Category Archives: Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Whose Voice Are You Listening To?

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I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God. – Romans 12:1

In order to obey the verse for today, we have to choose to give the Lord our “members and faculties.” In other words, we offer Him our bodies, minds, abilities, and emotions. We must be careful not to let the devil use our minds. The human mind is his favorite battleground and he will fire thoughts at us all day long, thoughts that will drown out the voice of God if we choose to listen to them. The thoughts the devil sends us are usually sly, subtle, and deceptive so we will find them easy to believe. He lies and accuses and tells us anything he can think of to steal our joy, rob our peace, and make us feel ashamed, guilty, and unworthy. He fills our minds with ungodly thoughts about other people. We cannot stop him from sending thoughts our way, but we can resist them in the power of Christ. Then we can deliberately turn our thoughts toward God and the things He speaks to us.

To be honest, there are days when I have to cast down a dozen thoughts just in the time it takes to put on my makeup! But, thank God, I know how to do it. You can do it, too. Think of it this way: two voices are competing for your attention. You can focus on one or the other. Choose to hear the voice of God and to think about the things He says, not the things the enemy says. When we fill our thoughts with right things, the wrong ones have no room to enter.

God’s word for you today:> Give your mind to God and focus on the thoughts He speaks to you.

 

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Don’t Make Small Plans

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Any enterprise is built by wise planning, becomes strong through common sense, and profits wonderfully by keeping abreast of the facts. —Proverbs 24:3,4 (TLB)

I hope you have a dream or a vision in your heart for something greater than what you have now. Ephesians 3:20 tells us that God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above and beyond all that we can hope or ask or think. If we are not thinking, hoping, or asking for anything, we are cheating ourselves. We need to think big thoughts, hope for big things, and ask for big things. I always say, I would rather ask God for a lot and get half of it, than to ask Him for a little and get all of it.

However, it is an unwise person who only thinks, dreams, and asks big but fails to realize that an enterprise is built by hard work and wise planning. Dreams for the future are possibilities, but not what I call “positivelies.” In other words, they are possible, but they will not positively occur unless we do our part. When we see a twenty-year-old athlete who is a gold medalist in the Olympics, we know that he spent many years practicing while others were playing games. He may not have had all the “fun” his friends had, but he did develop his potential. Now he has something that will bring him joy for the rest of his life.

Far too many people take the “quick fix” method for everything. They only want what makes them feel good right now. They are not willing to invest for the future. Don’t just enter the race for the fun of being in it—run to win! (See 1 Corinthians 9:24,25). There is a gold mine hidden in every life, but we have to dig to get to it. We must be willing to dig deep and go beyond how we feel or what is convenient. If we will dig down deep into the spirit, we will find strength we never knew we had.

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Why the Storms?

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Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, my Help and my God.—Psalm 42:5

O God, why do You cast us off forever? Why does Your anger burn and smoke against the sheep of Your pasture? —Psalm 74:1

As I think about the storms we all face in life, I can understand why people sometimes ask, “Why the storms? Why do we have so many problems and struggles in life? Why do God’s people have to deal with so much suffering?”

As I considered these questions, I began to see that Satan plants these questions in our minds. It is his attempt to keep us focused on our problems instead of focusing on the goodness of God. If we persist in asking these questions, we’re implying that God may be to blame. I don’t think it’s wrong to ask God why things happen. The writers of the psalms certainly didn’t hesitate to ask.

I think of the story of Jesus when He visited the home of Mary and Martha after their brother, Lazarus, died. Jesus waited until Lazarus had been dead for four days before He visited. When He arrived, Martha said to Jesus, “Master, if You had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21). She went on to say, “And even now I know that whatever You ask from God, He will grant it to You” (v. 22).

Did she really believe those words? I wonder, because “Jesus said to her, Your brother shall rise again. Martha replied, I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day” (vs. 23-24). She didn’t get what Jesus was saying.

I don’t want to be unkind to Martha, but she missed it. When Jesus came, she didn’t ask, “Why didn’t You do something?” Instead she said, “If You had been here—if You had been on the job—he’d be alive.”

