Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]

— Matthew 11:28 (AMPC)

Adapted from the resource Trusting God Day by Day – by Joyce Meyer

Being relaxed feels wonderful. Being nervous, tense, and worried—as you know—are not so wonderful. Jesus said if we’re weary and overburdened, we should go to Him and He’ll give us rest, relaxation, and ease for our souls (see Matthew 11:28–29 AMPC). He wants to teach us a better way to live, which is different from the way most of the world lives.

It would be putting it mildly to say that I was an uptight woman for the first half of my life. I simply did not know how to relax, and it was due to me not being willing to completely trust God. I trusted God for things, but not in things; I kept trying to be the one in control. Even though God was in the driver’s seat of my life, I kept one hand on the wheel just in case He took a wrong turn. Relaxation is impossible without trust!

If you know you can’t fix the problem you have, then why not relax while God is working on it? It might sound easy, but it took many years for me to learn to do this. I know from experience that the ability to relax and go with the flow in life is directly dependent on how fully we’re trusting God. When things don’t go our way, we can know that getting our way in that situation wasn’t what we needed. And since God knew that, He gave us what was best in the long run instead of what we wanted in the moment.

If you’ve been waiting a lot longer for something than you’d expected or hoped to, you can stay frustrated about it, or you can remind yourself, “God’s timing is perfect—He’s never late. I know He’s ordering my steps, and eventually they’ll turn out better than if I’d tried to do it all myself.” When it comes to things that are out of our control, we can either let it ruin our day, or relax and enjoy life while God’s working. It may take you many years to learn to fully trust Him, but each day will be better and better as you trust more and learn to relax.

Prayer Starter: Father, please help me let go of the reins in situations that I can’t change and trust You to do what needs to be done. Thank You for working and doing what I can’t do, and for giving me the grace to start to relax and enjoy life more. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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And the Lord said, My Presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.

— Exodus 33:14 (AMPC)

Adapted from the resource The Power of Being Thankful – by Joyce Meyer

Did you know we don’t have to worry about or figure out the answers to all our problems? Now that’s something to be thankful for! It’s actually quite refreshing to realize that I don’t need to have all the answers to my problems. We need to get comfortable saying, “I don’t know the answer to this, but I’m not going to worry about it, because God’s in control. I’ve done what I know to do, and He’s promised to do what I can’t do, so I’m trusting Him. I’m going to rest in Him!”

When we’re overloaded with the cares of life— struggling, laboring, and worrying— we need a mental and emotional vacation. Our minds need to rest from thinking about how to take care of problems, and our emotions need to rest from being upset.

Worry isn’t restful at all. In fact, it steals rest and the benefits of rest from us. So next time you feel like you’re carrying a heavy load in your mind or you find yourself worried and anxious, remember, you can put your trust in God and enjoy His rest (see Deuteronomy 31:8; Isaiah 41:10; Matthew 6:25-34).

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You that I don’t have to have all the answers all the time. Please help me let go of worry and learn to trust You to bring the answers I need at the right time. Thank You for the gift of Your rest. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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O Lord, [earnestly] remember now how I have walked before You in faithfulness and truth and with a whole heart [entirely devoted to You] and have done what is good in Your sight…

— 2 Kings 20:3 (AMPC)

Adapted from the resource Starting Your Day Right – by Joyce Meyer

And Jacob awoke from his sleep and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place and I did not know it (Genesis 28:16 AMPC). Many times God is with us and we don’t even know it. Even when circumstances seem out of control, even when we feel overwhelmed, confused, or overcome with pain, He’s there to help and work everything together for our good. A great way to stay aware of God’s presence in our lives is to rededicate ourselves to Him on a regular basis.

And Jacob rose early in the morning and took the stone he had put under his head, and he set it up for a pillar (a monument to the vision in his dream), and he poured oil on its top [in dedication] (Genesis 28:18 AMPC). Like Jacob, we should rededicate ourselves to God every day, inviting Him into every part of who we are and how we live. When we do, His love and presence become more real than ever.

