That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination].

2 Timothy 1:6 (AMPC)

In our spiritual lives we are either aggressively going forward on purpose, or we are slipping backward. There is no such thing as stagnant Christianity. It is vital to keep pressing on. That is why Timothy was instructed to fan the flame and rekindle the zeal that once filled his heart. He had gotten weary, and the fire that once burned in him had become a dim flicker.

Evidently Timothy had taken a step backward, perhaps because of fear. It is certainly easy to understand why Timothy may have lost his courage and confidence. It was a time of extreme persecution, and his mentor Paul was in jail. Yet Paul strongly encouraged Timothy to stir himself up, get back on track, remember the call on his life, resist fear, and remember that God had given him a spirit of power and love and of a sound mind.

Any time we let fear dominate us, we begin to slip backward. Fear prevents our progress and causes us to want to turn and run instead of aggressively moving forward. If you are unsure, uncertain, or even feeling afraid today, receive Paul’s encouragement to Timothy. Stir up your faith, be on fire for God, and never forget that He is with you. With Him at your side, no matter how difficult things may look, you can do whatever you need to do through Him.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, I never want to give up, ever! I need You to stir up my faith, and to help me move forward with courage. Help me to trust in Your power, and lean on Your presence, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service].

Psalm 91:11 (AMPC)

A lady who works for me says that she doesn’t have a “big” testimony. She just grew up in the church, loving God. She got married, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and then came to work for us. Through our ministry, she was moved by the testimonies of drug addicts and people who have suffered abuse. One day she asked God, “Lord, why don’t I have a testimony?” He said, “You do have a testimony. Your testimony is that I kept you from all of it.” God had kept her from the pain that results from being separated from Him.

The keeping power of God is a great testimony! Some people are kept from tragic things. Some people are kept as they go through tragic things. His plan for each one of us is perfect, and we can trust His keeping power!

Psalm 91 teaches that He will give His angels charge over us, and they will protect and defend us. It’s true that some things happen in our lives that we don’t like, but what has God kept us from that we never even knew Satan had planned against us? We need to thank God for His keeping power. We can relax knowing that He is our Keeper.

I don’t know how I’ve done what I’ve done over these past years. I look back at my calendars and see how hard I’ve worked. I read some of my prayer journals and remember some of the things I’ve gone through with people, and the hurt I’ve felt. I think, How did I ever get through that? But God held me together. He strengthened me. He kept me. And I can see now that I worried about a lot of things I didn’t have to worry about because they worked out okay anyway. God will do the same thing for you as you trust Him.

God has a plan, and He is working His plan. We can trust that and relax. Psalm 145:14 (AMPC) says, The Lord upholds all those [of His own] who are falling and raises up all those who are bowed down.

Prayer of the Day: Father God, Your Word says that You never sleep nor slumber. Help me to relax and trust You to strengthen me and protect me all the days of my life. Help me to trust Your plan and find peace in Your care, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe….

Ephesians 1:17-19 (NIV)

Rather than focus on negative things in life, the Bible teaches us to see good things in Christ with the “eyes of your heart.” Ephesians 1:17–19 says that the Spirit of wisdom and revelation are important so we may:

• Have knowledge of God or know God Himself. This is not knowledge gained through education, but revelation.
• Know the hope of our calling, the eternal plan of God and how we fit into it. We can be thankful that God has called us to be His sons and daughters, and as such, we have an inheritance.
• Know that revelation knowledge of God’s power is available to us. We can do anything God asks us to do because of the greatness of His power.

Give thanks today that you can know God, have hope, and live in His power!

Prayer of the Day: I thank You, Father, that You have given me hope in Christ Jesus. Today, I will focus on the good things in my life and listen for Your voice. Thank You that You lead and guide me in the wisdom and revelation of Your Word and Your Holy Spirit.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Let your eyes look right on [with fixed purpose], and let your gaze be straight before you. Consider well the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established and ordered aright. Turn not aside to the right hand or to the left; remove your foot from evil.