When Jesus assured her that Lazarus would rise again, she didn’t understand that it was going to happen right then. She could focus only on the resurrection. By looking at an event that was still in the future, she missed the real meaning of Jesus’ words for the present.

But aren’t many of us like Martha? We want our lives to run smoothly, and when they don’t, we ask why? But we really mean, “God, if You truly loved and cared for me, this wouldn’t have happened.”

Let’s think a little more about the “why” question. For example, when someone dies in an accident, one of the first questions family members ask is why? “Why her? Why now? Why this accident?”

For one moment, let’s say God explained the reason. Would that change anything? Probably not. The loved one is still gone, and the pain is just as severe as it was before. What, then, did you learn from the explanation?

In recent years, I’ve begun to think that why isn’t what Christians are really asking God. Is it possible that we’re asking, “God, do You love me? Will You take care of me in my sorrow and pain? You won’t leave me alone in my pain, will You?” Is it possible that, because we’re afraid that God doesn’t truly care about us, we ask for explanations?

Instead, we must learn to say, “Lord God, I believe. I don’t understand, and I could probably never grasp all the reasons why bad things happen, but I can know for certain that You love me and You are with me—always.”

Heavenly Father, instead of asking for answers to the why questions, help me to focus on Your great love for me. When Satan tries to fill my mind with troublesome questions, help me to feel the protection of Your loving, caring arms around me. Help me always to show my gratitude and devotion for all that You do for me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Above Every Name

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That in (at) the name of Jesus every knee should (must) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth. —Philippians 2:10

Speaking the name of Jesus and having a revelation about the power in that name are two different things. Releasing the power in the name of Jesus requires a supernatural revelation.

When you speak the name of Jesus in faith, His name is so powerful that every knee must bow in three realms—in heaven, on earth, and under the earth!

Think about this tonight: Jesus came from the highest heaven, He has been to the earth, and has descended to Hades, or under the earth, and now is seated at the right hand of the Father once again in the highest heaven. He has filled everything and everywhere with Himself. He is seated above everything else and has a name that is above every other name. His name is the highest name, the most powerful name—and His name has been given to us!

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Follow Peace

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Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever]. — Romans 8:6

People hesitate to follow their desires, because they don’t know how to divide their soul from their spirit. If they can’t discern the difference between the desires of their flesh and Spirit-led desires, then they don’t know when God is truly leading them to do something.

But you can learn to know if God is leading you or not. When God gives you a desire for something, He will give you peace along with it. You may not be excited, but you will have peace, if the thing you desire is from God. Wait for peace today.

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Follow Peace

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Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever]. — Romans 8:6

People hesitate to follow their desires, because they don’t know how to divide their soul from their spirit. If they can’t discern the difference between the desires of their flesh and Spirit-led desires, then they don’t know when God is truly leading them to do something.

But you can learn to know if God is leading you or not. When God gives you a desire for something, He will give you peace along with it. You may not be excited, but you will have peace, if the thing you desire is from God. Wait for peace today.

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – I Can’t Help It!

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I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]. —Philippians 4:13

As you begin to change the things in your life that are unfruitful and causing you problems, the devil will offer you many excuses to stay the way you are. One of the things you can expect to hear in your head is, I can’t help what I think—the thoughts just come whether I want them or not. I can’t help it! While it is true that thoughts come without being invited, it is not true that you can’t do anything about them.

God’s Word teaches us to cast down, or refute, wrong thoughts (see 2 Corinthians 10:5). That simply means you shouldn’t allow them to stay in your mind. You can get rid of any thought you don’t want by simply deciding to think on something else.

Power Thought: I have strength in Christ to think godly thoughts and refute wrong thoughts.

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Look at Jesus

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And the Lord said to Moses, Make a fiery serpent [of bronze] and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live. —Numbers 21:8

At one point in Israel’s history, Israelites were dying in large numbers because a plague of snakes came upon them and were biting them as a result of their sin (see Numbers 21:6). What did their leader, Moses, do? He prayed. To solve the problem, Moses turned his attention immediately to God, not to himself or anyone else.

