. . .Be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs . . .

— Ephesians 5:18-19 (KJV)

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

The Holy Spirit acts somewhat like a traffic signal inside of us. When we do the right things, we get a “green light” from Him, and when we do wrong things, we get a “red light.” If we’re about to get ourselves into trouble, but haven’t fully made a decision to proceed, we get a caution signal, or a “yellow light.”

The more we stop and ask God for directions, the more sensitive we become to the Holy Spirit’s signals in our hearts. Thankfully, He doesn’t scream and yell at us; He simply whispers in a still, small voice (see 1 Kings 19:12) and lets us know what we need to do. Each time we listen and obey, it becomes easier to hear Him the next time. He will always lead us to new levels of life and inner peace if we yield to Him.

I want to challenge you: when the Holy Spirit says something to you today, take action on it. Even if it doesn’t seem to make sense at first, you’ll be glad you did it.

Prayer Starter: Father, when I’m in a situation where I’m not sure whether to move forward or not, please help me hear and follow Your voice. Thank You that You have a clear direction for my life, and that You’re leading me one step at a time into Your plan. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.

— Isaiah 1:19 (AMPC)

What good is it to have a glass of water if we won’t drink it? Our thirst won’t be quenched until we do. Jesus said, “If anyone is thirsty, let them come to Me and drink!” (see John 7:37). He said that if we have any kind of need, we are to ask Him for what we want, and then receive it. The good things of God are available to those who simply surrender themselves to Him and accept His blessings and mercy.

People often beg God for forgiveness but forget to say, “I receive that forgiveness right now; I believe I am forgiven.” Mercy is a free gift. You can’t earn it, you can’t deserve it, and you can’t buy it. The only thing you can do is receive it. Just humble yourself, accept God’s forgiveness, and move forward knowing that you’re made right with Him, and He loves you.

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You so much for making Your mercy, forgiveness and grace freely available to me. Please help me not to panic, but to remember and intentionally receive Your blessings today. Thank You, Jesus! In Jesus’ name, amen.

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If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.

— Isaiah 1:19 (AMPC)

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

What good is it to have a glass of water if we won’t drink it? Our thirst won’t be quenched until we do. Jesus said, “If anyone is thirsty, let them come to Me and drink!” (see John 7:37). He said that if we have any kind of need, we are to ask Him for what we want, and then receive it. The good things of God are available to those who simply surrender themselves to Him and accept His blessings and mercy.

People often beg God for forgiveness but forget to say, “I receive that forgiveness right now; I believe I am forgiven.” Mercy is a free gift. You can’t earn it, you can’t deserve it, and you can’t buy it. The only thing you can do is receive it. Just humble yourself, accept God’s forgiveness, and move forward knowing that you’re made right with Him, and He loves you.

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You so much for making Your mercy, forgiveness and grace freely available to me. Please help me not to panic, but to remember and intentionally receive Your blessings today. Thank You, Jesus! In Jesus’ name, amen.

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But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth].

— James 1:22 (AMPC)

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

As a Christian, for a long time I didn’t understand that believers could know what God wanted them to do and then deliberately say no. Now, I’m not talking about those who completely turn their backs on Jesus and want nothing to do with salvation. I’m talking about those who disobey God in the seemingly little things and don’t seem to be concerned about it at all.

In verses 23 and 24, James goes on to say that if we only listen to the Word but don’t obey it, it’s like looking at our reflection in a mirror and then going away and forgetting what we saw. But a doer of the Word, he says, is like one who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of obedience) (See James 1:25 AMPC).

Whenever Christians are faced with God’s Word, and it calls them to action but they refuse to obey, their own human reasoning is often the cause. They’ve deceived themselves into believing something other than the truth. It’s as if they think they are smarter than God.

I’ve met people who seem to think that God always wants them to feel good, and if something happens that makes them feel bad, they don’t believe it’s God’s will for them. Or they dismiss what they read in the Bible by saying, “That doesn’t make sense.”

One woman, referring to Paul’s instruction to “be unceasing in prayer” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), said that verse kept coming to her every time she prayed.

“What do you think that means?” I asked her.

“Oh, I think it means that day in and day out, we are to pray when we feel a need or when we want something.”

Her words shocked me. “What about fellowship with the Lord?” I asked. “Isn’t that a good reason? Or maybe God just wants you to spend time reading His Word and praying about what you read.”