Prayer Starter: Father, I give myself to You anew today. Thank You for sticking with me, even when I’m hurting, even when I’m confused, and even when I feel alone. Please help me remember You’re always here and working in my life for good. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Well then, you who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you teach against stealing, do you steal (take what does not really belong to you)? You who say not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery [are you unchaste in action or in thought]? . . . You who boast in the Law, do you dishonor God by breaking the Law [by stealthily infringing upon or carelessly neglecting or openly breaking it]? For, as it is written, the name of God is maligned and blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you!

— Romans 2:21-24 (AMPC)

Adapted from the resource Battlefield of the Mind – by Joyce Meyer

Paul’s words remind me of a saying I used to hear often: “Don’t do as I do—do as I say.” The people who say this expect others to live according to rules that they themselves aren’t willing to follow, which is often frustrating to those around them.

This is something many Christians are dealing with today. When they see church leaders or those in authority doing things they know aren’t right, they think, Well, if they’re such great Christians and they can do that . . . it must be okay. This attitude can either lead them to do the same things or even turn away from God altogether.

We need to remember that God has called us to be responsible for our actions. God holds us accountable for every thought, word and action—but our responsibility doesn’t stop with our own lives. We’re also responsible to help lift up others when they fall.

Paul explained this in detail in Galatians 6:1-3, where he laid down three important principles that the enemy doesn’t want us to grasp. First, when we become aware that another believer has fallen into sin, we’re to do whatever we can to help that person get back up.

If any person is overtaken in misconduct or sin of any sort, you who are spiritual [who are responsive to and controlled by the Spirit] should set him right and restore and reinstate him, without any sense of superiority and with all gentleness, keeping an attentive eye on yourself, lest you should be tempted also. Bear (endure, carry) one another’s burdens and troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ (the Messiah) and complete what is lacking [in your obedience to it]. For if any person thinks himself to be somebody [too important to condescend to shoulder another’s load] when he is nobody [of superiority except in his own estimation], he deceives and deludes and cheats himself.

– Galatians 6:1-3 AMPC

Even the best of us fail at times, but it’s important to know that the word overtaken doesn’t mean a deliberate, intentional sin. The original meaning is like when someone is walking down an icy sidewalk, and slips and falls. That’s how the Christian life works—everyone slips unintentionally sometimes.

Knowing that, what should be our attitude when see someone else slip? We should offer to help, of course. If someone slips on the ice, don’t you naturally rush over to help that person get up? That’s a basic expression of Christ’s love in us, but the enemy wants to make sure that you don’t reach out or help. He might even whisper something like this, “Just don’t look in her direction. Ignore her. You’re not obligated to help her get up. Why, you don’t even know her.” If we listen to these thoughts long enough, it becomes easier and easier to ignore people in need of help.

The Greek word translated restores was once a medical term used by a surgeon to describe medical procedures like removing a growth from a body or setting a broken arm. The goal is not to see that the person gets punished, but that the person gets healed.

The second point Paul made is that when we find out someone has fallen, instead of pointing fingers and looking down on them, we should look at ourselves. The enemy could’ve tempted us to do the same thing or something else just as bad, or even worse. We all experience temptation and slip ourselves at times, so we need to look with compassion on those who fall and remind ourselves, “Without the grace of God, I would be there.”

The third thing we need to do is to refuse to hold on to pride in our own achievements. If we think we’re more spiritual than someone else, we’re deceiving ourselves. Proverbs 16:18 gives this warning: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” We shouldn’t spend our time comparing our achievements with others’, but instead ask ourselves, Have I really done all that I could have done? When we compare ourselves with the standards Jesus sets for us, we have no reason to be conceited or prideful, but instead we can be humble and thankful that God is at work in our lives.

