For there is not a word in my tongue [still unuttered], but, behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.

— Psalm 139:4 (AMPC)

Because we relate to God as individuals—and that’s the way He wants it—we pray as individuals. Even when we pray corporately with others, we are still individuals; we simply join our hearts with others as one voice. During these corporate prayer times, I believe God wants our hearts to be in unity much more than He wants our methods to be the same.

When we say, “Lord, teach me to pray,” we are asking Him to teach us to pray in a distinctly personal way and to enable our prayers to be easy, natural expressions of who we are. We are not supposed to check our individuality at the door of the prayer closet. We need to go to God just the way we are and give Him the pleasure of enjoying the company of the “original” He has made each of us to be. We need to approach God with our strengths, weaknesses, uniqueness, and everything else that so wonderfully distinguishes us from all the other people in the world. God enjoys meeting us where we are, developing a personal relationship with us, and helping us grow to become everything He wants us to be. It is refreshing to realize that we can come to God just as we are and be relaxed in His presence.

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, thank You for making me an individual and an original, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house, your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant, or his maidservant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.

— Exodus 20:17 (AMPC)

Other people can be examples to us but should never be our standard or be a reason for us to covet who they are. The Bible says in Romans 8:29 that we are destined to be molded into the image of Jesus Christ and share inwardly His likeness. Another Scripture says that we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). We can think, speak, and learn to behave as Jesus did, and He certainly did not ever compare Himself with anyone or desire to be anything other than what His Father had made Him to be. He lived to do the Father’s will, not to compete with others and compare Himself with them.

I encourage you to be content with who you are. That does not mean that you cannot make progress and continually improve, but when you allow other people to become a law (rule or regulation), you are continually disappointed. God will never help you be someone else. Remember that being “different” is good; it is not a bad thing. Celebrate your uniqueness and rejoice in the future God has planned for you. Be confident and start enjoying you!

Prayer Starter: Lord, the world continually tries to conform me to be like everyone else. I thank You for making me different. Help me to be content with who I am, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious lovingkindness].

— 2 Corinthians 5:21 (AMP)

Part of being a Christian is being able to exchange all you have for all Jesus has. You can exchange sin for forgiveness, fear for faith, uncertainty for confidence, lack for abundance, anxiety for peace, sadness for joy, despair for hope, failures for a fresh start, weakness for strength, and you can make all kinds of other wonderful exchanges because you belong to God. According to Romans 8:17, believers are “co-heirs with Christ” of all that God gives to Him (NIV). We can have everything He offers us, under one condition: that we give up everything old in order to have the new things He has for us.

I like to say that Jesus invites us to an exchanged life. On any given day with Him, we can make the exchanges I have mentioned in this devotion. But we don’t get the new until we release the old.

One of the great exchanges of the Christian life is exchanging our inability to do everything right for the righteousness of God. Isaiah writes that our old righteousness is like filthy rags or a polluted garment (Isaiah 64:6), but Jesus’ righteousness is perfect. Because of His sacrifice, 2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us that we can exchange our imperfect righteousness for His perfect righteousness.

Have you ever gone through life with a vague sense that something just isn’t right about you? You may not be able to articulate it, but you feel it. If you feel that way, I can relate. Because of the abuse that happened during my childhood, I felt for many years that something was wrong with me, but I could never say with certainty what it was. I just knew that for my father to abuse me the way he did, something had to be wrong with me. Imagine how thrilled I was when I learned that Jesus makes everything about me right before God through my faith in Him!

The impression that something is wrong about you is a lie from the enemy. The truth is that because of God’s lovingkindness, He sees you as right with Him. He accepts you just as you are, holds nothing against you, and helps you become what He wants you to be. You no longer have to carry the burdens of guilt, shame, condemnation, or the feeling that something just isn’t right about you. This doesn’t mean that every old sense of something being wrong will instantly go away. But it does mean that as you study and meditate on this truth, and as it becomes more and more established in your heart, you will become more and more confident in the fact that your relationship with Jesus has made you completely right with God.

Prayer Starter: Thank you, Lord, for exchanging all my junk for Your righteousness and truth In Jesus’ name, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love. For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent].

— Ephesians 1:4-5 (AMPC)

You understand adoption in the natural sense. You know some children without parents are adopted by people who purposely choose them and raise them as their own.

