Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour. — 1 Peter 5:8 (AMP)

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

I remember sitting in my home looking up the word gentle in Strong’s concordance and saying, “Lord, You’ve got to help me!” I thought I could never be gentle. Finally, the Lord began to do a work in me in the area of gentleness. The only problem was that, like so many other people in the body of Christ, I was such an extremist that I couldn’t “strike a happy medium.”

Once I saw that I was overbalanced in one area, I thought I had to go totally in the other direction. I “adjusted” and “adapted” far too much. I became so “gentle” and “kind” and “patient” that I wouldn’t exercise any discipline over my youngest son, who was born after my other children were grown. I also went overboard in my relationship with others. I let things get out of hand in my marriage, my home, and my ministry. I learned from my experiences that one extreme is just as bad as the other. What we must learn in all this is balance.

On one hand, we must not be harsh and hard. But on the other hand, we must not be weak and excessively soft. We must not be irritable and impatient, flying off the handle and acting out of emotion. On the other hand, we must not be so mild mannered that we become doormats and whipping posts for those who will take advantage of us if we give them a chance. There is a time to be patient and forbearing, and there is a time to be firm and decisive. There is a time to “not be angry,” and there is a time to display righteous indignation. It is wisdom to know when to do which.

Prayer Starter: Lord, help me to live a balanced life in every area. Please show me any areas where I have gone to an unhealthy extreme. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Be miserable and grieve and weep [over your sin]. Let your [foolish] laughter be turned to mourning and your [reckless] joy to gloom. — James 4:9 (AMP)

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

Yesterday I encountered a person who was quite demanding that I do something she wanted me to do and would not take no for an answer. I ended up being rude to her, and I feel a godly sorrow over my behavior. I always want to represent God well, and that means I often need to be long-suffering with someone who is irritating to me.

I don’t feel guilty and condemned, because I have repented and know that I am forgiven, but I do feel a godly sorrow, and I think that feeling is healthy and right. We should take our sin seriously and be deeply penitent when we do something that we know is wrong.

Although this feeling is uncomfortable, I welcome it because it impresses on me the importance of my witness for Christ and reminds me of how easy it is to behave in a fleshly and carnal way. The Bible urges us repeatedly to be on our guard against the temptations we encounter in the world and to live carefully. Being rude to someone may seem a small thing, but it is the little foxes that spoil the vine (see Song of Solomon 2:15).

I believe we should appreciate any feeling of chastisement that we receive from the Holy Spirit, because it is God helping us be the kind of people who represent Jesus well.

Prayer Starter: Lord, I appreciate Your conviction and chastisement, and I am deeply sorry for my sins and grateful for Your forgiveness. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Because of laziness the building decays, and through idleness of hands the house leaks.

— Ecclesiastes 10:18 (NKJV)

Adapted from the resource Love Out Loud Devotional – by Joyce Meyer

Do you truly believe that love can change the world? I do. But I also know the events and accomplishments that have brought lasting change to the world have not been accidental; they have been things people thought through and acted on deliberately. The Bible is filled with instructions for us to be active.

Wishing for something does not produce the results we desire, but we must aggressively do what needs to be done to achieve them. We will never find a successful man who spent his life wishing for success and attained it. The same principle applies to loving God, loving our­selves, and loving others. If we want to love people as Jesus instructed, we will have to do so on purpose. It will not happen by accident.

If we seek opportunities to love people, we are sure to find them, and that will protect us from being idle and passive. We must ask our­selves if we are alert and active or passive and inactive? God is alert and active! I am glad He is; otherwise, things in our lives would deteriorate rapidly.

So much good can happen in your life and in the lives of those around you if you’ll simply decide not to be passive, but to follow the Holy Spirit as He leads you. God-inspired, balanced activity will keep you from being idle and bless many people in the process.

Prayer Starter: Lord, help me today to be active and intentional, not passive or idle. Each day, help me to take steps and make progress as it pertains to my dreams, responsibilities, and loving others in my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. — 1 Samuel 16:7

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

God is the God of hearts. He does not look only at the exterior of a person, or even the things a person does, and judge the individual by that criterion. Man judges the flesh, but God judges the heart.