Prayer Starter: Father, please remind me to help those who have fallen and to see them with compassion, not pride or judgment. Show me how I can help, and give me the strength to come alongside people when they need it. Thank You for Your grace and for lovingly guiding my steps. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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

— Galatians 5:22-23 (AMPC)

– by Joyce Meyer

Doubt and unbelief will steal our joy, but simple childlike believing releases the joy of God’s Spirit Who lives in us. As we see in today’s verse, one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit is joy, and since He lives in us, we as believers should be able to enjoy our lives and express His joy.

We might look at it like this: Joy is in the deepest part—the spirit—of the person who’s accepted Jesus as their Savior. But if that person’s soul (their mind, will, and emotions) is filled with worry, discouraging thoughts, excessive reasoning, doubt, and unbelief, these negative things will act like a wall and hold back the fruit of joy that God has for them.

The apostle Peter says to cast all our care (anxieties, worries, concerns) on the Lord (see 1 Peter 5:7). Paul encouraged the believers of his day to Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV)

I want to challenge you today to begin to give God the things that are on your mind. Ask Him for the grace to trust Him with the things you can’t change. As you start to let go of worry, you’ll experience more and more of His joy.

Prayer Starter: Father, please help me today to let go of the worries and doubts that crowd my mind. I want to trust You more and experience the joy You have for me. Thank You for helping me grow in this area, and for the gift of Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh “of human nature without God.”

— Galatians 5:16 (AMPC)

Adapted from the resource Hearing from God Each Morning – by Joyce Meyer

Like a horse that’s been trained to keep its ear always tuned to the voice of its master, we need to be willing to follow all of God’s instructions, not just those we feel good about or happen to agree with.

To genuinely follow Him, we have to tell our flesh (the unrenewed, carnal part of us that isn’t like Jesus yet) no at times, and when that happens, the flesh suffers and doesn’t like it. There are times when we’re galloping full speed ahead in one direction when suddenly God tells us to stop and go in another direction. We won’t always like what He asks us to do, but His way of doing life always ultimately turns out better than our way.

In the verse for today, the apostle Paul writes about the constant fight between the Spirit and the flesh. If we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, we won’t satisfy the desires of the flesh that lead us away from God’s best. This verse doesn’t say that the desires of the flesh will disappear; we’ll always have to wrestle with them. But if we choose to be led by the Spirit, we won’t go after fleshly desires, and the devil won’t get his way in our lives.

As we grow closer to God, we can sense that a war in going on in us (see Romans 7:21-25). Our flesh and His Spirit in us usually disagree, and we’re often tempted to keep the flesh comfortable. But as we learn to submit to God’s Spirit, we’ll begin to overcome fleshly desires and temptations. Determine today that you will not let your flesh lead you, but that you’ll follow the Holy Spirit’s voice in all that you do. When you do, you position yourself to receive God’s best.

Prayer Starter: Lord, please help me follow Your voice and leading today instead of letting my flesh lead my decisions. Thank You for giving me the grace and strength to start overcoming any fleshly desires or temptations, and for guiding me toward Your best. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

— Luke 9:62 (ESV)

Adapted from the resource Healing the Soul of a Woman – by Joyce Meyer

Part of the beauty of what happens when God heals your soul is that He offers you a fresh start—a whole new beginning. But embracing the new life He has for you will be very difficult if you’re still holding on to the past. Think of it like this: If you’re walking through the grocery store with your hands full of oranges and someone tries to give you several apples to carry, you can’t hold them. In order to take the apples, you have to put down the oranges. In the same way, you have to let go of the past to pick up the new beginning God offers you.

Part of freeing yourself from the load of your past means refusing to look back and not replaying certain scenarios in your mind. Refusing to look back means resisting regret, turning away from past relationships that aren’t good for you, and letting go of mistakes and feelings like guilt and shame. Paul writes in Philippians 3:13 that he forgets what lies behind and strains “forward to what lies ahead.” It’s interesting that Paul says he strains forward. This tells us that moving ahead requires effort, which isn’t always easy. Letting go of the past can be hard to do, but it’s much better than remaining stuck in it.

