purpose. When you commit your life to Him, He promises to be with you wherever you go. Even though some things in life may have caught you by surprise, they didn’t catch God by surprise. His good plan for your life remains. You can trust Him because He loves you with an everlasting love, and He doesn’t want to see you settling for anything less than His very best.
I want to encourage you to be bold, be strong and be courageous. Put aside the past and lift up your eyes to Jesus. He is the Author and Finisher of your faith. Live boldly and dream boldly so you can embrace the good things He has in store for you!
One of the reasons it’s so important to know the Word of God is not only to learn His promises and His ways, but to understand His character. What He’s done for others, He will do for you. The same God who displayed His favor in the Bible is still at work today. I believe God wants to flood you with the same favor He flooded Joseph, Abraham and Elijah with. I believe He wants to open new doors, line up supernatural appointments, and bring new increase and provision. The question is, are you ready to receive it? Can you see it with your eyes of faith?
Today, know that our God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is with you and for you. Even before you see things turn around, believe that He is working on your behalf. And when He pours out His favor, it won’t be just a drizzle; it’s going to be a flood—a flood of ideas, a flood of good breaks, a flood of talent. Keep believing, keep hoping and keep praising because the same favor that was in the Bible is coming your way!
People who experience the joy, blessings and favor of the Lord are different in one key area: they put the most important things in life at the top of their list where they belong. If you want to experience God’s best in your life, stay focused on Him and on the things that truly matter. The Bible says to first aim at and then strive after God’s kingdom and righteousness—which simply means to do things God’s way. To reach your full potential and be everything God intends you to be, make sure His priorities are your priorities. Doing this will help you make wise use of your time and help you to experiencie God’s best.
Even Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power; who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. Acts 10:38, ASV.
The first thing Jesus did before healing, before ministering, before delivering is that He was good to people. Think about that for a moment. We all have an assignment. You could say that we all have a ministry. It may not be up in front of people. It may not be to go overseas and be a missionary. Our ministry starts by being good to people.
When goodness flows out of our hearts, it catches people’s attention. It causes them to want to know more about what we have. We can say all day long, “I love you,” but true love is seen in what we do. If I really love you, I’ll be good to you. I’ll prefer you. God said to Abraham, “I will bless you and you will be a blessing.” One key to being blessed is: are you willing to be a blessing? Are you willing to do good?
You are not an accident. Your parents may not have planned you, but God did. He wanted you alive and created you for a purpose. Focusing on yourself will never reveal your purpose. You were made by God and for God, and until you understand that, life will never make sense. Only in God do we discover our origin, our identity, our meaning, our purpose, our significance, and our destiny.
- Dr. Rick Warren
Father, thank You for loving me. Thank You for believing in me and always building me up. I ask that You show me creative ways to encourage and build up the people around me. Help me to be an example of Your love in Jesus’ name. Amen.