It is possible to do good works and still have a wrong heart attitude. It is also possible to do some things wrong but still have a right heart on the inside. God is much more inclined to use a person with a good heart and a few problems than He is to use a person who seems to have it all together but who has a wicked heart.

It is very important that we get in touch with our inner life and our heart attitude, the way we feel and think about things (what the Bible calls the hidden man of the heart), if we want to hear from God and live in close relationship with Him.

When God seeks to promote someone, He chooses a person after His own heart.

Prayer Starter: Father, help me to be a person after Your heart—to want what You want and view others with love and compassion. I can’t change myself, but with Your help, I can change from the inside out. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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And you [He made alive when you] were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of your transgressions and sins. — Ephesians 2:1 (AMP)

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

I find a great deal of comfort in thinking about who I used to be and who I have become. It helps me not to be discouraged when I make mistakes or find that I still struggle over some issues. I’m greatly encouraged when I consider where I started and where I am now.

In Ephesians 2, Paul described those outside of Christ. He wrote that unbelievers follow the prince of the power of the air, who is Satan, and they follow the way their master leads. In verse 1, he pointed out that all were once dead through their sins, but believers are now alive in Jesus Christ. He tells us we’re not governed or led by our lower nature—the impulses of the flesh.

Many Christians have trouble in this area because they haven’t learned to control their thoughts. A lady once told me, “It simply didn’t occur to me that I needed to direct my mind and keep it healthy and positive. If ministers preached or taught about the control of our thoughts, I never heard it. One day, however, I read an article about the power of thoughts, and God convicted me. That’s when I knew I needed to change my thinking.”

This lady said she drove down the street of a busy city and she spotted a sign, a cartoon of a car with big eyes for the front lights and tears flowing, and the words, “Please help me! I need an oil change.”

As she passed by, she thought, I need a mind change. I don’t like being the way I am, letting my mind go wherever it wants. Part of my responsibility as a child of God is to keep my thoughts healthy and strong.

“I want to make it clear that I went to church,” she said, “and I had been active for years. I knew a lot of Scripture, and I even did some volunteer work at the church. But I didn’t control my thoughts. Even when I sang in church, my mind jumped from subject to subject. We’d be singing about joy and grace, and I’d think about the dishes still in the sink, the unfinished laundry, or what I wanted to eat for lunch.

“I attended church and I was faithful, but I was not faithful in attending to the Word. I listened when the preachers quoted Scripture. I usually followed along with my own Bible, but I didn’t really think about what I was hearing or what my eyes were reading. I was doing the right things outwardly, but I wasn’t thinking the right things. My mind was a mess, and I didn’t know what to do about it.”

“I need a mind change,” she suddenly said aloud to herself. Just then, she actually pondered the words she had spoken. She was like the car on the sign—she needed a change—a mind change. She needed to let the Holy Spirit direct her thoughts, instead of the devil. As she prayed, she felt confident there would be a positive change.

She thought to herself, Is there anything I am supposed to do? She realized that if she didn’t make lifestyle changes, the devil would soon make the new thinking as muddy and gunky as the old thinking was.

For the next several days, she looked up all the scriptures she could find that used the word “study” or “meditate”. She also looked up scriptures that talked about the mind or thoughts. She read those verses, wrote them on slips of paper, and pondered them.

Here are three of them:

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he… (Proverbs 23:7 NKJV).

And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude] (Ephesians 4:23 AMPC).

My hands also will I lift up [in fervent supplication] to Your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on Your statutes (Psalm 119:48 AMPC).

The more she meditated on the right things, the less trouble she had with Satan trying to control her thoughts. That’s how it works with all of us: The more we focus on God, the less often the devil can defeat us.

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for the power in Your Word to renew my mind. Please help me to stay focused on You and choose positive, faith-filled thoughts that will propel my life in the right direction. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

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Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. — 2 Peter 1:10

Adapted from the resource Wake Up to the Word Devotional – by Joyce Meyer

To be diligent means to be constant in effort or exertion to accomplish what is undertaken.

Many people are unhappy because they only want to do things that are easy or convenient. This saddens me because these people often cheat themselves out of the rewards God has for them simply because they want to avoid difficulty. However, if we are willing to let God help us do our best, we will reap great benefits.