When God asks us to let go of the past and look toward a better future, He also gives us the grace to do it. We need to be very careful about thinking or saying that what He asks of us is too hard. Nothing is too difficult for Him (see Jeremiah 32:17), and His Spirit in us empowers us to do everything He’s called us to do (see 1 Corinthians 3:16).

In Genesis 19, a man named Lot and his family lived in a city so filled with sin and perversion that God destroyed it completely. But before He did, God sent angels to warn Lot ahead of time, telling him to get out of the city with his wife and daughters. When the angels took them by the hand and led them away, they said, Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop . . .(Genesis 19:17 ESV). But Lot’s wife looked back anyway—and turned into a pillar of salt (see Genesis 19:26). Her decision to look back not only kept her from escaping, but robbed her of the better life she could have had—it cost her everything.

I want to encourage you to keep looking ahead and keep moving forward, so you can enjoy the beautiful life God has waiting for you!

Prayer Starter: Father, please show me where I’m stuck in the past, and give me the grace to let go of any unhealthy ties I may be holding onto. Thank You for the gift of a new beginning. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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But [now] I am fearful, lest that even as the serpent beguiled Eve by his cunning, so your minds may be corrupted and seduced from wholehearted and sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

— 2 Corinthians 11:3 (AMPC)

Adapted from the resource The Confident Woman – by Joyce Meyer

When encouraged to think positively, people often retort, “That’s not reality.” But did you know that positive thinking can change your current reality? God is positive, and that’s His reality. It is the way He is, the way He thinks, and the way He encourages us to live. He says that we can believe the best of every person (see 1 Corinthians 13:7), and that all the things we go through (good and bad) can work out for good if we love Him and want His will in our lives (see Romans 8:28).

It’s been said that 90 percent of what we worry about never actually happens, so I wonder: Why do people assume that being negative is more realistic than being positive? It’s a matter of whether we’ll choose to look at things from God’s perspective or the enemy’s. Are you doing your own thinking, choosing your thoughts carefully, or are you passively accepting whatever happens to come to your mind? Where are your thoughts coming from? Do they agree with Scripture? If not, they didn’t come from God.

Thinking negatively makes you miserable, so I want to encourage you to exchange any negative mindsets for the life-giving truth of God’s Word. Seeing life from His perspective will help bring the kind of joy you’ve been waiting for.

Prayer Starter: Father, please make Your Word come alive to me so I can start to see my life from Your perspective. Thank You for bringing my thoughts to line up with Yours. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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God is not the author of confusion, but of peace…

— 1 Corinthians 14:33 (KJV)

Adapted from the resource Ending Your Day Right – by Joyce Meyer

Are you confused? Is there something happening in your life right now that you don’t understand? Maybe you’re baffled about the way things happened in your past, or you’re worried about how things will play out in your future.

Many of us today suffer tremendously with confusion, but that was never God’s plan. He doesn’t cause confusion—He always wants to give us the clarity and peace we need. He doesn’t want you to stress out trying to figure out the answers for everything in your life—He knows what is going on and why, and He’s in control. He doesn’t want you to feel overwhelmed…He wants to help.

That means you don’t have to worry or live in confusion. It almost sounds too easy, but you can have total freedom from the torment of confusion by refusing the temptation to figure everything out. As you bring God your questions and trust Him to bring the answers and provision you need, you’ll be able to enjoy a peaceful, happy life.

Prayer Starter: Father, I want to trust You more, but I need Your help. Please show me the answers I need to see, and give me the grace to trust You with the things I won’t understand until later. Thank You for always being there to reassure me and make a way for me where I need it. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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For we are fellow workmen (joint promoters, laborers together) with and for God; you are God’s garden and vineyard and field under cultivation, [you are] God’s building.

— 1 Corinthians 3:9 (AMPC)

Adapted from the resource Closer to God Each Day – by Joyce Meyer

Under the Old Covenant, the temple was the house of God, the place of prayer for His people, the children of Israel. The temple had three compartments, one of which was the Holy of Holies, which held the presence of God. Amazingly, now our renewed and sanctified spirit—the core of who we are—is the place where He makes His home!

