Tag Archives: Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Keep Going and Never Give Up

 

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

One of the most important truths you can be grateful for is that God has promised to never leave you—He is always by your side!

That’s why it is important to remember this: No matter how difficult the circumstances may seem around you, don’t give up! God is for you, and He is bigger than any trouble you may be facing.

You can regain the territory the devil has stolen from you. If necessary, regain it one inch at a time, being thankful for and always leaning on God’s grace and not on your own ability to get the desired results. In Galatians 6:9, the apostle Paul simply encourages us to keep on keeping on! Don’t be a quitter! Have an “I can do all things through Christ” attitude. God is looking for people who will go all the way through to the other side with Him.

Prayer of the Day: Thank You, Father, that You give me the strength to never quit. I am grateful that You are always with me and that You fight my battles.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Joyce Meyer – Sleep Well at Night

 

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 4:8 (NIV)

Many people have difficulty sleeping at night, but the psalmist David tells us that our sleep can be sweet, no matter what kind of difficulty we face. Don’t ever try to solve your problems by thinking about them over and over; instead, take the time you would spend worrying and pray for what you need while giving thanks to God for all the wonderful things He has already done for you.

As you lie in bed thinking about the goodness of God, you will soon drift off to sleep. God answers prayers, but He doesn’t answer worries and complaints. The Lord has set you apart for Himself, and He hears you when you call to Him. He gives us release from our distress and has mercy on us when we pray.

If you are not sleeping well, search your heart and ask God to show you if you have done anything for which you need to repent. If so, then repent and go to sleep with a clean conscience. We are not able to hide anything from the Lord, so it is best not to try to do so. Talk to Him openly and honestly about whatever is on your mind, receive His forgiveness and mercy, and don’t worry about it any longer.

Prayer of the Day: God, You are so good and merciful, and I am grateful for Your forgiveness and for all the ways You help me. Thank You.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Joyce Meyer – Begin Again

 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)

The promise of new beginnings is abundantly clear in Scripture. The good news is not only that this promise provides benefits to new believers in Christ, but that it is available to us as often as we need it. The one requirement for its fulfillment is that we let go of failure and take hold of the new beginning God offers us.

I have needed to apply this promise to my own life recently. I believe God has asked me to do something, and although I agree with Him and get started well, I seem to eventually fail and need to start over again. My two choices are to feel guilty because of my failure or to begin again. I choose to begin again—and if you need a new beginning, I pray that you will do likewise.

No matter how you need a new beginning in some area of your life, Jesus has His arms outstretched and is waiting for you to let Him help you begin again.

Prayer of the Day: Father, thank You for new beginnings. Help me let go of the old and start fresh without feelings of guilt and failure. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Joyce Meyer – The Power of Simplicity

 

Truly I say to you, whoever does not accept and receive and welcome the kingdom of God like a little child [does] shall not in any way enter it [at all].

Luke 18:17 (AMPC)

I wrote in my journal this morning, “Keep it simple.”

Life is certainly complicated and tends to be very stressful. I spent years praying that my circumstances would change so I could enjoy life, but I finally realized I needed to change my approach to life. How about you? Do you feel the effects of stress and have a desire for simpler days? We often talk of the “good old days,” when life was simpler, but that doesn’t help us much today.

What we need is a change in our attitude and approach to life. Only foolish people think they can keep doing the same thing and get a different result. Learn how to think more simply. Don’t think about too many things at once or allow your schedule to get overcrowded. Saying no when you need to will help you keep your schedule manageable. Lots of people want lots of things from us, but we don’t have to ruin our life and forfeit our joy to keep them happy. Take some time today to inventory your life. Ask yourself if you are enjoying it. If not, I urge you to make whatever adjustments are necessary in order to do so.

Prayer of the Day: Father, I love You very much, and I am grateful for the life You have given me. I want to enjoy life and use my time wisely, and I ask for Your help in making any changes that are necessary for me to live simply and powerfully.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Joyce Meyer – Feel the Freedom

 

Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.