I have found that victorious people in the Bible faced their problems with prayer. They did not worry; they prayed. I ask you today: Do you worry or do you take your needs to God in prayer? Moses sought God about how to handle the snakes. He did not make his own plan and ask God to bless it; he did not try to figure out an answer in his mind, nor did he worry. He prayed, and his action brought a response from God. God told Moses to make a bronze serpent, set it on a pole and put it in front of the people. Every snake-bitten person who looked at it would live. The New Testament tells us this action represented the cross and Jesus’ taking our sin upon Himself: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert [on a pole], so must . . . the Son of Man be lifted up [on the cross], in order that everyone who believes in Him . . . may not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:14, 15).

You and I still sin today, but the message of the bronze serpent still applies: “Look and live.” Look at Jesus and at what He has done, not at yourself and what you have done or can do. Hebrews 12:2 has great advice: “Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith . . .” The answer to your problem, whatever it may be, is not worry, but praying and trusting that Jesus is leading you.

Love God Today: Look to Jesus for the answer to every problem that you have! He loves it when you lean on Him.

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Guard Your Reactions

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He who rebukes a scorner heaps upon himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man gets for himself bruises. Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man and he will be yet wiser. —Proverbs 9:7–9

It has been statistically proven that 10 percent of people will never like you, so stop trying to have a perfect record with everyone and start celebrating who you are. A person who knows how to live independently does not allow the moods of other people to alter hers.

A story is told of a Quaker man who knew how to live independently as the valued person God had created Him to be. One night as he was walking down the street with a friend, he stopped at a newsstand to purchase an evening paper. The storekeeper was very sour, rude, and unfriendly. The Quaker man treated him with respect and was quite kind in his dealing with him. He paid for his paper, and he and his friend continued to walk down the street. The friend said to the Quaker, “How could you be so cordial to him with the terrible way he was treating you?” The Quaker man replied, “Oh, he is always that way. Why should I let him determine how I am going to act?”

Lord, help me not to allow others to steal my joy and peace by the things they say and do. I want to be kind and cordial, but I won’t let my mood be controlled. Amen.

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Think First

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You ought to be quiet (keep yourselves in check) and to do nothing rashly. —Acts 19:36

Committing to do something without asking God about it and waiting for Him to speak to us is not wise; nor is it wise to jump into things without thinking first about what we are getting ready to do. We often obligate ourselves to too many things and end up weary and worn out. God certainly strengthens us through His Spirit, but He doesn’t strengthen us to do things that are outside of His will for us. He won’t strengthen us to be foolish! Once we commit to do something, God expects us to keep our word and be people of integrity, so His advice to us in the verse for today is to “think before we speak.” In our thinking, we ought to ask God what He thinks about the matter we have under consideration.

This is certainly a lesson I have had to learn. I used to allow enthusiasm to get the best of me and say yes to things without asking for God’s advice and then end up complaining about my schedule. God had to let me know that if I had sought Him first and followed His guidance, I could have avoided being frustrated and stressed. I am sure you have many opportunities to get involved in things you would enjoy or consider important. I simply encourage you today not to commit to anything without giving it serious thought and without seeking God’s guidance concerning whether or not He would have you do these things.

God’s word for you today: Think before you speak!

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – The Power of Rejoicing

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About midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God . . . Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the very foundations of the prison were shaken; and at once all the doors were opened and everyone’s shackles were unfastened.—Acts 16:25-26

Throughout the Bible, God instructs His people to be filled with joy and to rejoice. For example, Philippians 4:4 says: Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!

Any time the Lord tells us twice to do something—the Philippians were told twice in this verse to rejoice—we need to pay careful attention to what He is saying. Many times people see or hear the word rejoice and think, That sounds nice, but how do I do that? They would like to rejoice but don’t know how!

Paul and Silas, who had been beaten, thrown into prison, and had their feet put in stocks, rejoiced by simply singing praises to God. We don’t often realize the “rejoicing” that can release so much power can be just as simple as smiling and laughing, having a good time, and enjoying ourselves. And doing that in itself often makes the problem go away!

If you have a personal relationship with the Lord—if you are saved— the Holy Spirit dwells within you (SEE John 14:16-17 AND 1 Corinthians 12:3). If joy is a fruit of the Spirit, and the Spirit is in you, joy is in you. You’re not trying to get joy or manufacture it—it is already there, just as are the ability to love and the other fruit of the Spirit— because the Spirit is there.