In the same way you have been chosen and brought into the family of God even though you were previously an outsider, unrelated to God in any way. You were a sinner serving Satan, but God in His great mercy redeemed you and purchased you with the blood of His own Son.

God loves you so much, that He adopted you into His family. Just take that in. You belong to God!

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for loving so much that you chose me and adopted me into Your family. Thank You for calling me Your own. In Jesus’ name, 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)

It is easy to say, “Don’t worry.” But to actually do that requires experience with the faithfulness of God. When we trust God and then see and experience His faithfulness in our lives, it gives us great confidence to live without worry, fear, and anxiety.

That’s why it is so important to continue to have faith and trust in God in the very midst of trials and tribulations. With God’s help, we can steadfastly resist the temptation to give up and quit when the going gets rough. God uses those hard, trying times to build in us patience, endurance, and character that will eventually produce the habit of joyful and confident hope.

Always remember that when you are in a battle, you are gaining valuable experience that will benefit you in the future. You will more easily trust God when difficulty comes, and you will be able to testify to others regarding the goodness and faithfulness of God. If you are in a battle right now, you can let it defeat you or make you stronger! Make the right decision and let it help bring you into a deeper level of spiritual maturity.

We serve a God Who is so marvelous that He can work out things for our good that Satan intends for harm.

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for working things out for my good that Satan intends for my harm. Thank You for the Hope that only comes through You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer; my God, my keen and firm Strength in Whom I will trust and take refuge, my Shield, and the Horn of my salvation, my High Tower.

— Psalm 18:2 (AMPC)

Why do you think Jesus is referred to as “the Rock”? Because He is stable and never-changing, just like a rock. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever—and we’re supposed to imitate Him.

Waiting to see how you feel each day is never a good idea. Has anyone ever invited you to do something, and you responded, “Let me wait and see how I feel”? That just gives the devil room to make sure you don’t feel like doing what you need to do or what can benefit you. We will sometimes have unpleasant times, but we don’t have to live by our feelings; we can choose to stand firm and be stable when we find our strength in the One Who never changes.

Prayer Starter: Lord, thank You that in and through You, I can be strong and stable. In Jesus’ name, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Have not I commanded you? Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

— Joshua 1:9 (AMPC)

The Lord wants to remind you today that you are never alone. At times you may feel lonely, or as if no one cares about you, but that is not true. God is never more than one thought away. You can be instantly in His presence by simply remembering and believing His promise to be with you everywhere you go.

Take the time to develop the habit of simply reminding yourself that God is with you in all that you do. The more you think about this, the more of a reality it will become to you. God is omnipresent. He is everywhere all the time, and surely, He is with each of us. You are not alone—not now, not ever. God is not only with you, but He loves you unconditionally, and He will guide you throughout your life.

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for being with me. Help me recognize Your presence as a reality in my life. Thank You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.

— Psalm 23:2 (NIV)

Today’s scripture comes from Psalm 23. This is a familiar Bible passage to many people and one that offers much hope and strength.

Simply reading about green pastures and quiet waters can give us a great sense of peace. I don’t know anyone who is not longing for more peace right now. Everywhere we look, we see news stories about unrest. We hear about friends or coworkers who have disagreements. We may even find ourselves in a conflict with someone or in some other situation that threatens to steal our peace. Or as is the case with many people, we may simply lead such a busy, stress-filled life that peace seems out of reach.

To have the peace God longs to give us and to experience His rest we must take time to be still. No one can lie down while they are constantly running—running to work, running to take children somewhere, running to the grocery store, running to care for elderly parents, running to meet a friend for coffee, running to get the house clean. We all have things we must and should take care of, so ask God to show you how to slow down and take time to be still and enjoy peace.

Prayer Starter: Father, help me to stop running, to be still, and to enjoy the peace You long to give me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.

— Acts 4:10 (NIV)

The best way I know to explain the precious and holy name of Jesus is to say that it represents everything about Him, all that He is. His name is the most powerful name in heaven and on earth. When we believe in Him and when He lives in our hearts as Lord and Savior, we call on the power of His name when we pray.

You may have noticed that many of our prayers end with these words: “In Jesus’ name. Amen.” This is not a religious way to conclude a prayer; it is a privilege, and it demonstrates your faith in His power to answer your prayer according to God’s will. Anytime you pray in Jesus’ name, you present to God all that Jesus is.

