You, therefore, must be perfect [growing into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity], as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 5:48 (AMPC)

We have a command (or perhaps it is a promise) in Matthew 5:48: Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect (NIV). Because God is perfect and is working in us, we can also look forward to sharing in His perfection.

The apostle Paul said although he had not already been made perfect, he pressed on toward the goal. He then said those of us who are imperfect should be thus minded, to let go of what was behind us (mistakes) and press on. In essence, he was saying that in God’s eyes, by faith in Jesus Christ, he was perfect, yet he was not totally perfected (Phil. 3:12–15).

We must learn to see ourselves in Christ, not in ourselves. Corrie ten Boom taught that if you look at the world, you will be oppressed; if you look at yourself, you will be depressed; but if you look at Jesus, you will be at rest. How true it is that if we look at ourselves—at what we are in our own abilities—we cannot be anything except depressed and totally discouraged. But when we look to Christ, the Author and Finisher (perfecter) of our faith, we can enter His rest and believe He is continually working in us (Heb. 12:2 NIV).

We always say, “Nobody is perfect.” What we mean is that nobody manifests perfect behavior, and that is a correct statement. Our behavior, however, is quite different from our identities.

The Bible says that faith in Jesus makes us righteous, but in our actions, we don’t always do the right thing. I have said for years, Our who is different than our do. We don’t do everything right, but God always loves us. He always sees us “in Christ,” through our faith in Him, and He views us as perfect in Christ while we are still being changed by His power.

Prayer of the Day: Father, thank You that in Christ I am made righteous. Help me press forward in faith, trusting You to transform me day by day.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

his is My commandment: that you love one another [just] as I have loved you.

John 15:12 (AMPC)

One of the first things we ask when we are invited to a party is, “How should I dress?” Most of us like it best when we feel that we can come as we are. We like it when we can relax and be ourselves. I love this scripture because of the message of acceptance it brings.

God accepts us as we are, and He works with us throughout our lives to help us become all that He wants us to be. Grace meets us where we are but, thankfully, it never leaves us where it found us.

God will work in you by His Holy Spirit, and you will be changed! But you don’t have to wait to come to Him. Thankfully, you can come right now just as you are. You don’t have to stand off in the distance and only hear the music of the party; you are invited to attend.

Prayer of the Day: Father, I am so thankful, not just for the countless blessings You have given me, but for the chance to share those blessings with others. I pray that You will show me new and creative ways to be friendly and encouraging to someone today.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful; but afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it…

Hebrews 12:11 (AMPC)

Last night I ate too much, and this morning I regretted it. The only way to live without regret is to discipline ourselves to do the right thing while we have the opportunity. I knew I was eating too much, and I did it anyway, simply because I wanted more.

Do you ever do too much of anything and then regret it later? Do you grimace or groan when the word “discipline” is mentioned? We all seem to dislike the thought of discipline, but actually, it is our friend.

Had I followed my heart last night, I would have had peace this morning instead of regret. I was glad for the reminder God gave me that living a disciplined life is the way to peace and satisfaction.

Even though we know things, we often need reminders. So if you perhaps need to be reminded to discipline yourself in all things, then receive this and embrace discipline as your godly friend who is always trying to help you succeed.

Prayer of the Day: Father, thank You for giving me a spirit of discipline and self-control and help me to use it at all times.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Psalm 32:5 (NIV)

Guilt is the sense of responsibility we feel when something painful or negative happens to us personally or when we’ve done something to hurt or cause difficulty for someone else. It is a feeling of regret over something we have done or perhaps some- thing we failed to do. Guilt is a terrible feeling to bear, and we are not built to carry it inside of us. It affects our personalities, damages our souls, steals our peace, and dampens our joy. It can become like a prison without a door. Guilt leaves us feeling we somehow need to compensate for the wrong we committed or think we committed. The burden of guilt, combined with the feeling that we have to make up for what we have done or not done, leads to a difficult and unhappy life.

The good news of the gospel is that Jesus has paid for every sin we will ever commit and for every wrong we have done. According to Romans 8:1, there is no condemnation for those who are in Him. We don’t ignore our sins. We confess them, as we read about in today’s scripture. And when we acknowledge our sin to God and repent, He forgives us instantly. When the sin is gone, we have no reason to feel guilty. The feeling of guilt may not go away immediately, but we can say, “I am forgiven, and the guilt has been removed.” When we make the decision to trust the forgiveness and the cleansing Jesus has purchased for us, our emotions will eventually catch up to our decision.