God wants to bless you in many ways. Sometimes you may go through difficulties first, but there is always blessing on the other side. Remember, you never have to do it in your own strength—you can always rely on His strength to see you through. If you refuse to give up, you’ll overcome every challenge and receive God’s best for your life.

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for the power of Your Holy Spirit in my life to help me stick with things and follow through. Help me to not give up when life gets tough, but to stay diligent to the very end. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. — Psalm 23:4

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

Often when we think of trusting God, we think of trusting Him for things we need or want—financial provision, physical healing, the restoration of a relationship, or a promotion at work. A true relationship of trust in God extends beyond trusting Him for something and includes trusting Him through a situation. We need to learn to not simply look to Him for the results we desire; we need to learn to trust Him through the process of attaining them.

There was a time in my life when I focused intensely on trusting God for things, saying, “I want this, God,” “I want that, God,” and “I need such-and-such, God.” In the midst of my requests, He began to show me that getting all those things was not what was most important. Those things would come later, but back then He needed to teach me first how to trust Him while I was going through situations.

He wanted me to learn that He may not always rescue us when we want out of circumstances, but He is always with us as we walk through them. Because He is with us, we can go through trials in our lives with stable, positive attitudes, trusting God completely, even against seemingly impossible odds.

Remember, your attitude in every situation is yours to command. No one can force you to have a bad attitude or a good one; it is entirely up to you. Maintain an attitude of faith, praise, thanksgiving, and positive expectation, and you will definitely come out of your situation victoriously at just the right time.

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for being with me in the midst of difficult times. Help me use them as an opportunity to grow closer to You. Teach me to receive Your joy and peace even when life isn’t perfect. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. — Matthew 11:28

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

We really do live in a time-crunched world; just about everything we do seems to be urgent. We live under incredible pressure and run from one thing to the next—to the point that we may neglect the things that are really important in life: family, our health, God, and building up our spiritual lives.

The truth is, we cannot handle life apart from God. We cannot handle the pressure, the confusion, and the stress without Him. Our marriages will suffer, we will experience financial pressure, and our relationships won’t thrive if we do not study God’s Word and take time to pray.

But there is good news to be thankful for—God will strengthen us and enable us to handle life peacefully and wisely if we start praying about things instead of merely trying to get through the day. God will renew our strength and enable us to handle life and not be weary (see Isaiah 40:31).

Prayer Starter: Father, I am so thankful that You give me peace and rest even in the midst of a busy life. Help me to lean on You today and use wisdom in setting my schedule. You are the strength of my life, and I totally depend on You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. — Matthew 5:13

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

I think it’s safe to say that most of what the world offers is tasteless—and I’m not talking about food. For example, most of the movies Hollywood produces and the way people treat each other in the world today are tasteless.

Usually when we see any type of behavior that is in poor taste, we are quick to blame “the world.” We might say something like, “What is the world coming to?” Yet the phrase “the world” merely means the people who live in the world. If the world has lost its flavor, it is because people have become tasteless in their attitudes and actions.

Jesus said we are the salt of the earth (see Matthew 5:13). He also said we are the light of the world and should not hide our light (see Matthew 5:14).

Think of it this way: Each day as you leave your home, you can add God’s light and flavor to any environment. You can bring joy to your workplace by being determined to consistently have a godly attitude, and through simple things like being thankful, patient, merciful, quick to forgive offenses, kind, and encouraging. Even simply smiling and being friendly is a way to bring flavor into a tasteless society.

I want you to try an experiment. Just think: I am going to go out into the world today and spice things up. Get your mind set before you ever walk out the door that you are going out as God’s ambassador, and that your goal is to be a giver, to love people, and to add good flavor to their lives.

The question each of us must answer is, “What have I done today to make someone else’s life better?”

Prayer Starter: Father, help me to add “flavor” everywhere I go today. Show me ways I can truly love and bless others…and represent You in everything I do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. — Psalm 118:24

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

Enjoying the abundant life Jesus died to give you is based on a decision you make, not on your circumstances. Thankfully, you can decide to be happy right where you are and to enjoy the life you have right now on the way to where you are going. You can make a firm decision to enjoy your journey.

You can begin by saying out loud, “I am going to enjoy my life.” Until you get that thought established in your mind, every morning when you wake up, before you even get out of bed, I encourage you to declare out loud, “I am going to enjoy this day! I am seizing the day! I am taking authority over Satan—the joy thief—even before he tries to come against me. I have made up my mind that I am going to keep my joy today!”

