Thriving

TODAY’S VERSE
But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God. I will always trust in God’s unfailing love.
Psalms 52:8 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
An Olive tree was an important tree in Biblical times. With its extensive root system, it grew in rocky, arid land. Olives produced oil for cooking, lighting, medicine, and skincare. They were also an important food throughout the year. The hardwood from the plant was used for exceptional furniture, statues, and paneling. Being so dependent on the olive crop, the farmers had to make sure that the trees thrived. They had to be planted in the right soil, with enough space between each tree. With this in mind, David wrote that he was like a thriving olive tree planted in God’s temple. He thrived in God’s presence, being nourished by God’s unfailing love. There is a difference between living and thriving. Thriving is to grow and develop well or vigorously. It is to flourish full of life and vitality. This is what God desires for you. Today, decide to live in the full awareness of God’s presence in your life. Make a deliberate choice to know Him. Renounce any negative beliefs about yourself and pronounce out loud that you are a loved child of God. Quit living and start thriving. Thrive in His presence by trusting in His unfailing love.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, I want to do more than simply live. More than existing; coping from day to day. Lord, I want to thrive in Your presence. Help me grow in Your unfailing love.
AMEN

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Your Purpose

TODAY’S VERSE
I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.
Psalms 57:2 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Do you know you have a God-created purpose? What do you know about it? Can you answer the question, “Why am I here?” The Bible makes it clear that God was personally involved in your creation and had a purpose for you in mind. Paul wrote, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Jesus made it clear that God’s purpose is that we love God with all our heart, mind, and soul and to love others in the same way that we love ourselves. This brings Him glory. The good news is we don’t have to do it in our power. Today’s verse tells us that God will help fulfill His purpose in us. So what is stopping you? Today, love God, love others, and live out what you were created for.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Lord Jesus, I am Your disciple. Help me live for You. Please live out Your purpose in me.
AMEN

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Jesus Helps Us With Our Temptations

TODAY’S VERSE
Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.
Hebrews 2:18 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
We are human. Trials, temptations, and tribulations are part of our journey. But we also know Jesus. It was God’s plan from the beginning that He would create human beings with our propensity for sin and struggles and, at the same time, endow us with His grace. Paul writes, “I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” Jesus is the answer to our sinful dilemma. The author of Hebrews states why this is true. He writes, “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” What is it that has you down today? What sins are you struggling with? What negative feelings are you harboring about yourself? Today, bring them to Jesus. He is there. He loves you. He will help.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear gracious Jesus. Thank You for Your grace and forgiveness. Thank You for Your love. I come boldly to You today for Your help. I repent of my sinfulness and ask for Your intervention. Be merciful to me I pray.
AMEN

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Maturity

TODAY’S VERSE
You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word.
Hebrews 5:12 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Maturity is not a given; rather, it is something we must strive for. Have you ever seen an adult act like a child? It is uncomfortable to watch. It is unnatural. Yet most of us have some area that we need to “grow up” in. We may be mature when it comes to handling sadness but are immature with our anger. It could be fear that causes us to revert to childlike behavior. In today’s verse, the author of Hebrews challenges us to mature spiritually. He writes, “You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.” We don’t mature in Christ by accident. We must ingest the solid food of God’s word. Through meditating on it and praying over it, God helps us mature into the person He has called us to be. You may be old in the Lord but are you mature? Today commit your life to spiritual growth.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, I am Your child. Help me mature into the person You have created me to be.
AMEN

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Press On

TODAY’S VERSE
Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Romans 7:13-14 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
It is hard to wrestle with our human condition. Paul struggled with this. He wrote, “I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.” Paul came to grips with the fact that he was a human being, flawed and prone to sin. Yet, at the same time, he knew he was born again and strived to live the life Christ called him to live. He knew that Heaven would be a sweet metamorphosis. He wrote, “I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.” Paul let go of the past and pressed on. We, too, must let go of our sins, seek forgiveness, and press on. Today, get up and let Christ cleanse your heart. Ask Jesus to forgive you, help you, guide you, and give you the strength to live the life He has called you to.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Jesus. You know my propensity toward sin. But I will not be discouraged. Instead, I will press on. Help me, guide me, give me the strength to live the life You have called me to live.
AMEN

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Say, “Yes.”