Proverbs 4:25-27 (AMPC)

Jesus knew what His purpose was. He disciplined Himself to stay on course, living His life to fulfill that purpose for which He came. As Christians, we need to follow in His steps and focus on our purpose. We were bought with a price to live our lives in such a way that we become the salt of the earth, the light of the world (See Matthew 5).

We are to lay down our selfish, self-centered lifestyles, and gear our lives toward doing something for the betterment of someone else. Then we will experience that “joy unspeakable, and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8).

Prayer of the Day: Father God, I come to You today, in the name of Jesus, and ask You to help me stay focused on my purpose and to live selflessly. You are the best possible example to follow. Thank You, God, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

…Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.

Zechariah 4:6 (NKJV)

“I’m a nobody,” my friend Gary said, “and besides, God has so many millions of people to look out for, and in comparison with some of them, my problems seem so petty.”

His words shocked me. Of course, God has millions to care for—but He can care for all of them at the same time. Gary missed something very important. God wants us to ask for help—and to ask often. Look at it this way: If Satan constantly attacks our minds, how else can we fortify ourselves? We fight back—but our major weapon is to cry out to the Lord asking for His strength to become ours!

Too many times, we think we can do it ourselves. In some instances, that may be true, but if we’re going to win continually over the attacks against our minds, we must realize that willpower alone won’t work. What we need is the humility to turn to the Holy Spirit and ask Him to strengthen us.

I realize that many people do not grasp how the Lord lovingly operates in their lives. Not only does God love us like a father, but He also has caring concern for every part of our lives. Our heavenly Father wants to intervene and help us, but He waits for an invitation to get involved. We issue that invitation and open the door for God’s help through prayer. God’s Word says, You do not have, because you do not ask (James 4:2 NKJV).

Perhaps we can think of it this way. God is watching us all the time, and He is aware of the temptations, struggles, and hardships we face—and we all face them. If we think we can do it by ourselves, God takes no action. But He remains ready to jump in and rescue us as soon as we cry out, asking for the power of the Holy Spirit to operate in our lives.

Our victory begins with right thinking. We have to be convinced that God cares, wants to act, and waits for us to cry out. When we cry out, we understand the words quoted previously, that it’s not by force or power, but by God’s Holy Spirit that victory comes. For example, take the matter of personal fellowship—daily time spent in prayer and reading the Word. As Christians, we know this is what God wants and what we need if we’re going to mature spiritually. At one time in my life, I tried to maintain spiritual self-discipline. I determined that I would pray and read my Bible every single day. I would do well for two or three days, and then something would interfere—sometimes my family or something at our church, but mostly little things that took my attention away from daily fellowship with my Lord.

One day, in desperation, I cried out, “Without Your help, I’ll never be faithful in doing this.” That’s when the Holy Spirit came to me and gave me the self-discipline I needed. It was almost as if God watched me struggle and allowed me to become frustrated and angry with myself. But as soon as I sincerely asked for help, the Spirit came to my rescue. We are too independent, and we experience a lot of unnecessary frustration simply because we try to do things without God’s help.

With the Spirit’s help, I am learning—yes, still learning—that I can choose what I want to think about. I can choose my thoughts, and I need to do that carefully. Unless I’m in regular fellowship with Him, I won’t know the difference between healthy thoughts and unhealthy ones. And if I don’t know the difference, I provide the opportunity for Satan to sneak into my mind and torment me. Spend plenty of time studying God’s Word, and you will quickly recognize each lie that Satan tries to plant in your mind.

Prayer of the Day: Father God, I want to think thoughts that honor You. I want to have a mind that’s fully centered on You, and I know that can’t happen unless I spend daily time with You. Help me, Holy Spirit; help me to be obedient and eager to be in constant fellowship with You, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.

Psalm 91:15-16 (NIV)

Today’s scripture can be tied to another favorite scripture which says, “Because he loves me,’ says the Lord, ‘I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name” (Psalm 91:14 NIV). The psalmist is writing about angelic protection, and it is important to know that this protection does not mean we will never experience trial or affliction. It means we are protected from whatever the enemy ultimately plans for us as long as we keep our trust in God and believe and speak of Him in accordance with His Word.

