Tag Archives: Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Are You Trusting or Worrying?

Joyce meyer

Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. —Proverbs 3:5,6

What do you let your mind do when you have problems? Do you try to figure things out instead of leaving them in God’s capable hands?

There is the mind of the flesh, which is wrong thinking based on your thoughts and reasoning. And there is the mind of the Spirit, which is right thinking based on the Word of God and the inner promptings of the Holy Spirit. Confusion, frustration, and anxiety are the products of operating in the mind of the flesh. Joy is the product of the Spirit and of following the leading of the Spirit in prayer and fellowship with God.

If you operate in the mind of the Spirit, you can have “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,” and you can have “joy unspeakable” and be “full of glory” right in the middle of terrible trials and tribulations. The peace “which passeth all understanding” and “joy unspeakable” are types of peace and joy that don’t make any sense. In other words, when you have these types of peace and joy within, you are happy without having any particular reason to be happy. You are happy just because you know that God is and that He is able to “direct and make straight and plain your paths” in an exceedingly, abundantly above all-you-can-ask-or-think way. You don’t have to try to change yourself or anyone else—and that makes you happy.

You don’t have to worry about tomorrow—and that makes you happy. You don’t have to worry about yesterday—and that makes you happy. You don’t have to know how to do everything—and that makes you happy. All you need to do is know the One who knows. Trying to figure things out will only wear you out. But if you trust God for the answers, you can enter His rest.

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – Happy Are the Mourners

dr_bright

“Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4).

During my days of agnosticism and early inquiry into the Christian faith, I was not aware of my sin. I had come to believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, that He died on the cross for the sins of man but somehow it had not dawned on me that I was that bad. My life-style was not much different from that of the average church member. And, though my life was far from exemplary, in my own estimation I was a pretty decent fellow. As a matter of fact, I had some problems with all the talk about the cross and the shedding of blood. It seemed offensive to my aesthetic nature.

I was willing to believe that Jesus was the greatest influence, the greatest teacher, the greatest leader, the greatest example that man had ever known. And if He had to die on the cross to make a point, I did not think it was important enough to be made an issue. In fact, the thing that was really important to me was the fact that according to the Bible and the historical evidence, Jesus lived a very wonderful life dedicated to helping others. Then one day – I shall never forget the time and place, though I have forgotten the exact passage – as I read the Bible I was suddenly gripped with the necessity of Christ dying on the cross for my sins. I finally realized that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin, that I had fallen short of the glory of God and that I deserved death. I realized that there is nothing in me that merited His love, His grace, His forgiveness, His cleansing. I found myself on my knees in tears, deeply conscious of my unworthiness and, for the first time in my life, understood the true meaning of the cross and the reason He shed His blood for me.

Soon after I was elected to the board of deacons of my church and was called upon to serve communion. I shall never forget that experience. I found myself weeping as I served the wafers representing His broken body and the grape juice representing His blood that was shed for the sins of all men, for my sins, because now his death on the cross meant everything to me. A hymn, which had once been offensive to me, now became one of my favorites: “what can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” I believe that this is what Jesus had in mind when He said, “Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted.”

Bible Reading: Jeremiah 31:10-14

TODAY’S ACTION POINT: I will not ignore my sins but will mourn over them by confessing, repenting, and, through the discipline of spiritual breathing, walking constantly in the light as a model of the supernatural life.

 

Joyce Meyer – Hold Your Tongue

Joyce meyer

Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; seek, inquire for, and crave peace and pursue (go after) it! —Psalm 34:13–14

You really have the gift of gab,” one man told me many years ago, when I first started in the ministry. He had pointed out something that I already knew: God had given me “a ready tongue,” that is, I speak easily. Words are my tools. The Lord first gave me that gift, and then He called me into the ministry to use that ability to work for Him.

I have no trouble talking. That’s my gift; that’s also been my greatest problem. Because I seem to always have something to say, I have struggled many, many years over the right use of my tongue.

