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?
December 30, 2013
Think About It
What you think about is what you will bring into your life.
We can either focus on our problems, or we can focus on our purpose. The question is: do you want more problems, or do you want more purpose? One thing I’ve noticed is that when you live with an attitude of constant gratitude, not only do you thank God for what He’s done in your life, you start thanking Him for what He will do in your life. You thank Him for opening doors for you in the future. You thank Him for increasing you. You thank Him for bringing the right people into your life. When we say “Thank You” to God for the things that are coming, it’s really a declaration of our faith in Him. It’s like saying in essence, “God, I’m so sure of Your goodness, I’m so sure that You’re working in my life that I’m going to thank You right now for what You are going to do tomorrow!” That’s the kind of faith that pleases God. He wants us to trust in His goodness. What are you thinking about in your life today?
December 29, 2013
The Right Place
Where have you pitched your tent today?
In other words, what are you expecting to happen in your life this upcoming year? What kind of attitude do you have? If your thoughts are stuck and you’re focusing on what’s wrong or what’s not working, then it’s time to dig up your tent stakes! It’s time to pack up your belongings and move out of the land of discouragement. It’s time to move out of the “Not-going-to-happen” subdivision and move out of “Can’t-do-it-ville.” It’s time to pack your bags and move into the land of hope, faith and expectation! Every time you catch a negative thought and choose to think on the truth, it’s like you are packing your bags. Every time you declare the truth, you are taking a step in the right direction. It’s time to get your mind right and set in the right direction. 2014 can be your best year ever, but you have to go into it with the right mindset. Get your thoughts and expectations on the right things, only focus on the truth. Nothing but the truth will get you were you want to go. Are you pitching your tent in the right place today?
December 4, 2013
What Others Think
If you lack self-discipline or humility, you will struggle to persevere because you will constantly be worried about yourself and what others think.
So many people today spend valuable time and energy trying to make everyone around them happy. They want to be approved, accepted and affirmed. There’s nothing wrong with that, but you can’t let the opinions of others become your focus or distract you from what God has called you to. In the natural, when an athlete performs, you don’t see them looking around at the other athletes, wondering how they are doing. No, they have their mind focused on one thing: their process. They don’t waste valuable energy comparing themselves or wondering what’s going on around them. Instead, they focus on doing their absolute best. This is how we should be in life — focused on executing our process the best we can. My challenge to you today is: work your process. Don’t let people squeeze you into their mold. Remember, you don’t have to try to play up to people. You don’t have to worry about what everyone else thinks. As long as you’re being true to what God has put in your heart, don’t look to the left or to the right. Stay focused on your goals. Run your race to win and honor God in everything that you do. Are you focused on your process today?
November 18, 2013
Do You Remember
People today instead of remembering their victories, they’re remembering their defeats, failures or disappointments.
You’ve got to switch over and start remembering the times God protected you; the times God showed you love; the times God made a way when it looked like there was no way. That’s going to cause faith and expectancy to rise in your heart. You’ll have the confidence that if God did it for you back then, He can certainly do it for you right now. I encourage you, remember your victories. Tell your children. Tell your neighbors. Tell your friends. Keep bragging on the goodness of God and move forward in the victory He has in store for you. What do you remember today?
November 6, 2013
Your Thoughts
Believe in yourself no matter what live looks like.
Everyone has days when they feel like life is out of control. A lot of the time when this happens when we allow our circumstances to dictate our thoughts and attitudes. You might say, “Well, Scott, the economy is wreaking havoc on my business,” or “This relationship is just too far gone.” I say, today is the day to take your life back! You take your life back by choosing to take your thoughts back. Even though we live in this natural world, we are not limited by this natural world We can tap into God’s power by making every thought line up with the Word of God. We don’t have to let circumstances control us. Instead, keep your thoughts on the truth. Today, as you take control of every thought and boldly declare what God promises over your life, you are setting yourself up for victory. Are your thoughts hurting or helping you today?
November 2, 2013
Right Thinking
You have to take responsibility for your own thinking. What others did or did not tell you doesn’t matter now. Past is past; let’s go.
Most people’s thoughts were programmed by the people who raised them or by what somebody spoke over them. Maybe they were good people, doing the best they can, but their words are limiting you. As long as you believe what they said about you, their words are defining you. The key to breaking those limitations is to start meditating on what God says about you. A transformation will take place when you renew your mind. Reprogram your thinking with what God says about you. God says, “The path of the righteous gets brighter and brighter.” All through the day say, “I’m getting better. I haven’t seen my best days. Something good is going to happen to me.” As you meditate on His Word day in and day out, you’re breaking out past the limitations set by others. People may have spoken negative things over you, but the good news is that people don’t determine your destiny. You are not who people say you are. You are who God says you are. Don’t be defined by the limits of others. Are you thinking the right way today?
October 31, 2013
The Right Thoughts
There is a battle going on in our minds.
Our thoughts dictate our actions. That’s why the enemy will do everything he can to get you thinking in the wrong direction. Sometimes, it’s not our own thoughts that are holding us back; sometimes it’s that we’ve believed the negative things that other people have spoken over us. Those words are like seeds. If you think about them long enough, they’ll take root and become a reality. In life, there will always be people telling you what cannot be done, speaking negative things. Too often we latch on to those negative words and develop what the scripture calls a “stronghold.” That’s a wrong thought or action that keeps us from God’s best. The way you break those negative strongholds is by rejecting the lie, forgiving the person, and embracing the truth of God’s Word. In other words, you have to choose to delete that negative file in your mind. Today, why don’t you take inventory of your thought life? Ask yourself, “Where did these thoughts come from? Do they line up with what God says about me?” Break the negative strongholds and embrace God’s truth so you can be all that God has called you to be. What thoughts are you holding on today?
October 21, 2013
Inside and Out
When God looks at your heart, what does He see?
Everyone has an outer life and an inner life. The outer life is our public life that people can see. The inner life is made up of your thoughts, attitudes and motives. Only you and God know what’s going on inside. Too many people go around today pretending — acting one way, yet on the inside, they’re thinking something totally different. Their heart and their actions don’t line up. We have to understand that God looks at the inside. We can fool a lot of people, but we can’t fool God. God would rather us be open and honest than for us to go through life pretending or wearing masks. Today, take inventory of what’s going on inside of you. Are you at peace? Are you overlooking offenses? Do you believe the best in people? Are your heart and actions lining up? If not, it time to get balanced and lined up. Make sure your inside and outside are in agreement with each other. If we saw inside you today, what would we see?
September 8, 2013
Think Positive
You will be surprised how positive thinking impacts your performance.
Whether you realize it or not, God has already given you everything you need to live the life He’s called you to. You don’t need to feel stressed out, worried or afraid. You don’t have to wonder if you’re “good enough” to receive from God because God’s blessing has nothing to do with your performance. He has already blessed you and given you everything you need by His divine power! The world’s system tells us to strive, toil and scrape to get what we want. Our culture puts limits on people because of their natural abilities, resources, background or circumstances. But with God, there are no limits! By His divine power, you are equipped, well able and strong. You are covered by His grace and mercy, and you are empowered to do all He has called you to do! The next time you start thinking “I can’t…” or “I don’t have what it takes…,” attack those negative thoughts with the truth by declaring, “I have what it takes; I am well able; and I am equipped by His divine power at work in me!” Are you thinking positive about your performance today?