Under the New Covenant, the apostle Paul tells us that God’s presence is now a mystery revealed as Christ in us, “the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). Because of the relationship you now have with Christ, you can be close to God because you’re now His living temple. You are a home for the Holy Spirit, a building still under construction, but nonetheless His house. Paul spends a lot of time encouraging us to live a holy life, because we are the temple of God.

While the children of Israel had to go to a specific place and follow detailed instructions to worship God, we have the incredible privilege of worshipping Him anywhere and at any time, so we are actually houses of prayer. We are always close to God because He dwells in us!

Prayer Starter: Father, please give me the ability to live a holy life, and teach me how to care for my spirit, soul and body, since I’m Your living temple. Thank You for making Your home in me! In Jesus’ name, amen.

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But they all alike began to make excuses…

— Luke 14:18 (AMPC)

Adapted from the resource Power Thoughts Devo – by Joyce Meyer

Moses made excuses when God called him to service. He said he wasn’t eloquent enough and could not speak (see Exodus 4:10). Felix made excuses when Paul was speaking to him about righteousness and self-control, basically telling Paul, “Right now is an inconvenient time. Can you come back later?” (see Acts 24:25).

When God invites people into a relationship with Him, many people come up with excuses because they simply don’t want to make the sacrifices required to follow Him. Even among those of us who are believers in Jesus, we still hear ample excuses for not serving Him fully. It’s time for us to deal with any excuses may have been making and start speaking truth, because the day will come when all of us will stand before God and give an account of our lives (see Romans 14:12). No excuses will work on that day, so let’s be vigilant to follow God’s instructions. You won’t regret it (see James 1:25)!

Prayer Starter: Father, please show me any excuses I’m holding onto that are keeping me from following You fully. Thank You for giving me the grace to follow Your instructions and stay in Your will for my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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

— Philippians 4:13 (AMPC)

Adapted from the resource Trusting God Day by Day – by Joyce Meyer

One thought that has the power to transform your life is simple: Through Christ, I can handle whatever life hands me. I wonder—do you believe you can do whatever you need to do? 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 situation that truly seems impossible to them, something they aren’t sure they can handle.

No matter what that circumstance is for you, God’s Word has good news: even in the most unpleasant and difficult situations, God has provided the strength you need to do whatever you need to do in life. He doesn’t say everything will be easy for us, but He’s promised to stick with us through every moment, so we can enjoy life in the midst of doing hard things (see Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:9).

We need to 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. God’s grace actually has nothing to do with our effort or striving at all—it’s through His strength alone that we can accomplish anything.

[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight. — Philippians 2:13 (AMPC)

What in your life do you need to begin to believe you can do? Know that whatever it is, God is willing and able to work in and through you to accomplish it.

Prayer Starter: Jesus, thank You for making a way for me to accomplish everything that You’ve called me to do. Please help me always remember to lean on Your strength, not mine, because You’re the only One with the power to bring me through this. In Your name, amen.

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Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!

— Philippians 4:4 (AMPC)

Adapted from the resource The Power of Being Thankful – by Joyce Meyer

Countless serious things are going on in this world, and we do need to be aware and prepared for them. But at the same time, because of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we can learn to relax and take things as they come without getting nervous and upset about them.

Thankfully, with God’s help, we can learn how to enjoy the abundant life He’s provided for us through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus. Twice in Philippians 4: 4–7, the apostle Paul tells us to rejoice, and he urges us not to worry or have any anxiety about anything, but to pray and give thanks to God in everything—not only after every difficulty is over. In spite of all the troubling things going on around us, our attitude can be, “This is the day the Lord has made, so I will rejoice and be glad in it.”

I want to encourage you to take some time today to thank God and give Him the things you’re worried about. As you do, it’ll become easier and easier to breathe, rest and enjoy life.