Remember that Psalm 91:14 sets us up to receive certain promises from God because of our love for Him. In that context, the Lord says that He will answer us when we call on Him. He then makes several promises I’d like for us to focus on today, because they show us that our deliverance doesn’t always happen immediately; they represent a pattern, and a progression God often takes us through.

It took many years for me to see this pattern: God is with us in our trials and troubles, then He begins to deliver us out of them, and afterward He honors us. Then He satisfies us with long life and shows us His salvation. As we go through this progression, we will develop greater trust, peace, and joy in the Lord. Going through things with God helps us to develop a more intimate relationship with Him. Isn’t that what you want? I certainly do.

Prayer of the Day: Thank You, Lord, for Your promise that because I love You, You will be with me in my trials, You will deliver me, You will honor me, and You will satisfy me with long life and show me Your salvation.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Colossians 3:13 (NIV)

I believe one reason many people live in emotional turmoil is that they refuse to forgive people who have hurt or wronged them. Whether we realize it or not, unforgiveness is often the root of negative feelings. Many people feel justified and think they have a right to refuse to forgive. They think they should hurt the people who hurt them. But this isn’t emotionally healthy or wise.

Very painful things can happen to us in life. Many times, the key to getting through them and being able to enjoy our lives in the future is learning to forgive what has happened in the past. I’m convinced that, as believers and followers of Christ, we will never experience joy-filled, victorious lives unless we forgive people.

Forgiveness is not a feeling; it’s a choice. We can choose to forgive someone whether we feel like it or not. We can even choose to forgive while we feel angry or hurt. Once we make the decision to forgive, our emotions eventually calm down. As we continue to walk in forgiveness, hurt and anger subside. We may not choose to restore our relationship with the person who hurt us, but forgiveness sets us free from negative feelings toward them and may eventually lead us to feel compassion for them. When we forgive people, we can bless them and pray for them, as Jesus teaches. As a result, we will be blessed too. We don’t know all the blessings that will come from forgiveness, but we do know it will lead to peace in our hearts and that it’s a key to emotional health.

Prayer of the Day: God, help me choose to forgive everyone who has hurt or wronged me, even when I don’t feel like forgiving them.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity and their years in pleasantness and joy.

Job 36:11 (AMPC)

Dave and I regularly need to hear from God about many things. We need to hear from Him about how to handle people, circumstances, and numerous events and specific situations. Our constant prayer is, “What should we do about this? What should we do about that?” It seems a hundred things happen every week in which Dave and I have to be of quick understanding and make God-driven decisions. If we don’t obey God on Monday, our week can be in chaos on Friday. Therefore, we are determined that we are not going to live in disobedience. Many people are concerned about the specific will of God for their lives, wondering what He wants them to do. For example: “Lord, should I take this job, or do you want me to take another job? Do You want me to do this, or do You want me to do that?” I believe God wants to give us the specific direction we long for, but He is even more concerned about our obedience to His general will for our lives, which we find in His Word—things like being thankful at all times in every situation, never complaining, always being content, displaying the fruit of the Spirit, and forgiving those who hurt or disappoint us.

If we are not obeying the guidelines He has already given us in Scripture, we will have difficulty hearing what He has to say about His specific will for us. As you endeavor to hear God more and more clearly and to follow His will for your life, remember to make a priority of knowing and obeying His general will by staying rooted in His Word. Then, you can hear Him more easily when He speaks to you specifically.

Prayer of the Day: Father, please guide me in every decision I make and every situation I find myself in today. Help me to obey Your will and clearly discern Your voice, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

…God, your God, has anointed You above Your companions with the oil of jubilation.

Psalm 45:7 (AMP)

It’s one thing to have a goal, but in order to see that goal become a reality, there are accompanying action steps you have to take. And one of those steps is having the right attitude.

I’m sure you’ve heard the expression Your attitude determines your altitude. Well, this expression is popular for a reason—it’s absolutely 100 percent right! You’ll never be a confident, successful, happy person with a doubtful, defeated, sour attitude.

The first step to take in order to realize any goal is to adjust your attitude. Instead of thinking, I can’t, choose to think, I can do all things through Christ! (see Philippians 4:13).