“I have too many things to do,” she said. “That’s fine for people who like to sit and read and pray for hours every day, but that’s not the way for me.”

In our brief conversation, I learned that her decisions about obeying God’s Word depended on whether or not it was convenient for her lifestyle. When she read things in the Bible that didn’t fit with the way she lived, she explained it to herself in such a way that she convinced herself God didn’t expect her to do that.

In contrast, I remember a very dignified woman who had been a member of a traditional church most of her life. She often spoke of the noise and confusion in charismatic churches (although she’d never been to one). Then she visited one of the services where I spoke, and her heart was changed. “I couldn’t believe that God would ask me to do something like clap my hands or sing loudly or even shout. But when I saw the joy on the faces of those in the congregation and heard you quote the Bible verse that commands us to clap our hands and shout, what else could I do? That was God speaking to me.”

She had exactly the right attitude. She didn’t try to reason it out, or wonder why God had told her to take that kind of action. She believed His Word and simply obeyed, and as a result, she had a new kind of joy that she would never have experienced otherwise.

When the Bible speaks about obeying the Lord, it’s not a suggestion. His Word doesn’t ask, “Would you like to obey?” God commands us to take action by being a doer of His Word, and when we are obedient, He’s promised that we’ll be blessed.

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for the instructions in Your Word. I may not always like what I read, and sometimes it’s difficult to follow You without hesitating, so please help me to trust You with what I don’t understand, and to stay obedient no matter what. Thank You for the wisdom to know how to apply Your Word to my life, for the strength to carry it out, and for the ability to honor You in every moment. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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And Jesus said to them, The Sabbath was made on account and for the sake of man, not man for the Sabbath; so the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.

— Mark 2:27-28 (AMPC)

Are you excessively tired all the time, even after getting a full night’s sleep? Have you been to doctors, but they can’t find anything wrong with you? You might be experiencing some of the symptoms of burnout. Long periods of overexertion and stress can cause constant fatigue, headaches, sleeplessness, digestive problems, tension, and other issues.

Some other signals of burnout are crying, negativity, irritability, depression, cynicism, or even bitterness toward others’ blessings. God established the law of resting on the seventh day to help us keep from burning out. The law of the Sabbath simply says we can work six days, but by the seventh, we need to rest and spend time worshiping God. He rested after six days of work, not because He gets tired, but so we would follow the pattern.

In Exodus 23:10-12, we read that even the land had to rest after six years, and the Israelites were told not to sow in it the seventh year. During this rest, everything recovered and prepared for future harvests. People today are often quick to argue that they can’t afford to take a day off, but I say that they can’t afford not to do it. We often hear, “I’m too busy to take a break. I would never get everything done if I did that.”

My answer is, “Then you’re too busy and something needs to change in your life.” When we’re too busy to follow God’s instructions, we will pay the price eventually. Remember, the Bible says we reap what we sow. If we sow continual stress with no rest or time to recover, we will reap the results in our bodies, emotions, and minds. So I want to encourage you to start to take steps toward resting more. When you honor God with your time, you’ll reap the benefits of rest.

Prayer Starter: Father, please help me to be more intentional to trust You enough to rest when I need to. Thank You in advance for teaching me how to balance work and rest in a healthy way. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Trust in, lean on, rely on, and have confidence in Him at all times . . .

— Psalm 62:8 (AMPC)

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

It’s important that we’re intentional to thank, praise, and love God both in troubled times and in good times—it might be even more important to do it then. Anyone can be thankful and joyful when things are going their way because they have lots of good emotions to support them, but when times are tough, we have to bypass how we feel and praise God in spirit.

Once after I’d finished three teaching sessions at a church, the next day I woke up with the stomach flu—not what I had planned, that’s for sure! I decided to give God extra praise and thanksgiving and tell Him I loved Him even more than usual that day, even thanking Him out loud at different times. I wasn’t grateful for the stomach flu, but I had plenty to be grateful for in the midst of it.

One benefit was that I stayed in bed all day, and that is something I almost never do! The rest was probably good for me. It also stirred up compassion in me for other people who are sick, including a few people I knew who were currently taking chemotherapy. I feel that if we can continue to praise God when our circumstances aren’t good, we are giving Him the highest kind of praise.

