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15. Live to Give
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken
together and running over ... (Luke 6:38)
God wants you to be happy! He wants you to live a satisfied life. Jesus said,
"I have come that you might have and enjoy life, and have it to the full --
until it overflows!" A major key to enjoying life is that we live to give.
True happiness and true fulfillment come when you give of your life in some
say to others. God promises to multiply back to you what you give. When you step
out in faith, you open a door for God's hand of blessing to move on your behalf.
It's the simple principle of sowing and reaping.
God has a specific plan for every one of our lives. His plan involves
reaching out and touching other people with His love, mercy and compassion. Ask
the Lord to show you how you can share His love with others by giving of your
time, your talents and your resources today.
Prayer for Today: Dear Father, thank You for the precious opportunity to share Your love and
compassion with others today. I know that as I step out to give of myself, You
will use me to be a blessing to others. Thank You for Your goodness and mercy,
which follow me all the days of my life
16 Live by the Spirit
If you live by the Spirit, you'll not fulfill the lusts of the flesh
(Galatians 5:16)
Did you know that you make over 2,500 choices every day? The quality of your
life is determined by the quality of your decisions. Because of that, choosing
to live according to the Spirit is the most important decision you can make. One
way God speaks to you is through your spirit, that small "voice" inside that
prompts you when you should or shouldn't do something. When you choose to obey
God's leading, that "inner prompting," you will always make the right
choice!
John 3:21 says that a quality conscience hinders communication with our
Heavenly Father. That's why it is so important to stay true to your conscience
and quickly repent if you've made a mistake.
Remember, Jeremiah 29:11 promises that God has great plans in store for you
and when you choose to follow His leading, He will guide you on a path of
victory in every area of your life! You are born to win!
Prayer for Today:
Precious Father, thank You for Your promise to lead and guide me by Your
spirit. I ask You to teach me to clearly know Your promptings in my heart so
that I can follow Your leading. Thank You for setting me free to walk in victory
today.
17 Release the Past
... but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and
reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press toward the mark for the prize of
the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14).
One of the main keys to overcoming disappointments in life is learning to let
go of the past. You let go of the past by choosing to forgive those who have
hurt or wronged you by believing that God will restore to you anything that was
taken. When you receive Christ's forgiveness in your own life, you are released
from the pressure to make up for past mistakes or failures. You begin to
experience the bright future God has in store for you.
Don't let the regrets
of yesterday destroy the hopes of tomorrow. No matter what has happened
in the past, God is a God of restoration, and He will restore what the enemy has
stolen from you.
Accept God's mercy and forgiveness today, and I look forward to the wonderful
plan He has for your future!
Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of forgiveness -- the gift that
releases me from the past and enables me to run towards You and the bright
future You have in store for me. Show me if there are any areas of unforgiveness
in my heart so that I may forgive and walk in victory.
18 Filter Your Thoughts
I will set no evil before my eyes (Psalm 101:3)
Did you know that what you think determines the direction and quality of your
life? The Bible encourages us to think on things that are pure, wholesome and of
a good report (Phil. 4:8). In order to think on the right things, it is
important that you filter what you watch, read and listen to. Don't let the
enemy slowly deceive you into lowering your standards and desensitizing you to
what is good and pure. Don't let him have a single opportunity to pull you down
by watching or being involved in things that are questionable.
Remember you are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Fill your thoughts with the
promises of God found in His Word -- promises of peace, joy and freedom;
promises of safety, deliverance and provision; promises of a future and a hope
that are only found through Jesus Christ! As you fill your thoughts with God's
Word, victory will come alive in every area of your life!
Prayer for Today:
Heavenly Father; today I ask You to fill my thoughts with Your thoughts, and
fill my heart with Your promises. I choose to focus on You and the good things
You have in store for me. I will meditate on Your Word. Thank You for guiding my
every action, my every thought and my every step.
19 Stand Firm
Fear not; stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will work
for you today (Exodus 14:13)
When you step out to do something big for God, the enemy will send challenges
and distractions to knock you off course. He may try to send you running, but
you have a promise that God is working behind the scenes for you. You'll be
amazed at what God will do in your life when you stand and face your challenges
and hold on to the promises found in His Word.
When you take a stand, you make a declaration of your faith in God and
automatically raise that shield of faith, which extinguishes all the flaming
arrows of the evil one (Ephesians 6:16). So take a stand today, and stay on the
course the Lord has set for you -- take a stand in your prayer life -- take a
stand in your Bible-study time -- take a stand in your acts of service and
giving to others. Take a stand and see the salvation and provision of the Lord
in every area of your life!
Prayer for Today: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promise to bring me through to
victory. I ask for Your strength as I take a stand to do what is right according
to Your Word. I know Your hand of blessing is upon my every act of obedience. I
bless Your name today and will seek to serve You in everything I do.