Prayer Starter: Father, no matter what goes on around me today, thank You that I can still rest, knowing You’re taking care of me. Please help me remember to rejoice, even in harder situations. Thank You for giving me joy that’s not found in my circumstances, so no one can take it away. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

— James 4:7 (NIV)

Adapted from the resource Starting Your Day Right – by Joyce Meyer

In Philippians 3:10 the apostle Paul wrote, [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers].

I want to encourage you today to focus on knowing Jesus a little better than you did yesterday. Study His Words. Begin to watch for the ways He’s working in your life. Decide to keep your mind on whatever is right, true, lovely, pure, and of good report (see Philippians 4:8). The more you grow in your knowledge of Him, the more you’ll start to see His power working on your behalf, and the more your life will be full of His freedom and joy.

Prayer Starter: Jesus, I want to know You better than I ever have before. Please help me learn to recognize and celebrate all the ways You’re working in my life. Thank You for Your grace and power to grow more like You. In Your name, amen.

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Whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].

— Philippians 4:8b (AMPC)

Adapted from the resource Battlefield of the Mind – by Joyce Meyer

Some people are very unhappy, and they’ve been that way so long that they no longer realize there is another option. I can well remember being like that. I blamed my unhappiness on the way others behaved, and thought my husband and children caused me the most unhappiness. I thought for sure if they would change and just be a little more sensitive to my needs, I would feel better. If they would help around the house more, volunteer to run errands, or just ask how I was doing, I knew I’d be happy. Of course, I never said anything to them to communicate how I felt. If they were sensitive and caring, I thought, they would be able to see how they could help me and make my life easier.

I did pray about it, and I often told God how much happier I would be if they cooperated more, but they didn’t change.

One day, God spoke to me—but not with the words I wanted to hear. He said, Think about what you are thinking about. I had no idea what God meant. In fact, the words didn’t make sense. How could I think about what I was thinking about?

Then I realized the truth. My mind was constantly racing from one thought to another. That was bad enough, but worse, most of my thoughts centered around myself and my needs. I had thought that if they—the other people in my life—changed, I would be happy. I finally reluctantly admitted that even if they changed, I’d find something else to be upset about. I was just unhappy, and didn’t need any particular reason; it was first one thing and then another.

As I thought about my condition, I thought of Philippians 4:8, where Paul presented a list of the kind of things we need to focus on. If God didn’t want me to think about the things I had been thinking about, I first needed to know what I should think about. I soon realized I had a lot to learn. Although I had been attending church for years, I couldn’t remember anyone ever telling me how important my thoughts were to God and to my quality of life.

If we concentrate our thoughts on good things—the kind of things Paul mentioned in that verse—we will be built up, grow spiritually and become strong in the Lord.

The more I meditated on God’s message, I realized how my thoughts affected my attitude, and how this is true of all of us. God only tells us to do things that are for our good. He wants us to be happy and fulfilled, and the only way to be happy and fulfilled is by doing life God’s way. If we’re full of wrong thoughts, we’re miserable. That’s not only a theory—that’s both spoken from my own experience, and it’s found in God’s Word. I’ve also learned that when we’re miserable, we usually end up making others around us miserable, too.

Since those days, I’ve made it a practice to take a regular inventory of my thoughts—I review the way I think. What have I been thinking about? I ask myself.

I stress this because—as I learned from my own experience—­Satan deceives us into thinking that the source of our misery or pain is other people, or sometimes our circumstances. He tries not to let us face the fact that our own thoughts are often the source of our unhappiness. I would venture to say that it’s practically impossible to be happy while maintaining negative, critical, depressing thoughts.

As we take action by intentionally redirecting our thoughts to the kinds of things God told us to focus on, and by inviting Him to help us, we’ll start to overcome the enemy in the battle for our thoughts (see Romans 12:2; Philippians 2:13).