No matter what’s going on in your life, I want to encourage you to praise God, be thankful, and shower words of love and affection on Him. It will bring you closer to Him, and strengthen you as you go through the difficulty.

Prayer Starter: Father, I want to be more intentional to bless You at all times, both good and bad. Help me remember that I don’t have to feel like being grateful to give thanks! Thank You for always being present with me, no matter what I’m going through. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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…The yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.

— Isaiah 10:27 (KJV)

When God speaks to you about an issue that needs to be dealt with in your life, don’t put it off. You can trust that His anointing—the power and ability of the Holy Spirit—is there to break the enemy’s grip on you. If you put off confronting the problem until you want to deal with it, it may be much harder than it would have been if you’d confronted it when God first led you to.

We often want to do things in our own timing, and we struggle and struggle because it’s not anointed by God at the time we’re trying to deal with it. For example, there are times when I feel like I want to confront an issue with an employee, but I know that it would be wiser for me to pray about it for a while and let God prepare that person’s heart. When I follow God’s timetable, I always have His anointing to get it done. I have learned to deal with issues when God wants to deal with them and leave them alone when He wants me to wait. I’ve also had the frustrating experience of trying over and over to change myself without waiting on God’s help and timing. God’s anointing must be present for anything to work right in our lives.

When God convicts us about something that needs to change in our lives, that means He’s prepared us to face it. We may not feel like we’re ready, but we can trust that His timing is perfect and His anointing is there to break the yoke that’s hindering our full freedom. I’ve learned to say, “Lord, I may not feel ready, but if You say the time is now then I trust that Your power is with me; help me be obedient to You.” As you step out in faith to deal with issues, you’ll find that God’s wisdom, grace, power, and ability that you need are right there to empower you.

Prayer Starter: Lord, please help me hear Your voice and to do each thing You ask me to do in the right timing. Thank You for giving me the anointing and grace I need to grow today! In Jesus’ name, amen.

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In this [union and communion with Him] love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us…

— 1 John 4:17 (AMPC)

We never have to be afraid of God. We should have reverential fear—meaning a respectful awe—of Him, but He doesn’t want us to feel timid or lack confidence when we come to Him. The Bible tells us to come “fearlessly and confidently and boldly” to the throne of grace and make our requests known (see Hebrews 4:16). We cannot operate in boldness and fear at the same time. We may feel fear, but we don’t have to bow down or give in to it; we can approach God with confidence.

In our society today, we have an epidemic of insecurity. The world is full of people who lack confidence, but thankfully as God’s children, we don’t have to be one of them. Our confidence comes from Christ alone and His love for us, not from anything we’ve done or not done. The Bible says we should put no confidence in the flesh (see Philippians 3:3), but be bold and courageous in Christ.

Begin to believe today that from now on you’ll step out in faith to do whatever He asks you to do. Don’t draw back in fear and timidity, but go all the way through to the finish of each task.

Prayer Starter: Father, please set me free from any insecurities or lack of confidence that’s held me back. Thank You that I can always come boldly to You and ask for anything I need, and thank You for equipping me to do everything You’ve asked me to do with excellence. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. — Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)

In order to live in freedom, it’s important that we make up our minds to live for God no matter what. Hebrews 12:1 tells us to throw off every sin that entangles us; it’s virtually impossible to grow and succeed spiritually with known, willful sin in our lives. I don’t mean to say that we have to be absolutely perfect in order for God to use us, but I am saying that we must have an intentional, vigilant attitude about keeping sin out of our lives.

When God says something is wrong, then it is wrong. When He points sin out to us, we don’t need to discuss, theorize, blame, make excuses, or feel sorry for ourselves. We need to agree with God, thank Him for showing us where we’ve strayed off the right path, ask for forgiveness, and work with the Holy Spirit to get whatever it is out of our lives. Purity leads to power, and with God’s help, we can live abundant, powerful lives.

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for showing me the sin in my life so that I can move away from it and live in freedom from it. Today, please help me set aside any sin that’s holding me back so I can live a pure, holy, power-filled life for You. Thank You for giving me the wisdom and grace I need to stay on the path You have for me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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For there shall the seed produce peace and prosperity; the vine shall yield her fruit and the ground shall give its increase and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit and possess all these things. — Zechariah 8:12 (AMPC)

Start something good in someone’s life today. Plant faith for someone’s healing. Plant hope for restoration in a seemingly hopeless situation. A sincere compliment can plant life-changing confidence in someone who is starving for encouragement. Your forgiveness of an ongoing offense can plant a seed for a miracle breakthrough in that relationship.