Prayer of the Day: Thank You, Jesus, for paying the price necessary to forgive my sins and set me free from guilt. Today, I choose to walk in what You have provided for me.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

To another [wonder-working] faith by the same [Holy] Spirit…

1 Corinthians 12:9 (AMPC)

I believe there are certain individuals to whom God gives the gift of faith for specific occasions such as a dangerous missionary trip or a challenging situation. When this gift is operating in people, they are able to comfortably believe in God for something others would see as impossible. They have total faith for something others would be daunted by or even terrified of.

A person operating with a gift of faith must be careful not to think others who do not have this gift are faithless, for when the gift of faith is operating in an individual, God is giving that person an unusual portion of faith to ensure that His purpose is accomplished. He can be used by God to bring courage and comfort to others, but he must remain humble and thankful for what God has given him. Romans 12:3 (AMPC) says, For by the grace (unmerited favor of God) given to me I warn everyone among you not to estimate and think of himself more highly than he ought…but to rate his ability with sober judgment, each according to the degree of faith apportioned by God to him.

God will always give us the faith we need to face whatever we have to face. However, the gift of faith makes a person unusually bold. Anyone who operates in it must be sensitive to realize that this boldness is a gift from God and always give Him thanks for it.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, thank You for giving me faith for every situation. Keep me humble and dependent on You, knowing every gift I receive is for Your glory.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]

John 14:27 (AMPC)

We don’t need to ask God to give us peace because He has already given it to us. Jesus left us His special peace, but we must learn how to stop letting ourselves get upset and fearful. I have learned that the devil “sets us up to get upset.” He knows what rattles us and can easily arrange for those things to happen. We are wiser than he is, but we need to use the wisdom God has given us and not keep going around and around the same mountain, making the same mistakes repeatedly.

Peace is wonderful. I hate strife, anger, arguing, and harsh disagreements—and I think until we do hate them, we won’t avoid them. Proverbs 6:16 says there are “six things the Lord hates,” and “seven are an abomination to Him.” The seventh is “he who sows discord among his brethren” (Proverbs 6:19). Ephesians 6:15 mentions shoes of peace (NLT), and we are to put them on. This means to walk in peace all the time, and it doesn’t happen automatically. We have to learn to sense when we are starting to get upset and stop it before it reaches a full roar.

God has given us self-control, and it will help us stay in peace if we learn how to recognize the symptoms of getting upset.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, help me recognize when I’m starting to lose my peace. Give me wisdom and self-control to stop anger and strife before they take over, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Genesis 1:31 (ESV)

When God had completed His six days of creation, He took time to look over everything, and according to the Amplified Bible, He saw that “it was very good, and He validated it completely” (Gen. 1:31). By this time in the creation story, God had already created man and woman (Gen. 1:27). So, when He pronounced that everything was “very good,” it included Adam and Eve, who represent all of humanity. Everyone God made is good, including you and me.

Many people feel worthless, insecure, and unacceptable, which does not agree with God’s opinion of us. He validates us completely. God knows everything about each of us, and He loves us unconditionally. God approves of us; He may not approve of everything we do, but He does approve of who we are as His beloved children. He does not want us to go through life discouraged, disappointed, wounded, or feeling bad about ourselves. He wants us to think about ourselves like He thinks of us.

Throughout His Word, God lets us know what He thinks about us. It says we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps. 139:14). It says He rejoices over us with gladness and quiets us with His love (Zeph. 3:17). It promises that He has good plans for us (Jer. 29:11) and that He will complete the good work He has begun in us (Phil. 1:6). It calls us the apple of His eye (Ps. 17:8). And it says that He loves us with an everlasting love (Jer. 31:3). Hopefully you can see that God approves of and enjoys you.

I encourage you to approve of and enjoy yourself as well. This may take some time for you, especially if you have been deeply wounded or if you have experienced things that have made you feel unlovable, unacceptable, or inferior to others. Never base what is true on your feelings, because they don’t always agree with God’s Word.