We can pray for miracles such as healing and freedom from oppression in Jesus’ name. In fact, we can pray any type of prayer in His name. I believe that when we pray in faith, using Jesus’ name, the entire spiritual realm pays attention.

Philippians 2:9–10 says that Jesus’ name is “above every name,” and that “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.”

Prayer Starter: Father, I thank You for the power of the name of Your Son, Jesus, because it represents all that He is. In His name, I pray, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

— Matthew 6:27 (AMPC)

We often tell people not to worry, and when we are worried, they tell us the same thing. But not worrying about a problem we cannot solve is not easy. I’ve been teaching people not to worry for many years, and I have finally realized that the only way they will ever stop worrying is to fully realize that worry does absolutely no good.

Worry makes people do some things that can be very detrimental. It makes people anxious and nervous, and it causes us to be tense and often difficult to get along with. It can even cause a variety of health problems, some of which can be serious. Worrying is like rocking in a rocking chair all day—it keeps you busy but gets you nowhere.

I also think we must realize that we cannot change our situation, but God can. Let us use the energy we spend worrying to trust God and wait on Him because what is impossible with human beings is possible with God (Luke 18:27).

Prayer Starter: Father, I don’t want to waste my time worrying, because I know it doesn’t do any good. Help me release my concerns to You so You can take care of me. Thank You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees their fruit.

— Leviticus 26:3–4 (NIV)

Do you put off doing things you do not enjoy? Perhaps it’s a maintenance appointment for the car, an unpleasant conversation, a mound of paperwork, paying bills, or a housekeeping chore you find especially laborious. When these things must be done, I encourage you to go ahead and do them. Get them over with. Do them early in the day when your energy level is highest, so you can focus on them and finish them.

Life comes with certain responsibilities. I think the best approach to life is to endeavor to enjoy absolutely everything we do, but when we need to do something we don’t enjoy, procrastinating accomplishes nothing. The longer you put off doing what needs to be done, the longer you will be tempted to dread doing it, and dread will drain your strength and your enjoyment of the present moment.

What have you delayed doing recently? Do your best to accomplish it today so that next time you think about it, you will not have to say, “I dread that.” Instead, you can say, “I did that!”

Prayer Starter: Father, help me to do today just one or two things I have been putting off. In Jesus’ name, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Let not yours be the [merely] external adorning with [elaborate] interweaving and knotting of the hair, the wearing of jewelry, or changes of clothes; but let it be the inward adorning and beauty of the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, which [is not anxious or wrought up, but] is very precious in the sight of God.

— 1 Peter 3:3-4 (AMPC)

Sometimes we are more concerned with outward things than we should be and are not nearly concerned enough about our inner life. If we paraphrase today’s Scripture, we could say, “God may like your outfit, but He is not nearly as concerned about your outer appearance as He is with the inner condition of your heart.”

It is very important that we live our lives with godly character and the inner qualities that matter to God. Most people spend a lot of time getting dressed each morning and making sure they look just right, and that is a good trait. But we should first and foremost spend time making sure we are right in our thoughts and attitudes, because we cannot have good behavior unless we begin with a right heart attitude.

Take some time each morning to “set your mind” in the right direction. Confess any sin you have committed, forgive anyone you have anything against, and cast all your care on God concerning situations that are bothering you. With your mind set in the right direction, you will be able to be a good example to others throughout the day.

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, help me develop such inner strength and peace that I can handle every situation in a way that represents You well to others. In Jesus’ name, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts!

— Ephesians 3:17 (AMPC)

If you are born again, you hopefully know that Jesus lives on the inside of you through the power of the Holy Spirit. The question is, is God comfortable in you? Does He feel at home within you? Even though the Spirit of God lives within you, other things live in you too—such as fear, anger, jealousy, or murmuring and complaining. God once gave me an illustration of what it is like for Him to live in a heart where murmuring, complaining, and discord reside. Suppose you go to a friend’s house and your friend says, “Oh, come on in. I’ll get you a cup of coffee. Get comfortable and make yourself at home.” Then, your friend begins yelling at her husband and the two of them rant and rave and carry on right in front of you. How comfortable would you be in the presence of such strife?