Pray for someone else’s need, or give a gift to meet it yourself. Start something positive to honor God. Remember, He won’t ask you to give anything that He doesn’t give you the grace to give. When you’re obedient to give what He asks you to, you’ll eventually enjoy an abundant harvest in your own life.

Prayer Starter: Lord, please show me what and where You want me to give. Thank You for blessing me so I can bless the people around me, and for directing my steps. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. — Jeremiah 29:11 (AMPC)

God’s plan for the people of Israel was only for their good, yet they wandered around in the wilderness for 40 years on what was actually an 11-day journey. Why? Was it their enemies, their circumstances, the trials along the way, or something entirely different that kept them from arriving at their destination in a timely manner?

To really know the answer to this question, let’s look back a little. God had called the children of Israel out of bondage in Egypt to go to the land He had promised to give them as a perpetual inheritance—a land that flowed with milk, honey and every good thing they could imagine—a land in which there would be no shortage of anything they needed—a land of prosperity in every realm of their existence.

But the Israelites had no positive vision for their lives—no dreams. They knew where they came from, but they didn’t know where they were going. Everything was based on what they had seen in the past or what they could presently see—they didn’t know how to see the future with eyes of faith.

We really shouldn’t view the Israelites with astonishment, because most of us unknowingly do the same thing they did; we keep dealing with the same problems over and over again. The disappointing result is that it takes us years to experience victory over something that could have and should have been dealt with quickly.

I come from a background of abuse. My childhood was filled with fear and torment, and my personality was a mess! I built up walls of protection to keep people from hurting me, not realizing that while I was locking others out, I was also locking myself in. I was filled with fear, and believed that the only way I could face life was to be in control so no one could hurt me.

As a young adult trying to live for Christ and follow the Christian lifestyle, I knew where I had come from, but I didn’t know where I was going. I felt that my future would always be marred by my past. I thought, How could anyone with a past like mine ever be all right? It’s impossible!

But Jesus had a different plan. He said, The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me . . . to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity] (Luke 4:18).

Jesus came to open the prison doors and set the captives free—and that included me. However, I did not make any progress until I started to believe that I really could be set free. I had to get rid of my negative thinking and replace it with a positive vision for my life—God’s vision for me. I had to believe that neither my past nor my present could determine my future. Only then could Jesus free me from the bondage of my past—and free me, He did. Looking back, I realize what a miracle that was!

You may have had a miserable past; you might even be in current circumstances that are extremely negative and depressing. You may be facing situations that are so bad it seems you have no real reason to hope. But I say to you boldly: Your future is not determined by your past or your present!

Most of the generation the Lord called out of Egypt never entered into the Promised Land. Instead, they died in the wilderness. To me, this is one of the saddest things that can happen to a child of God—to have so much available and yet never be able to enjoy any of it.

Start believing that God’s Word is true. Mark 9:23 reminds you that with God all things are possible. Because you serve a God who created everything you see out of the unseen realm (see Hebrews 11:3), you can give Him your nothingness and watch Him go to work on your behalf. All you have to do is have faith in Him and believe His Word—He will do the rest!

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for loving me and having a vision—a good plan—for my life. Please help me overcome any negative mindsets that are keeping me from the future You have for me, and make my life what You want it to be. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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For who has known the mind of the Lord and who has understood His thoughts, or who has [ever] been His counselor? — Romans 11:34 (AMPC)

We need to come to the realization that God is smarter than we are. His plan really is better—way is better than ours. I look back now at many of the frustrating times I went through trying to make things happen in my own timing and being frustrated about waiting, and I realize now that I really wasn’t ready for them. God knew I wasn’t ready yet, but I thought I was. I spent so much of my time asking, “Why, God, why?” and “When, God, when?” I asked questions only God had the answers to, and He knew I wasn’t able to handle the answers yet.

I have discovered over the years that trusting God often requires unanswered questions. When we face confusing situations, we need to say, “Lord, this does not make any sense to me, but I’m choosing to trust You. I believe You love me and that You’ll bring Your best for me at the right time.” God doesn’t need our advice in order to work; He needs our faith.