I had to reach a point in my life where I had to decide to agree with what God’s Word says about me, even though I could have viewed myself as “damaged goods” as a result of sexual abuse by my father. Choosing to enjoy and accept myself is one of the best decisions I have ever made. God does not create anything worthless. He is good, and everything He does is good. We cannot believe that God created us and also believe we are worthless. Begin to accept and enjoy yourself where you are, and God will help you get to where you need to be.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, help me see myself the way You see me—valued, loved, and wonderfully made. Teach me to reject lies and embrace the truth of Your Word, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

[Living as becomes you] with complete lowliness of mind (humility) and meekness (unselfishness, gentleness, mildness), with patience, bearing with one another and making allowances because you love one another.

Ephesians 4:2 (AMPC)

It is good for the unsaved members of your family to see you studying the Bible, going to church and bearing the fruit of the Spirit. But your family may be more receptive to the Gospel if you minister to their needs. Ministering to them may require giving up a prayer meeting to do things with them, such as going fishing or shopping with your spouse, helping your son work on his car, or taking your daughter out for lunch.

The Bible says that the natural man does not understand the spiritual man (See 1 Corinthians 2:14). So spiritual talk doesn’t always make sense to unsaved people, but loving actions speak clearly to them. Walk in love’s anointing today: be kind, joyful, peaceful, and stable. Let God love others through you.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, help me show Your love through my actions. Let my kindness and service speak louder than words so my family can see You living through me, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. [He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.]

Romans 11:29 (AMPC)

If we don’t develop our potential, it won’t get developed, because no one else can do it for us. Find out what you want to do and begin to train yourself for it. If you know you can write great songs, develop your gift; arrange your life so you can write songs. If you know you can lead worship, then practice, learn music, sing with all your mind and heart, and believe. Begin leading worship, even if you start with only you and the cat or you and your children. If you know you have a talent for business, an ability to make money, then study, pray, go to school, and step out.

Whatever your gift and calling, entrust it to the Lord and be relentless in your pursuit of reaching your full potential. In some way we should improve ourselves every day. We should go forward, letting go of what lies behind, including past mistakes and past victories. Even hanging on to the glory of past victories can prevent us from being all God wants us to be in the future. Never be satisfied with being anything less than all you can be.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, I recognize that I am responsible to develop and use the talents You have placed within me. Give me wisdom on the best way to go about it, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law [His precepts and teachings] he [habitually] meditates day and night.

Psalm 1:2 (AMP)

All of the successful people we read about in the Bible had a habit of meditating on God’s Word. They knew that it was the way to keep their minds renewed to God’s ways. To meditate is simply to roll something over and over in your mind, to mutter it softly or speak it out loud.

Meditating on God’s Word is very powerful. I like to look at meditating on God’s Word like chewing my food. If I swallow my food whole, I don’t get all of the nutrition that is in it. If we skim over God’s Word or just hear a weekly sermon in church, it is like swallowing it whole and never getting the fullness of the good things out of it that God wants us to have.

The Word of God has inherent power, and I believe that power is best released as we think on it over and over.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, help me meditate on Your Word daily, not just skim it. Teach me to think deeply on Scripture so I can receive all the life and strength it brings.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

[For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift [heaped] upon gift.

John 1:16 (AMPC)

Again and again, the Bible speaks of receiving from God. He is always pouring out His favor and His blessing. In order to experience that favor and blessing—and in order to live in close fellowship with God—it is important that we choose to freely receive all that He offers us. One of our biggest challenges is that we do not trust the word free. We quickly find out in the world’s system that things really are not free. Even when we are told they are free, there is usually a hidden cost somewhere.

But God’s kingdom of grace and love is not like the worlds. God’s wondrous love is a gift He freely gives us. All we need to do is open our hearts, believe His Word, and receive it with thankfulness.

No matter what the situation around you looks like today, stand on the Word of God and trust that His goodness and grace are being poured out over your life. Believe it and receive it today.

Prayer of the Day: Father, thank You for freely pouring out Your love and blessings. Help me open my heart, trust Your Word, and receive all that You desire to give me today.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.