Micah 7:18 (NIV)

No human being is perfect. Everyone sins at times (Romans 3:23), and when we do, we often feel bad about ourselves. Sometimes we even think we can punish ourselves if we feel guilty enough about our sin. This is not true. Sin does have a high price, but Jesus has paid it in full. When He died on the cross, He provided forgiveness for all our sins—past, present, and future.

When we ask God’s forgiveness for our sin, He forgives us immediately and even forgets our sins completely (Isaiah 43:25). He shows us mercy with no strings attached. Even if there are consequences of the sin, we can move forward free from guilt, regret, or shame because God’s forgiveness cleanses us thoroughly, and His mercy gives us a fresh start.

For years, I was a rigid, legalistic person. I had never experienced mercy, so I did not know how to receive it from God or give it to others. Thankfully, God has helped me in this area. Now when I sin, I repent and receive God’s mercy immediately. I do feel bad about the mistakes I make, and I am sorry for making them, but I refuse to live in bondage to guilt and condemnation.

Knowing that God has forgiven us and that His mercy is always available should empower us to resist negative emotions such as shame and guilt. Jesus came to give us a wonderful, abundant life, and God’s forgiveness and mercy set us free to enjoy it.

Prayer of the Day: Help me, God, to remember that You are merciful and to receive Your mercy and the freedom You offer me when I repent of my sins, amen.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Joyce Meyer – Make Time for God

 

Come close to God and He will come close to you….

James 4:8 (AMPC)

Not everyone is willing to pay the price required to be close to God. Some aren’t willing to simply take the time or make the investments needed for spiritual growth. God doesn’t ask for all our time. He certainly wants us to do things we don’t consider “spiritual.” He designed us with bodies, souls (minds, wills, and emotions), and spirits, and He expects us to care for all these areas. Exercising our bodies and caring for our souls takes time and effort. Our emotions need to be ministered to; we need to have fun and be refreshed, and we need to enjoy being with other people. Our minds need to grow and be renewed daily. In addition, our spiritual nature needs attention. To stay balanced and healthy, we must care for our entire being.

I believe the whole issue of intimacy with God is a matter of time. We say we don’t have time to seek God, but the truth is that we make time for what matters most. Even though we all have to fight distractions every day, if knowing God and hearing from Him is important to us, we will find time to do it. Don’t try to work God into your schedule—work your schedule around time with Him.

Getting to know God is a long-term investment, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t see instant results. Be determined to honor Him with your time, and you will reap the benefits.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, help me honor You with my time. Teach me to stay balanced—caring for my body, mind, and spirit—and to always make room in my schedule for You, amen.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Joyce Meyer – God’s Comfort and Encouragement

 

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 23:4 (NIV)

We all go through hard times, but the good news is that when we do, God is always present to comfort and encourage us. When times are tough, remember that they won’t last forever. God will not allow more to come on you than you can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13).

You don’t have to be afraid, no matter what you may face today, because God is with you, and He loves you deeply and unconditionally. You may not know how to turn your situation around, but God does. He always has a good plan for you, and temporary problems don’t have the ability to cancel those plans.

What you are dealing with is temporary, but God is eternal, and He will never leave you or forsake you.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, thank You that You’re always with me. When I face hard times, remind me that Your love is eternal, Your plan is good, and Your strength sustains me, amen.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Joyce Meyer – It All Starts in Your Mind

 

Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.

Isaiah 42:9 (AMPC)

Would you like to be in a good mood every day? Of course you would—who wouldn’t? I spent many years being controlled by a variety of moods and believing I had no choice in how I felt. But I do have a choice—and so do you! We all make choices about our thoughts and attitudes toward life.

Your mind, mouth, moods, and attitudes are all intricately connected. It starts with your thoughts, which then turn into the words you speak, shaping your emotional state and attitudes toward life. If you truly want to be in a good mood on a regular basis, it begins with deliberately focusing on good thoughts. You can start by choosing to think about things that will generate good emotions instead of bad ones.