It has not been an easy battle.

Over the years, I heard various people saying things like, “Hold your tongue.” “Do you have to speak every word that comes to your mind?” “Do you always speak first and think later?” “Must you sound so harsh?” Had I truly listened to what people were saying, I might have realized that God was trying to tell me something. But I ignored their comments and continued in my own stubborn ways.

I know I have wounded people with my words in the past, and I am sorry for that. I’m also grateful that God has forgiven me.

Several years ago, I realized that if God was going to use my life, I had to gain control of my tongue—not to just stop talking, but to keep my tongue from evil, and my lips from speaking deceit, as the psalmist David says.

I had a choice. I could hurt people with my words—and I could do that well—or I could bring my lips into subjection to God. Obviously, I wanted to be subject to the Lord, but it was still a battle.

Our words are expressions of our hearts—of what’s going on inside us. If we want to know who a person really is, all we need to do is listen to their words. If we listen long enough, we learn a lot about them.

As I learned to listen to my own words, I also began to learn a lot about myself. Some of the things I learned did not please me, but they did help me realize that I had a character flaw that needed to be addressed. My words were not pleasing God, and I wanted them to. Once I confessed my failure to God, the victory came—not all at once and not perfectly, but God is patient with me. I’m growing, and part of my growth is keeping my lips from evil.

No matter how negative you are or have been, or how long you’ve been that way, God wants to change you. In the early days after my confession to God, I still failed more often than I succeeded, but every time I did succeed, I knew I was closer to God’s plan for my life. God can do the same for you.

It won’t be easy, but you can win. And the effort will be worth it.

Lord, help me use my mouth for right things. Put a watch over my mouth lest I sin against You with my tongue. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You. I ask it in Jesus’ wonderful name. Amen.

Charles Stanley – Fulfillment for the Empty Life

Charles Stanley

John 4:3-18

The cry of emptiness rings from both the bleakest ghetto and the ritziest mansion. The same echo of a meaningless life reverberates at the downtown bar and the country club. There are senior citizens, middle-aged men and women, and teens with equally hollow hearts, for which no medical prescription exists.

The Samaritan woman at the well symbolizes millions throughout time who have given their best efforts to satisfy the yearning for love and completion. Until a person tastes the Lord’s love, the sense of emptiness cannot be permanently satisfied. We were created to honor and glorify God; no other act of adoration—whether toward the opposite sex, worldly position, work, or money—can bring a sense of long-term pleasure and purpose.

No wonder the Samaritan woman eagerly accepted Jesus’ offer of a drink that would quench her thirst forever (John 4:15). The promise of salvation includes more than the elimination of guilt: When someone trusts Christ as Savior, the Holy Spirit indwells the new believer and expresses divine love to and through him or her. If we’re willing to acknowledge Christ’s death on our behalf and ask His forgiveness for our sins, which put Him on the cross, then we can experience the overflow of God’s love filling our emptiness.

The believer who feels hollow must honestly confess any sin harbored in the heart. Wrongdoing and idolatry block fellowship with the Father, but repentance breaks the dam. The only fulfillment for an empty life is God’s freely offered love.

Joyce Meyer – Pursue Your Purpose

Joyce meyer

But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. —Matthew 6:33

Have you ever thought, “What is my purpose in life?” Each of us wants to feel we have a purpose . . . that we’re making a meaningful difference in the world.

God has a purpose for each of us, and that is to do right and glorify God.

How do you pursue your purpose? By getting up each day and putting God first. There are many other things we may be tempted to chase after—job position, education, relationships, money, material possessions, and so on. But too often when you attain these things your life is just as empty and unfulfilled as when you started.

God knows what you need and is well aware of your heart’s desires, and He will grant them if you will just pursue your purpose by seeking Him first.