Prayer of the Day: Lord, help me to keep a positive attitude at all times, as I know my attitude determines my altitude. Please help me to truly believe that I can achieve my goals with Your help, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become…the righteousness of God….

2 Corinthians 5:21 (AMPC)

This verse gives you cause for great rejoicing, but the enemy tries to undermine your joy by pointing out you don’t measure up to God’s standard. That’s when you must boldly declare that God has done a good work in you and you are in the process of change.

When you accept salvation there is nothing you can do to make God love you any more or less than He already does. This doesn’t mean you don’t sin anymore or that when you do sin you can just dismiss it. It simply means God loves you even while you are in the process of becoming like Christ. You have not arrived yet, but you are making progress.

God understands that growing and learning is a process, and He wants you to enjoy yourself while you’re on the way to reaching the goal.

Prayer of the Day: Father God, thank You for Your unconditional love. Help me to find joy in the progress I’m making and to trust You in everything You are doing in me. I love You, Lord, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the just; for the righteous God tests the hearts and minds.

Psalm 7:9 (NKJV)

Have you ever gone to the furniture store to buy a chair without sitting on it? Have you ever purchased a car without test-driving it? Of course not, and God also tests us to reveal the quality of our faith.

No matter what we think of ourselves, we find out what we are truly like in times of difficulty. Good times don’t bring out the worst in us, but hard times do. That’s why God says these difficult times can actually be good for us. They allow us to see what is in our character that needs to be changed.

As we choose to learn to trust God during challenging times instead of getting upset, we experience His faithfulness, which, in turn, increases our faith for the next time we need it. The more we use our muscles, the more they grow—it’s the same way with our faith in God.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, I know You love me and that this test—the challenge I am facing right now—will only strengthen my faith. Help me to lean into You and trust You completely. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

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 (AMPC)

One thought that has the power to transform your life is simple: I can do whatever I need to do in life through Christ. In other words, I can handle whatever life hands me. I wonder—do you believe you can do whatever you need to do in life? Or are there certain things that trigger dread, fear, or cause you to say, “I could never do that!” when you think about them?

Whether it’s suddenly losing a loved one, facing a serious unexpected illness, having your adult child with two toddlers move into your clean and quiet house after you’ve had an “empty nest” for years, going on a strict diet because your life depends on it, putting yourself on a budget to avoid foreclosure on your home, or suddenly having to care for a disabled elderly parent—most people have some kind of circumstance that truly seems impossible to them, something they aren’t sure they can or could handle.

The fact of the matter is, while some situations may be intensely undesirable or difficult for you, you can do whatever you need to do in life. I know this because God tells us in His Word that we have the strength to do all things because Christ empowers us to do so. He doesn’t say everything will be easy for us, He doesn’t promise we will enjoy every little thing we do, but we can enjoy life in the midst of doing them.

We must understand that Philippians 4:13 does not say we can do anything we want to do because we are strong enough, smart enough, or hardworking enough. No, in fact, it leaves no room at all for human effort or striving of any kind. The secret to being able to do what we need to do is realizing that we cannot do it alone; we can only do it in Christ.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, please help me to trust that I can handle anything life throws at me through Christ’s strength. Help me to always remember that I am never alone during hard times, because You are always with me, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:18 (AMPC)

Transformation doesn’t happen overnight, and the process can seem very slow at times. But that doesn’t change the fact that one of the benefits of living in a relationship with Jesus is the freedom to forget the past and move ahead into what God has for us.

When you are tempted to condemn yourself over the progress you think you should be making, turn your focus back on Jesus and be thankful that He is doing His work in your life in His perfect timing. Remind yourself, “God loves me, and He has a good plan for my life. I haven’t arrived yet, but I’m okay and I’m on my way!” Remember that through faith you have been made right with God, and even though you have not arrived at perfection, you are making progress.

Prayer of the Day: Thank You, Father, that You are transforming my life in Your perfect timing. I trust You, and I choose not to feel condemned or frustrated anymore. You are at work in my life, and I am grateful for that.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

And when they raised their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

Matthew 17:8 (AMPC)

Our own flaws can distract us from keeping our eyes on Jesus. If we think too much about what is wrong with us, we will forget what God can do through us. If we look too much at what we lack, we will forget to be thankful for what we have.