If we want to be a comfortable “home” for the Spirit of the Lord, we must give up things that cause us to forget about His presence or are offensive to Him. We must stop grumbling, allowing strife and unrest inside us, or harboring unforgiveness. Instead, we need to make sure our inner lives are engaged in things that please and honor God’s presence. Our mouths should be full of praise and thanksgiving. We should wake up every day and say in our hearts, “Good morning, Lord. I want you to feel at home and be comfortable in me today.” We all need to take inventory of what goes in our hearts because they are the dwelling place of God. When we examine our inner lives, we are looking at holy ground where God has chosen to make His home. Let’s commit to making Him comfortable in us.

Prayer Starter: Father, please show me what needs to go so that You feel as comfortable as possible living inside my heart. In Jesus’ name, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

And the effect of righteousness will be peace [internal and external], and the result of righteousness will be quietness and confident trust forever.

— Isaiah 32:17 (AMPC)

Through the years, many people tried to hold me back from God’s call on my life. There were those who did not understand what I was doing and why I was doing it, so they judged me falsely. At times their criticism and judgment made me want to “sit down” and forget about my vision from God.

But I had a big God standing up on the inside of me, and “sitting down” was not an option to me. He caused me to stand up on the inside and be determined to go forward no matter what others thought, said, or did. It was not always easy, but I learned from my experience that being frustrated and unfulfilled due to being out of the will of God is more difficult than pressing through all the opposition.

Standing up on the inside does not mean being rebellious or having an aggressive attitude toward those who don’t understand us. It means having a quiet inner confidence that takes us through to the finish line. It is knowing inside that despite what is happening on the outside, everything is going to be all right because God is on the scene, and when He is present nothing is impossible.

Prayer Starter: Lord, Your presence in my life changes everything about me. Help me to stand up alongside You for all that You want me to do and say and be, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” the things God has prepared for those who love him—

— 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV)

We rush to get every new upgrade available for our computer and phone. We spend money, wait in lines, do whatever it takes to have the newest and best. We are very aggressive about having the best equipment available, but are we as aggressive about having the upgraded life Jesus offers us?

The Bible says that the path of the righteous gets brighter and brighter every day (Prov. 4:18). This means God is always drawing us toward better and better things. He continually offers upgrades, and we should be determined to have each one of them.

Living the best life God has for you will require some effort on your part. You will need to educate yourself on the life He offers and what it truly means to be born again. As a child of God, you have an inheritance and you have certain rights and privileges, but if you don’t know about them, you will never enjoy them. We educate ourselves through Bible study, reading good books about biblical principles, spending time with God, and being in community with other people who are seeking God as we are. We also need a lot of patience because God is usually not in a hurry. He is always working in our lives, but we are not always aware of it.

Simply going to church once a week doesn’t necessarily help you attain the upgraded life you desire. It helps, but you will have to also seek God diligently every day of your life, not just once or twice a week. God has provided countless tools for us to help us grow, but we must avail ourselves of them. I want to challenge you to set aside at least 45 minutes to an hour a day and call it your “God Time.” Make it a goal, and if you need to begin with less time, that is okay because gradually you will desire more. During that time, you can study your Bible, talk to God in prayer, listen to a Bible teaching, read a book that will help you under- stand the Bible better, or simply sit in God’s presence and receive His love.

If you do this diligently, you will find over time that you have changed and are enjoying yourself and your life much more than ever before. Any good relationship requires time, and your relationship with God is no different. God has so many wonderful things in His plan for you, and during this time you will learn what they are and how to access them. You can’t use what you don’t know you have! For example, you have a Helper, who is the Holy Spirit, and He is with you all the time. Anytime you need help with anything, all you need to do is ask. This and many other wonderful things are yours in Christ, so get busy learning about them and start enjoying the upgraded life Jesus died for you to have.

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for wanting to be in fellowship with me. Bring out everything I need to learn from studying Your Word so that my upgrade would be everything You want it to be. In Jesus’ name, amen!

http://www.joycemeyer.org

By your steadfastness and patient endurance you shall win the true life of your souls.

— Luke 21:19 (AMPC)

You need to learn not to let your mind and emotions get the best of you, especially when it involves things over which you have no control.

Suppose you are on your way to an important interview and get caught in a traffic jam. How do you react? Is it worth getting all upset and throwing some kind of fit? Wouldn’t it be much better for you and everyone else if you just remained calm, even if you were late for the interview? If you have done your best God will do the rest.

