I live in disgrace all day long, and my face is covered with shame.

Psalm 44:15 (NIV)

Have you ever felt like the writer of today’s scripture—as though you go through life wearing a cloak of shame? I felt this way for years, and I know it’s a terrible way to feel. I also know there is hope!

Many people are “rooted” in shame. This means their shame is so deep that it functions as the root of a tree and actually produces “fruit” in the form of unhealthy thoughts and behaviors that negatively affect their lives and relationships. Shame is different from guilt, and it affects people more deeply than guilt. Normal guilt causes us to feel embarrassed, regretful or bad about something we have done, while shame makes us feel bad about who we are.

When you and I make mistakes or commit sin, we feel bad until we repent and are forgiven. Then we’re able to put it behind us and go on without any lasting harm. But when people are rooted in shame, it affects everything about their lives. They have such deep negative attitudes and feelings toward themselves that their negativity poisons everything they try to accomplish. They struggle more than people who don’t deal with shame and seem doomed to failure because they have no confidence.

According to Hebrews 12:2, Jesus bore our shame for us on the cross. This includes both the shame anyone would feel in certain situations and the deeply rooted shame that affects some people. You don’t have to live ashamed of who you are. Jesus has set you free.

Prayer of the Day: Thank You, Jesus, for Your work on the cross and for making a way for me to live free from shame. Heal my heart, I pray.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

For from of old no one has heard nor perceived by the ear, nor Samuel has the eye seen a God besides You, Who works and shows Himself active on Samuel behalf of him who [earnestly] waits for Him.

Isaiah 64:4(AMPC)

The Holy Spirit will lead us into amazing exploits in prayer if we simply ask Him what to pray, wait for Him to answer, and then obey. We are unwise if we say we don’t have time to wait on God and allow Him to speak to us and lead us as we pray. We will wait 45 minutes for a table at a restaurant but say we do not have time to wait on God. When we wait on God, turning our hearts toward Him for direction, we honor Him. By our willingness to wait He knows that we want His will and that we are dependent upon Him for guidance. We save a lot of time by turning our hearts toward God and waiting on Him.

As the verse for today says, God shows Himself active on behalf of those who wait on Him. Start your prayers by simply saying, “I love you Lord and I wait on you for direction in my prayers today.” Then begin to pray what is in your heart rather than what is in your own mind or will. I was recently praying for someone to do a certain thing that I knew they needed to do, but God showed me that I needed to pray for them to develop discipline because the lack of it was affecting many areas of their life. I would have prayed for the one area I saw, but God saw much more deeply than I did. Another time I was praying for someone concerning some problem behavior that I saw, but God showed me that the root of their problem was self-rejection and that I needed to pray for them to know how much God loved them. You can see that we often pray for what we see, but God will lead us deeper if we will wait on Him.

Prayer of the Day: Holy Spirit, teach me to wait on You and pray according to Your will. Quiet my heart, guide my words, and help me trust Your wisdom beyond what I see, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.

Psalm 1:1 (NKJV)

Today’s scripture says that we are not to take counsel from the ungodly. I believe that taking advice from our feelings fits into the category of “the ungodly” and is a big mistake. Feelings are simply fickle; they change frequently, and you just can’t trust them.

We can hear a good speaker talk about the volunteers needed at church and be so inspired that we sign up to help. But that doesn’t mean we’ll feel like showing up when it’s our turn to work. If we sign up and then don’t show up because we don’t feel like it, our actions don’t have integrity or honor God. When we don’t keep our word, we know it isn’t right. And no matter how many excuses we make, the fact that we were not dependable sits on our conscience like a weight.

If we desire to follow the Holy Spirit, our actions must be governed by principles—a precise standard of right and wrong. How we feel does not alter that standard. We should always count the cost to see if we have what it takes to finish a thing before we begin it (Luke 14:28). If we begin and find we cannot finish, then we need to communicate openly and honestly with all parties involved. Our emotions will help us commit, but people who honor their commitments and finish the job must eventually press on without feelings to support them.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, help me honor my commitments and live by Your truth, not my feelings. Strengthen my integrity, guide my actions by Your Spirit, and give me perseverance to finish what I start, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Be honest in your judgment and do not decide at a glance (super- ficially and by appearances); but judge fairly and righteously.

John 7:24 (AMPC)

Have you ever met someone you immediately disliked? I’m sure we all have. But how could we honestly dislike someone we barely know or perhaps don’t know at all?