Having a right mind-set always helps in every situation.

Prayer Starter: I thank You today, Father, that I can choose to live in the abundant life Jesus died to give me. I don’t have to live a miserable, unhappy life. I can choose to celebrate Your goodness and enjoy the life You have given me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. — John 15:5

It’s so important for us to remember that God is our Source and the key to winning life’s battles. He wants to fight our battles, but the choice is ultimately up to us. So, how do we let God fight our battles? Well, first, it means you don’t take matters into your own hands and do what you feellike doing.

For example, when someone hurts or offends me, what I feel like doing is retaliating—doing something to “make them pay” for what they did. But our way and God’s way are completely different!

We are in a spiritual battle, and it goes much deeper than what we see on the surface. That’s why knowing His Word is so incredibly important. The Bible clearly outlines God’s strategies for overcoming the enemy, and it contains His wisdom and the direction we need for every problem we face. Because knowing what God’s Word says—and then doing what it says—is the greatest weapon we have to winning life’s battles!

God’s Word shows us who we are in Christ and teaches us how to defeat the enemy through His strength. His Word has the power to renew our mind, heal our brokenness and change our lives (see Romans 12:2; Hebrews 4:12). Simply put, God’s Word is our protection. We must know it, love it, obey it…and use it against the enemy when he comes against us.

Prayer Starter: Father, You are my Source and Strength. Teach me through Your Word how to depend on You completely. Help me to renew my mind daily. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” — Acts 1:8

Are you fighting a battle right now? I believe we all have battles to fight at different times in life. The good news is, as followers of Christ, we are not fighting alone. We have a Mighty Warrior and His host of angels on our side. That makes it a totally different fight. The Holy Spirit, our personal Warrior, is in each of us, and He is our Helper.

When we accept Christ as our Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell inside of us—God literally gives each one of us a little piece of Himself. So, what does this mean? It means that all of God’s power, strength, comfort, creativity, and help are available to us at all times.

God never meant for us to live weak, powerless lives—always “running on fumes” and barely getting by. His will is for us to be “more than conquerors” (see Romans 8:37). And through His Spirit, He wants to provide us with the strength and ability we need to succeed in life and lead us through each battle we face.

The enemy will try to stop us from moving forward in the things of God. And he will use any strategy against you, things such as discouragement and distraction. But remember that Almighty God is on your side no matter what you’re facing, and He has a plan for you to be victorious.

Prayer Starter: Father, I believe You lead, guide and direct me every day. Help me to be the strong warrior you have called me to be and follow the plan you have for me to win the battle. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. — Hebrews 4:16

Did you know that God is interested in every single detail of your life and that He loves to hear from you? For years, I felt like I was bothering God with my prayers or, when I did pray, I was certain I wasn’t doing it the right way. However, God never meant for prayer to be complicated.

Prayer is a simple, powerful way to fight the enemy because we release our faith through prayer. When we pray, we open the door for God to come into our problems and situations and work on them.

God desires for us to view prayer as a simple conversation with Him. It’s asking Him to meet our needs or someone else’s. It’s praising Him and thanking Him. It’s talking to Him about everything and anything that matters to us.

So, no matter what battle you’re fighting or what your circumstances look like, know that you have God Himself in your corner. He sees where you are, He hears your prayers, and He delights in coming to your rescue.

Prayer Starter: I thank You today, Father, that prayer doesn’t have to be long and complicated. You hear even my short, heartfelt prayers. Remind me that I can have a continuous conversation with You all through the day, and that You hear and answer me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but Gods’.” — 2 Chronicles 20:15

There are times in our lives when we feel like we are up against what seems to be an insurmountable enemy. Things appear to be hopeless, and we are in a fight we think we can’t possibly win. During times like these, we need to remember one very important thing: The battle belongs to the Lord.

You and I are involved in a spiritual war in the unseen realm. God’s Word makes it clear that we will have times of trouble (see John 16:33). But the Bible also makes it clear that no matter what we may be facing, God has a plan. His plan for us is to be victorious—even when our problems feel overwhelming.