If you desire greater emotional stability and the ability to maintain a consistently good attitude—no matter what your circumstances are—then make it a goal and don’t give up until you’ve reached it. No matter how old you are or how long negativity has controlled your life, it’s never too late for a fresh start. As you walk with God, you can always begin again. Your history does not have to be your destiny!

Prayer of the Day: God, help me begin again. No more sour, negative thoughts for me! Help me choose differently. I want to think and speak things that will keep me in a good mood, amen.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Joyce Meyer – Rooted in His Love

 

May He grant you out of the riches of His glory, to be strengthened and spiritually energized with power through His Spirit in your inner self, [indwelling your innermost being and personality], so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through your faith. And may you, having been [deeply] rooted and [securely] grounded in love, be fully capable of comprehending with all the saints (God’s people) the width and length and height and depth of His love [fully experiencing that amazing, endless love].

Ephesians 3:16–18 (AMP)

One of the great truths of our faith as Christians is that Jesus Himself lives in our hearts and we can be secure in His love. Believing that Jesus lives in our hearts is not necessarily something we can explain or understand with our minds, but it is something we receive by faith. No matter what happens in our lives, Jesus is with us because He lives in us. When you feel happy, He is there. When you feel lonely, afraid, weary, or hopeless, He is there. You can talk to Him and hear from Him at any time, in any place, under any circumstance.

Just think about a large, old, sturdy tree with its vast root system underground. Most of the time, we would look at such a tree and not even think about its roots. But if a big storm comes and that tree stands firm when other things have been uprooted and tossed about, we realize that its strength is in its roots. The deeper the roots are, the more difficult it will be for the forces of nature to destroy the tree. This helps us understand why Paul would pray for us to be deeply rooted in God’s love. He knows the storms of life will come, but they will not damage or destroy us if our roots are deep in God’s love.

Paul also prays that we will be securely grounded in God’s love. The word grounded has several definitions, one of which refers to electrical systems. I learned on the internet that a grounded electrical system makes it easier for the proper amount of power to be distributed to all the right places. God certainly wants His power to flow through us. Paul encourages us in Ephesians 3:16 to be spiritually energized with power through His Spirit, and when we are grounded in His love, His power flows properly and in ways that help and encourage us and the people around us.

I encourage you to take time today to meditate on Ephesians 3:16–18. When Christ lives in your heart through faith, nothing—no storm of life, no pain from the past, no wound in your soul today—can uproot you from His love for you. Thank God for that and pray that He will give you more and more understanding of what it means to have Christ living in your heart, rooting you and grounding you in His love.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, thank You for living in my heart. Keep me deeply rooted in Your love so nothing can shake my faith or steal my peace. Strengthen me daily, amen.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Joyce Meyer – Renewing Your Mind

 

…But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart.

1 Corinthians 2:16 (AMPC)

I reached the curb in front of the airport, where my friend would pick me up. I was calm and relaxed and thought of the great conversation we would have. To my surprise, she wasn’t there yet. That was odd because she’s the kind of person who is never late for anything. I remained calm and peaceful. I spotted what I thought was her car and took a step forward, but the car went past me, and there was a stranger in it.

Not more than three minutes had passed, but I realized I was anxious and worried. What had happened to her? Had she been in an accident? Did she forget me? From calmness to anxiety in less than three minutes, and nothing had changed—nothing except my mind. Worried thoughts struggled inside me.

I pulled out my cell phone and started to dial, when I heard a car honking, as she pulled up to the curb. My mind shifted once again to calmness, even joyfulness. How quickly my emotions had shifted in that short period of time.

My mind had quickly changed when my circumstances did. Sometimes I find it easy to hear God speak, and to believe without any difficulty. Yet at other times, worry and anxiety push their way into my mind. The Bible says we are to walk by faith and not by sight, but that day at the airport, I was definitely being led by what I saw. When we worry, we are not walking in faith and trusting God.

For a long period of my life, I had a critical, suspicious, and judgmental mind. That may seem normal for many nonbelievers, but I was a Christian. I was going along with the same thinking and mindset that I had known for years. It was normal to me—it was just the way I was. For years, I had no awareness that my wrong thinking was causing any problems.

