Monthly Archives: January 2014
January 11, 2014
Choose To Be Happy
We have a choice everyday to be happy or not.
I have a friend who is going through treatment for cancer. He’s a young man, very talented, very athletic. If he had not told me, I would have never known anything was wrong. I’ve never once heard him complain. He’s always friendly, upbeat and enjoys life. I asked him the other day how he could keep such a good attitude during such a difficult time. He said, “Scott, when I get up in the morning, I ask myself, ‘Do you want to be depressed today or do you want to live happy?’ I choose to live happy.” Understand that if you’re going to be happy, you have to be happy on purpose. Happiness is not going to fall on you. You have to choose it by choosing right thoughts and focusing on the Father. You have to set your day in the direction that you want to go. You have to choose to meditate on His Word because His Word lights your path and gives joy to your heart. Today, choose to live happy, set your focus on Him, and embrace the blessing He has in store for you. Are you choosing to be happy today?
January 10, 2014
What Do You Think
People tend to become what they think about themselves.
So often, people limit themselves in their thinking. They don’t think they’ll ever accomplish their dreams. They start thinking they don’t have the talent, the connections or the funds. They don’t think a marriage could ever be restored or they’ll ever get out of debt. That kind of thinking comes from looking at things in the natural. That’s a limited perspective. We have to realize that God is a supernatural God. Just because we don’t see a way doesn’t mean that God doesn’t have a way. God can bring one opportunity across your path that will thrust you to a new level. He has an awesome specific plan for your life. He can do what medical science can’t do in your health. Today, I encourage you to take the limits off your thinking. Trust that God is working behind the scenes on your behalf, and He will make a way out of no way. Remember, what you are facing may seem impossible with man, but when God puts His “super” on your “natural,” anything is possible. What do you believe about yourself today?
January 9, 2014
Are You Preparing
If you believe that your past does not have to be your future, there are few limits to what you can achieve.
Before we are promoted in life, before we can be moved ahead, we have to be prepared. Sometimes it’s a spiritual preparation. Sometimes it’s a mental preparation, but we all go through seasons of preparation. Too often, people miss their appointed time simply because they are not ready. They haven’t prepared. They look around at others and think, “Well, so-and-so is more qualified than I am.” No, if you’ll get ready, if you’ll outgrow where you are, then God will make room for something greater. Don’t worry about who’s in line in front of you. You just keep growing, learning and getting prepared, and the right doors will open. The fact is that God may not want you to have your supervisor’s position. That may be too low for you. God may be about to thrust you right past them into a whole new level. You just be faithful to develop what God has placed in you, and He will take you further than you can ever imagine. Are you preparing today?
January 8, 2014
You’re Important
In this day and age, people are considered to be important for so many different reasons—titles, position, possessions, where you go, what you drive.
God’s value system is very different from the value system of the world. God cherishes and values you so much today simply because He made you. You are the apple of His eye; the center of His world! If you’ve ever thought that God has too many other important things on His plate to be concerned with you and your life, know this today—you are God’s number one priority. There’s nothing you can do to be more important or less important to Him. He values you today and your value will never change. You are significant. Your life is significant. The things that concern you, concern God. He carefully watches over every detail of your life, and there is nothing too big or too small for His attention. Today, don’t be afraid to take your concerns and cares to the Father. He loves to hear you call upon Him. He is waiting to show Himself strong on your behalf. Do you realize how important you really are?
January 7, 2014
Happy and Joyful
Happiness is tied to circumstance and joyfulness is tied to spirit and gratitude.
Life may not have turned out the way you planned, but you still have the power to be happy right where you are. God is the source of all joy, and when God gives you something, nothing in the world can take it away. That means other people cannot make you unhappy, no circumstance can force you to get upset. Nothing can take your joy; you have to give it away. You’re in complete control of your happiness. Think of it this way: If somebody is rude to you, what they’re really saying is, “Give me your joy.” Somebody cuts you off in traffic, “Let me have your joy.” Somebody ignores you or leaves you out of a meeting; they’re just asking for your joy. You have a choice. You can give it to them by going around upset, frustrated and offended. Or, you can make a much better decision and say, “No thanks, I need my joy. I’m not going to get upset because you were rude and didn’t speak to me. I’m not going to be frustrated because you cut me off in traffic. I’ve already made up my mind that I’m going to live this day happy!” Instead of giving them your joy, give them mercy, grace and understanding. Give them the benefit of the doubt and keep your joy because only you are in control of your happiness! Are you choosing to be happy and joyful today?
January 6, 2014
No More Waiting
What could be worse than to come to the end of life filled with regrets?
“If only I had pursued that dream. If only I had been more disciplined. If only I had taken that step of faith. If only I had forgiven.” Don’t let that be you. You may have put things off a lot longer than you should have, but the good news is that it’s not too late to get started. You can still become everything God has created you to be. Today, make the decision to stop making excuses. If you always make excuses, you’ll always have one. Don’t wait for a more convenient time. It says in Ecclesiastes, “If we wait for all the conditions to be just right, we’ll never move off of dead center.” Make a decision to just do it! Be a now person. Your destiny is calling out, and it’s never too late to be all that God has created you to be. Have you been waiting too long to live?
January 5, 2014
Some People
Some people, no matter what you do, are not going to be for you.
Even if you changed, met all their demands and did everything they asked, they would still find something wrong. I’ve learned that we can all save a lot of heartache and pain by learning to ignore those critical voices. You don’t need those people’s approval. You don’t have to have them cheering you on. They may try to make you look bad, but if you will stay on the high road and let God fight your battles, the more they talk the more God will bless you. They may try to take you down, but God will use it to take you up. Keep focused on your future, keep focused on your destiny, and let the truth strengthen you to ignore the critics and move forward into the life of purpose and destiny God has designed for you. Are you focused on the right things today?
January 4, 2014
Think On the Truth
The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself.
Do you need more peace in your life today? Are you frustrated or upset over something or fighting off discouragement? The first question to ask yourself is “What am I thinking about?” If you’re thinking about your problems all the time or how impossible everything is, then your life is going to follow that negative direction. When you get your mind going in the right direction, when you focus your mind on the truth, then you are setting yourself in the direction of peace. Today, choose to keep your mind focused on God and He thinks about you. As you set your thoughts in the right direction, your life will head down the path of peace and victory that is in store for you. Are you thinking the right thoughts about yourself today?
January 3, 2014
What Others Think
Sometimes we can be more aware of what other people think than we are of what God thinks.
People don’t determine your destiny. People can’t stop God’s plan for your life. People may not approve you. Don’t worry about it. God approves you. God called you; people didn’t call you. People don’t equip you; God equips you. When you come to the end of your life, you don’t have to answer to people; you’ll answer to God. Don’t let what some person says or does make you feel less than or unqualified. You’ve been handpicked by the Creator of the universe. You are lacking nothing for the season that you’re in right now. What you have in your hand is what you need. When you dedicate it to God and do what He tells you, God will take you farther than you ever dreamed. Are you more interested in what God thinks or what people think about you?
January 2, 2014
Look Forward
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 God designed you with specific gifts and talents that no one else has. He has you on this planet for a specific purpose. 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 look toward your destiny. Are you looking forward to your destiny today?