You may be struggling with fear, a bad habit, relationship issues, or even a life-threatening disease. Whatever it is, when you give your battle to the Lord, you are in a position to win. Second Chronicles chapter 20 is one of my favorite passages of Scripture. It’s the perfect blueprint for how to respond when trouble strikes.

At the beginning of this chapter, we find King Jehoshaphat of Judah and his entire army surrounded by their enemies, trapped and outnumbered. Suddenly, without hardly any warning, Judah’s army was faced with an impossible situation and seemingly no solution. Sound familiar?

There are three very important things Jehoshaphat did. First, he admitted that he had no might to stand against his enemies. Second, he admitted that he did not know what to do. And third, he said that their eyes were on God. These three things put Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah in a position for a miracle.

In a similar way, we need to realize that we are totally dependent on God to solve our problem and fight our battles—we can’t do it on our own!

Prayer Starter: Lord, I understand there will be times when I face troubles and difficulties. Help me to let You fight my battles, trusting You to show up in my situation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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…He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future]. — John 16:13 (AMPC)

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

One of the many benefits of hearing from God is that listening to His voice helps us prepare for the future. The Holy Spirit gives to us the messages the Father gives to Him, and He often tells us things that will happen in the future.

We find many instances in the Bible in which God spoke to people and gave them information about the future. He told Noah to prepare for a flood that would come to destroy the people of the earth (see Genesis 6:13–17). He told Moses to go to Pharaoh and ask for the release of the Israelites and that Pharaoh would not grant this request (see Exodus 7).

Obviously, God does not tell us everything that will happen in the future, but His Word promises He will tell us some things.

There are times when I sense that something good, or perhaps something challenging, is going to happen. When a challenge awaits me and I have some prior knowledge of it, that knowledge helps to cushion the blow when the difficult situation comes.

If an automobile with good shock absorbers hits a pothole, those absorbers protect passengers in the car from the jarring impact that would result and no one gets hurt. God’s giving us information ahead of time works the same way.

Part of the Holy Spirit’s ministry is to tell us things to come. He knows the mind of God and He knows God’s individual plans for our lives. He will reveal what we need to know when we need to know it in order to fulfill the good plans God has for us.

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for the ministry of Your Holy Spirit, Who speaks to our hearts and shows us what we need to know. Help me to be sensitive to Your Spirit at all times. Open my eyes to the things I need to see today and in the future. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.” — 2 Kings 2:9-10

Adapted from the resource The Confident Woman Devotional – by Joyce Meyer

Just as under-confidence comes with its list of symptoms, the same is true of confidence. A confident person believes they are loved, valuable, cared for, and safe in God’s will. When we feel secure, it’s easy to step out and take a chance on failing in order to try to succeed.

When we know we are loved for ourselves and not just for our accomplishments or performance, we no longer need to fear failure. We realize that failing at something does not make us a failure at everything. We are free to explore and find out what we are best suited to do. We are free to find our own niche in life, which is not possible without stepping out.

Trial and error is the road to success, and you can’t drive that road as long as your car is parked. So, get moving, and God will direct you. When people are confident, they try things, and they keep trying until they find a way to be successful in what God has called them to do.

Prayer Starter: Lord, I want to explore all that You have for me, and I accept there may be failures. Show me the way to be successful for You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. — Matthew 12:33

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

The Bible says a tree is known by its fruit, and the same is true of you. You can look at a person’s attitude and know what kind of thinking is prevalent in their life. A sweet, kind person does not have mean, vindictive thoughts. By the same token, a truly evil person does not have good, loving thoughts.

Your thoughts bear fruit. Think good thoughts and the fruit in your life will be good. Think bad thoughts and the fruit in your life will be bad. Remember Proverbs 23:7(AMPC) and allow it to have an impact on your life: For as you think in your heart, so are you.

Prayer Starter: Thank You, Father, for the power of Your Word to renew my thoughts and transform every single area of my life. Help me to be aware of what is going on in my mind and to constantly choose positive, uplifting, faith-filled thoughts from Your Word. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

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[Yes] I will grant [I Myself will do for you] whatever you shall ask in My Name [as presenting all that I AM]. — John 14:14 (AMPC)

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

I reached a point in my prayer life where I felt frustrated, so I began to seek God about it. I wanted the assurance that my prayers were being effective. I wanted to have confidence that when I prayed, power was released to work in the situation I had prayed about. I wanted those things, but to be honest, I didn’t have that assurance or confidence.