It is very important to understand that we as believers are not to try to get joy—we have joy. Joy is in our spirit. What we need to do is learn how to release it.

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Just Obey

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But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them (of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them) because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated.—1 Corinthians 2:14

Many non-Christians don’t really understand the gospel. This isn’t a new thing that is unique to our day. When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he pointed out that the Greeks thought it was foolish. And to the natural mind, it is. God sent Jesus, the sinless One, to earth for the express purpose of dying for wicked, sinful people. To unbelievers that is foolish. The natural man cannot understand the power of the gospel—it can only be “spiritually discerned.”

This is just as true in daily living. Sometimes God speaks to us, and if we try to explain it to people who don’t know Jesus, it doesn’t make sense. For example, I remember one couple that went to Africa as missionaries. They had no denomination or large church behind them, providing support. They sold everything they owned, including their wedding rings.

“Their wedding rings?” a skeptical relative asked. “You mean God wouldn’t provide for you, so you had to do it yourself?”

The wife smiled. “No, I think we had to decide if comfort and having things like everyone else was more important than serving Jesus.” The couple never doubted they were doing the right thing, but it never made sense to the skeptical relative.

It is difficult for many people to hear God speak and to obey without question. But Jesus did just that—and not only on the cross. John 4 relates the story of Jesus and the Samar¬itan woman at the well. What most modern readers don’t get is the introduction to the story: “It was necessary for Him to go through Samaria” (John 4:4). Jesus had been in Jerusalem, and He wanted to go north to Galilee. The country of the Samaritans was in between, but Jesus didn’t have to take the route that passed that way. He could have taken another route and avoided going through Samaria. Most Jews avoided going through Samaria because they hated the Samaritans for mixing and marrying with people from other nations.

But Jesus went to Samaria, even though it wasn’t what we would have called the normal or reasonable thing to do. He went because there was a woman—and eventually a whole village—that needed to hear the message that only He could deliver.

The natural people—those whose minds have not been enlightened by the Holy Spirit—scoff at us. What we do doesn’t always make sense to them. But then, who says our actions have to make sense? The biblical principle is that the natural or carnal mind doesn’t understand spiritual things. Too often, a thought comes to us that we push aside, saying, “This doesn’t make any sense,” and we actually ignore divine guidance. It’s true, of course, that the devil can flood our minds with wild thoughts, but if we pray and open ourselves to the Spirit, we soon know the difference.

Consider the story of Peter who had fished all night and caught nothing. Jesus, a carpenter, came along and told him, a professional fisherman, “Put out into the deep [water], and lower your nets for a haul” (Luke 5:4).

Peter reasoned with Jesus, reminding Him that they had worked all night and caught nothing. But to his credit, Peter, exhausted from a long and unsuccessful night’s work, heard the Lord. I’ll say it again, Peter heard the Lord and said, “But on the ground of Your word, I will lower the nets [again]” (v. 5). And Peter was not disappointed. They caught so many fish that the nets almost broke.

This is an important principle of obedience that we must grasp: obey instead of reasoning. Or as one of my friends calls it, “The Nevertheless Principle.” She says that sometimes she feels God leading her to do things that don’t always make a lot of sense. When she hears herself expressing that sentiment, she quickly adds, “Nevertheless.” Then she obeys.

That is really all God asks of us: to obey instead of reasoning.

Wise and wonderful God, sometimes things don’t make sense to me, but nevertheless, I want to be in Your will. Help me to develop spiritual discernment, and don’t let me miss a divine opportunity to serve You. Teach me to trust You more, and help me to obey You quickly instead of trying to reason things out. Thank You for hearing me today. Amen.

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – The Fruit of the Spirit

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But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence).—Galatians 5:22-23

When the Holy Spirit lives inside you, you have everything He has. His fruit is in you. The seed has been planted. God gives each one of us various gifts to use, but in order to use your gifts in the most powerful way as He desires, you must first allow the fruit to grow up and mature within you by cultivating it. Each time you choose to operate in the fruit of the Spirit it grows.

When you know what God has available for you and you release your faith to walk in it, His Spirit will give you the power you need to produce good fruit. If you are willing to develop the character qualities of God in your life, which is the fruit of the Spirit, you will live an exceptional type of life that is reserved only for His sons and daughters.