The Bible says to look away from all that will distract us from focusing on Jesus. (See Hebrews 12:2). If your faith begins to waver, quickly get your eyes on Jesus, Who is the Source of your faith and the incentive for your belief. Remember how He endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame of it, for the joy of winning you to Himself. He promises to bring your faith to maturity and perfection.

Prayer of the Day: Father God, please help me to focus on You today and forget about what I see as my flaws, shortcomings, and the other things that are worrying me. I give it all to You, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he….

Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV)

Years ago, I learned an invaluable lesson: Whatever we focus on, we become. That simple statement taught me a great deal. Wherever we put our energies or our attention, those things will develop. Another way I like to say it is, “Where the mind goes, the man follows!”

If I begin to think about ice cream, I will soon find myself in my car pursuing ice cream. My thought will stir my desires and emotions, and I will make the decision to follow them.

If we focus only on the negative things in our lives, we become negative people. Everything, including our conversation, becomes negative. We soon lose our joy and live miserable lives—and it all started with our own thinking.

You might be experiencing some problems in life—not realizing that you are creating them yourself by what you’re choosing to think about. I challenge you to think about what you’re thinking about!

You might be discouraged and even depressed and wonder what caused it. Yet if you will examine your thought life, you will find that you are feeding the negative emotions you are feeling. Negative thoughts are fuel for discouragement, depression, and many other unpleasant emotions.

We should choose our thoughts carefully. We can think about what is wrong with our lives or about what is right with them. We can think about what is wrong with all the people we are in relationship with, or we can see the good and meditate on that. The Bible teaches us to always believe the best. When we do that, it makes our own lives happier and more peaceful.

I have a great life—and a loving husband and children. And I am privileged to be used by God to bless millions of people around the world through the wonderful ministry He has given me. But life isn’t perfect, and if I had allowed the devil to fill my mind with negative thoughts—as he once did long ago—I would have been defeated.

I want to focus on God’s grace and give thanks for all the good things in my life. I don’t want to focus on what I don’t have.

An old friend used to quote this saying: “As you wander on through life, brother, whatever be your goal, keep your eye upon the donut and not upon the hole.” Too many people focus on what’s not there and what’s not right.

All of this is to say that our thoughts largely determine our destiny. Our thoughts also determine our happiness. Proverbs 23:7 is one of my favorite verses. Thoughts are powerful. They aren’t just words that flow through our minds. So it is very important for us to decide what we will allow to rest inside our minds.

We must not forget that the mind is a battlefield. We must always remember that our adversary will use it in any way he possibly can to trap us.

I’m reminded of a man who came to one of our meetings. He wanted deliverance from viewing pornography. He said that one time he had seen something on the Internet after accidentally logging on to a site that was filled with explicitly sexual pictures. The next day he laughed about it to one of his coworkers. “Who wants to watch that stuff?” he asked.

The next night he was back at the site again. And many nights after that. He purchased sexual material and had it sent to his office. He kept his stash of pornography hidden from his family. “What’s a little thing like that going to hurt?” he reasoned.

He confessed that the more he saw the images, the more he thought of women as objects—objects for his pleasure. One day his wife said, “I don’t know what’s happened to you, but you can either deal with your attitude or I’m leaving.”

His life was rapidly going downhill before he asked for prayer. “I never thought just watching a couple of porno sites like that could be so addictive,” he said.

To put it another way, we can’t have a positive life and a negative mind. Our thoughts—our focus—is what determines where we end up.

Jesus, our friend and Savior, wants our minds to be filled with positive, beautiful, and healthy thoughts. The more we focus on those things, the more readily we defeat Satan’s attacks.

Prayer of the Day: Loving God, I ask You to forgive me for focusing my thoughts on things that are not pleasing to You. I pray that You will help me fill my mind with thoughts that are clean and pure and uplifting. In Jesus’ name, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Let your eyes look right on [with fixed purpose], and let your gaze be straight before you.