Matthew 12:35 (NLT)

You don’t always have to verbalize your thoughts for people to see them. Think about how you act on a first date with someone you like. You show signs of acceptance and approval. You smile a lot, and you encourage him or her with your eyes and head nods to show your interest. You haven’t said a word, but your body language says: “I like you!” Now think about how you act when you are in the grocery line, and the cashier is taking forever. You shift your weight from side to side, cross your arms, huff, or even roll your eyes. Again, your posture speaks for you. You may think your thoughts are hidden, but your thoughts show up in your attitudes, body language, words, and actions. Make sure you display a good attitude.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, help me be mindful of my thoughts and attitudes. Let my actions, words, and body language reflect Your love and kindness to everyone I encounter today.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

It is through Him that we have received grace (God’s unmerited favor)…and this includes you, called of Jesus Christ and invited [as you are] to belong to Him.

Romans 1:5-6 (AMPC)

One of the first things we ask when we are invited to a party is, “How should I dress?” Most of us like it best when we feel that we can come as we are. We like it when we can relax and be ourselves. I love this scripture because of the message of acceptance it brings.

God accepts us as we are and He works with us throughout our lives to help us become all that He wants us to be. Grace meets us where we are but, thankfully, it never leaves us where it found us.

God will work in you by His Holy Spirit, and you will be changed! But you don’t have to wait to come to Him. Thankfully, you can come right now just as you are. You don’t have to stand off in the distance and only hear the music of the party; you are invited to attend.

Prayer of the Day: I thank You, Father, that You love me just as I am. I know that You are working in my life to bring positive change, but I thank You that You still love me and accept me in the process. Thank You for Your grace that allows me to come to You just as I am.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.

Psalm 127:1 (NIV)

When we try to build our lives and our reputations in our own strength, we are leaning on the arm of flesh (ourselves and other people). We work hard to do everything we think will cause us to be successful from a worldly perspective. But today’s scripture indicates such effort is in vain. The Lord is the One Who builds our lives and our reputations, according to His good plans for our lives.

Philippians 1:6 assures us that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return] (AMP). God will complete the good work He has begun in you and me. We can be certain of this.

God is the One Who started the good work in you, and He is the One Who will finish it. We should always do the part He gives us to do, but we should never try to do anything without leaning entirely on Him. We need to be patient and rest in Him as He accomplishes what needs to be done instead of intervening according to our own ideas when things are not happening as quickly as we would like or in the way we would like. There are certain responsibilities we need to fulfill in our lives, and there are certain things only God can do. Take the pressure off yourself by leaning on the arm of the Lord instead of the arm of the flesh.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, help me to be patient as You complete the good work You have begun in me.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.

Hebrews 11:24-25 (NIV)

We learn from today’s scripture that Moses chose suffering rather than failing to do what he knew God was calling him to do—to lead the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt and into the Promised Land. He chose the narrow path, and on that path, there is no room for us to compromise. It is the path of prompt and complete obedience. Jesus walked that path, and it is the one He wants each of us to walk.

Moses turned down a life of luxury in the palace of Pharaoh and chose to suffer rather than fail to please God. Are you willing to walk away from things you might enjoy in order to be fully obedient to God? God will give you the grace and strength to do it if you are willing.

Jesus said that if we intend to follow Him, we have to deny ourselves and take up our cross (Mark 8:34). He didn’t mean to die on a cross as He did, but He did mean that we have to say no to ourselves, if necessary, in order to be obedient to Him.

Prayer of the Day: Father, if anything stands in the way of my being fully committed to You, please show me what it is and give me the strength to let it go. In Jesus’ name, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.

1 Peter 5:7 (AMPC)

God’s Word teaches us not to worry, but at times we are all tempted to do it anyway. As a mother, I want all of my children to be happy at all times, and when they are not, I tend to get concerned about them and I want to fix whatever the problem is. I find myself in that situation today, and I am busy reminding myself that worrying and fretting does absolutely no good. It is actually a total waste of time.

Even though we may know the Word of God, we often have to remind ourselves of it by meditating on it or looking up scriptures we know, reading them again and again. God’s Word contains power that will help us do what we know we should do, and it will comfort us in our concerns.

God’s Word is medicine for our souls. It calms our emotions and gives us peace of mind. Anytime you are worried about anything, I encourage you to turn to God’s Word for the strength you need to let it go!

Prayer of the Day: Father, I know that You don’t want me to worry, but instead trust You at all times. Help me learn to never waste my time on worry.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

When I kept silence [before I confessed], my bones wasted away through my groaning all the day long.