20 Live A Balanced Life
...they have made me a keeper of vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not
kept (Song of Solomon 1:6).
Are there areas of your life that are not "kept" because you are taking care
of everyone else? If you're always on the go, constantly working and never take
time for yourself, you will end up stressed out and overwhelmed, and you won't
be able to enjoy life the way that God intended. Living a balanced life brings
peace, joy and health.
The person speaking in Song of Solomon was good at taking care of everyone
else -- his family, his friends, his work. He made sure everyone else was happy,
but in doing that, he neglected to take care of himself. Are you living like
that today? Do you spend all your time on other people, but not any on yourself?
Eventually you will burn out. Decide today to begin investing in yourself. Take
time to relax and rejuvenate yourself. When you are refreshed emotionally,
physically, and spiritually, you are able to give to others more effectively. As
you bring balance to your life, you will begin to enjoy every day to the fullest
-- just the way God intended!
Prayer for Today: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me the wisdom to make right
choices and bring balance in my life. I make the decision to put You first in
all that I do. I purpose to take time to invest in myself so that I may be more
effective in sharing and giving to others.
21 Expect Favor
... the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from
those whose walk is blameless (Psalm 84:11).
What an awesome promise -- no good thing does He withhold... God wants to
pour out His abundant blessings, His abundant victory and favor in your life! In
Psalm 8:5, the Bible says that God has crowned us with glory and honor. Another
word for honor is "favor." In other words, God has crowned us with His favor! He
wants you to thrive and excel in life.
You are a child of the Most High God. You walk in His favor each and every
day -- not because of who you are, but because of Whose you are! You are favored
because you are a child of God and He wants you to be "favor-minded." To be
favor-minded simply means that you are releasing your faith, knowing that God
wants to bless you. The more favor-minded you are, the more of God's favor
you're going to see! Begin to declare that you have the favor of God surrounding
you, knowing God's favor will bring you to a place of peace, hope and victory
like you've never experienced before.
Prayer for Today: Father God, thank You for calling me Your child and pouring Your favor upon
my every step. Help me to see Your hand of blessing, so that I may glorify You
in all that I do. I receive Your favor in my life this day! Thank You for
blessing me today, so that I may be a blessing to others.
22 Forgive Past Hurts
Let all bitterness, indignation, wrath, resentment, quarreling and slander
(evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you ...
(Ephesians 4:31).
Did you know that unforgiveness, bitterness and resentment block the flow of
God's blessing in your life? Holding on to the hurts of your past can poison
your present and limit your future. But when you let go of these emotional
wounds, you open the door to the life of victory that God has planned.
The enemy will try to use your past to influence your actions and responses.
He will try to paralyze you with fear and shame. But when you choose to forgive
those who have wronged you and release your past to your Heavenly Father's
loving care, you can walk in freedom. You can trade your sorrow for His joy. You
can trade your shame for His peace. You can trade your insecurities for His love
and victory!
You are not defined by your past. You are defined by God's Word and His plan
for your life. And God sees you as an overcomer! God sees you as a champion in
life.
Prayer for Today: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of forgiveness. Thank You for
loving me enough to set me free. I ask You now to search my heart and show me
any hurt or bitterness I need to release so I can walk in forgiveness and
freedom today.
24 Avoid Strife
For where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is strife and every evil
work... (James 3:16).
Are you praying and seeking God for a change in your life? Does there seem to
be an invisible roadblock preventing you from experiencing God's blessing and
favor to the fullest?
The Bible tells us that when we hold on to strife, it brings confusion.
Strife opens the door to every evil work of the enemy (James 3:16). Strife can
creep in like a cancer to steal your peace, destroy relationships and extinguish
hope. You must constantly stay on guard against strife and make the decision to
walk in love and peace. Keeping strife out of your life is a vital key to living
the abundant life God has in store for you!
Follow the example of Jesus and let your words and actions bring life to
those around you. Focus more on loving people than proving your point. As you
honor and prefer others, and lay your own opinions aside, you'll discover a
level of peace and rest you've never experienced before -- and new levels of
victory and abundance!
Prayer for Today: Dear Father, show me where I may be harboring any strife or selfishness in my
heart. I repent of any attitude that is unpleasing to You and blocks the flow of
Your Spirit in my life. Show me how I can demonstrate Your love to others this
day and use me as a catalyst to bring hope, joy and encouragement to others.
26 Expect God's Best
Those who wait for the Lord, who expect, look for, and hope in Him, shall
renew their strength... (Isaiah 40:31)
What are you expecting in life -- good things? Bad things? Little things?