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

— Philippians 4:13 (AMPC)

– by Joyce Meyer

The last thing Satan wants is for you to fulfill God’s plan for your life, because he knows that you’re part of his ultimate defeat. If he can make you think and believe that you’re incapable, then you won’t even try to accomplish anything worthwhile. And if you’re convinced that you can’t, even if you do make an effort, your fear of failure will seal your defeat, which, because of your lack of confidence, you probably expected from the beginning. This is what’s often referred to as the “failure syndrome.” The enemy wants us to feel so bad about ourselves that we have no confidence and make no progress.

But here’s the good news: We don’t need confidence in ourselves—we need confidence in Jesus! I have confidence in myself only because I know that Christ is in me, always present and ready to help me with everything I attempt to do for Him. A believer without confidence is like a brand-new jet parked on the runway with no fuel; it looks good on the outside, but has no power on the inside. With Jesus inside us, though, we have the power to do what we could never do on our own.

Once you learn this truth, when the devil lies and says, “You can’t do anything right,” your response to him can be, “Maybe not, but Jesus in me can, and He will, because I’m relying on Him and not myself. He’s the one who causes me to succeed in everything that I put my hand to” (see Joshua 1:7). Or if the enemy says to you, “You’re not able, so don’t even try—you’ll only fail again, just like you always do,” your response can be, “It’s true that without Jesus I’m not able to do anything, but with Him and in Him I can do not just some, but all the things that I need to do” (see Philippians 4:13).

The more you speak the truth out loud, the more it will shape and affect your life for the better!

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You that I can put my confidence in You, and that because You’re able to do all things (and You’re in me), I can do everything that I need to do. Please help me remember to speak the truth out loud anytime the enemy tries to convince me of a lie. Thank You for giving me all the grace and wisdom I need for today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

When you bear (produce) much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine.

— John 15:8 (AMPC)

Adapted from the resource My Time with God – by Joyce Meyer

Our lives are not given to us for us to waste them—God wants us to bear good fruit with our time on earth. Doing good, being creative, helping others, finishing goals, and other things like this give me an awesome feeling of accomplishment. On the other hand, when I waste a day doing nothing, feeling sorry for myself, being angry or lazy, that doesn’t feel good at all.

I’m not saying that we need to spend all of our time working, but we should be productive on a regular basis. Praying for others as we go about our day is productive. Being friendly and encouraging people is a simple way to bear good fruit. One day when I went to the hospital to visit my mother, a young woman was in her room administering a heart test. She had lovely skin and hair and a beautiful smile, and she was very kind. Instead of just thinking these things, I told her that she was really pretty. The look on her face let me know that she didn’t hear it nearly often enough, and that it made her feel really good about herself.

It’s easy to focus on people’s flaws and totally miss the good things about them, but we don’t have to be that way—we can decide to bear good fruit by making a big deal out of each good thing we notice about people. You and I have the power to make someone else’s day awesome by being God’s voice and letting them hear through us the good things He sees in them. Make today—and every day—a special day by bearing good fruit that honors God and shows His love to people.

Prayer Starter Father, please teach me how to bear good fruit today; show me opportunities to show Your love to people. Thank You for the gift of life, and for helping me seize every moment. In Jesus’ name, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works.

— Psalm 33:15 (NKJV)

Adapted from the resource Love Out Loud – by Joyce Meyer

God created everything about you to be unique, and He wants you to build an honest relationship with Him based on who you really are, not who you think you should be, or who other people say you should be.

We relate to God as individuals. When we talk to God, we’re not supposed to leave our individuality at the door of our prayer closet. We need to go to Him just the way we are, because that gives Him the pleasure of enjoying the company of the “original” He has made each one of us to be. God enjoys meeting us where we are, developing a personal relationship with us, and helping us grow into the fullness of everything He wants us to be.

Our verse for today teaches us that God has fashioned our hearts individually. As we develop our individual styles of communication with God, we can learn from people who are more experienced than we are, but we need to be careful not to make them our standard.