Joyce Meyer – A New Direction

Joyce meyer

O Lord,You have heard the desire and the longing of the humble and oppressed;You will prepare and strengthen and direct their hearts. —Psalm 10:17

Sometimes we come to an unhappy place in our lives. If we examine ourselves on those days, we will most likely discover that the things that make us most unhappy are the fruit of the choices that we made earlier.

Today can be a new start. I think God gave us twenty-four-hour days because He knew that was all we could handle. His mercies are new every morning (See Lamentations 3:22–23). You can start over this morning and live today for the Lord. Determine to follow wherever God leads you, and do whatever He tells you to do. You can expect better tomorrows when you live right today.

Our Daily Bread — Not Even a Nod

Our Daily Bread

Luke 17: 11-19

Traffic was bad and everyone was cranky on that hot afternoon. I noticed a car with two young men waiting to enter traffic from a fast-food restaurant driveway. I thought it was nice when the driver ahead of me let them in.

But when the “nice” driver ahead of me didn’t get a nod or even a thank you wave, he turned ugly. First he rolled down his window and shouted at the driver he had let in. Then he gunned his engine and raced forward as if to ram into his car, honking and yelling as he continued to vent his anger.

Who was “more wrong”? Did the young driver’s ingratitude justify the “nice” driver’s angry response? Was he owed a thank you?

Certainly the 10 lepers Jesus healed owed gratitude to Him. How could only one return to say thank you? I’m struck by Jesus’ response: “Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” (Luke 17:18). If the King of Kings can get only a 1 in 10 response of thanks, how can we expect more from others? Better to do our deeds to honor God and serve others than to do them to collect gratitude. May the grace of God be seen in us even when our kind acts go unappreciated.—Randy Kilgore

Lord, we like to be recognized for the things we

  1. Help us to remember that we are not owed any

recognition or thanks but that we owe You a lifetime

of gratitude for the salvation You offer through Jesus.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may . . . glorify your Father in heaven. —Matthew 5:16

Bible in a year: Psalms 137-139; 1 Corinthians 13

Insight

As the 10 men in today’s reading went away to follow Jesus’ instructions, “they were cleansed” (v.14); that is, healed of their leprosy. Yet verse 19 says that only one man, the Samaritan, glorified God for his healing and came back to say thank you. Only he received Jesus’ word that his faith had made him well. The Greek word for “made well” is used in reference to salvation. Jesus’ miraculous power made the man well physically (v.14). But the Samaritan’s faith, demonstrated in praise and gratitude, led to his spiritual healing (v.19). All 10 were “cleansed,” but only one was “made well.”

Joyce Meyer – The Key to Being Satisfied

Joyce meyer

Then shall your light break forth like the morning . . . —Isaiah 58:8

We all probably want more light in our lives. That would mean more clarity, better understanding, and less confusion. The prophet Isaiah declared that if we would divide our bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into our homes, cover the naked and stop hiding ourselves from the needs around us, our light would break forth (see Isa. 58:7–8). He also said our healing and restoration and the power of a new life would spring forth quickly. That sounds good to me, and I am sure it does to you also.

Isaiah also wrote of justice, and he said it would go before us and conduct us to peace and prosperity, and that the glory of the Lord would be our rear guard. If we are actively helping the oppressed, God goes before us and He also has our backs! I like that feeling of safety and certainty.

Isaiah further said if we would pour out that with which we sustain our own lives for the hungry, and satisfy the need of the afflicted, our light would rise in darkness and any gloom we experienced would be comparable to the sun at noon (see Isa. 58:10). The sun is very bright at noon, so it sounds to me like helping people is the way to live in the light.

The Lord will guide us continually, and even in dry times He will satisfy us. He will make our bones strong and our lives will be like a watered garden (see Isa. 58:11). All of this happens as a result of living to bring justice to the oppressed.