Because no one had taught me, I didn’t know I could do anything to change my thought life. It simply had not occurred to me. No one had taught me about the proper condition for the believer’s mind. God offers us a new way to think and a new way to live.

God has called us to renew our minds (Romans 12:2). For most of us, it is an ongoing process. We don’t control our thinking all at one time.

One day I read 1 Corinthians 2:16, where Paul says we have the mind of Christ. What could he have meant? I pondered that verse for days. I concluded that for us to have the mind of Christ doesn’t mean we’re sinless or perfect. It does mean we begin to think the way Christ thinks. If we have His mind, we think on those things that are good and honorable and loving.

I confessed to God how many times my mind had focused on the ugly, the mean, and the harsh.

In 1 Corinthians 2:14 (AMPC), Paul wrote, But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him;…because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated. Yes, I thought, that’s exactly how it works. The natural mind—even that of the Christians whose minds are tampered with by Satan—doesn’t grasp what God is doing. Those things seem foolish.

We must remind ourselves that we have Christ’s mind—we have the ability to think loving and caring thoughts. We can defeat Satan’s attacks.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, I want to live with the mind of Christ. I ask You to enable me to think positive, loving, caring thoughts about myself and about others. Help me to see and think on the good things in life and not the bad. I ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.

 

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Joyce Meyer – The Power of Unity

 

The righteous man walks in his integrity….

Proverbs 20:7 (AMPC)

Great power was manifested in the lives of the early believers. Acts 2:46 (AMPC) tells us why: And day after day they regularly assembled in the temple with united purpose…. They had the same vision, the same goal, and they were all pressing toward the same mark. They prayed in agreement (Acts 4:24), lived in harmony (Acts 2:44), cared for one another (Acts 2:46), met each other’s needs (Acts 4:34), and lived a life of faith (see Acts 4:31). The early church lived in unity—and operated in great power.

Now the church is divided into countless factions with different opinions about everything. Even individual congregations are split by the most trivial differences. When we finally see Jesus face-to-face, we will surely discover that not one of us was 100 percent right. Only love holds people together. Make a strong commitment to do whatever is necessary to live in unity—you will discover how good it is!

Prayer of the Day: Lord, teach me to walk in love and unity with others. Help me lay aside pride and division so Your power can flow freely through my relationships, amen.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Joyce Meyer – Truly Receiving the Word of God

 

And those [in the last group] are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word [of God, the good news regarding the way of salvation] and accept it and bear fruit—thirty, sixty, and a hundred times as much [as was sown].”

Mark 4:20 (AMP)

It is important that we receive the Word of God. Some hear the Word but don’t actually receive it, and it does them no good. In Mark Chapter 4, Jesus told a parable of a sower who sowed seed (the Word of God) into different kinds of ground, but only one type of soil bore fruit. The different kinds of ground represent the different types of hearers of the Word of God.

We are taught in this parable that even those who are willing to hear don’t always hear fully or in the right way. They don’t hear with the serious intent of truly receiving the Word they hear. They are emotional hearers who initially get excited, but when their faith is tested, they give up.

When the Word of God is genuinely and sincerely received, it has the power to do an amazing work in our souls. It renews our mind and changes us into the image of Jesus Christ. If you haven’t had a genuine change of character, ask yourself if you are truly receiving the Word of God.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, help me receive Your Word deeply in my heart. Let it take root, renew my mind, and produce lasting fruit that reflects Your character and glory, amen.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Joyce Meyer – Believing the Best

 

…For out of the fullness (the overflow, the superabundance) of the heart the mouth speaks.

Matthew 12:34 (AMPC)

The person who is close to God thinks positive, uplifting, edifying thoughts about other people as well as about himself and his own circumstances.

You exhort others with your words only after you have first had kind thoughts about that individual. Remember that whatever is in your heart will come out of your mouth (Matthew 12:34). Thoughts and words are containers or weapons for carrying creative or destructive power (Proverbs 18:21). This is why it is so important to do some “love thinking” on purpose.