Anything at all? God wants you to get your hopes up! The Bible says, "Faith is
the substance of things hoped for." One definition of hope is confident
expectancy. Did you know you can't even have faith if you don't first have
hope?
Your expectations set the limits for your life. If you never expect anything
good, you're never going to receive anything good. If you don't expect things to
get better, then nothing will get better. God promises to meet you at your level
of expectancy. That's why Jesus said in Matthew 9:29, "According to your faith
be it done unto you." One translation simply says, "Have what your faith
expects."
Start expecting to overcome every challenge you face and for God to meet all
of your needs! Live every day of your life filled with anticipation that God is
going to bless you abundantly above and beyond your wildest dreams!
Prayer for Today:
Dear Father, thank You for Your hand of blessing on my life. Today I purpose
in my heart to raise my level of expectancy and hope in You. Thank You for
putting Your desires in my heart and bringing them to pass in my life.
27 Be Who You Are
For you are God's own handiwork, recreated in Christ that you may do the good
works that God predestined... (Ephesians 2:10)
You are God's special handiwork -- equipped and anointed to be the person God
has called you to be! The Bible says in Psalm 139 that God knew who you were
before you were ever formed in your mother's womb. You have unique gifts,
abilities and talents, and God has a unique plan for your life.
The enemy may try to make you think you have to conform to the opinions of
others, but if you are secure in who God made you, then you can resist those
outside demands and pressures that try to mold you into something you're
not.
As you continue to grow in your relationship with the Lord, through prayer,
worship and fellowship with other believers, you will gain confidence in the
Lord that will free you from the opinions of man and allow you to be the person
God called you to be!
Prayer for Today: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the unique gifts, abilities and talents
You've placed in my life. Show me how to use what You've given me to fulfill
Your plan and be a blessing to those around me today. I believe You have a good
plan for my life and I purpose to be who You have called me to be.
28 Let God Defend You
God is a just God and He will repay the exact compensation owed you. He will
settle and solve the cases of his people (Hebrews 10:30)
Are you dealing with an "unsolved case" from your past that needs resolution?
Are you waiting for your day of justice or repayment? God promises in His Word
that He is your Vindicator. He is your Defender. He will settle your case and
repay everything the enemy has stolen. But in order to allow Christ to settle
your debts, you have to forgive others in the same way Jesus forgave you when
you were guilty of sin. You have to release those who have wronged you from what
you think they owe you. That's true forgiveness -- freeing others, so that you
can be free.
As you walk and live in forgiveness, you show that you trust in God to repay
and defend you. You show that you have faith in God to be your Defender. God
will honor your faith in Him and move on your behalf, every single time!
Prayer for Today:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for being my Defender. I ask You right now to
search my heart and show me any areas that I have not released to You. Help me
forgive those who have wronged me so that I may be free to live in victory.
29 Guard Your Heart
Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard,
for out of it flows the springs of life (Proverbs 4:23).
God is constantly trying to plant new seeds of victory inside of you, and
your heart is the soil for those seeds. If you harbor bitterness, jealousy, or
pride in your heart, those seeds won't be able to take root and develop in your
life.
Jesus told the story of how the enemy comes to steal the seed of God's Word
through temptations, cares and anxieties. But you are good ground for the seed
of the Word when you guard your heart by standing and believing that God's
promises will come to pass -- even when the circumstances don't agree. Don't
allow discouragement to affect your faith. Stand and guard your heart, knowing
that through faith and patience, you will inherit all of God's promises for your
life!
Prayer for Today: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the plan of victory You have for my life.
Thank You for giving me the strength to guard my heart by staying focused on
You. Help me stay focused on Your thoughts for my life.
30 Praise
Him for the Victory
But you will give us victory over our enemies... and we ill praise your name
forever (Psalm 44:7-8).
God has commanded victory to be yours! And when God commands something, it's
going to happen! When God commanded light to come, light came at 186,000 miles
per second -- and light is still comming!
God has commanded that we live in victory. That means no matter what you're
going through, no matter how dark it looks, you can be encouraged that the
darkness has to give way to the light. Defeat has to give way to victory! But in
order to open that door to victory, we must continually do what the psalmist did
and constantly praise His name. Don't go around talking about your problems; go
around talking about your God! Don't go around speaking words of defeat and
failure; speak words of faith and victory! Quit worrying and start worshipping!
Start praising and thanking God, and expect things to change in your favor.
God will take you places that you've never even dreamed of, and you'll start
experiencing the victories that He's commanded to be yours!
Prayer for Today:
Oh Heavenly Father, I praise You today for the promise of victory in my life!
Thank You for Your Word and the precious blood of Your Son, Jesus, that causes
me to overcome in every area of life. With the fruit of my lips, I will praise
You all day long!
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Joel Osteen: 30 Thoughts for Victorious Living
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