Psalm 32:3 (AMPC)

Sometimes we feel more emotional than other times. This happens for various reasons. Maybe we didn’t sleep well the night before, or we ate something that caused us to feel lethargic or grumpy. An occasional emotional day is not something to be too concerned about.

Sometimes though we feel emotional because something upset us the day before, and we didn’t resolve it. We often suppress our feelings and pretend we don’t have them instead of dealing with them. People who avoid confrontation often live with their souls full of unresolved issues, and these situations need closure before emotional wholeness will come.

I remember being unable to sleep one night, which is unusual for me. Finally, around five the next morning, I asked God what was wrong with me. Immediately I recalled being rude to someone the day before. Instead of apologizing to them and asking God to forgive me, I rushed on to the next thing I needed to do. Obviously, the Holy Spirit was dealing with me about my behavior. My conscious mind had buried it, but the mind of the Spirit wanted to bring it to the surface so I could deal with it. As soon as I asked God to forgive me and committed to apologizing to the person, I was able to go to sleep.

If you feel unusually sad or like you’re carrying a heavy burden you don’t understand, ask God what’s wrong. It’s amazing what we can learn by simply asking Him for an answer and being willing to face any truth He might reveal about us or our behavior.

Prayer of the Day: Show me, Lord, anything I have done that is affecting my emotions in a negative way, and help me know how to resolve it.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

2 Corinthians 5:20 (ESV)

Can you imagine how you would feel right now if you knew that the pain in your soul could not only be healed completely, but could also help other people? It can! In fact, that’s part of God’s plan for your healing. When He heals our soul, He does a lot more than simply relieve us of the ache in our hearts and the torment in our minds; He transforms us in such a way that we become strong in the place we were once weak and gives us the ability to help others because of the way He has helped us.

My father abused me when I was young, and for a long time that abuse had a negative impact on me. Since God healed me, though, I have been able to help others because I went through that experience. The same thing happens when a mother who has had a wayward child then sees that child return to the Lord and to the family. It happens when people lose a good job only to end up with a better one. It takes place in all kinds of situations, and every time God heals or restores, the person who has received that blessing from Him has a chance to encourage others by telling them about it. God takes bad things that have happened to us and works them out for our good (Romans 8:28).

When you have personally suffered in some area in the past, you have a lot of credibility with people who may be struggling with it right now. They will listen to you and many times they will take your advice if they know you have already walked the journey they are currently on. When God heals your soul, it’s not just for you. It’s also so you can help and support others. You become an ambassador of God’s grace, a person who can share what He has done for you. Nothing helps us understand someone in pain more than having had the same pain ourselves.

I hope you will begin today to think beyond your pain and believe God can use you—not in spite of it, but because of it. God turns everything that happens to us into something that eventually works for good (Romans 8:28). What may seem bad to you today can become part of the good plan He has for your life. The pain you have been through, and the healing God is doing in your life will make you a powerful ambassador for Him.

Next time you encounter people who are struggling with a situation God has brought you through or is currently bringing you through, ask Him how you can encourage that person and share with them the hope He has given you. You might tell them about specific scriptures that have ministered to you or recommend Christian books or teachings to them. You could also speak a blessing or word of encouragement or do an act of kindness for them as the Holy Spirit leads you.

When God heals a heart, it’s an awesome work, one that definitely blesses the person who has been healed, and one that can help others, too.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, thank You for healing my heart. Use my past pain to encourage others and remind me that every trial becomes part of Your good plan for my life, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

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)

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 1:2 (AMPC) 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).

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 devil to control your life, all he needs to do is control your thoughts. Make a decision right now that you will not allow him to do that. Don’t let him defeat you.

Prayer of the Day: 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.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.

2 Timothy 1:7 (AMPC)

In this passage of Scripture, Paul was encouraging Timothy and saying, “You may feel like giving up, but you have everything you need to succeed. The Holy Spirit gives you peace and the power to face anything. Press on without fear!”

You may not understand what is going on in the world around you, but you must trust God through it all. You can pray and ask God for answers, but when heaven is silent you need to keep doing what God has told us to do and just trust Him. God will make all the pieces work together for His purpose, even when you don’t see tomorrow clearly. Tomorrow’s answers usually don’t come until tomorrow.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, when I feel like giving up, remind me Your Spirit gives me peace, strength, and courage. Help me trust You fully and press on without fear.

http://www.joycemeyer.org