I believe it’s because we have let an attitude, or a mindset, affect our feelings and opinions without ever examining where the thought came from or why we have it.

There are lots of reasons why we might not like someone, but none of them are valid reasons to judge them. Perhaps they have a personality type that we don’t enjoy, or they may have a personality that reminds us of someone who has hurt us in the past. An insecure woman could meet a very beautiful woman and feel a dislike for her simply because she feels threatened by her good looks. It took me a few years to realize that I rejected people who reminded me of my father. He was gruff, negative, and generally unfriendly, so I preferred people who had none of those traits, even though I was that way myself.

It is important that we get to the root of these problems, because God’s Word teaches us not to judge at a glance or superficially. And if we take time to get to know people a little more intimately, we may even like them more.

It is wise to always treat others the same way we want them to treat us.

Prayer of the Day: God, I want to see people the way You see them. Give me Your eyes and Your heart. Let me give people a chance, and not judge superficially, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2 (ESV)

If you have ever had a heavy burden to carry in life, you know what a blessing it is to feel that someone cares about you and is willing to help you bear it.

When your soul is wounded, the enemy takes advantage of it in all kinds of ways, one of which is to try to get you overly self-focused. He wants you to think about all the things that are wrong with you and everything that is bad in your life. He will try to fill your mind with only three words: me, myself, and I.

One of the ways God heals the soul is by helping us get our minds off ourselves and onto what we can do for other people. In fact, thinking of others, helping and supporting them, are keys to healing and wholeness. We might say that helping others is the best way to help ourselves.

When we read the words bear one another’s burdens, it can seem like a difficult and weighty thing to do. But if we ask God to lead us, He will help us realize there are many ways to help people who are carrying heavy loads in life and that helping bear their burdens does not have to become burdensome to us. For example:

• Do you know a single mother who struggles financially? Maybe you could give her a gift card to a restaurant, so she could take her children out to eat. Or maybe she would like a gift card for a massage or a manicure while you watch her children or pay a trustworthy babysitter.
• Do you know someone who is caring for an elderly parent, day in and day out? Maybe you could give that person a break by offering to stay with the parent for several hours a week or by running errands. Perhaps the caregiver would also enjoy a free afternoon to just sit and read or have some quiet time to spend with God.
• Do you have a friend struggling with illness or recovering from a major operation? He or she might need transportation to doctors’ visits, treatments, or therapy. Some people who are unable to participate in daily life due to health problems also appreciate visits from people who can let them know what is going on at church, at the office, or in the community. Asking people what they need and what they would like to talk about can be a great blessing.

Other simple ways to bear someone’s burden include taking time for a cup of coffee and offering a listening ear, praying for people, sharing encouraging truths from God’s Word, and other acts of kindness and thoughtfulness. Even one sentence such as, “I’m believing for God’s best for you!” can be very encouraging.

As you trust God to heal your soul, I hope you will also do whatever you can do to help others bear their burdens, and remember, “Every time you help someone else, you help yourself.”

Prayer of the Day: Lord, heal my heart and turn my focus outward. Show me how to serve, comfort, and support others, trusting that as I give love, You bring wholeness to my soul, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Adapted from Battlefield of the Mind

If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him. Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind. For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything [he asks for] from the Lord, [for being as he is] a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute), [he is] unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything [he thinks, feels, decides].

James 1:5-8 (AMPC)

My friend Eva received a summons for jury duty in a robbery trial. For two days, 12 citizens listened to the prosecuting attorney as he presented evidence to indicate that the accused had broken into a home and stolen many items. Eva was ready to convict him.

Continue reading Joyce Meyer – A Confused Mind →

Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward. For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised.

Hebrews 10:35-36 (AMPC)

What is confidence? It has been defined as the quality of assurance that leads one to undertake something; the belief that one is able and acceptable; the certainty that causes one to be bold, open, and plain.

The devil begins his assault on personal confidence wherever he can find an opening, especially during the vulnerable years of childhood. His goal is to undermine the person because an individual without confidence will never fulfill the plan of God for his life.

Christ is in you, ready to help with everything you do for Him. Jesus can restore your confidence and give you the strength, power, and boldness to do what you could never do on your own. Be confident—it is part of your spiritual inheritance!

Prayer of the Day: Jesus, restore my confidence and heal past wounds. Remind me that You live in me, strengthening and equipping me to fulfill Your purpose with boldness and peace, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God, fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His word and to do what He had promised.

