Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2 (NIV)

As children of God, we can be thankful for the change God works in our lives. Throughout our journey here on earth, God’s Spirit will be working with and in us, helping us change for the better. In order to make progress, we need to be open to God’s work and be obedient to His guidance.

God wants us to see truth (reality) so we can agree with Him about any change that is needed, but we don’t need to punish ourselves when we see our faults or to feel guilty and condemned. We can submit to God and learn to celebrate the changes that happen in our lives. Change and growth is a healthy process that God will continue as long as we are on earth in our human bodies. Transformation is something to be grateful for!

Prayer of the Day: I thank You, God, that I don’t have to be afraid of change, but that I can rejoice in it. Help me to be open to Your leading. I am grateful for Your work in my life.

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God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets. Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.

Psalm 47:5-6 (NIV)

We know that Psalms is filled with praise for God, but it also includes many instructions for us, as His people, to praise Him. God inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3), and when we praise Him, He comes and dwells in our praise.

Praise can be anything from simply saying “Thank You” to God for something He has done for us to telling others about His goodness. Praise can be musical or words without music, but it all glorifies God for the good things He has done, is doing, and will do in the future.

There is fullness of joy in God’s presence (Psalm 16:11), so the more we praise Him, the greater our joy will be. Under the Old Covenant, people had to bring sacrifices of animals, grain, or other things as a means of covering their sin. But now under the New Covenant, Jesus has paid for all our sins, and God says the sacrifice we are to bring is one of praise (Hebrews 9:12, 13:15). This sacrifice of praise is the fruit of our lips (our words) glorifying God. We can see that praise is another great way to use our words and fill them with life.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, I praise You for who You are and all that You have done. You are amazing, awesome, and to be praised greatly at all times and in every situation. Help me to be mindful to praise You every day. I love You, Lord.

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“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.

Isaiah 55:8 (AMP)

We want things to work out in our lives in certain ways, but experience teaches us that we don’t always get what we want. We have a plan for the day, and suddenly something unexpected and unwanted happens—and our plan must change. At times like this, we can choose to trust God or to be upset.

Since being upset won’t change anything, why waste time doing it? Choose to trust that God can work out the change for your good and do something even better than what you had planned. Ask Him for anything you want to ask Him for, but trust Him to give you what is best.

Prayer of the Day: Father, thank You for directing my life according to Your plan, not mine. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Romans 12:18 (AMPC)

Recently someone was quite rude to me, and of course it hurt my feelings. I was tired because I had just returned from a conference, and that made me even more vulnerable. I had a decision to make! Would I stay angry, confront them, tell other people how they had treated me (gossip), or pray for them and be at peace?

I am sure you are familiar with the scenario I am describing, and when these things happen to us, we dare not follow our emotions. What we “feel” like doing and what God wants us to do are usually two very different things. I find it best to be quiet for a bit, let my emotions calm down, and think about the situation rationally.

Did the person hurt me on purpose, or were they perhaps under some sort of pressure that made them insensitive to my feelings? The individual who hurt me was having a very difficult day, and although they knew they were being rude and did apologize, they were having difficulty being kind to anyone. God’s Word encourages us to always believe the best of every person (1 Corinthians 13:7), and if we are willing to do it, it is one of the best ways to keep our peace in situations like this.

Keeping the peace with others is very important and I highly recommend that you do so if it is at all possible. Confront those who mistreat you when God leads you to but avoid being touchy and getting your feelings hurt easily. When you get your feelings hurt, forgive the offender quickly and just imagine all the times you may have hurt someone and needed God’s forgiveness and theirs!

Prayer of the Day: Father, help me be at peace at all times. I want to always believe the best and forgive others just as You forgive me, amen.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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…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.

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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.

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