I hope you are seeing what I am seeing through these promises. I think most of us waste a lot of our lives trying to get what God will gladly give if we simply do what He is asking us to do: care about the poor, the hungry, the destitute, orphans, widows, the oppressed, and needy. Live your life to help others, and God will satisfy you in every way possible.

Trust in Him When you care about God’s children you can trust Him to release more light into your life. If you follow His instructions, as written in His Word, for how to live a godly life—living your life to help others—He will gladly give you all He has promised.

Joyce Meyer – Forgive and Your prayers Will Be answered

Joyce meyer

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. —Mark 11:25 NIV

If you are praying for a miracle or for God to bring something into your life and you aren’t getting it, ask yourself if there is someone you need to forgive. Don’t try to justify your anger and unforgiveness. Don’t complain about your circumstances or what people have done to you; instead, trust God to be your Vindicator and have a loving attitude toward everyone.

When you pray, say to God: God, I don’t want to have any unforgiveness or anger in my heart toward anyone, so if I do, please reveal it to me so I can pray for them instead of being angry. I’m not mad at anyone. I’m not angry; I’m not bitter; I’m not offended; I am going to believe the best. Don’t waste your life being angry; instead, be difficult to offend and quick to forgive.

Power Thought: When I pray, I do so without any anger or bitterness in my heart.

Joyce Meyer – Give the Gift of Freedom

 

Joyce meyerThen you recently turned and did what was right in My sight—every man proclaiming liberty to his neighbor; and you made a covenant before Me in the house which is called by My name. —Jeremiah 34:15, NKJV

Have you ever experienced the wonderful feeling of being set free from something? Maybe someone has paid a debt for you or a boss has said, “Never mind. I don’t need you to do that after all.” If you have ever been dominated by another individual and you were set free, you know how wonderful freedom is. Whether it happens on a large scale or a small scale, being set free from an obligation or a burden is a great feeling.

In today’s scripture, the Bible says we can “proclaim liberty” to others. I encourage you to give the gift of freedom to your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers whenever possible. People will love you for it. Obviously, this does not mean letting others do whatever they want to do. But it does mean that you stop trying to control people and situations.

For years I tried desperately to control and remold my husband and children, until I finally realized that my efforts were acts of selfishness, not love. I told myself that I simply wanted God’s best for them; however, I had decided what His best was and was trying to force it on them.

At one point in my life, I wanted all my children to preach, just as I do. That did not happen, and, actually, I now realize that was not even what would have been best after all. God is in control, and I am glad.

Make sure the atmosphere in your home and your business is free and relaxed, not one that makes people feel that your relationship with them will be tense and disapproving if they do not please you all the time. When people make mistakes, do not make them feel rejected, but go the extra mile to make them feel forgiven, accepted—and free. Treat others the way you want to be treated.

Love Others Today: Proclaim liberty, and give everyone around you the gift of freedom.

Joyce Meyer – Truth Precedes Change

Joyce meyer

And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free. —John 8:32

Is there something you’d like to change about yourself or the way you live? Change begins with truth. It’s almost impossible to see the need for change or to know how we should change if we don’t face the truth about where we are. In the process of change, admitting the truth about ourselves is often the hardest part. We don’t need to feel guilty about the way we are, we just need to ask for God’s forgiveness and be excited about change.

Let me share a practical example of how facing truth and changing has worked in my life. If I’m eating too much and don’t want to face the truth about that, I will make excuses. “I don’t eat as much as some people.” “My metabolism must be slowing down.” “The dry cleaners shrank my pants.” Excuses can be endless! Excuses, though, are actually reasons stuffed with lies.

Once I decide to stop making excuses, I can admit the truth. Concerning eating, I might say to a friend, “I’ve been eating too much and that’s why I’ve gained weight.” When I do that I am taking responsibility for the problem. That’s the truth, and it will set me free.