Romans 4:20-21 (AMPC)

No one believed David could defeat the giant, but David wasn’t discouraged. David had sought the Lord early, which gave him confidence in God to do what he was supposed to do that day. When David killed Goliath, he ran quickly to the battlefield and proclaimed victory in the name of the living God (1 Samuel 17:20–54).

People who rise early and seek God go forth to do what they must do with courage. Ask God for confidence to slay any giants in your life that have set themselves against God’s plan for you.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, as I seek You first, fill me with courage and confidence. Help me face every giant with faith, knowing You fight for me and lead me to victory, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness [giving counsel and instruction].

Proverbs 31:26 (AMPC)

Our woman in Proverbs 31 knows the importance of words. She opens her mouth in skillful and godly wisdom. The law of kindness is in her tongue. Speaking kindly to other people is a tremendous attribute and one that certainly enhances a godly woman. She knows that anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but an encouraging word makes it glad (Proverbs 12:25 AMPC). We all need kindness, and I believe we will reap what we sow. Proverbs 18:20–21 says that we will have to be satisfied with the consequences of our words and that the power of life and death are in the tongue. It goes on to say that we will eat the fruit of our words for life or death.

Not only do we have the capability of speaking life or death to other people, we have the same ability in our own lives. We can speak words that build confidence in ourselves and others or we can speak words that destroy confidence. Be especially careful about self-talk. This is the conversation that you have with yourself inside yourself. Be sure what you are saying is something you want to live with.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, make my heart to be kind and compassionate, so that it overflows in kind words to others. May my words have the power of life in them, to build up others and encourage them, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

You have turned my mourning into dancing for me; You have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.

Psalm 30:11 (AMP)

It brings incredible joy when you embrace the truth that you are a forgiven and adored child of God. So why are so many Christians sad, frustrated, and miserable?

I believe it is because they do not understand the reality of being a child of God and the inheritance that is ours in Him. An obstacle or difficulty distracts them, and they simply forget the promises of God for their lives. This is the quickest way to live a sad life instead of a glad life.

Jesus did not die to give you a discouraged, defeated, “down” life—He is your glory and lifter of your head (Psalm 3:3). God has given you everything you need to enjoy Him, to enjoy yourself and the life He has given you. So, look up today. Celebrate His goodness and His blessings in your life. You are a child of the King . . . let that fill your heart with joy!

Prayer of the Day: Father, help me remember who I am in You. Lift my head, renew my joy, and keep my eyes on Your promises instead of my problems, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Let the saints be joyful in the glory and beauty [which God confers upon them]; let them sing for joy upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their throats and a two-edged sword in their hands.

Psalm 149:5-6 (AMPC)

We should form a habit of thanking and praising God as soon as we wake up each morning. While we are still lying in bed, let’s give thanks and fill our minds with Scripture.

Praise defeats the devil quicker than any other battle plan. Praise is an invisible garment that we put on, and it protects us from defeat and negativity in our minds. But it must be genuine, heartfelt praise, not just lip service or a method being tried to see if it works. We praise God for the promises in His Word and for His goodness.

Worship is a battle position! As we worship God for Who He is and for His attributes, for His ability and might, we draw closer to Him and the enemy is defeated.

We can never be too thankful! Thank God all day long and remember the many things He has done for you.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, I praise You for Your goodness and faithfulness. Fill my heart with gratitude, clothe me in worship, and guard my mind with Your peace today, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Colossians 3:2 (NIV)

Do you have a bad case of the “ifs”? It is a common misconception that if only we had this, that, or the other, we would find the happiness and fulfillment we so desperately desire. We find ourselves saying things like: If I didn’t have to work, if we had more money, if I had a bigger house, if the kids were grown, if I were married, if I weren’t married . . .

Stop thinking that you could be happy “if” your circumstances were different, and start being happy right now because God loves you and has already blessed you in many ways. Our unhappiness usually comes from within us and not from something around us. So, I recommend that you take responsibility for your own joy and stop blaming the lack of it on anything or anyone. The people who are happy are the ones who decide to be happy.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, help me stop chasing happiness in circumstances. Teach me to choose joy today, be grateful for Your blessings, and trust that true contentment comes from You alone, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

How much more will your Father Who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give good and advantageous things to those who keep on asking Him!

Matthew 7:11 (AMPC)

God is good, without respect to persons. In other words, He is good to all, all the time. His goodness radiates from Him.