In Exodus 33:13, Moses prayed for God to show him His ways: “Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You [progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with You, perceiving and recognizing and understanding more strongly and clearly] and that I may find favor in Your sight.”

We should pray that prayer regularly, remembering that God’s ways include His timing. When we do, He’ll give us the grace to be patient, and the wisdom to know what to do in the meantime.

Prayer Starter: Father, please help me trust Your timing and process. I don’t want to force things to happen, so give me the grace to stay patient. Thank You for showing me how to move forward, and for working behind the scenes for my good. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Then he said, Go around and borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels, and not a few. — 2 Kings 4:3 (AMPC)

Adapted from the resource Love Out Loud – by Joyce Meyer

Today’s scripture mentions “empty vessels,” which is what all of us are. We don’t have anything useful within ourselves, except the power and presence of God that can flow out of us. Certainly, we have value, but only because of the value God assigned to us by paying such a high price for our redemption: the blood of His Son, Jesus. In Christ, we exist and have everything, but in our flesh (who we are apart from Him), there is nothing of any eternal value.

Without Jesus, what do we have to offer God? Nothing. God doesn’t need us; He can do anything He needs to do without us. But He wants to invite us into His work, which is a great privilege and honor, and one that requires us to empty ourselves so we can be filled with Him.

Now, emptying ourselves is not an easy task, and it definitely doesn’t happen quickly. I spent many years wondering if I would ever start to show humility instead of pride, trusting God’s strength instead of mine. If you feel the same way, let me encourage you that as long as you don’t give up, you are making progress. If we’re pressing on and are sincere about growing spiritually, we’ll eventually be like the vessels in today’s scripture—empty of ourselves and ready to be used by God to fulfill His great purposes for our lives.

Prayer Starter: Father, please empty me of everything in me that isn’t from You, and fill me with Your Spirit. Thank You for treasuring me, helping me grow, and making me truly valuable. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Jesus said, Take away the stone. Martha, the sister of the dead man, exclaimed, But Lord, by this time he [is decaying and] throws off an offensive odor, for he has been dead four days! — John 11:39 (AMPC)

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

Like Martha, we might think it’s too late for God to help us with our problems because we’ve had them too long, or they’re just too difficult to solve. But God has shown over and over in His Word that nothing is impossible for Him. If He can raise someone from the dead, surely He can bring home a lost child, resurrect a dead marriage, or even fulfill a dream buried deep in your heart.

I want to encourage you not to give up on anyone or anything. Talk to God about it… give Him a chance to work in your life and circumstances. Be patient and expect something good to happen! I always say I’d rather ask God for a lot and only get half of it than ask Him for a little and get all of it. If you’re going to ask God for anything, it might as well be something that seems impossible.

Speak this: God can do anything, so I am going to ask Him for everything!

Prayer Starter: Father, please help me not to write off certain dreams or hopes because they haven’t happened yet. Thank You for caring about everything on my mind, and for being willing to intervene. Show me what I need to do, and help me trust You to do the rest. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is everyone who fears, reveres, and worships the Lord, who walks in His ways and lives according to His commandments. — Psalm 128:1 (AMPC)

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

The Bible says, Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked . . . For whatever a man sows, that and that only is what he will reap”(Galatians 6:7 AMPC).

God’s Word is true, and He will not be overcome. Nothing can stop His plan, no matter how many obstacles might try to block the way (see Isaiah 54:17; 55:11; Psalm 33:11). Jesus has already completely defeated and disarmed Satan and all his demonic forces, so they cannot and will not win (see Colossians 2:15). If it seems like the enemy has built walls that are keeping you from your purpose, keep doing what’s right anyway—the harvest you’re waiting for will come at the right time (see Galatians 6:9-10).

When you’re feeling overwhelmed and discouraged, remember that God’s plan for you is good (see Jeremiah 29:11), He’s empowering you to do everything you need to (see Philippians 4:13), and nothing can snatch you out of His hand (see John 10:28). As you follow Him, He’s got your back—no matter what—and He’s the One who will give you the grace to keep going.

Prayer Starter: Father, please help me trust You with my calling and purpose, even when I feel overwhelmed. Thank You that nothing can stop Your good plan from coming to pass in my life, and that You haven’t forgotten me. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! — 2 Corinthians 5:17 (AMPC)

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

“I’ve always had a short temper. That’s just the way I am.”