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Renew Your Joy

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Honor and majesty are [ found] in His presence; strength and joy are [ found] in His sanctuary. —1 Chronicles 16:27

Emotional trauma drains people of their energy. But the Word says, “Be not grieved and depressed, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold” (Nehemiah 8:10). The devil wants to steal your joy because he knows that joy is your strength. He wants you to be weak so that you won’t resist the turmoil he sets against you. That is why sometimes we need each other.

Some days God will send messengers to build you up in faith and renew your joy. Some days He will send you to someone else who is in a weakened condition because Satan has been pounding on them. Be someone’s friend today. They may need a friend to stand beside them and encourage them and to lift them up and pray for them.

 

 

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Manage Your Emotions

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In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. —Colossians 2:3 NLT

We all have emotions, but we must learn to manage them. Emotions can be positive or negative. They can make us feel wonderful or awful. They are a central part of being human, and that is fine. Unfortunately, most people do what they feel like doing, say what they feel like saying, buy what they feel like buying, and eat what they feel like eating. And that is not fine, because feelings are not wisdom.

Feelings are fickle; they change frequently and without notification. Since feelings are unreliable, we must not direct our lives according to how we feel. You can be aware of your feelings and acknowledge their legitimacy without necessarily acting on them. God has given us wisdom, and we should walk in it, not our emotions.

Healthy emotions are very important. They help us recognize how we truly feel and what we value. Good emotional health is vital for a good life. But a good life also means being able to manage our emotions and not be managed by them. Negative emotions such as anger, unforgiveness, worry, anxiety, fear, resentment, and bitterness cause many physical illnesses by raising our stress levels.

It seems to me that most people in our society today are mad, and the ones who aren’t are sad. Thank God we no longer have to be like “most people.” God doesn’t want anyone to be a slave to their feelings. To manage your emotions and your life, you need to ask God for His wisdom instead of trusting your feelings.

The more stable our emotions are, the healthier we will be, and we all want to enjoy good health. I strongly encourage you to trust God to help you learn to manage your emotions so they don’t manage you.

Trust in Him: Trust God to lead you by wisdom, and don’t merely follow your emotions. God will always lead you to a good place.

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Minister to Yourself

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Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.—Proverbs 18:21 The Message

Our thoughts affect our words, and our words affect our lives— words have power, and they directly affect our emotions. Words fuel good moods or bad moods; in fact, they fuel our attitudes and have a huge impact on our lives and our relationships.

In Proverbs 21:23 we are told to guard our mouths and tongues to keep ourselves from trouble. Proverbs also tells us, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (18:21). The message cannot be any clearer: If you speak positive and good things, you minister life to yourself. You increase your joy. However, if you speak negative words, you minister death and misery to yourself—you increase your sadness and your mood plummets. You have the choice between life and death, being positive or negative—so choose wisely!

Power Thought: I choose to speak life-giving words.

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Be Generous on Purpose

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And let fall some handfuls for her on purpose and let them lie there for her to glean, and do not rebuke her. —Ruth 2:16

Today’s scripture is an instruction from Boaz, a wealthy man and leader in his community, to his workers. Telling them to leave grain in the fields for Ruth “on purpose” was his way of providing for her and her mother-in-law, Naomi, who were both poor widows. In their day the law demanded that some grain be left over after harvest so poor people could glean it and have something to eat. Boaz knew the law, but gave this instruction anyway to make sure that Ruth would have enough. We see repeatedly in Scripture that God always provides for the poor. But His provision does not fall out of the sky or just miraculously appear; He provides through people.

At Joyce Meyer Ministries, we have an account called “Love in Action.” The ministry and employees can give money to this account specifically to be used for the needs of fellow employees who might be experiencing a difficult time financially for one reason or another. Perhaps sickness has left them with a burden, or a special need with a child may have gotten them in distress. We decided we wanted to be prepared to help those among us who had genuine needs and could not help themselves.