Satan definitely wants to steal our confidence concerning prayer. Many people express the same frustrations that I felt. They pray, but all the while they’re wondering if they are being effective. What is wrong? I believe that we mistakenly think that we need to be perfect in order to have power in prayer, but we don’t. That is why we have been given the name of Jesus in which to pray!

When we pray in Jesus’ name, we are presenting to God the Father all that Jesus is, not what we are. Thankfully, I don’t pray in Joyce’s name; if I did I would never accomplish anything! The Holy Spirit helps us pray as we ought to, and the name of Jesus guarantees the answer!

Be bold in prayer because you have the name above every other name, and at the mention of that name, every knee must bow (see Philippians 2:10). Pray boldly, expecting results!

Prayer Starter: Thank You, Father, that I can come to You boldly in prayer, knowing that You love to hear from me. Increase my level of expectation and help me to make prayer an easy, simple, natural part of my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. — Proverbs 4:20-22 (NKJV)

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

When we refer to “meditating,” we mean we ponder something and give it our full attention. A French couple helped me see that meditation is like eating. They will take a bite of food after they have enjoyed the way it looks on the plate. They comment on the pleasant aroma and often mention one or two special ingredients. They chew slowly and deliberately, and they sometimes even comment on how it makes the inside of their mouth feel.

That seems a bit too much for most Americans, but that’s a good picture of meditating on God’s Word. We don’t just wolf down a few words or a verse and hurry on to the next. We pause to reflect on a word, a phrase, or a concept. We compare that scripture with others that come to mind. We feel in no hurry to dash to the end of the chapter.

The words are there for us to savor and enjoy. We should learn to be more concerned about quality than quantity. It is more important to get a deep understanding of one verse of Scripture than it is to read five chapters and understand nothing.

Meditating on God’s Word demands discipline. We live in such a fast-paced world that few of us make time to meditate. We should form a habit of setting aside time just to sit and think about God’s Word and the wonderful promises He has made to those who believe in Him.

The blessed person mentioned in Psalm 1 is the person who meditates on God’s Word “by day and by night.” The expression “by day and by night” means that it is a major part of a person’s life. It’s a way of saying that thinking about the Word of God should be a regular part of daily activity. This will require casting down wrong thoughts when they come and choosing to think on things that will benefit us. If we keep ourselves focused, it pays off spiritually.

I spend time with God in prayer and in study of His Word each morning, but I also apply the Word to situations that I deal with all throughout the day. During the writing of this devotion, I got some bad news by phone, and my response was to quote and think about various promises in God’s Word. His Word strengthens us and helps us keep our peace and joy.

I titled this “Meditation Produces Success” because it’s important for us to understand that contemplating the meaning of Scripture isn’t simply a good thing to do or an activity reserved for scholars. It’s God’s command to all of us. It is a requirement for true success.

I thought of the instructions to Joshua as he prepared to lead the people into the Promised Land. The first few verses of the book of Joshua provide God’s direction for him. There were at least two million people going into the land, and the responsibility of leading them was immense.

God promised to be with Joshua as He was with Moses, and He urged the new leader to be very courageous. Then He said, This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success (Joshua 1:8 AMPC).

The instructions seem clear. Joshua had the commands of God, and his primary responsibility was to contemplate those words. By immersing himself in the law, he was learning to understand the mind of God more fully. God went on to say that if Joshua kept his mind and heart on the law, he would be prosperous and successful.

Too often people focus on their problems instead of meditating on God’s promises. As they do, their problems seem to get bigger, and God’s power diminishes.

God doesn’t want Satan to fill your mind. He doesn’t want you to give him the opportunity to inject wrong and negative thoughts into your head. For the enemy to control your life, all he needs to do is to control your thoughts. Make a decision right now that you will not allow him to do that. Don’t let him defeat you.

Prayer Starter: Father God, You have told me to meditate on Your Word, and I ask You to help me do that. I want Your Word to be the focus of my life. When problems come, help me turn to Your Word immediately. When Satan attacks my mind, remind me to counterattack with Your Word. As I meditate on Your Word regularly, I believe I will see good progress in my life. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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