I have had to face many truths’ in my past and still do. When I have a bad attitude or am angry with someone and yet pretending not to be, it is only truth that will set me free. The same principles and processes apply to any challenge we face in life. If we want to change, we have to start with the truth. Ask God to reveal truth to you about you! When He does if it begins to hurt just realize that the pain you feel is actually a healing pain that is working toward your freedom and increased peace and joy.

Love Yourself Today: Lord, help me to see and admit the truth about every area in my life, and, with your help, make the changes I need to make.

Joyce Meyer – Prayers of Petition and Perseverance

Joyce meyer

You do not have, because you do not ask.—James 4:2

God has provided a simple way for us to have the things we desire without struggling to get them. The verse for today says that we don’t have certain things because we do not ask God for them. A prayer cannot be answered if it is not prayed; therefore, we need to pray and ask. The type of prayer we pray when we make requests is called a prayer of petition—and this kind of prayer is important because God does not do anything in the earth unless somebody prays and asks. You see, we partner with Him through prayer. Prayer is simply the means by which we cooperate with Him and work with Him in the spiritual realm in order to get things done in the natural realm. Prayer brings the power of heaven to Earth.

If our prayers are not answered quickly, we may be asking for something that is not God’s will for us, or God may be waiting to answer because He is developing our faith and helping us build our spiritual muscles as we learn endurance and patience. We need to petition God and make our requests known to Him instead of trying to make things happen ourselves. We also need to trust His wisdom in how and when He answers. Prayer opens the door for God to work, but our trying to get things in our own effort only frustrates us and hinders God. He is waiting for us to ask and trust His ways and timing. When we do, He will work mightily on our behalf.

God’s word for you today: God wants to do more for you than you can imagine, so start asking boldly.

 

Joyce Meyer – Spiritual Food for Spiritual Hunger

Joyce meyer

Make no provision for [indulging] the flesh [put a stop to thinking about the evil cravings of your physical nature] to [gratify its] desires (lusts)—Romans 13:14

 

Food addiction is easy, because food doesn’t come with the same stigmas as cigarettes or drugs. Unlike these vices, food has a legitimate—even essential—role in health. Only when it slips into overuse does it become a problem. But it’s so easy to get to that point!

Food is reliable. Unlike spouses, friends, or great weather, it is always there. But that’s the problem. Any time we feel spiritually empty, whether through sadness, depression, or boredom, it’s easy to reach for food to fill that void. Soon, we mistake spiritual hunger for physical hunger, and food becomes the immediate answer to any drop in well-being. You know where this leads. The more you try to treat your spiritual longing with food or other feel-good stimuli, the greater your soul’s cry for spiritual nourishment will be. The greater your disease will become.

Fortunately, there is another source of comfort that is always there when you need it. Unlike bad food or drugs, it doesn’t leave you overweight, sick, or lethargic. It’s even free. That something is God. He is called the Father of sympathy and the God of every comfort, who consoles us in every trouble (2 Corinthians 1:3,4). When I hurt, I have learned to run to God first, instead of another person or substance. I’m not saying this is automatic. It took me years to get this straight, and I still sometimes have to remind myself that what I truly need is spiritual nourishment. But learning this habit will do more to keep your mind and body sound and your life on an even keel than anything I know. Your spirit needs nourishment just like your body does. Don’t wait until you have a crisis in your life to start feeding it.

Joyce Meyer – A Perfect Plan

Joyce meyer

And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.—Philippians 1:6

For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].—Ephesians 2:10

I wonder how many times we’ve heard preachers say, “God has a plan for your life.” We nod, perhaps smile, and then go on our way. I’m not sure most of us truly believe that—at least, our lives don’t reflect that we believe it.

What does it mean to think that God has a perfect plan for us? Perhaps it’s the word perfect that troubles us. We’re fal¬lible and make so many mistakes. How could anything be perfect in our lives? We know ourselves too well. Immediately we think of our shortcomings and shake our heads.

That’s a trick of Satan! The plan isn’t perfect because we’re perfect; the plan is perfect because God is perfect. For now, let’s say it this way: God has a special plan for each of our lives.