Not everything in our life is good, but God can work it out for good if we will trust Him. Joseph suffered much abuse at the hands of his brothers as a young boy, but later in life when he had an opportunity to get revenge against them, he said: …You thought evil against me, but God meant it for good… (Genesis 50:20 AMPC). Joseph could have been bitter, but he searched for the good in his painful situation.

God’s entire motive and purpose is to do good to everyone who will receive it from Him. It is impossible for God not to be good, because it is His character. Don’t think that God is like people, because His ways and thoughts are far above ours (Isaiah 55:8–9).

Prayer of the Day: Father, help me trust Your goodness even when life is painful or confusing. Guard my heart from bitterness and teach me to believe You are working all things for good, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.

2 Timothy 1:7 (AMPC)

“I will not fear” is the only acceptable attitude we can have toward fear. That does not mean that you and I will never feel fear, but it does mean that we will not allow it to rule our decisions and actions.

The Bible says that God has not given us a spirit of fear. Fear is not from God; it is the devil’s tool to keep us from enjoying our lives and making progress. Fear causes us to run, retreat, or shrink back. The Bible says in Hebrews 10:38 that we are to live by faith and not draw back in fear—and if we do draw back in fear, God’s soul has no delight in us. That does not mean God does not love us; it simply means He is disappointed because He wants us to experience all of the good things He has in His plan for us. We can receive from God only by faith.

We should strive to do everything with a spirit of faith. Faith is confidence in God and a belief that His promises are true. Faith will cause you to go forward, to try new things, and to be aggressive. Unless we make a firm decision to “fear not,” we will never be free from the power of it. “Do it afraid” means to feel the fear and do what you believe you should do anyway.

I encourage you to be firm in your resolve to do whatever you need to do, even if you have to “do it afraid!”

Prayer of the Day: Lord, help me face fear with faith and courage. Strengthen my trust in Your promises so I can move forward, obey You, and live boldly even when I feel afraid, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

…As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.

Joshua 1:5 (AMPC)

The presence of God in our lives helps us overcome fear. If we know by faith that God is with us, we can be grateful for His presence and we can take on any challenge with confidence and courage. We may not always feel God’s presence, but we can be thankful for His Word, remembering that He said He would never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

In the Bible, the basis for not fearing is simply this: God is with us. And if we know God’s character and nature, we know He is trustworthy. We do not have to know what He is going to do, when He is going to do it, or how He is going to do it. Simply knowing He is with us is more than enough.

Prayer of the Day: Father, I am grateful for this new day that You have given me. Regardless of the actions or attitudes of others, I am going to enjoy this day because You are the Source of my joy.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Sacrifice and meal offering You do not desire, nor do You delight in them; You have opened my ears and given me the capacity to hear [and obey Your word]; burnt offerings and sin offerings You do not require.

Psalm 40:6 (AMP)

Some people say they don’t know how to hear God’s voice, and maybe you are one of them. But Psalm 40:6 says otherwise. As a believer, the Holy Spirit lives in your heart, and He quickens God’s voice to you. God may speak to you through various means—through His Word, through prayer, through Bible teaching, through the conviction of the Holy Spirit, through the wise advice of a trusted godly friend, or in some other way. Whatever He says to you will always agree with His Word, and when He is speaking to you, you will sense His peace.

Today’s scripture assures us that we have the capacity to both hear and obey God. It doesn’t do any good for Him to speak to us if we don’t obey Him, and He delights in our obedience. One of the primary lessons of the Bible is that when we are obedient, we are blessed, and when we are not obedient, we can’t experience the blessings God wants to give us.

In my walk with God, hearing and obeying have been vital to all the blessings I have enjoyed. The blessings have come because I prayed, heard God’s voice, and obeyed. My obedience hasn’t always been popular with other people, but I have done my best to follow God’s leading in my life. I continue to do that every day. I pray that you will also live your life by hearing and obeying God—and that you will enjoy the blessings that come from a life of obedience.

Prayer of the Day: Father, thank You for giving me the capacity to hear Your voice and obey. I pray that every decision I make would be based on hearing and obeying You as You lead me.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

He who is of a greedy spirit stirs up strife, but he who puts his trust in the Lord shall be enriched and blessed.