“I’m a straightforward person. That’s who I am, and that’s how people need to accept me.”

“I call things as I see them. I don’t sugarcoat anything.”

This list could go on endlessly, but the one thing these excuses have in common is that each is meant to justify people remaining the way they are. It’s a way of resisting change.

Making excuses also creates space for Satan to creep into our minds. Being the deceiver that he is, he tells us that we’re not rude—we’re just being honest, and people need to respect that quality in us. We think we speak the truth as we see it, and we’re not cowards or hypocrites. If the devil can convince us that we don’t need to grow—that we’ll always be fine exactly the way we are—he’s won a serious battle in our lives.

In fact, the devil can give us a lot of excuses for not changing. If he convinces us that other people are at fault because “they’re just too sensitive” or “they don’t want to hear the truth and face reality,” we don’t feel responsible to grow in the way we communicate, and we think it’s all right to say whatever we want, which isn’t true.

Another example is this: No matter how negative we might be in our thinking, most of us wouldn’t call ourselves “negative.” We’d prefer words like logical, realistic, forthright, or candid. Not facing the truth about ourselves is one part of Satan’s deceptive work.

When I went through a season where I was extremely negative, I wouldn’t have thought of myself as a negative person—I thought I was just being honest. If I saw something wrong, I spoke up, and often offered my counsel on ways for people to change. Because I could see the weaknesses and problems of others, I was happy to show them how they could overcome. On my worst days, I found things wrong with all my friends and everything they did. I didn’t have to look for things to criticize—they just appeared without me having to look for them. I didn’t consider it negative because I thought I was merely trying to be helpful. I was so full of pride at the time that it never occurred to me that people didn’t really want my help. They wanted acceptance and encouragement, not judgment and criticism.

As I said, I had never thought of myself as being negative—that is, until God dealt with me and convicted my heart about the way I was treating people.

I’m not trying to condemn anyone for being negative, frank, blunt, candid, or whatever term you use for it, because condemning is in itself being negative. Instead, I want to help believers recognize if this is an attitude problem for them, and help them know that God is willing and able to help them get free from it. The path to freedom begins when we face our problems—without making excuses—and invite Him to help us overcome them.

We start the Christian life as new creations of God. Our past is wiped away. Our walk with God is one of change—of growth—of moving onward. We know what we’ve been in the past, but we also know that we don’t have to remain that way now or in the future. With Jesus’ help, we can have our minds renewed with His Word and always be growing.

The most difficult part may be to say to God, “I’m a negative person, but I want to change.” Once you’re honest with Him about your struggle, you can begin to win the battle and see more freedom in your thoughts, words and attitudes.

Prayer Starter: Father, please give me the grace to let go of negative, critical thinking, and help me see people and situations the way You do. Thank You for helping me renew my mind with truth, and to use my words to encourage and build others up. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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For the rest, brethren, 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 4:8 (AMPC)

Adapted from the resource New Day, New You – by Joyce Meyer

“Manifesting your reality” might sound like something from a contemporary self-help course, but the concept comes straight from Scripture: As he thinks in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7 AMPC). I like to say it like this: “Where the mind goes, the man follows.”

Positive thoughts play a huge role in creating a positive life. On the other hand, our lives can also become miserable by having a mind full of anxious thoughts and negative expectations. We usually think our problems are the thing ruining our life, but our attitude toward them is often the bigger problem that keeps us from enjoying our lives.

I’m sure we’ve all encountered people who have a great attitude despite being in extremely trying circumstances. We’ve also probably met those who have seemingly endless money and privilege, yet they’re negative, critical, and filled with self-pity and resentment. Like it or not, we actually have more to do with how our lives turn out than we realize. Thoughts affect emotions, and both affect the body, so learning how to think right is actually mandatory for good health.

Today you can make a decision that you’re going to have a healthy, positive mind. Renewing your mind will take some time and effort, but it’s more than worth it. As you ask God for His grace and study His Word, you’ll grow and experience more and more freedom.