If you have a Bible study group or a group of friends who want to love and bless others, one thing you can do is select a treasurer or open a special bank account. Let everyone donate to that special fund each week or month. You can call it “Love in Action” or choose your own name, but use it to meet needs that arise. Often we hear about needs and wish we could help. Why not start saving for those times so you can be prepared? If you cannot form a group, then find one or two people and if you have to, do it by yourself; just do it!

Love Others Today: Needs will arise. Prepare ahead of time to be able to meet them—and ask others to join you.

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Get Understanding

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My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. —Hosea 4:6

I believe marriages, friendships, and business relationships are destroyed due to men and women not understanding the differences that make us unique. In our pride we usually think that we are a shining example of what is right, and we expect everyone to act as we do and like what we like, but that is fantasy, not fact.

In his best-selling book Love and Respect, Dr. Emerson Eggerichs points out that the obvious differences found in men and women can be seen in something as simple as looking into a closet. Eggerichs writes about a couple getting dressed for the day: She says, “I have nothing to wear.” (She means, she has nothing new.) He says, “I have nothing to wear.” (He means, he has nothing clean.)

God made men and women to be different in many different ways. Whether you are married or single, you will encounter and need to deal with men throughout your life. I believe it is important for our confidence level as women to understand ourselves and the differences between us and men. We need to remember that those differences aren’t better or worse, they’re just different. Once we accept those differences, we can understand and appreciate what each gender offers.

Lord, I ask You to help me understand myself as well as to understand men in general. Then help me apply that understanding in practical, helpful ways in my relationships. Amen.

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Step Out and Find Out

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A wide door of opportunity for effectual [service] has opened to me [there, a great and promising one], and [there are] many adversaries. —1 Corinthians 16:9

Sometimes the only way to discover God’s will is to practice what I call “stepping out and finding out.” If I have prayed about a situation and still don’t seem to know what to do, I simply take a step of faith. God has shown me that trusting Him is like standing before an automatic door at a supermarket. We can stand and look at the door all day, but it won’t open until we take a step forward and trigger the mechanism that opens it.

There are times in life when we must take a step forward in order to find out, one way or the other, what we should do. Some doors open as soon as we take a step of faith and others never open no matter what we do. When God opens the door, then go through it. If He does not open the door, then be satisfied to take another direction. But do not let fear trap you in total inactivity.

In the verse for today, Paul mentions the door of opportunity before him, but he also mentions “many adversaries,” so we must be sure we don’t mistake opposition for a closed door.

Paul and his coworkers, Silas and Barnabas, did not sit and wait for an angel to appear or a vision to come from heaven while they were seeking God’s will. They took steps in the direction they felt was right. Many times God did open doors for them, but there were times when He closed doors. This did not discourage them, but they simply kept going forward in faith, searching for what God wanted them to do.

God’s word for you today: Walk boldly through the doors God opens for you, and don’t become discouraged when He closes one

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Faith Is for the Middle

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And a furious storm of wind [of hurricane proportions] arose, and the waves kept beating into the boat, so that it was already becoming filled. But He [Himself] was in the stern [of the boat], asleep on the [leather] cushion; and they awoke Him and said to Him, Master, do You not care that we are perishing?

—Mark 4:37,38

The disciples probably were not nearly as excited in the middle as they may have been in the beginning. Although God often calls us to launch out to a new destination, He usually does not let us know what is going to happen on the way to it. We leave the security of where we are and start out for the blessings of the other side, but it is often in the middle where we encounter the storms. The middle is often a place of testing. The storm was in full force, and Jesus was asleep! Does that sound familiar?

Have you ever had times when you felt that you were sinking fast—and Jesus was asleep? You prayed and prayed and heard nothing from God. You spent time with Him and tried to sense His Presence, and yet you felt nothing. You searched for an answer, but no matter how hard you struggled against the wind and waves, the storm raged on—and you didn’t know what to do about it.

This storm the disciples found themselves facing was no little April shower or harmless summer squall, but a storm of hurricane proportions. The waves were not gently rolling and tossing; they were beating into the boat with such fury that it was quickly becoming filled up with water. It is at times like this, when it looks like the boat is sinking with us in it, that we must “use” our faith. We can talk about faith, read books about it, hear sermons about it, sing songs about it; but in the storm, we must use it. It is also at such times when we discover just how much faith we really have.