Proverbs 28:25 (AMPC)

Greed is a terrible thing. No matter how much people have, if they allow greed to rule them, they will always want more and more. In addition, they will never be content with—or thankful for—what they have. We always overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21), so I have found that the best way to prevent greed from ruling in my life is to be aggressively generous. I want to encourage you to ask God daily to show you something you can do for someone else.

Focusing our thoughts on others keeps us from being selfish and self-centered. When we ask God to help us do this, He may show us something as simple as sending someone a text message of appreciation or encouragement. He could show us something that will require a donation of time or money. When we give, we never lose anything because our generous deeds always return to bless us (Luke 6:37–38).

God’s Word teaches us to be on our guard against greed, because life does not consist of our possessions (Luke 12:15). The more generous we are, the more joy we will have.

Prayer of the Day: Father, help me not to be a greedy person who always wants more and more, but instead help me be generous to everyone I can, in every way. Thank You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

So then, whatever you desire that others would do to and for you, even so do also to and for them….

Matthew 7:12 (AMPC)

I was awake for a couple of hours last night, and as I lay in the darkness, the words of Jesus—“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”—came to mind. I thought about them until I fell asleep, and this morning I continued to ponder them. When I opened my Bible and studied this passage along with the surrounding Scriptures, I received new insight—one that connects this teaching to answered prayer.

Prior to the statement about how we treat others, we find an invitation from our Lord Jesus to ask and keep on asking, seek and keep on seeking, and knock and keep on knocking. He also promises that we will receive favorable answers to each request. We will receive, we will find, and doors will be opened (Matthew 7:7–8). He assures us of His goodness and willingness to help us and then makes this statement: So then, whatever you desire that others would do to and for you, even so do also to and for them (Matthew 7:12 AMPC). The phrase “so then” means there is a connection between answered prayer and how we treat other people.

I think we would be astonished at the difference in our lives in every respect if we truly did treat others the way we want to be treated. It certainly would change many things in how we respond to people and how we live our lives. Actually, it would change the world! I have decided to purposely be more focused every day on doing so, and I pray you will join me. That scripture is often called the Golden Rule, but I prefer to call it the “Golden Key” that will unlock and release God’s best in our lives.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, help me treat others as I want to be treated. Fill my heart with kindness, compassion, and love, and let my actions reflect Your goodness each day, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going.”

John 8:14 (AMPC)

Many people struggle emotionally because they simply do not know who they really are. They are not grounded in their true identity, and they feel lacking in certain ways.

Our identity is established as a result of who and what we choose to identify with. If we identify with people and what they say about us, we will end up in trouble, but if we identify with Jesus and His opinion of us, we will not have an identity crisis.

Today’s scripture indicates that Jesus knew who He was because He knew where He came from and where He was going. Many of the Pharisees, the religious leaders of the day, were angry at Jesus’ confidence in who He was. But no matter what people said about Jesus, He did not identify with it. He identified with what His heavenly Father said about Him. He identified with God.

Identification with Christ is a doctrinal foundation of the Christian faith. As a believer, you belong to God. Your identity is in Him, and you are complete in Him. This truth will give you confidence to walk through this world, dealing with all kinds of people, with your head held high. It will enable you to follow your heart and do what God leads you to do without becoming emotionally upset when people do not agree with you or your choices. The more firmly you are rooted in your identity in Christ, the more you will realize that you are not lacking in any way. You have—and are—everything in Him.

Prayer of the Day: Thank You, God, that my identity is in You. Help me grow deeper in the identity You give me.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Establish my steps and direct them by [means of] Your word.

Psalm 119:133 (AMPC)

People often ask, “How do I know what God wants me to do with my life?” Some spend many years being totally immobile because they are waiting to hear a voice from heaven telling them what to do. My best advice to anyone in this position is to simply do something. Do what you think God might be calling you to do and if you make a mistake, He will help you correct it. Don’t spend your life so afraid of making a mistake that you never try to obey what you believe God has spoken to you. I like to say, you can’t drive a parked car. You need to be moving if you want God to show you which way to go. He has no need to say to you. “Turn left” if you are not going anywhere. But if you are moving, He can give you directions.

Let me insert a word of wisdom here. There are certainly times when we need to be still, wait on God, pray, and not take immediate action. But that does not apply to every situation. There are times when the only way we can discover God’s will is to get moving in a certain direction and let Him speak to us and lead us as we go. If you are going in the wrong direction, He ill close that door and open another one.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, give me courage to move forward in faith. Guide my steps, correct my mistakes, and help me trust that You will lead me as I obey and follow You, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org