Let’s think about that plan. In the previous verse, Paul told us that God saved us and started a good work in us. The Spirit is still with us, nudging us forward. Paul also wrote that we are God’s handiwork (or workmanship). The two verses before that tell us that we’re saved by God’s grace. We have nothing to do with the act of salvation—we haven’t earned it or deserved it. We are born into the kingdom of God as a gift. God does it, and we receive it. Yes, we believe, but that’s not doing anything to earn our salvation.

As we think about God at work in us, we remind ourselves that, imperfect as we are, God is perfection. Nothing we can ever do would be good enough to satisfy God’s perfection. Only Jesus, the Perfect One, is good enough. Nothing but our faith in Him makes us acceptable to God.

The apostle went on to say that we are saved through Jesus Christ so that we can do good works. God has prepared us for the kind of life He wants us to live. His Word makes it clear how that life works.

It’s not that we’re perfect or ever will be perfect while on earth. The point is that God is perfect and has a plan for us. The plan for our lives is perfect, because it comes from the Perfect Planner. God’s plan for us includes obedience and service to Him from a sincere heart.

God holds out directions for a full, satisfying life. Our role is to align ourselves with that plan. We are to keep our eyes on Jesus and His ability, not on ourselves and our disabilities.

As soon as we say, “But wait! I’m not perfect! I fail,” we have taken our attention off God and allowed Satan to distract us with wrong thinking. Our loving Lord pleads with us to turn our minds and hearts fully over to Him. The more fully we do that, the more completely we live by His good and perfect plan.

We are to be like Joshua, to whom God 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).

Perfect God, help me in this battle for my mind. Satan constantly reminds me of my imperfections and my weaknesses, but I ask You to remind me of Your perfection, Your love, and Your closeness so that I can always walk in victory. I ask these things through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Joyce Meyer – Chosen and Adopted

Joyce meyer

Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love. For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]. —]. Ephesians 1:4-5

You understand adoption in the natural sense. You know some children without parents are adopted by people who purposely choose them and raise them as their own. In the same way you have been chosen and brought into the family of God even though you were previously an outsider, unrelated to God in any way. God in His great mercy redeemed you and purchased you with the blood of His own Son, and He has provided an inheritance that is wonderful beyond understanding. God has many good things in His plan for you so start expecting blessings!

Joyce Meyer – Choose Excellence

Joyce meyer

I am Your servant; give me understanding (discernment and comprehension), that I may know (discern and be familiar with the character of ) Your testimonies. —Psalm 119:125

The Word says, “Learn to sense what is vital, and approve and prize what is excellent and of real value [recognizing the highest and the best, and distinguishing the moral differences], and . . . be untainted and pure and unerring and blameless [so that with hearts sincere and certain and unsullied, you may approach] the day of Christ [not stumbling nor causing others to stumble]” (Philippians 1:10).

People make choices and selections all day long. A truly disciplined person has the ability to subordinate the lesser choice to the greater, more excellent choice. Think about that as you choose the way you will go today. Select the greater cause, and subordinate the lesser options to it.

Joyce Meyer – You Can Handle Whatever Life Hands You

Joyce meyer

Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. —Romans 8:37

For years, I have pondered what being “more than a conqueror” means. I’m sure other people have other perspectives, but I have come to the conclusion that being more than a conqueror means having such confidence that no matter what comes up in your life, you know that through Christ you can handle it. You know before you are ever faced with a problem that you’re going to have victory over it. So therefore, you don’t dread things, you don’t fear the unknown, you don’t live in anxiety about what’s going to happen in uncertain situations.

It doesn’t really matter what the specifics of the situation are, you know you can handle it through Christ. For you, defeat isn’t an option!