TODAY’S VERSE
But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’
Matthew 5:37 (KJV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
We so often focus on saying, “No”. Perhaps it is due to our attempt at living for Jesus. But saying “No” to everything can lead to legalism. The Pharisees had a whole religious system built on “No” and yet Jesus wasn’t pleased. You see, saying, “No” isn’t enough. You also need to say, “Yes.” In addictions, it isn’t enough to say “No” to relapse; you need to say “Yes” to sobriety. I can focus on not committing adultery but wouldn’t it be better to focus on loving my wife? Sometimes the strongest “No” lies in the strongest “Yes!” Today, say, “Yes” to Jesus, and the “No’s” will take care of themselves.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Jesus, help me to love you more. Help me say “Yes” to all You want me to do.
AMEN

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I Believe It’s True

TODAY’S VERSE
Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.”
Luke 1:38 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
It was hard to take in. The Angel had visited Mary and told her that she was favored among women and would give birth to the Messiah. It seemed so impossible. She was a humble young woman and a virgin, but the Angel explained that it was God’s will, and unlike her relative, Zechariah, who doubted the Angel, Mary submitted to the Lord’s will. She said, “May everything you have said about me come true.” What if we said that? What if we took God at His word when He says that we are totally forgiven, deeply loved, and His very own child? How would our life be different if we believed that nothing can separate us from His love and that He will always give us grace and mercy in our time of need? What joy would permeate our life if we believed with all our heart that we are complete in Him, that we are His workmanship created for good work, and He has given us everything we need for Godliness? Today, believe. Say with Mary, “I am Your servant God. May I believe that everything You say about me is true!”

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, forgive me for my doubt and apathy. Help me live as Your servant, and know and believe that everything You say about me is true.
AMEN

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Called To Live For God

TODAY’S VERSE
An elder must live a blameless life.
Titus 1:6 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Paul had sent Titus to appoint Elders in the different house churches. They were to lead the church. Paul wrote, “An elder is a manager of God’s household, so he must live a blameless life.” Again Paul wrote, “He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong.” But what about you? What if you are not an Elder? What if you are not a teacher? Can you live any way you want? Of course not! Paul also shares the moral responsibility of an Elder and it is safe to say that these would apply to you and I as well. He writes, “He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who don’t have a reputation for being wild or rebellious. – He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or dishonest with money. Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must love what is good. He must live wisely and be just. He must live a devout and disciplined life.” These same behaviors apply to us. You may not be called to be an Elder but you are called to live for Christ.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, help me live for You. Help me to mature and live the kind of life You have called me to. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Equipped And Ready To Go

TODAY’S VERSE
May he equip you with all you need for doing his will.
Hebrews 13:21 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
I love it. As Christians, we have been called to be His disciples and help, “His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” Yet, at the same time, God is commanding us to live for Him; He is there equipping, encouraging, and empowering us! Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit to guide us, comfort us, and assist us. Peter writes, “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life.” Paul adds, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” I am not sure what you believe about yourself, but this is true. God created you and wants you to live for Him. You are His representative here on earth, and He has given you everything you need to fulfill your destiny. Today choose to live for Him in all you do. He has equipped you to do it.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, thank You for creating me to be Your disciple. Thank You for equipping me to live for You. I choose to live for You this day. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Growing Faith

TODAY’S VERSE
When your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow.
James 1:3-4 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Faith grows. It is not static. We are either growing in our faith or our dependency upon Him diminishing. Through experience, we learn more about God’s faithfulness and that we can trust in His power. It is the tests in life that give us the ability to say, with confidence, “I know I can trust Him.” When times are tough, everything is on the line; there doesn’t seem any way out; that is when God’s faithfulness gets etched into our hearts. That is when our faith leaps forward. So today, trust Him. Look for an opportunity to put your faith in Him and then let it go. God is faithful. As you watch and see what God does over and over again, your faith will grow.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, help me to increase my faith. Help me know You more and more and put my trust in You. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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