I encourage you to send thoughts of love toward other people. Speak words of encouragement. Come alongside others and urge them to press forward in their spiritual life. Speak words that make others feel better and that encourage and strengthen them.

Everyone has enough problems already. We don’t need to add to their troubles by tearing them down. We can build up one another in love (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Love always believes the best of everyone (1 Corinthians 13:7).

Prayer of the Day: Lord, help me think loving, encouraging thoughts about others. Let my words reflect Your kindness and build people up, bringing light, peace, and joy into every situation I face, amen.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Joyce Meyer – Persevere in Right Thinking

 

For the rest, my brethren, delight yourselves in the Lord and continue to rejoice that you are in Him. To keep writing to you [over and over] of the same things is not irksome to me, and it is [a precaution] for your safety.

Philippians 3:1 (AMPC)

We must consistently choose right thinking, right words, and right action. It’s not what you choose to do right one time that’s going to change your life. It’s doing it over and over and over. I frequently tell people, “When you get so tired of doing it you think you can’t stand it, you do it again and again and again and again.” Persistence always pays off, and the Bible says that the diligent person will be successful. Don’t ever give up!

If you’re the kind of person who refuses to give up, I can assure you that you will get your breakthrough and enjoy a lot of victory in your life.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, give me strength to stay persistent in doing what’s right, even when I feel tired. Help me trust that my diligence will bring Your blessing and victory, amen.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Joyce Meyer – Strong in His Strength

 

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the [consistently] righteous man…runs into it and is safe, high [above evil] and strong.

Proverbs 18:10 (AMPC)

God has equipped and anointed us to do hard things. He allows us to go through difficulty and to bring glory to Him. He shows Himself strong through us. He told Paul that His strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

We may think we can’t make it through difficulty, but those thoughts are inaccurate according to God’s Word. He has promised to never allow more to come on us than we can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13).

During life’s difficulties, one of the thoughts that is usually persistent is, I can’t do this; it is just too much; it is too hard. Watch out for that type of thinking, and when you recognize it, remember that it is a lie. Then replace it with God-inspired thoughts that are something like this: I can do what I need to do because God is strong in my life.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, when life feels too hard, help me remember that You are my strength. Replace my doubts with faith and fill me with courage to keep going, amen.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Joyce Meyer – The Key to Happiness

 

External religious worship [religion as it is expressed in outward acts] that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world.

James 1:27 (AMPC)

I went to church for 30 years without ever hearing one sermon on my biblical responsibility to care for orphans, widows, the poor, and the oppressed. I was shocked when I finally realized how much of the Bible is about helping other people. I spent most of my Christian life thinking the Bible was about how God could help me. It’s no wonder I was unhappy.

The key to happiness isn’t only in being loved; it is also in having someone to love. If you really want to be happy, find somebody to love. If you want to put a smile on God’s face, then find a person who is hurting and help them.

Be determined to help someone. Be creative! Lead a revolt against living in a religious rut where you go to church and go home and go back to church, but you’re not really helping anybody.

Don’t just sit in church pews and sing hymns. Get involved in helping people who are hurting. Remember the words of Jesus:

I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me. Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.” (Matthew 25:42–45 NKJV)

 

Prayer of the Day: Lord, open my eyes to those in need around me. Teach me to love like You do and to find joy in helping, serving, and blessing others daily, amen.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Joyce Meyer – Never Alone

 

God is with you in everything you do.

Genesis 21:22 (AMPC)

How awesome is it to think that God is with you in everything you do? Thinking about what this really means is amazing. We are never alone, never without help, never without someone to talk to, and never without guidance.

Loneliness is a widespread problem in our society. We can even be with people and still feel lonely if we feel misunderstood or unaccepted, but God understands us and accepts us because we are in Christ. Thinking about this makes me feel safe and cared for. Hopefully it makes you feel that way too.