Begin to think every day, I can handle whatever life hands me. I can do whatever I need to do in life. I am more than a conqueror. I am equal to anything through Him who infuses inner strength into me. Even before you get out of bed in the mornings, let these thoughts roll over and over in your mind, and your confidence will skyrocket and you will find that indeed, you can do whatever you need to do in life.

Right thinking is the first step toward a better life. Wishing won’t work. Being jealous of someone who has what you desire does no good. Self-pity is a waste of time and energy. Discovering God’s will through an accurate knowledge of His Word and beginning to think as He thinks is the beginning of a new life for anyone who desires one.

Trust in Him In what specific situation do you need to believe you are more than a conqueror? Trust that through Christ, you are equal to anything.

Joyce Meyer – Too Much Talk Leads to Sin

Joyce meyer

In a multitude of words transgression is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is prudent. —Proverbs 10:19

We all need to learn how to establish and maintain boundaries with our words. Proverbs 10:19 in the NIV states, “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.” In other words, people who talk a lot will often find themselves in trouble.

Because our words carry so much power, we need to learn to say only what needs to be said. Almost every time we have a problem with somebody, it’s over something we have said or that person said. There may be other elements—something somebody is doing, for example—but the main cause of the argument most of the time is something that was said. If we learn to speak only what is wise and necessary, then we will have much more peace.

Power Thought: I speak words of wisdom that are filled with God’s power.

Joyce Meyer – Love Yourself, Laugh At Yourself

Joyce meyer

“You grow up the day you have the first real laugh at yourself.” —Ethel Barrymore

Many of us take our personal faults and mistakes too seriously. We spend too much time opposing ourselves, being our own worst enemies. We often judge ourselves more strictly than we judge others and we focus on our faults far too intensely. Of course, there are times when situations are grave and there are circumstances that require us to be serious. We should always be serious about our sin and want to improve. But many of the little, everyday things we treat as monumental are really not so terribly important. So give yourself a break!

God knew every flaw and weakness you would have and every mistake you would make when He called you into relationship with Himself. Nothing about you surprises Him. Sometimes people think God extends salvation to us and then sits in heaven, saying: “Oh no. Now what am I going to do? I didn’t know he was going to do that!”

God knows—and has always known—everything about you. He knows what you will think, do, and say every day for the rest of your life on earth. He also knows how He will help you, teach you, correct you, encourage you, and give you grace for all your faults and failures. He is always for you, never against you, no matter what you do. This truth should set you free to lighten up, enjoy being who God made you to be, and have a laugh at your own self.

You are who you are. You do what you do, and it’s not always perfect. In fact, sometimes you really mess up! That’s part of being human. But if you also love God, have a heart to change, and ask Him to help you, then you can relax. God is working on you, changing you every day, helping you grow. God is not mad at you! Enjoy Him, and enjoy yourself even though you are not perfected yet.

Love Yourself Today: Don’t be so serious all the time. As often as possible, have a good laugh!

Joyce Meyer – Stepping into the Unknown

Joyce meyer
And I said to you, You have come to the hill country of the Amorites, which the Lord our God gives us. Behold, the Lord your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has said to you. Fear not, neither be dismayed.—Deuteronomy 1:20–21
Parents, teachers, and other role models can teach children how to fear or they can teach them to be bold. A mother who is fearful herself will transmit that fear to her children. She will be overly cautious about many things, and a silent fear sinks into the heart of her children. We should not teach our children to live recklessly, but we should teach them to be bold, take action, and to never be so afraid of making mistakes that they won’t try things. I believe we should teach our children and those under our authority to take chances in life. If we never take a chance, we will never make progress. Progress always requires stepping into the unknown. Experience gives us confidence, but we never get experience unless we step out and try things we have not tried before.
I encourage you to teach others by word and example how to be bold and courageous. Tell people to try things, reminding them that making a mistake is not the worst thing that can happen.
Lord, help me both in word and deed to show others to be bold and courageous. I will gladly follow You into the unknown. Amen.