Proverbs 4:25 (AMPC)

We probably experience more distractions in our lives today than at any other time in history. The world is indeed a busy and a noisy place. All the electronics that we own are enough by themselves to do a thorough job of distracting us; however, to get anything accomplished, we need to focus on our purpose.

I am simply reminding you today to be persistent in not letting people and things distract you from the will of God for your life. Today matters, so be sure you don’t waste it on nonessential things.

Prayer of the Day: Father God, help me to stay focused on my goals, and help me to be

http://www.joycemeyer.org

When there are many words, transgression and offense are unavoidable, but he who controls his lips and keeps thoughtful silence is wise.

Proverbs 10:19 (AMP)

People tend to talk a lot about how they feel. Some talk about their feelings more than almost anything else. They feel good or bad, happy or sad, excited or discouraged, fearful or bold, stressed or at ease, loved or unloved, angry or peaceful, jealous or happy when others succeed or are blessed. The list of adjectives that describe emotions is almost endless.

Feelings are ever changing, usually without notice, doing as they please for no specific reason. We have all experienced going to bed feeling fine physically and emotionally only to wake up the next morning feeling tired and irritable. We often tell anyone who will listen how we feel and say much more about our negative feelings than we do our positive ones. If I wake up feeling energetic and excited about the day, I rarely announce it. But if I feel tired and discouraged, I want to tell everyone. It has taken me years to learn that talking about how I feel increases the intensity of those feelings, so it seems to me that we should talk about our positive ones and keep quiet about the negative feelings.

We can always tell God how we feel and ask for His help and strength, but talking about negative feelings just to be talking does no good. If negative feelings persist, asking for prayer or seeking advice can be helpful, but again I want to stress that talking just to be talking is useless. Even if you say, “I feel tired,” you can follow it with “but I believe God will energize me.” When you talk about how you feel, speak positively.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, today I want to use wisdom as I speak about my emotions. Help me to talk about my positive feelings so they will grow, and to keep quiet about my negative feelings as I trust You to help me with them.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you….

Acts 1:8 (AMPC)

The Spirit of God gives power to those who want to hear His voice and serve Him. A person may desire to do something and not have the power to do it, but that power can come through receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

You may remember that Jesus was baptized by immersion in water, but He was also baptized in the Holy Spirit. In other words, He was immersed in power, which enabled Him to do the task His Father sent Him to do. Acts 10:38 says, God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power,” and that He “went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him (NKJV ). Before Jesus’ public ministry began, He was anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we are able to hear God’s voice more clearly and we are equipped for service in the kingdom of God because we are able to draw on the power (ability, efficiency, and might) of the Holy Spirit we received when He came upon us to be His witnesses. This power enables us to do what God wants us to do.

It is important to see that Jesus did not do any miracles or other mighty acts until after He was empowered by the Holy Spirit. If Jesus needed the power of the Spirit, we certainly do, too. Ask Him to fill you with the power of His Spirit today and every day.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, thank You for Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for forgiving me, leading me, strengthening me, and guiding me through the peace only found in You. Fine tune my heart to always receive and follow peace, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance shall arise for the Jews from elsewhere, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this and for this very occasion?

Esther 4:14 (AMPC)

One of the most confident women we find in the Bible is Esther, who rescued her people from certain death at the hands of an evil and hateful man. Though her beauty didn’t hurt, it was her character and quiet confidence that helped her find favor with the king, Xerxes. She took a great risk when she made her way to Xerxes’ inner court uninvited. But God honored her and the prayers that the other Jews were praying, and Xerxes received her warmly. In the end, Esther saved her people from perishing.

Confidence is holding on to a strong faith in God, a faith that is backed up with a complete knowledge and understanding that with God’s help you can do anything. Fear brings a lack of confidence in God and in you. It is a destructive, debilitating belief that “you can’t.” As a woman, you can do amazing things, but you will have to become confident. Replace your fears with confidence and watch what God can do. God always does His part, making seemingly impossible things possible!

Prayer of the Day: Lord, with Your help, Esther saved her people, and with Your help, I can do the impossible. I look forward to the great things You are going to do in my life, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org