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for giving me the ability to enjoy my life. Please teach me how to renew my mind with Your Word, and help me focus on life-giving thoughts. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. — Nehemiah 1:4 (ESV)

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

Nehemiah was not afraid of emotion, or reluctant to show it. Notice that he “wept and mourned.” Some of us flat-out refuse to show any of our emotions, which is not healthy. Pent‑up feelings are harmful if not dealt with, and need to be released in healthy ways. If we don’t release our emotions at appropriate times, as Nehemiah did when he heard the walls of Jerusalem had been destroyed, our emotions will eat away at us on the inside.

Stuffing or suppressing our feelings can also cause physical problems like trouble sleeping, or even digestive issues. Maybe you know someone who went to the doctor because they felt so bad and were convinced something was wrong with them, only to find out—after all kinds of medical tests—that the doctor found nothing and simply said their symptoms were related to stress or anxiety.

Our emotions will always manifest in some way, so it’s best to deal with them before they deal with us. God created us with tear glands and the ability to cry, which must mean there will be times in life when we, like Nehemiah, need to cry. In the Old Testament, Hannah wept and even stopped eating because she was brokenhearted over not having a child (see 1 Samuel 1:7). When David and the men with him discovered the Amalekites had burned the city of Ziklag and taken everyone in it (including their own wives and children) captive, they “raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep” (1 Samuel 30:4). David also wept when his son became deathly ill (see 2 Samuel 12:21–22). Even Jesus wept over the death of His friend Lazarus (see John 11:35).

Tears are certainly part of the process of healing in our soul. God speaks through the prophet Jeremiah: “Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the LORD” (Lamentations 2:19). This proves to us that God wants us to bring our pain to Him. We can tell Him everything, holding nothing back. He knows it all anyway, but getting it out in the open is incredibly helpful to us.

Though it is important to express our deep feelings through tears at times, God didn’t create us to stay in a season of weeping forever. There is “a time to weep, and a time to laugh” (Ecclesiastes 3:4). God’s Word promises us that “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5 NKJV). Whatever you’re going through right now, ask God to help you deal with it in a healthy way. Cry when you need to, and know that this season of sadness will come to an end. As you walk with God, He will heal your heart and lead you into new seasons with joy.

Prayer Starter: Father, please help me express and deal with my emotions in a healthy way. If there’s anything I’ve been putting off dealing with, please show me and give me the strength to deal with it. Thank You for being there for me, for listening, and for healing me from the inside out. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of this Philistine; your servant will go out and fight with him. . . . David said, The Lord Who delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Go, and the Lord be with you!  — 1 Samuel 17:32, 37 (AMPC)

Adapted from the resource The Confident Woman – by Joyce Meyer

When David came against Goliath, he didn’t stand for hours looking at the giant wondering how to win the battle. The Bible says that he ran quickly to the battle line, all the time talking about the greatness of God and declaring his victory ahead of time. David didn’t run away from his giant— he courageously ran toward him.

Robert Schuller said, “If you listen to your fears, you will die never knowing what a great person you might have been.”

If David had run from Goliath, he would never have been king of Israel. He was anointed by God to be king twenty years before he wore the crown. During those years he faced his giants and proved that he had the tenacity to endure difficulty without quitting.

Did David feel any fear as he approached Goliath? I think he did. In David’s writings he never claimed to be free from the feelings of fear, but he chose to do it afraid, and God honored his faith!

Prayer Starter: Father, I know I have some giants that I need to face… please help me to be tenacious and to do it afraid. Thank You for having my back in every battle. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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You, therefore, must be perfect [growing into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity], as your heavenly Father is perfect. — Matthew 5:48 (AMPC)

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

Being perfect sounds good, but trust me—it’s not reality. Reality is that every one of us is a human being, and no matter how hard we try to be perfect, we’ll still make mistakes sometimes. Our hearts can be perfect toward God, but our performance will never be perfect as long as we’re on earth, and that’s okay.

You are legally and positionally perfect in Christ, but experientially, you’re in the process of changing every day from glory to glory. It’s a growing process, and it takes time.

Struggling for perfection to gain acceptance and approval from God or others only brings frustration and never-ending exhaustion. And it isn’t necessary, because Jesus accepts you just as you are. He will never pressure you to perform, or demand something of you that you don’t know how to give. So just do your best . . . and enjoy life while you’re maturing.

Prayer Starter: Father, please help me be more patient with myself, and to learn to enjoy the growing process. Thank You for being patient with me as I’m maturing. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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