Most people are afraid to not be like everyone else; many are more comfortable following established rules than daring to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading. When we follow man-made rules, we please people, but when we step out and follow God’s Spirit, we please Him. So remember, come as you are!

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You that my relationship with You doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. Help me remember that I can always come to You as I am, without trying to be perfect. Thank You for Your grace to grow today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Great peace have they who love Your law…

— Psalm 119:165 (AMPC)

Adapted from the resource Hearing from God Each Morning – by Joyce Meyer

I’ve written several times about how God will sometimes lead us through circumstances. This is certainly true, but we also need to be balanced in the way we discern God’s will. We shouldn’t only consider circumstances, but we also need peace and wisdom, which are major ways we can hear from God—we should never ignore them. A circumstance might look like an open door, but we shouldn’t walk through the door unless we have peace.

Following circumstances alone can get us into real trouble. Satan can arrange circumstances sometimes as well, but his intentions are always to distract us from God’s will, not to help us find it. Therefore, if we follow circumstances alone without listening for God’s direction through peace, wisdom, or His Word, we can be deceived.

I want to encourage you to develop the habit of doing a quick “inner check” to test the level of peace in your heart before allowing circumstances to lead us. The safest way to hear from God is to combine biblical methods of being led by the Spirit and allow them to serve as checks and balances for one another. It’s always best to consider the whole counsel of God’s Word, not merely trying to find portions of it that agree with what you already want to do.

When you take God’s Word in context, looking through it for wisdom, watching the peace level of your heart, and listening for the Holy Spirit’s voice, He’ll guide you into all truth (see John 16:13).

Prayer Starter: Father, please teach me the right way to discern what to do, and how to allow peace, wisdom, circumstances and Your Word to guide me. Thank You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit to lead me in every moment. In Jesus’ name, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

— 1 Corinthians 13:13 (ESV)

Adapted from the resource Healing the Soul of a Woman – by Joyce Meyer

Human beings crave love. When a person’s soul has been wounded, that craving for love often takes one of two forms. Some people develop hard or harsh personalities so other people won’t want to get close to them. For instance, if the wounds in a woman’s soul are related to men (or vice versa), she may make firm decisions not to trust men or not to build relationships with them at all. Others may be excessive in their desires to have a romantic relationship, to the point that they’re willing to enter one with anybody who pays attention to them. Maybe you know someone like this, who seems to go from one unhealthy relationship to the next. Or maybe you’ve been stuck in this pattern yourself, constantly thinking the next relationship will finally be the “right” one, only to find yourself disappointed.

When a person has a string of relationships that never satisfy them, two things are usually true. One, they haven’t yet found their fulfillment in God alone; and two, they haven’t yet learned what real love is. In order to stop the cycle of craving love, seeking it from a person, and being disappointed, a person’s soul needs to be healed. Part of that healing comes from first receiving God’s unconditional love, and then understanding what it really means to love and be loved by another person.

I want to share something I hope will help you in your love relationships with other people. Only God can love us perfectly, but 1 Corinthians 13, which is called “the love chapter” of the Bible, helps us understand what real love is. If someone says, “I love you,” but isn’t demonstrating the attributes of love in this chapter, you might want to think twice before believing that person and going very far in a relationship. Love is something that can be seen and felt, and it can be shown in a variety of ways. When you’re trying to discern whether someone genuinely loves you, and whether you love that person, you can use the qualities mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13 as a guide. It says that love is patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, and not arrogant or rude. It also doesn’t demand its own way and is not irritable. It doesn’t harbor resentment. Love “does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (see 1 Corinthians 13:6–7).

Love helps others; it gives and is quick to forgive. This requires intentionality and saying no to selfishness regularly. The basic qualities of love in 1 Corinthians 13 give us a great standard to help us know whether we love someone and whether they love us. Remember, only God can love you perfectly. Other people will let us down, but when we know what true love looks like, we can be wise in our relationships.

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for the gift of Your perfect love, and for healing my heart. Please teach me how to spot real love in others, and help me love them the way You love me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org