Refuse to get wild when things don’t go as you planned. Refuse to allow your mind, will, and emotions to rule your spirit. In your patience you will learn to possess your soul.

Prayer Starter: Lord, thank You for loving me. Because of You, I no longer need to get upset over things I can’t do anything about. Help me to stay calm. In Jesus’ name, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

— 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)

The closer we get to God, the more opportunities He gives us to serve others. I say “opportunities” because that is the way we need to view serving others. Every time we serve others, it not only blesses them, but it also brings tremendous joy to our lives. Jesus gave us an example of being a servant by washing the feet of the disciples and then saying, …You should do [in your turn] what I have done to you (John 13:15 AMPC).

Some people fail to live as servants because they don’t know who they are in Christ. They feel they must be doing something they consider “important” to find a sense of self-worth. They fail to understand that their identity comes from who they are in Christ, not how prestigious their career or platform is. When you are secure in your place in Christ, and when you find your strength and confidence in God, you take great joy in helping others every chance you get.

The “servant test” is simply how we respond to the opportunities God gives us to be a blessing to others. It reveals whether we really and truly want to be like Jesus. God has blessed and made us a blessing! God’s blessings are never meant to be consumed solely on ourselves, but always to be shared with those around us.

Look for ways to serve others today, including those in your own home. This will be a great experience for you and for them.

Prayer Starter: Lord Jesus, thank You for giving me opportunities to serve others. Please help me to never miss one of those opportunities, amen!

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life…. Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

— Matthew 6:25, 27 (NIV)

I wonder how many times the statement “I’m worried about . . .” is spoken each day. Millions of people use this phrase, but what is the point of it? Does worry change anything? No. So why keep doing it?

Start listening to yourself and other people, and each time you hear “I’m worried,” say to yourself, worry is useless, and I refuse to do it. If we thoroughly realize the foolishness of it, maybe we will stop saying it and doing it.

Instead of saying, “I’m worried,” replace those negative, useless words with “I trust God.” When you say you trust God, His power is released to work in your life. Study God’s Word, remember His faithfulness to you in past situations, and be determined to stop wasting your time worrying.

Prayer Starter: Father, I trust you to help me not waste time worrying over things only You can fix! In Jesus’ name, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

— 1 Corinthians 15:10 (NKJV)

A person without confidence is like an airplane sitting on a runway with empty fuel tanks. The plane has the ability to fly, but without some fuel, it’s not getting off the ground. Confidence is our fuel. Our confidence, our belief that we can succeed, gets us started and helps us finish every challenge we tackle in life. Without confidence, we will simply live in fear and never feel fulfilled.

Confidence allows us to face life with boldness, openness, and honesty. It enables us to live without worry and to feel safe. It enables us to live authentically. We don’t have to pretend to be somebody we’re not, because we are secure in who we are—even if we’re different from those around us. I firmly believe that confidence gives us permission to be different, to be unique. God has created every person in a unique way, yet most people spend their lives trying to be like someone else— and feeling miserable as a result. Trust me on this: God will never help you be some other person. He wants you to be you!

Prayer Starter: Lord, I want to be able to say confidently that by Your grace I am what am. I confess that Your grace has never been in vain in my life, and I ask you to bring more confidence to my life to be who I am – the person You created me to be, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

He fashions their hearts individually.

— Psalm 33:15 (NKJV)

Psalm 33:15 speaks about us as individuals. Because God has fashioned our hearts individually, our prayers need to flow out of our hearts and be consistent with the way He has designed us. As we develop our individual styles of communication with God, we can learn from people who may be more experienced than we are, but we need to be careful not to imitate them or allow them to set standards for us. I hope to be an example to many, but I want Jesus to be their standard. There is nothing at all wrong with incorporating something someone else is doing into your own prayer life if you truly feel God’s Spirit is leading you to do so, but it is wrong to force yourself to do what others do if you are not comfortable with it in your spirit.

I encourage you to develop your own style of talking to God and listening to His voice. Don’t try to keep up with others or copy their prayer styles—and don’t feel compelled to work every “prayer principle” you have ever learned every time you pray. Just be who you are, remembering that God has fashioned you just the way He wants you to be, that He takes pleasure in who you are, and that He wants to speak to you in unique and personal ways.

Prayer Starter: Thank You, God for making me unique and for being my standard! I love you! In Jesus’ name, amen!

http://www.joycemeyer.org