Immanuel is one of Christ’s names, and it means “God with us.” We are God’s home, and He is our home. If we abide in Him, we can ask what we will and He will do it, and when we abide in Him, we will bear much good fruit (John 15:7–8). As you go about your day today, think and whisper to yourself, “God is with me.”

Prayer of the Day: Father, I am amazed to know that You are with me in whatever I do. Help me keep this wonderful truth in mind and enjoy good fellowship with You all throughout this day and night. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Joyce Meyer – Overcoming the Enemy

 

And they have overcome (conquered) him by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony…

Revelation 12:11 (AMPC)

We will never have a testimony without having a test. Our faith must be tested to see if it is truly genuine or merely talk. God never tempts us to sin, but He will test our faith by allowing us to go through difficulty. We can actually become stronger in our faith during these times if we maintain an attitude of trusting God all the way through the challenge.

Trials are not fun for anyone, but we all have our share of them. Let’s pass our tests so we can have an amazing testimony that will glorify God. Stay strong, and remember, “This too will pass.”

Prayer of the Day: Lord, help me trust You through every trial. Strengthen my faith and remind me that every challenge has purpose and will one day become a testimony of Your goodness, amen.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Joyce Meyer – Walk in God’s Favor

 

Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

Psalm 5:12 (NIV)

There are days when we feel great about ourselves and everything around us, confident that we could conquer the world. Then there are days when we feel defeated before we even get out of bed. We must remember that feelings are fickle, but God’s truth is unchanging. One of the truths that will help us find stability when our emotions are up and down is the fact that God has given us favor. This means He blesses us in ways we may not expect, He gives us opportunities we may think we don’t deserve or haven’t earned, and He makes things that should have been difficult for us, easy by His grace.

We know we have God’s favor because today’s scripture says He surrounds the righteous with favor “as with a shield.” You may not always feel righteous, but as a believer in Jesus, you are. He has made you righteous through His death on the cross, where He took your sins (past, present, and future) and provided cleansing and forgiveness.

Even though the Bible says we have God’s favor, often we do not act as though we do. One reason we don’t tap into God’s blessings is that we don’t believe we deserve them. Another reason is that we haven’t been taught that God’s blessings can be ours. Consequently, we haven’t activated our faith in this area. So, we wander through life, taking whatever the devil throws at us without ever resisting him and claiming what is rightfully ours.

Let’s receive by faith the favor with which God has blessed us, expecting it everywhere we go, with everyone we meet.

Prayer of the Day: Thank You, Jesus, for making me righteous and for the favor of God that rests on my life. Help me believe it and receive it.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Joyce Meyer – Refined by His Fire

 

He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and He will purify the priests, the sons of Levi, and refine them like gold and silver…

Malachi 3:3 (AMPC)

Looking back over the years, I can see that I have been on a fascinating journey with God. He has definitely changed me and is still changing me daily. I had many problems in my soul (my mind, will, and emotions) and in my circumstances at the time I received the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Little did I realize what was about to take place in my life. I was asking God for change, but I was totally unaware that what needed to be changed in my life was me!

God began a process in me—slowly, steadily, and always at a pace I could endure. As a Refiner, He sits over the fires that burn in our lives to make sure they never get too hot and that they never die out. Only when He can look at us and see His own reflection is it safe to turn the fire off, and even then we continue to need a few alterations at times.

When God was dealing with me about patience, I faced many circumstances in which I could either be patient or behave badly. Quite often, I behaved badly, but the Holy Spirit kept convincing me, teaching me, and giving me a desire to live for God’s glory. Gradually, little by little, I changed in one area, then in another. I usually got to rest a bit in between battles and often thought that perhaps I had finally graduated, only to discover something else I needed to learn. This is the way it works as the Holy Spirit changes us. Keep your heart open to His leadership; keep your ears open to His voice; obey what He speaks to you—and soon, you’ll find yourself changing more and more into the person He created you to be.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, thank You for patiently refining me. Help me trust the process, knowing every challenge brings me closer to Your image and strengthens my faith. Keep changing me for Your glory, amen.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org